ATP Tour

Schwartzman, Edmund, Ramos-Vinolas among retired players honoured at Nitto ATP Finals

What better place to celebrate the end of a stellar career than at the Nitto ATP Finals?

Eight recently retired ATP Tour stars did just that on Friday in Turin, where ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi welcomed Juan Sebastian Cabal, Kyle Edmund, Robert Farah, Wesley Koolhof, Matwe Middelkoop, Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Diego Schwartzman with a speech in the players' lounge at the prestigious season finale.

The former No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings Schwartzman, who played his final match on home soil in Buenos Aires in February, was delighted to be invited back to an event where he competed in 2020.

“It’s amazing to come back to a tournament, especially the ATP Finals and to be able to share it with someone from your family,” Schwartzman told ATPTour.com. “In my case, my mum is here. When I played the [Nitto ATP Finals], she couldn’t come because it was the pandemic and players’ invites were very limited.

“My mum’s a tennis fan, so we’ll enjoy a couple of days watching tennis and I’m getting a nice recognition. It’s fun and a good initiative.”

_{^{Diego Schwartzman (centre) with Fernando Sanchez, Senior Vice President of ATP Player Relations, and ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi. Photo Credit: Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour}}

The retired players also later participated in an on-court ceremony during Friday’s night session at Inalpi Arena, shortly before the singles clash between Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Among them was Kyle Edmund, the former World No. 14 who won two ATP 250 titles and reached the semi-finals at the 2018 Australian Open before his career was disrupted by a series of injuries.

“I’ve realised that when you play, you don’t think too much about your career, but since retiring you have a lot more time at home, and you can appreciate your career a lot more,” said the 30-year-old Briton. “On Tour, but even on juniors and the journey, it’s nice to reflect.

“It’s good that the ATP reached out and said they wanted to celebrate my career with this ceremony… It’s a really nice touch and you remember these sorts of things. Since I retired, I haven’t been at an event, so it’s nice to come to the Finals. My parents are as well which is nice, because they were with me throughout my career.”

_{^{Kyle Edmund with his parents Steven and Denise at Inalpi Arena. Photo Credit: Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour}}

Former World No. 17 and four-time ATP Tour champion Ramos-Vinolas said: “The event is really amazing, I’m so happy to be here, to receive a small tribute and to come here with my family and spend a few more relaxed days at a tennis tournament.”

Singles stars Schwartzman, Edmund and Ramos-Vinolas were joined in the ceremony by a quintet of elite doubles stars. They included three former No. 1s in the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings: Juan Sebastian Cabal, Robert Farah and Wesley Koolhof.

“It’s really amazing, of course, it was a very beautiful ceremony,” said Cabal. “We’ve experienced it as players, with other athletes, and we know that it’s a recognition for what you gave during your career. You look back and you see everything you achieved, and it’s really nice to remember it. And, of course, for them to do it for you at the best tournament of the year is really great.”

Farah said: “Having the recognition here at the ATP Finals makes it even more special. This tournament is always one that we appreciate so much, it gives you that feeling of exclusivity and of quality. It’s really nice for them to do this here and it reminds you of many things you experienced at this tournament. Now we’re back here in a different situation, enjoying it and watching in a much more relaxed way. It’s really fun.”

_{^{Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah on Friday at the Nitto ATP Finals. Photo Credit: Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour}}

The 2020 Nitto ATP Finals champion Koolhof added: “I think it’s a very nice initiative from the ATP and they do it well. I had my goodbye It’s nice to be back. It’s one of the most prestigious tournaments of the year, so it’s nice to be back here for the fourth year in a row, even though I’m not playing. It’s nice to see all the people again and celebrate what you’ve achieved.”

Koolhof won the first three of his 21 tour-level titles with Middelkoop, who played the last match of his pro career in Umag in July.

“I said I want to have my parents here, because they were there at the start and I wanted to give them opportunity to see me at the end of my tennis career,” said Middelkoop. “It’s an amazing feeling. I’m very proud of what I accomplished, and to be in a group of legends here — which they are — it says a lot.”

Quereshi made his final tour-level appearance in a Davis Cup tie in Paraguay in September. The Pakistani won 18 tour-level doubles crowns, including two ATP Masters 1000 titles.

“Obviously it’s an amazing feeling [to be here],” said the former Top 10 star, who is one of only four men to win the ATP’s Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award twice. “Growing up as a Pakistani, a young kid, I never thought I would have such a long career to start with. Playing with the top guys, at the top tournaments, and qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals also four times. It’s been amazing, and this is like a full circle.

“My parents are here, my wife, my son and daughter are here. It’s a lot of things to digest but I feel proud in the end as well for having an amazing career. The ATP was like a second family to me. I spent more time in these 25 years with people from the ATP and the staff, the players, the physios, the trainers and the line umpires, than my own family. I’ve had some ups, I’ve had some downs, but overall, I think it was a mutual friendship and trust that I gathered the most.”