January’s Hot Shots Set ATP Tone
The 2026 ATP Tour opened with shots that blended audacity and grit, from curved winners to desperate dives, signaling a season of high-stakes adaptation on hard courts.
The 2026 ATP Tour season exploded into life in January, delivering a month packed with breathtaking shotmaking that tested players’ resolve amid the grind of early tournaments. From Brisbane’s outdoor buzz to Hong Kong’s night-session intensity, these moments captured the blend of flair and fortitude needed to build momentum before the majors. As schedules stacked up across Asia-Pacific hard courts, every point carried the weight of ranking implications and psychological resets.
Musetti carves artistry under pressure
In Hong Kong’s humid conditions, Lorenzo Musetti unleashed his trademark flair, carving a jaw-dropping banana forehand winner that looped around the net post mid-rally. Facing an aggressive inside-in from his opponent on the fast surface, he adjusted his topspin to bend the ball impossibly, turning defense into a crowd-roaring finish. That shot not only clinched the point but hinted at his ability to thrive in tight exchanges, easing the transition from off-season to tour demands.
The curve demanded precise footwork and commitment, exploiting the court’s speed to wrong-foot his rival and spark his early confidence. With deeper draws ahead, such creativity could prove vital in navigating the one–two patterns that dominate hard-court play.
“it’s about trusting your instincts when the pressure hits,” Musetti reflected post-match.
Davidovich Fokina dives for redemption
Meanwhile, in Adelaide’s steady winds, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina kicked off his 2026 highlight reel with a full-stretch diving effort, lunging to flick a crosscourt backhand volley that grazed the line. The sequence unfolded in a baseline battle where heavy topspin forced him into a scrambling one–two to stay in the point, his athleticism transforming desperation into opportunity on the true-bouncing hard court. This play underscored his drive to rebound from prior setbacks, fueling a push through the early-season brackets.
The dive, executed with a quick slide adjustment, absorbed the pace and redirected it sharply, shifting momentum in a match where endurance would define deeper progress. As tournaments piled on, such resilience armored him against the tour’s relentless tempo.
Nakashima and Norrie rally with grit
Over in Brisbane, Brandon Nakashima brought the crowd to its feet during a remarkable rally featuring three tweeners, each lobbed with control to disrupt his opponent’s rhythm in a tiebreak on the outdoor hard courts. Blending flat groundstrokes with these improvisational shots, he countered the surface’s quickness, forcing errors in a high-pressure game. The sequence revealed his poise, turning opening-round nerves into bold statements that could elevate his standing.
Across in Auckland’s cooler evenings, Cameron Norrie showcased his relentless defence, turning a seemingly lost point into a winner while under constant pressure from down-the-line blasts. Retrieving deep with underspin slices, he extended the rally on the moderate-speed court, countering with crosscourt angles to flip the dynamics and secure the set. These efforts embodied the mental toughness essential for sustaining form amid travel and surface shifts.
January’s cauldron forged these shots, previewing a year where tactical adaptability and inner resolve will clash on courts worldwide. Watch the video below and then cast your vote for your favourite Hot Shot here. Voting closes at 12 p.m. EST / 6 p.m. CET on Tuesday, 10 February.
