The 6 players who won their first ATP title in 2023, featuring Ben Shelton and Arthur Fils
During the 2023 season, six players secured a title on the ATP Tour for the first time in their careers, with a mix of young stars and more experienced pros becoming champions.
As well as the six times players successfully won their maiden title on the men’s tour, there were 14 occasions when a player lost a final when looking for their first tournament victory at the elite level.
Here, we look at the six first-time singles champions on the ATP Tour this season.
Tallon Griekspoor – Pune
Tallon Griekspoor had not reached an ATP final before the ATP 250 hard-court tournament in Pune, India in January this year.
The Dutchman, who was unseeded, defeated No 7 seed Jaume Munar 6-4, 7-5 in the first round and the unseeded Marco Cecchinato 6-4, 6-4 in the second round.
Griekspoor then received a walkover when top seed and quarter-final opponent Marin Cilic withdrew through injury, before he downed eighth seed Aslan Karatsev 7-6(4), 6-1 in the last four.
In his maiden tour-level final, Griekspoor came from behind to earn a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over unseeded Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, who was also seeking his first title.
The 27-year-old added a second title at the Rosmalen Championships in June, while he was also a runner-up in Washington in August.
Wu Yibing – Dallas
Wu Yibing became the first Chinese player to win an ATP title with his triumph at the indoor hard-court ATP 250 event in Dallas, United States in February.
The unseeded Chinese prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 over unseeded American Michael Mmoh in the opening round, before seeing off third seed Denis Shapovalov 7-6(1), 6-4 in the second round.
The 24-year-old then overcame No 8 seed Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-4 in the last eight and earned a battling 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-4 win against top seed Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals.
In what remains his only ATP title match to date, Wu saved four match points en route to claiming a tense 6-7,(4), 7-6(3), 7-6(12) win over fifth seed John Isner.
Arthur Fils – Lyon
Arthur Fils reached the first ATP final of his career at the clay-court ATP 250 tournament on home soil in Lyon, France in May.
The wildcard eased past qualifier Zhang Zhizhen 6-3, 6-2 in the opening round and was leading 6-5 when his second round opponent Mikael Ymer was disqualified.
The Frenchman then received a quarter-final walkover when top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime withdrew due to an injury, before he edged Brandon Nakashima 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(5) in the semi-finals.
Fils, who turned 19 the following month, produced an impressive display to defeat No 4 seed Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 7-5 in the final for his maiden ATP title.
The rising star made his second final in Antwerp in October, where he was beaten in straight sets by Alexander Bublik.
Christopher Eubanks – Mallorca
At the grass-court ATP 250 tournament in Mallorca, Spain, Christopher Eubanks progressed to a tour-level final for the first time in his career.
The unseeded American edged past two young compatriots – lucky loser Alex Michelsen [6-3, 6-7(6), 7-5] and third seed Ben Shelton [6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(2)] – in his first two matches.
The 27-year-old then overcame another lucky loser, Arthur Rinderknech, 7-6(5), 7-6(4) in the quarter-finals, before surviving five match points in a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(9) last four win against qualifier Lloyd Harris.
Eubanks delivered his most convincing display in the championship match, where he secured his only ATP title with a dominant 6-1, 6-4 victory over fourth seed Adrian Mannarino.
Pedro Cachin – Gstaad
Pedro Cachin reached an ATP final for the first time in his career at the clay-court ATP 250 event in Gstaad, Switzerland in July.
The unseeded Argentine downed the unseeded Taro Daniel 6-4 6-1 in his opening match and overcame top seed Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6(4), 7-6(3) in the second round.
The 28-year-old followed that up by beating unseeded Munar 6-3 6-3 in the last eight, before dismantling qualifier Hamad Medjedovic 6-3, 6-1 in the semi-finals.
Cachin dropped his only set of the tournament in the final, but he recovered to overcome Albert Ramos-Vinolas 3-6, 6-0, 7-5 to win his maiden tour-level crown.
Ben Shelton – Tokyo
Ben Shelton was the only player to claim their first ATP title in 2023 at a tournament above 250 level as he triumphed at the ATP 500 event in Tokyo, Japan in October.
Shelton, who was unseeded like every other first-time titlist this year, edged qualifier Taro Daniel 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) in the opening round, before beating unseeded Jordan Thompson 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 in is second match.
The American then saw off No 5 seed Tommy Paul [7-6(4), 6-3] and qualifier Marcos Giron [6-7(2), 7-6(5), 6-4] in the last eight and last four respectively – the latter after trailing by a set and a double break.
In the final, Shelton produced his best performance of the week as he conquered the unseeded Aslan Karatsev 7-5, 6-1 to complete his maiden title run.
