These five ATP stars are threatening a big title breakthrough

James Richardson 30 Dec 2023 8:08 PM

Ben Shelton smiling in Tokyo

The year-end top ten on the ATP Tour has an accomplished look to it, with every member of the elite bracket holding a title of at least Masters level.

However, there is a large group of players desperate to claim their first of the so-called ‘big’ titles,a Masters 1000, Grand Slam or Tour Finals crown.

Here we look at five players who have threatened and may finally break through in winning on the big stage.

1 Casper Ruud

While Casper Ruud has been ranked as high as World No 2 but he is still yet to win a title above ATP 250 level. Ruud has won ten events at that level but none at 500, 1000 or Grand Slams.

He has reached three Grand Slam finals, though, and is a threat at the clay court Masters. His best effort at Masters level in 2023 was a run to the semi-finals in Rome but he did not make it beyond the Round of 16 at any other 1000-level event in 2023.

Ruud has been close enough to winning massive titles often enough to suggest it is no fluke, and he might break his big titles duck in 2023.

2 Alex De Minaur

Alex De Minaur built up quite the head of steam in Toronto this season before falling short against Jannik Sinner, and that defeat left him still without a big title even as he threatens the top ten.

De Minaur’s ATP 500 Acapulco title is the biggest of his career to date and was also achieved in 2023.

The Australian is an underrated threat on the year-end hard court scene and could be even more so after this very busy 2024 campaign.

3 Ben Shelton

American men’s tennis has a lot of promise srrounding it but they will want to start delivering some big title soon and Ben Shelton has looked as likely as anyone to provide that.

His 2023 was a year of incredible progress that saw him break into the top 20 for the first time. He enjoyed a title breakthrough when he won the ATP 500 Tokyo Open.

Shelton could be a danger at both of the Sunshine double events despite not going beyond the Round of 64 at either event in 2023. His run to the semi-final of the US Open and showdown with Novak Djokovic was dripping with promise.

4 Frances Tiafoe

Another American desperately trying to hold onto a place near the top of the game, Frances Tiafoe lacks the big title that would allow him to lay claim to being the leader of the men’s game for the USA.

Tiafoe also hasn’t won above ATP 250 level but has played in two ATP 500 finals.

He was a quarter-finalist at the US Open and a semi-finalist at Indian Wells in his closest brushes with ending the big title drought in 2023.