Best ATP Tour comebacks of 2024: Tiafoe, Thompson top the tally | ATP Tour

Better of 2024

Greatest ATP Tour comebacks of 2024: Tiafoe, Thompson high the tally

Struff saved 9 match factors to win his first match of the season

December 04, 2024

To mark the tip of one other thrilling season, ATPTour.com is unveiling our annual ‘Greatest Of’ sequence, which can replicate on probably the most intriguing rivalries, matches, comebacks, upsets and extra.

From saving match factors, overcoming the brink of defeat to finally lifting the trophy, or a slender escape in a high-stakes match, in the present day we spotlight the 5 finest comebacks from ATP Tour tournaments in 2024.

5) Dubai R2, Lehecka d. Khachanov 6-7(6), 7-6(5), 6-4Czechia’s Jiri Lehecka produced fearless hitting in stress moments to save lots of 5 match factors in Dubai and down fourth seed Karen Khachanov, who had captured the Doha title the week prior and was on a five-match profitable streak.

All of Khachanov’s match factors got here on Lehecka’s serve late within the second set, however the 23-year-old relied on his booming forehand to drag him out of close to defeat on the Dubai Responsibility Free Tennis Championships. Within the decider, Khachanov seemingly recovered from his blip, gaining a 4-2 lead earlier than Lehecka tallied 4 consecutive video games to seal the match. Lehecka fell to his knees in aid and celebration.

4) Shanghai R3, Paul d. Tabilo 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-2All indicators pointed in direction of a routine, straight-sets win for Alejandro Tabilo when he led American Tommy Paul 7-6(2), 5-1 on the Rolex Shanghai Masters. The 27-year-old then held 5 match factors on his serve at 5-2 within the second set when instantly issues started to vary.

On Tabilo’s fifth match level, he put stress on Paul by closing the web, however the American hit an ideal cross-court backhand passing shot to remain alive, kick-starting his comeback victory. Paul reeled off 12 of the ultimate 15 video games to safe a hard-fought win.

3) Hong Kong R1, Struff d. Cilic 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(7)On the second day of the 12 months, Jan-Lennard Struff strung collectively a memorable comeback that stood the check of time to complete as one in all this season’s most spectacular comebacks. The 34-year-old, who was voted ATP Comeback Participant of the 12 months by his friends in 2023, lived as much as that title with an unbelievable escape on the Financial institution of China Hong Kong Tennis Open.

Struff saved a whopping 9 match factors to flee 2014 US Open champion Cilic in a three-hour, six-minute conflict between two of the heaviest hitters within the recreation. The German’s impressed efficiency is tied for second-most match factors saved in a tour-level win since 2015.

“I simply advised myself, ‘Let’s go’, to maintain combating, to by no means stop,” Struff stated. “It’s a must to give your self the possibility to combat again. It received’t be given to you and that is why it is such an incredible sport.”

Most Match Factors Saved In An ATP Tour Win Since 2015:

2) Cincinnati SFs, Tiafoe d. Rune 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4)House favorite Frances Tiafoe rallied from a 2-5 deficit within the third set towards Holger Rune on the Cincinnati Open, the place he was millimetres from shedding the back-and-forth semi-final battle.

Tiafoe saved the primary of two consecutive Rune match factors at 4-5 within the deciding set with a forehand that barely clipped the highest of the web, earlier than the ball popped over to stave off the American’s elimination. It drew gasps from the gang because the ball seemingly floated within the air for minutes, but it surely was a half-second freeze in an exciting conflict.

Tiafoe held his nerve, forging a dramatic comeback to turn into the primary American to succeed in the Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 ultimate since John Isner in 2013.

“That final set was nuts,” Tiafoe stated. “I bought actually fortunate there. I had a pair web cords, however I additionally battled. I competed actually onerous and put myself in place.”

1) Los Cabos QFs, Thompson d. Michelsen 0-6, 7-6(1), 7-5Australian Jordan Thompson is not going to quickly overlook his maiden tour-level title run on the Mifel Tennis Open by Telcel Oppo, the place he was on the point of an emphatic defeat within the quarter-finals towards Alex Michelsen.

The #NextGenATP American Michelsen received the primary 9 video games of the match and will style the end line in Los Cabos, the place he led 6-0, 4-1 and held two break factors. Later, Thompson fended off three match factors in that very same set, earlier than once more discovering himself in a gap trailing 3-5 within the decider. Thompson rose to the event as soon as extra, claiming 4 consecutive video games in epic vogue.

“That’s most likely among the finest comebacks I’ve ever had in my life, and [it was] in a quarter-final of a Tour occasion,” stated Thompson, who in August grew to become the fourth participant this century to crack the Prime 30 within the PIF ATP Rankings for the primary time aged 30 or older. “I used to be saying to myself that I actually haven’t been in entrance till 6-5 within the third set. So a very long time being behind.”

Thompson’s memorable week didn’t cease there. In his subsequent match, he transformed his seventh match level to seal his upset towards high seed Alexander Zverev after three hours and 40 minutes. Thompson finally was topped champion — defeating Casper Ruud within the ultimate — not solely in singles, but in addition in doubles with Max Purcell, with whom he later certified for the Nitto ATP Finals.

“I don’t assume anybody would problem my competitiveness,” stated Thompson.