Full list of nominees for 2021 ATP player awards: Andy Murray nominated for Comeback Player of the Year, Rafael Nadal for Sportsmanship Award
With the 2021 men's tennis season drawing to a close, the ATP has announced the names of players who have made a major impact on the tour. Nominees for the annual ATP Player Awards have been announced, and here's how the lists look in each category:
2021 Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award of the Year
Nominees:
Rafael Nadal
Frances Tiafoe
Casper Ruud
Felix Auger-Aliassime
Rafael Nadal has won the award in the last three years, but could face stiff competition from Next Gen players Casper Ruud, Frances Tiafoe and Felix Auger-Aliassime this time around.
Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award of the Year:
馃嚭馃嚫 Francis Tiafoe
馃嚜馃嚫 Rafael Nadal
馃嚚馃嚘 Felix Auger-Aliassime
馃嚦馃嚧 Casper Ruud
#ATPAwards https://t.co/NAndQGiPQo
2021 Comeback Player of the Year
Nominees:
Andy Murray
Jack Sock
Mackenzie McDonald
Thanasi Kokkinakis
Murray won the award in 2019, and is once again in contention following a decent season. McDonald reached his maiden final at the Washington Open and also made the fourth round of the Australian Open in what was a solid season for the American.
Kokkinakis returned from injury this year, but played only four events.
Sock, meanwhile, ground it out on the Challenger circuit at the start of the year, before progressing to the main tour. He won his first title in more than three years in doubles at the Hall of Fame Open and is the slight favorite to triumph in this category.
Comeback Player of the Year Nominees:
馃嚞馃嚙 Andy Murray
馃嚭馃嚫 Mackenzie McDonald
馃嚭馃嚫 Jack Sock
馃嚘馃嚭 Thanasi Kokkinakis
#ATPAwards https://t.co/9kgCBJXYSJ
2021 Newcomer of the Year
Nominees:
Brandon Nakashima
Sebastian Baez
Jenson Brooksby
Hugo Gaston
Juan Manuel Cerundolo
Jenson Brooksby is the overwhelming favorite to win this award. The American reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career at the US Open and also advanced to the final of the Hall of Fame Open.
Newcomer of the Year Nominees:
馃嚭馃嚫 Brandon Nakashima
馃嚘馃嚪 Sebastian Baez
馃嚭馃嚫 Jenson Brooksby
馃嚝馃嚪 Hugo Gaston
馃嚘馃嚪 Juan Manuel Cerundolo
#ATPAwards https://t.co/XcEQls1RYn
2021 Most Improved Player of the Year
Nominees:
Carlos Alcaraz
Cameron Norrie
Aslan Karatsev
Casper Ruud
With five titles, a semifinal appearance at the ATP Finals and a career-high ranking of No. 8, Ruud made giant strides this season and is the favorite to win in this category.
While Alcaraz continued to deliver on his potential, Karatsev made a breakthrough, reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open on his Grand Slam debut at the age of 27.
Norrie also turned out to be a relatively late bloomer, winning his maiden ATP 1000 title at the BNP Paribas Open.
Most Improved Player of the Year Nominees:
馃嚜馃嚫 Carlos Alcaraz
馃嚞馃嚙 Cameron Norrie
馃嚪馃嚭 Aslan Karatsev
馃嚦馃嚧 Casper Ruud
#ATPAwards https://t.co/GYCCvrSL9S
2021 ATP Coach of the Year
Nominees:
Gilles Cervara (Medvedev)
Christian Ruud (Ruud)
Juan Carlos Ferrero (Alcaraz)
Facundo Lugones (Norrie)
Craig Boynton (Hurkacz)
Gilles Cervara won the award in 2019 and is a strong contender to double up after leading Daniil Medvedev to his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open.
While the rest of the coaches on this list have helped their respective players progress tremendously, Medvedev's achievements under Cervara this year tilt the balance in his coach's favor.
Coach of the Year Nominees:
Gilles Cervara (Medvedev)
Christian Ruud (Ruud)
Juan Carlos Ferrero (Alcaraz)
Facundo Lugones (Norrie)
Craig Boynton (Hurkacz)
#ATPAwards https://t.co/yA8ClYmdf6
Also Check Out: Updated Tennis Schedule 2022