After receiving wild card entries into the Argentina Open and Rio Open in February, Juan Martin del Potro is on the verge of making his long-anticipated comeback.
The former world number three hasn't embroiled himself in competitive tennis since June 2019, after enduring four knee surgeries. Del Potro, now 33, won his only Grand Slam championship in 2009 when he upset Roger Federer in the final of the US Open. He also managed to reach the semi-finals of Wimbledon and the French Open. The Argentine has tumbled to 757th in the global rankings after not playing for almost two years. He will, however, treasure the opportunity to return to the court on home turf.
"I've been training really hard. Some days are better than others but always with the hope of coming back to compete early next year. It would be very special to come back to Buenos Aires and then play in Rio. As you can imagine, I'm giving my all every day so we can meet again very soon. I'll keep you all updated with my progress," Del Potro declared on an Instagram Post last year.
Del Potro hasn't appeared in the Argentina Open since 2006, but he ended up winning the men's singles silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Personally and professionally, the 33-year-old has had a difficult few years.
"I love the challenge. It could be a tennis challenge or a different challenge in life. This is the toughest match of my career, because I cannot deal with these kinds of injuries, this pain that I have now. But I'm still trying and trying," Del Potro stated to ESPN.
"This is the life. I believe in myself that this is going to be in the past for sure. But I think it's also a message to the young kids, to all the players, to all the people around the world that they never have to give up following a dream and that's what I'm doing with myself," he added further.
Nevertheless, The Argentine hasn't relinquished on tennis and is hoping to send a message via his inspiring comeback.
ATP Tour records: Most titles in tennis career (men's)
ATP tour is basically a global top-tier tennis tour organised for male tennis players by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). Here are the male players with the most titles in tennis history.
ATP Tour is basically a global top-tier tennis tour organised for male tennis players by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
The 2025 season is the 35th year and 56th edition of the ATP, organising the global circuit of men's tennis. Jimmy Connors has the record of winning the ATP Tour titles in his career.
ATP Tour tournaments
The ATP tour tournaments are - ATP Masters 1000, ATP 500, ATP 250 and the United Cup.
ATP Challenger Tour, a level below the ATP Tour, and the ATP Champions Tour for seniors, the Grand Slam tournaments, the Olympic tennis tournament, and the Davis Cup also come under the ATP Tour. However, these tournaments are not governed by the ATP.
Most titles in tennis career (men's)
Here are the male tennis players who have won the most titles in tennis history and created ATP Tour records.
1. Jimmy Connors | 109 titles
Jimmy Connors is the man with the most ATP singles titles in history. The American has won 109 ATP singles titles. He also holds the record for most ATP matches played and most ATP matches won.
Connors, in his career, has won eight Grand Slam titles, which include one Australian Open, two Wimbledons and a joint-record five US Open titles.
He was the World No.1 for a then-record 160 consecutive weeks and a total of 268 weeks in his career.
2. Roger Federer | 103 titles
Federer with his last Grand Slam title - Australian Open in 2018. Image | AO on X
Rodger Federer is the second topper in the list of ATP tour singles titles of the modern era with 103 ATP titles. He is also the record holder for most singles titles at the age of 24.
The former tennis player also has a record 6 ATP finals. Moreover, he was the world's No. 1 tennis player in the ATP rankings for a total of 310 weeks. These 310 weeks include a record 237 consecutive weeks.
Federer has also finished as the year-end No. 1 with a bang 6 times. He clearly dominated the world of tennis in his era with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. He also has20 Grand Slam titles.
The "Big Titles" of the modern ATP tour consist of four Grand Slam tournaments, all 9 ATP Masters events, and the ATP finals. Djokovic is the only player to win all the "Big Titles".
Ivan Lendl is often referred to as the ‘Father of modern tennis’.
The Czech-American has won eight Grand Slam titles in his career, which includes two Australian Open titles, three French Open titles and three US Open titles.
Lendl occupied the World No. 1 position for a total of 270 weeks. In his entire career, the former World No. 1 won 94 ATP singles titles.
After his retirement, Lendl went into coaching. He helped Andy Murray win three Grand Slam titles.
5. Rafael Nadal | 92 titles
Nadal with his record 14th Roland Garros title. Image | Roland Garros on X
Rafael Nadal is also present on this prestigious list with 92 ATP tour titles.
He was also the world's No. 1-ranked tennis player for a consecutive 209 weeks. In 2008, Nadal became the No. 1 player for the 1st time after his first-ever massive victory against Federer. He also concluded as the No. 1 in the year-end 8 times.
In the history of the ATP Tour, he was one of the most successful teenagers. He became the No. 2 in the world at age 19 and won 16 titles, including his very 1st French Open and also 6 Masters events.
He has won 22 Grand Slam titles in his career before retiring. Nadal is one of the very few players to achieve the "Career Golden Slam".
Novak Djokovic holds the most ATP Masters titles in tennis history with 40 titles. Here are the players with the most ATP Masters titles in tennis history.
ATP Masters 1000 features the nine tennis tournaments' best men's tennis players on the annual ATP Tour calendar. It started with the name ATP Masters Series in 1990.
Novak Djokovic currently holds the most ATP Masters titles in tennis history. Let's have a look at the top tennis players with the most titles in the ATP Masters since the Series began in 1990.
1. Novak Djokovic | 40
Novak Djokovic with the Paris Masters 2023 title. Image | Paris Masters
Novak Djokovic is the record holder of the most ATP Masters titles with 40 titles.
Novak also completed the set of all nine Masters singles titles in 2018 and became the only tennis player to claim the prestigious Career Golden Masters. He completed his Career Double Golden Masters in the year 2020.
Also, he broke Federer's long-held record in August 2019 after winning his 379th Masters 1000 victory during the Coupe Rogers.
Nadal after winning the Rome Masters 2021. Image | French Open
With 36 titles, Rafael Nadal has the second-most position in the ATP Masters since 1990.
He surpassed Roger Federer in this battle among Masters 1000 match win leaders, by moving ahead at the 2019 Rolex Paris Masters. He sits just behind Novak and has reached 52 finals and a record 75 semifinals.
Nadal's supremacy on clay surfaces started with the Monte Carlo Masters win in 2005, which later on got transferred to the French Open as well. He also won his last ATP Singles title on clay in the Rome Masters 2021.
Roger Federer with the Miami Masters 2019 title. Image | ATP Tour
Sitting in the 3rd position, Roger Federer won 28 titles in this series in the entire tennis.
Federer won 103 ATP singles titles, including 20 Grand Slam singles titles and a record six ATP Finals. Roger started by winning the Hamburg Masters in 2002 and then continued his reign on the ATP tour.
The former World No.1 won his last ATP Singles titles in 2019 when he defeated John Isner in the Miami Masters final.
Winning a Grand Slam title is something most tennis players dream of from the day they start swinging their racquet. Let's take a look those tennis players with most Grand Slam titles in men's tennis.
Winning a Grand Slam title is something most tennis players dream of from the day they start swinging their racquet. Despite the difficulty of winning a grand slam tournament, a select few have dominated on the biggest stage throughout the years. The past two decades, in particular, have seen certain players cement their place in history by winning a record number of grand slam titles. In 2025, the battle for those records continues, with Wimbledon taking place between June 30 and July 13.
Let's take a look those tennis players with most Grand Slam titles in men's tennis.
Novak Djokovic is one of the greatest tennis players in history. He has a record 24 men's singles Grand Slam titles. The Serbian tennis great also became the third men's player to win 100 ATP Tour titles. Djokovic is the only man to hold all four Slam singles titles at the same time since Rod Laver's 1969 calendar Grand Slam.
2. Rafael Nadal | 22 Grand Slam Titles
Rafael Nadal comes second on this list, winning 22 men’s singles Grand Slams, only behind Novak Djokovic. More than half of them came at one Slam and on one surface that the Spaniard became synonymous with: the French Open. No player has won more than Nadal’s 14 Roland-Garros titles throughout a dominant 18-year span, in which the king of clay defended his crown 10 times and recorded an unbelievable 97% win percentage.
3. Roger Federer | 20 Grand Slam Titles
Swiss great Roger Federer is one of the most decorated men's tennis stars. Federer won his first-ever grand slam title in 2003 & became the first men's singles player to reach the milestone of 20 grand slam titles and also eclipsed the record of 14 grand slams held by Pete Sampras during this quest. He has won 6 AO Open, 1 french Open, 8 Wimbledon & 5 U.S Open Titles. Federer won his last Grand Slam Title in 2018. He announced his retirement in 2022.
4. Pete Sampras | 14 Grand Slam Titles
Pete Sampras won 14 major singles titles during his career, which was an all-time record at the time of his retirement: a then-record seven Wimbledon titles, two Australian Opens, and a joint Open Era record of five US Open titles. He won 64 singles titles in total. He was the first to reach world No 1.9.
Roy Emerson was a Champion whose career bridged the amateur and Open eras. The Aussie great won his 12th Grand Slam singles title at the French Open Championship against countryman Tony Roche. His haul of 28 Grand Slam titles (12 singles, 16 doubles) is a record for men's tennis. Emerson is also the only man to win singles and doubles titles in all four majors.
AI in Sports: How It's Changing Player Performance & Fan Experience
The introduction of Artificial Intelligence or AI in sports is rapidly growing as it is revolutionizing the experience for both fans and players, bringing significant changes for greater communication.
Artificial Intelligence has been improving the sports we watch and analyze for nearly the past 20 years, but the latest generation of ultra-modern AI tools is revolutionizing every aspect of sports, from improving player and team performances to ensuring safety along with fan engagement and the experiences.
AI can process and store large amounts of data, which allows us to gain insights that we couldn't see before. This capability is at the center of the revolution. For the players, this brings improved strategies, varied training methods, and a significantly lower risk of injury.
The fans enjoy a whole new level of engagement in the game, thanks to Al-powered platforms providing content tailored to them, such as virtual reality experiences and more.
The massive impact of AI in the Sports Industry
Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing the Sports Industry rapidly by offering solutions to common problems such as individual performance, tactical requirements, injuries and recoveries, variations in training, etc.
The capacity of AI and GenAI tools to analyze complex data and provide instant insights is ushering in a new era of athletic performance and fan engagement as well.
From predictive analytics that improve player safety and performance to AI-powered viewing experiences for fans, the influence of artificial intelligence is setting the bar higher across the industry.
1. Player and team performance
(Image Credit | Markovate)
GenAI can analyze team and player behavior to reach conclusions that would contribute to improved training and coaching. For example, they can monitor and analyze the movements of players with computer vision.
In this way, they can assess whether an athlete is moving wrongly or could be injured. Machine learning algorithms can watch game videos to identify patterns of the opposing team. Sports coaches can be made to develop wiser game plans and strategies by artificial intelligence.
Some techniques, including motion tracking and motion analysis, can capture changes in the posture, movement, or technique of a player that indicte fatigue or poor motor control.
According to a study by Grand View Research, the sports analytics market size was valued at $1.9 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $5.2 billion by 2028, showcasing the rapid growth and demand for advanced analytics tools in sports.
The following two tools are widely applicable to player and team analysis:
SportVU: This system tracks detailed player and ball motion in a game with computer vision and machine learning. It can analyze shot mechanics, accelerations and decelerations, speed, and distance.
KINEXON: This system tracks positional and motion data in real-time by equipping players with sensors.
2. Injury Prediction and Prevention
(Image Credit | Sportsmith)
Injuries occur regularly in professional sports. Identifying and preventing injuries before they even occur is likely one of the most thrilling applications of AI.
Teams can utilize AI algorithms to monitor an individual's motion as they move their joints and strain their muscles. It can search for patterns or instabilities that signify an injury before the symptoms themselves appear.
AI can recognize a slight deviation in the amount of strain a soccer player puts on their knee joint and warn the coaches or medical staff. Way before the injury became acute enough to cause the player to miss games, the team could either give them rest or do exercises to help them recover.
A report by MarketsandMarkets estimates that the global sports medicine market, which incorporates AI-driven health monitoring solutions, is projected to reach $9.3 billion by 2026, underlining the significant role of AI in athlete well-being.
The following two tools could be used in the AI-powered prediction and prevention of injuries:
Sparta Science: It uses computer vision and motion sensing in analyzing movement patterns of an athlete. Based on motion data, biomechanical deficiencies, and especially risks of increased injury, machine learning models are able to identify those.
Zone 7: It measures injury risk using factors such as workload, degree of fatigue, and others through artificial intelligence and research in sports science. Their methods take age, position, body composition, and medical history into account.
3. Training Through AI-Powered Analytics and Wearables
(Image Credit | Sports Tomorrow)
Smartwatches and fitness trackers are examples of wearable technology that have become essential for tracking many of the parameters mentioned earlier.
Wearable GPS devices that can track athletes' speed and location, overall distance traveled, and movement patterns are available to provide relevant information.
Wearable heart rate monitors use optical sensors to measure blood flow in real-time, tracking the heart rate. This is an important aspect of monitoring heart health, fitness levels, and recovery. It also helps in tracking blood oxygen levels, which is another important component of modern-day fitness trackers. They use optical sensors to track the oxygen saturation level of blood.
Since the 2010s, Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), such as GPS tracking vests, have been commonly used in professional sports. Such vests are offered with discrete and effective GPS tracking and sensors located on the back and shoulders; they are typically worn as tank tops.
In football and rugby, the vest is mainly utilized to track the location and movement of a player and, thereby, report strengths and weaknesses.
4. Sports Commentary and Reporting
Sports commentary and reporting can automatically be generated from match events and live data by employing natural language processing(NLP) methods like GPT-3. Artificially intelligent commentary not only comments on a strategy but also summarizes the critical events of match play.
Similarly, GenAI can create such highlights, summaries, and post-match data reportage for viewing audiences as well.
NLP methods can make the commentary more dramatic and interesting by taking into account the game statistics and situations in real-time data. With the use of generated personalities and tones, it is possible to accommodate various fan interests in the coverage.
Automated GenAI reporting enhances sports coverage and commentary without losing interesting and captivating stories.
5. Sports Officiating
(Image Credit | Griffon Webstudios)
The use of AI in sports officiating is not without controversy, including traditional backlash and concerns regarding technology's influence on the game. Yet, the improvements it introduces, such as real-time analysis and decision support, are dramatically enhancing the accuracy and fairness of officiating.
Its capabilities to review plays from multiple angles and analyze them in seconds are proving invaluable in high-level games where every call matters.
Despite initial doubts, the use of AI in officiating is increasingly being accepted, with many seeing its potential to eliminate human error and ensure a level playing field.
As the technology improves and its uses extend, its role in assisting fair play and accuracy in sports is poised to increase, ushering in a new era in the use of technology and sportsmanship.
6. Player Scouting
(Image Credit | Intuz)
Team owners are using artificial intelligence to review the performance of the players. To determine the most skilled people to invest in, they use data analysis using artificial intelligence. It takes millions of dollars to find talent in the sports world.
So, team owners would like to ensure that scouting one player is the best decision. Artificial intelligence is used widely in scouting players for any sport, be it cricket, football, or basketball.
AI-powered Change in Fan Engagement and Experiences
1. Personalized Fan Engagement
To provide customised fan experiences, GenAI algorithms can model the preferences and behaviours of audiences. Sports teams and broadcasters can use these insights to optimize engagement across media channels.
For example, social media platforms can deliver tailored video highlights, personalized promotions, and AI-recommended content to resonate with each fan.
The NBA revealed 'NB-AI', allowing fans to activate "movie mode" and watch live games animated like popular films, such as Spider-Man
Based on their past interactions and activities, the Generative AI identifies what content types, sports stats, and topics each fan finds most appealing. It creates and sends personalized content for each person. This level of customization, enabled by GenAI in sports, helps sports organizations connect more deeply with their audiences.
2. Viewing Experiences
GenAI can process live video to generate augmented reality (AR) overlays and graphics that enhance broadcasts or live streams.
For example, shot trajectories, real-time player stats, and situational analysis can be visualized and overlaid onto the gameplay footage. For virtual reality (VR), GenAI can create real-world simulated environments for an immersive in-game perspective.
The key innovation is using Generative AI to dynamically generate and adapt AR/VR overlays and environments on the fly, customized to each moment. As the narrative and action of the game shift, the GenAI-powered augmented experiences shift with them, elevating viewing to multidimensional engagement.
A survey conducted by PwC found that 65% of sports fans are interested in using AR or virtual reality (VR) devices to watch sports, indicating a growing appetite for immersive experiences enabled by AI-driven technologies.
Conclusion
AI collaboration with sports is making the place safer as well as fairer. Predictive modeling and algorithms in AI are becoming a must for injury prevention. AI guarantees that more accuracy and fairness can be introduced in the outcome of a game by enhancing officiating. Both the aspects of performance and integrity are vital components in ensuring the prosperity and popularity of sports continue.
The impact of AI reaches sports journalism, advertising, and the creation of next-gen sports equipment, beyond the field or court. These innovations create new revenue streams and provide more exciting ways for fans to engage with their beloved sports and teams.
In this sense, artificial intelligence in the sports field could be said to be, by itself, a change not only for the athletes or for the coaches but for the sports system in general. With AI, the sports of the future could easily be foreseen because technology would harmoniously mix with manly athleticism at its highest levels.
Hello and welcome to Sportz Point's LIVE Coverage of the Paris Olympics 2024. Today, we will bring you all the updates of Day 3 (29th July). Nineteen medals are due to be handed out on Day 3 of Paris 2024.
This is Abishek Goswami, Koushik Biswas will join us later to give you all the updates on Day 2 from our web desk.
Swimming | Mollie O'Callaghan breaks Olympic record to win Gold in women's 200m freestyle
Australia's Mollie O'Callaghan breaks her teammate, defending Olympic and World Champion Ariarne Titmus's Olympic record to win Gold in women's 200m freestyle. She stuns the world with the timing of 1:53.27.
🥇Mollie O'Callaghan 1:53.27
🥈 Ariarne Titmus 1:53.81
🥉Siobhán Haughey 1:54.55.
Jul 29, 2024, 6:12 PM
Men's street skateboarding: Yuto Horigome wins gold
Yuto Horigome successfully defends his Gold medal in men's street skateboarding with some late heroics. He was seventh before his final trick and won the Gold at the end with 281.14 points.
Jul 29, 2024, 2:16 PM
Tennis: Djokovic beats Nadal in straight sets
Djokovic won 6-1 6-4 and this might be the last time we saw Rafael Nadal at his favourite The Philippe Chatrier. Djokovic moves to thrid round while Nadal will focus on Men's doubles now.
Jul 29, 2024, 10:54 AM
Shooting: China's Sheng Lihao grabs Gold with an Olympic record
Sheng Lihao wins the Men's 10m Rifle event with an Olympic record of 252.2.
Victor Lindgren, the World Champion collects the Silver medal in his debut Olympics. Miran Maricic wins Croatia's first medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 with a Bronze medal finish.
Shooting: Ban Hyojin equals Olympic record to win Gold in women's 10m air rifle
Ban, 16, who is still who's still studying at high school, beats Huang Yuting of China in a shoot-off to win the Gold in the Women's 10m Air Rifle final and equals the Olympic record set by Yang Qian in Tokyo.
India's Ramita Jindal finished seventh in the finals.
Jul 29, 2024, 8:46 AM
Shooting: Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh qualify for the bronze medal match
Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh qualified for the bronze medal match of the 10m air pistol mixed team event with 580 points. Bhaker scored 291 and Sarabjot scored 289. They will face Korea in the Bronze medal match tomorrow from 1pm IST.
Jul 29, 2024, 7:23 AM
Badminton: Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto in action in Women's doubles
Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto are in action in Women's Doubles against Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida of Japan.
Jul 29, 2024, 7:21 AM
Shooting:
Rhythm Sangwan and Arjun Singh are shooting in firing points 30 & 31 while Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh are at firing points 31 and 22.
Jul 29, 2024, 7:17 AM
Shooting: Reminder for Indian fans
Just a reminder, India have the Qualification world record of 587 set in Osijek in 2021.
India also have the Qualification Olympic record 582 set in Tokyo Olympics.
Jul 29, 2024, 7:06 AM
Shooting: Bhaker will be in action in 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Qualification
Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh; Rhythm Sangwan and Arjun Singh Cheema will be in action from 12.45 pm IST in 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Qualification.
Jul 29, 2024, 6:58 AM
Badminton: Satwik-Chirag's match is cancelled
Today's scheduled match of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty was cancelled as their German opponents have withdrawn from the tournament because of injury.
The Indian pair will take on the Indonesian duo of Fajr and Rian tomorrow at 5.30 pm IST.
Jul 29, 2024, 3:20 AM
Léon Marchand broke Michael Phelps' 16-year-old Olympic record on Day 2
Léon Marchand broke the men's 400m individual medley Olympic record with a timing of 4:02.95. He broke Michael Phelps' previous Olympic record of 4:03.84, set at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Jul 29, 2024, 3:17 AM
Indian athletes on Day 2
PV Sindhu won in straight sets in Women's Singles 🏸
Ramita Jindal qualified for Women's 10m Air Rifle final 🔫
Balraj Panwar qualified for the Men's sculls quarter-finals 🚣♂️
Arjun Babuta qualified for the Men's 10m Air Rifle final 🔫
Historic Bronze medal by Manu Bhaker in Women's 10m Air Pistol 🔫🥉
Sreeja Akula won in straight sets againstChristina Källberg in the Women's singles round of 64 🏓
Sharath Kamal lost against Deni Kožul by 2-4 in Men's Singles round of 64 🏓
Manika Batra defeated Great Britain's Anna Hursey 4-1 in the Women's singles round of 64 🏓
Dhinidhi Desinghu finished at the top in the women's 200m Freestyle Heat with a timing of 2:06.96. 🏊♀️
Indian Women's team lost to the Netherlands in team event quarter-final 🏹
Sumit Nagal lost against Corentin Moutet by 2-6, 6-2, 5-7 in Men's singles 🎾