Weekend Tennis Roundup

Grigor Dimitrov finally made good on his rapidly fading promise, winning his first Masters 1000 title yesterday in Cincinnati. 

With Daniel Vallverdu, of coaching Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych fame

The dreamy 26-year-old Bulgarian beat Aussie Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 7-5 to capture his third ATP World Tour crown of the year, which pushes him back into the Top 10 going into the U.S. Open.

Garbine Muguruza thrashed Simona Halep 6-1, 6-0 to take home the women's title, which is amazingly only the Wimbledon champion's fifth(?) overall -- two of which are majors. (She was clearly wishing she could have put the "Wheel of Fortune" prize trophy on account.) With yet another humiliating loss for the busty Romanian -- who suddenly seems to have no realistic chance of ever winning a major -- Damian and I are wondering if she might want to follow Melanie Oudin into retirement. Liked what I saw in Madison Keys, who had three match points against the eventual champion, and that Sloane Stephens was back in the mix, even if she lost in nearly as spectacular fashion to Halep as Halep did to Muguruza. 

Also ...

Via ATP: Almost nine years to the day since he first became No. 1, Spain’s Rafael Nadal today returned to the top of the Emirates ATP Rankings for his fourth stint at the pinnacle of men’s professional tennis. Nadal, who has already spent 141 total weeks at No. 1, replaces Great Britain’s Andy Murray, who had held the top spot for 41 weeks since Nov. 7,  2016.

Don't really have enough information to have a strong opinion about this, but I was bummed to see that Victoria Azarenka won't be playing the U.S. Open because of a custody dispute with her too-hot-for-her-ex-boyfriend, Billy McKeague. Her impassioned note about the situation -- "No Parent Should Have to Decide Between Their Child or Their Career" -- was something I'm sure every woman can relate to -- something most men take for granted.

Anyone going to New Haven this week? Three-time champion Petra Kvitova begins her latest campaign tonight versus Shuai Peng.

Cincinnati champ Grigor Dimitrov on holiday with girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger, who is apparently a Pussycat Doll of some sort. More HERE.

Any U.S. Open predictions?

Maria Sharapova has been granted a wild card -- but has barely played since "returning" to the game.

New Yorkers: Be on the lookout for THIS!