There have been 25 different winners of the ATP Finals, but only a select few have managed to win it in their debut year.
John McEnroe managed the feat in 1978 in front of a hometown crowd at Madison Square Garden, while Stefanos Tsitsipas was the last man to win on his debut in 2019.
In 2025, Ben Shelton has the opportunity to achieve the feat as he’s qualified for the first time in his career.
Grigor Dimitrov won the event in London on his debut year in 2017, but he’s surprisingly failed to qualify for the tournament since.
Grigor Dimitrov’s 2017 ATP Finals win
Dimitrov won all three of his round robin matches at the 2017 event, toppling Pablo Carreno Busta, Dominic Thiem, and David Goffin to qualify for the knockout stages.
The Bulgarian continued his fine form in the semi-finals by dispatching Jack Sock in three sets to reach the final.
A re-match with Goffin was on the cards in the final and the sixth seed managed to beat his counterpart again in three sets.
Dimitrov’s dream run to the title remains his only appearance at the tournament, although he has come close in the intervening years.
The Bulgarian was an alternate at the 2024 event, which was won by Jannik Sinner, but he didn’t play at the tournament.
The former World No. 3 remains the only player to win the ATP Finals on his debut and never play the tournament again.
Players who only appeared at the ATP Finals on one occasion
Dimitrov might be the only player to win the ATP Finals on his sole appearance, but the Bulgarian is in the esteemed company of players who only played the tournament once.
Five players featured at the tournament once and managed to make it all the way to the final, including Rod Laver in the very first tournament.
The legendary Australian lost to inaugural ATP Finals winner Stan Smith in what was his only appearance at the tournament.
| Player | Appearances | Stage | Year |
| Rod Laver | 1 | F | 1970 |
| Tom Okker | 1 | F | 1973 |
| Wojciech Fibak | 1 | F | 1976 |
| Sébastien Grosjean | 1 | F | 2001 |
| James Blake | 1 | F | 2006 |
Other notable names include former world number four James Blake, who reached the final on his sole appearance in 2006.
The American was defeated by Roger Federer in the final in straight sets, which also included a bagel from the Swiss superstar.
Sebastian Grosjean, Wojciech Fibak, and Tom Okker also made the final on their one and only appearance at the ATP Finals.
