Ben Shelton

It was on the brink of becoming a routine victory. At 5-4 up in the second set, World No. 6 Ben Shelton was just two points away from closing out his Round of 16 match at the Hamburg European Open. The American’s 230 km/h serve had fired down 12 aces, and the Centre Court at Rothenbaum was starting to fall quiet. Then, the 65th-ranked German on the other side of the net decided it wasn't over yet. In a stunning display of resilience, Daniel Altmaier clawed his way back to claim a famous 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 victory.

The landscape of tennis is shifting. The thunderous serves of Nick Kyrgios have given way to the thunderous celebrations of Ben Shelton. The relentless power of Juan Carlos Ferrero’s pupil, Carlos Alcaraz, is matched by a dizzying variety of touch and feel. And the stoic, iron-willed dominance of the "Big Three" is evolving into an era of explosive athleticism and raw, emotional passion.