By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday November 5, 2021
Hugo Gaston, 21 and ranked 103, rounds out the 2021 NextGen ATP Finals in Milan (Nov 9-13) The Frenchman, fresh off an upset of World No.35 Carlos Alcaraz in Paris, is the lowest-ranked quarterfinalist at the Paris Masters since 2012.
History for South America, with Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Sebstian Baez Joining the Field
Juan Manuel Cerundolo has qualified for the 21-and-under season finale, making a slice of history for his country – and South American tennis. The Argentine is the first South American to earn a spot in the event in tournament history (since 2017).
And he’s not the only history maker going to Milan. Sebastian Baez has risen from outside the Top-300 to a ranking of 11 this season. He became the youngest player to win five ATP challenger titles in the same season in 2021.
19-year-old Cerundolo has had a breakthrough 2021 season, including a run to his first tour-level title as a qualifier at the Cordoba Open (d. Ramos-Vinolas) in February. He became the first player to lift a trophy on his ATP Tour debut since 2004. Cerundolo, who started the year just inside the Top 400 of the FedEx ATP Rankings, ia ranked a career-high No. 85. He has been solid on the Challenger Tour as well, winning his first three titles at that level. The Argentine logged titles in Rome (d. Cobolli), Como (d. Moroni) and Banja Luka (d. Milojevic).
The eight-player field is now set for Milan, with play set to begin on November 9, here is how the field shapes up:
1. Carlos Alcaraz
2. Sebastian Korda
3. Lorenzo Musetti
4. Brandon Nakashima
5. Juan Manuel Cerundolo
6. Sebastian Baez
7. Holger Rune
8. Hugo Gaston