One year ago, Luca Van Assche was No. 389 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Now the 18-year-old is the youngest player in the world’s Top 100 at No. 87 and will play World No. 1 Novak Djokovic on Wednesday in the second round of the Srpska Open in Banja Luka.
ATPTour.com looks at five things to know about the #NextGenATP Frenchman, who defeated Stan Wawrinka in the first round.
Luca Is A Roland Garros Boys’ Champion
In 2021, Van Assche enjoyed the biggest moment of his career at Roland Garros, where he captured the boys’ singles title. Having just turned 17 when he lifted the trophy, Van Assche became the fifth home favourite to triumph in the event since the start of the millennium, joining Paul-Henri Mathieu, Richard Gasquet, Gael Monfils and Geoffrey Blancaneaux. One year ago, Frenchman Gabriel Debru joined them.
“I was very happy. I looked to my team, and we were celebrating the victory,” Van Assche said in a press conference at the time. “I was very, very happy to win this big tournament in France in front of our fans, in front of French people. So it was very cool.”
Hometown Hero 🇫🇷
Luca Van Assche is the 2021 Boys’ Singles Champion, defeating friend and countryman Arthur Fils in straight-sets 6-4, 6-2.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/sUz0NPijoU
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 12, 2021
The Frenchman Made ATP Challenger Tour History
Much of Van Assche’s rise into the Top 100 can be credited to his success on the ATP Challenger Tour. He has already won three ATP Challenger Tour titles, including victories this year in Pau, France and Sanremo, Italy.
In Pau, Van Assche made history in the final against countryman Ugo Humbert. The teen triumphed 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(6) after three hours and 56 minutes, marking the longest final in ATP Challenger Tour history.
“It was a crazy match, an amazing fight against Ugo,” Van Assche said. “I’m very happy. A lot of emotions during this match. I was leading, then losing. I was match point up, then match point down. It was a fantastic match with great support from the crowd.”
Since 2016, the only players to win at least three Challenger titles before their 19th birthday are Van Assche, Carlos Alcaraz, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune.
Luca Attends University Virtually
Van Assche is still learning both on and off the court. The Frenchman is studying mathematics virtually through Paris Dauphine University. This semester he is taking multiple classes.
The 18-year-old is able to study remotely, but he returns to Paris to take exams.
“I have a lot of homework when I’m on the road, but of course I manage it,” Van Assche told ATPTour.com. “Sometimes it’s difficult to do both. For the moment, I’m enjoying doing both so I will continue like this. It’s my second year.”
His Idol Was Roger Federer
Roger Federer won his first of 20 major titles in 2003 at Wimbledon. Van Assche was still 10 months from being born.
That did not stop the Frenchman from looking up to the Swiss, whom he calls his hero. Van Assche just missed out on being on Tour at the same time as Federer, who retired at last year’s Laver Cup.
“Now I’m sad that he’s not playing anymore,” Van Assche told ATPTour.com. “I hope in the coming years I can meet him. I watched his final match, it was a very emotional moment.”
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Get To Know Luca’s Family
Van Assche was born in Belgium, where he lived for three years.
“I don’t remember because I was too little,” he said.
The family then moved to France. Van Assche’s father is operations director for a shipping company and his mother, who is Italian, is an Italian teacher. Luca has two sisters and one brother.
– Reporting contributed by Grant Thompson