Our
Tennis.World.Craze!’s ATP Most Improved Player of the Year is definitely……………
Lucas Pouille!
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| Pouille after he upset Nadal at the US Open. Photo by Getty Images |
Starting
the year as the World No.75, Pouille was able to finish as the World No.15, his
highest finish ever in his young career. He recorded first 5 Top 10 wins of his
career over Nadal (Twice), Gasquet, Ferrer and Thiem. He was also seeded at a
Grand Slam for the first time in his career at the French Open.
The
highlight of his season is definitely reaching the quarterfinals of Wimbledon
and the US Open, semifinals of the Masters 1000 event in Italy, and winning his
1st title in Metz, defeating Thiem in the final. As a lucky-loser in
Rome, Pouille maximised the use of his second chance, upsetting 9th
seed David Ferrer along the way. He defeated Del Potro in the third round of
Wimbledon, despite being a set and a break down, and then Tomic in the fourth round.
He lost to Berdych in the quarterfinals, but nevertheless, this was his best
showing at Wimbledon having not won a single match on grass before this
tournament. At the US Open, he defeated Rafael Nadal in a 5-set thriller in the
4th round, reaching his second Grand Slam quarterfinal in a row.
However, he lost in the quarterfinals once again, this time to compatriot Gael
Monfils.