By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday December 1, 2023

 

Nicolas Jarry stormed into the Top-20 in 2023, and the Chilean wasn't the only player that burst onto the ATP scene.

Photo Source: santiago open

Look beyond the absolute top of the rankings, where Novak Djokovic still sits as a dominant force, and we see that 2023 was a year of upside surprises across the board on the men’s tour.

Let’s look at eight players from across the rankings spectrum who burst onto the scene and made their presence felt on the ATP Tour over the last 11 months.



Jannik Sinner +11

Let’s start with the man who made so many big headlines after this year’s US Open. It was a magnificent season for the 22-year-old Italian, capped off with a pulsating finish that saw him win 20 of his 22 matches and play top-level tennis against the tour's elite. Sinner won nine of his last ten matches against the Top-10 and finished off his year by guiding Italy to its first Davis Cup title since 1976.

It was a huge jump from a player that started the season at No.15 in the world, and most believe that the best has yet to come.

Arthur Fils +213

Arthur Fils has Top-10 potential and we saw it in spades this season as the explosive teen became the youngest player to claim an ATP title in 2023. Fils jumped over 200 spots in the rankings to No.36 in the world, thanks to a few challenger titles in February that ignited his form.

He then reached back to back semifinals at Montpellier and Marseille before claiming his maiden title in Lyon.

Ben Shelton +79

Ben Shelton had never been out of the country before January. By the end of that month the former Florida Gator had proven that he can travel well. He shocked the tour when he reached the Australian Open quarterfinals, and bookended that breakout performance in September with a trip to the US Open semifinals that didn’t end until Novak Djokovic hung up the phone on the rising talent.

Shelton finishes the season at No.17 in the world. The 21-year-old had his share of ups and downs but proved to be a big-match player as he ended his season with a 26-24 record and a maiden title at ATP 500 Tokyo.

Chris Eubanks +90

He’s an ATP journeyman no more. After years of toiling on the challenger circuit, Chris Eubanks hit the big time in 2023, winning his first ATP title in Mallorca, and breaking new highs in the rankings at a regular basis. He entered the Top-100 and didn’t stop there. When all was said and done, Eubanks had a Wimbledon quarterfinal run to his name and a year-end ranking of 34. Well-deserved!

Nicolas Jarry +134

Nicolas Jarry was an absolute terror on tour in 2023. The 6’6” Chilean won two titles, amassed 38 wins and climbed 134 spots in the rankings to earn his first Top-20 ATP finish at No.19. With his efficient, streamlined power game that is so difficult to break down, and a bundle of newfound confidence, expect Jarry to be jarring in 2024 as well.

Alexander Shevchenko +106

Alexander Shevchenko didn’t own a single ATP win prior to 2023, and he had never sniffed a Top-100 ranking. Fast forward 12 months and he’s the World No.49 with 16 ATP wins to his name. That’s a sturdy start for the Russian, who made his tour-level debut at Roland-Garros this year. The 22-year-old will be one to watch in 2023.

Matteo Arnaldi +91

Another player that had never won an ATP match prior to 2023 is Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi. He won 20 in 2023 and powered into the round of 16 at the US Open with wins over Fils and Cameron Norrie. Not bad for a third appearance in a main draw at a major.

Matteo, a crafty, well-rounded player that shines on all surfaces, also earned a victory over Casper Ruud on the clay in Madrid – he was 23-7 at all levels on the red stuff.

Fabian Marozsan +108

Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan announced himself in a big way at Rome this year when he took out Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 7-6(4). That head-spinning victory wasn’t the Hungarian's only high point. He also took out Casper Ruud at Shanghai en route to the quarterfinals and ended his season with a 2-0 record against the Top-10.

He finished the season at No.64 in the world, having climbed over 100 spots, and his just five spots shy from being the top-ranked Hungarian.