Casper Ruud clinched his spot at the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time after a breakthrough season in 2021.

The Norwegian broke into the Top 10 of the FedEx ATP Rankings after winning three consecutive titles in as many weeks during the summer European clay-court swing at the Nordea Open in Bastad (d. Coria), Swiss Open Gstaad (d. Gaston) and the Generali Open in Kitzbuhel (d. Martinez). He became the first player to win three titles in as many weeks since Andy Murray in 2011 at Bangkok, Tokyo and Shanghai. Ruud also lifted trophies at the Gonet Geneva Open (d. Shapovalov) and the San Diego Open (d. Norrie).