Best of 2024
Top comebacks for 2024 ATP Tour: Tiafoe, Thompson lead
Struff saved nine points to win his first game of the season
December 04, 2024
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Jordan Thompson celebrates after rallying from 0-6, 1-4 to defeat Alex Michelsen in Los Cabos.
By ATP staff
To mark the end of another sensational season, ATPtour.com presents our annual 'Best Of' series, which will showcase the most impressive rivalries, matches, comebacks, upsets and more.
From saving match points, overcoming the brink of defeat to finally lift the trophy, or narrowly escaping a top-level match, today we highlight five great comebacks from ATP Tour tournaments in 2024.
5) Dubai R2, Lehecka d. Khachanov 6-7(6), 7-6(5), 6-4
Czechia's Jiri Lehecka produced fearless hitting under pressure to save five match points in Dubai along with fourth seed Karen Khachanov, who took the Doha title last week and went on a five-match winning streak.
All of Khachanov's match points came from Lehecka late in the second set, but the 23-year-old relied on her booming forehand to pull her out of a possible defeat at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. In the decider, Khachanov appeared to have recovered from his blip, leading 4-2 before Lehecka made it four games in a row to seal the match. Lehecka fell to her knees in relief and celebration.
4) Shanghai R3, Paul d. Table 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-2
All signs point to a typical, straightforward victory for Alejandro Tabilo as he leads American Tommy Paul 7-6(2), 5-1 at the Rolex Shanghai Masters. The 27-year-old then held five points in his match at 5-2 in the second set when suddenly things started to change.
On Tabilo's fifth match point, he put pressure on Paul by closing the net, but the American hit a cross court shot to keep it alive, starting his victory. Paul struck out 12 of the last 15 games to earn the hard-fought win.
3) Hong Kong R1, Struff d. Cilic 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(7)
On the second day of the year, Jan-Lennard Struff put together a memorable comeback that stood up to a difficult time to finish as one of the most impressive reviews of the season. The 34-year-old, who was voted ATP Comeback Player of the Year by his peers in 2023, won the title with a stunning escape at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open.
Struff saved nine match points to fend off 2014 US Open champion Cilic in a three-hour, six-minute contest between the game's toughest hitters. Germany's inspired performance tied for the second-most points saved in a tour-level win since 2015.
“I just told myself, 'Let's go', to keep fighting, never to give up,” said Struff. “You have to give yourself a chance to fight for yourself. You can't give it to yourself and that's why it's so good. sports.”
Most Match Points Saved in an ATP Tour Win Since 2015:
2) Cincinnati SFs, Tiafoe d. Rune 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4)
Home favorite Frances Tiafoe came from 2-5 down in the third set against Holger Rune at the Cincinnati Open, where she lost the semifinals.
Tiafoe saved two match points for Rune's first of two in a row at 4-5 in the decider with a forehand that clipped the top of the net, before the ball went out to prevent the American's takedown. It took the crowd's breath away when the ball seemed to float in the air for minutes, but it was frozen for the second half in a thrilling clash.
Tiafoe held on, making a stunning comeback to become the first American to reach the Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 final since John Isner in 2013.
“That last set was nuts,” Tiafoe said. “I was really lucky there. I had a few ropes, but I fought back. I competed hard and put myself in a position.”
1) Los Cabos QFs, Thompson d. Michelsen 0-6, 7-6(1), 7-5
Australia's Jordan Thompson will not soon forget his tour-level title at the Mifel Tennis Open by Telcel Oppo, when he was on the brink of a crushing quarter-final defeat against Alex Michelsen.
American Michelsen #NextGenATP won the first nine games of the match and could taste the finish line in Los Cabos, where he led 6-0, 4-1 and held two break points. Later, Thompson pulled off three points in the same match, before finding himself back in the hole trailing 3-5 in the final. Thompson rose to the occasion again, claiming four consecutive games in epic fashion.
“That's probably one of the best reviews I've ever had in my life, too [it was] in the quarter-finals of a Tour event,” said Thompson, who became the fourth player this century to finish in the Top 30 in the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time at the age of 30 or older. “I thought to myself that they didn't actually take the lead until 6-5 in the third set. So we are behind for a long time.”
Thompson's memorable week didn't end there. In his next match, he converted his seventh match point to seal his upset against top seed Alexander Zverev after three hours and 40 minutes. Thompson was eventually crowned – beating Casper Ruud in the final – not only in singles, but also in doubles with Max Purcell, who later qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals.
“I don't think anyone can challenge my competitiveness,” said Thompson.
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