Weekend Tennis Roundup

Lots of action around the world with Fed Cup and ATP tournaments on two continents. But the biggest story for me might have been Mirza Basic beating Marius Copil 7-6(6) 6-7(4) 6-4 in Sofia to capture his first ATP title. It was a match of two first-time finalists.

And while I was happy for the 26-year-old Bosnian, who beat a returning Stan Wawrinka in the semis and now enters the Top 100 for the first time ...

 

it was the Romania's body that kept me glued to the TV set. (Might be time to amend my hottest asses list!)

More HERE.

Lucas Pouille got a little lucky to win his fifth ATP World Tour title, beating three-time champion Richard Gasquet in Montpellier.

The gluteusly endowed Frenchman was getting blown off the court by beefy countryman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga when the Ali lookalike got injured. Then the "luck" continued by facing someone who has never won a title in his 16-year career greater than a 250. (Gasquet defeated top-seed David Goffin in his semi, however.)

Pouille will next play in Rotterdam, where Roger Federer will shoot to regain the No. 1 ranking.

Meanwhile down South American way, Roberto Carballes Baena celebrated his maiden moment on Sunday at the Ecuador Open, clinching his first ATP World Tour title in dramatic fashion. The Spaniard won his third straight three-set clash to lift the trophy, battling to victory as a qualifier. He then defeated countryman Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 for the Quito crown.

And speaking of which: Diego Schwartzman's Instagram continues to thrill -- this time with a Dominic Thiem stalker pic in Buenos Aries, where some of the men are playing this week. 

And then there was this. Two professional athletes stepped on the court in the second quarter of Saturday evening’s Brooklyn Nets game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The thing is, they weren’t basketball players. Ryan Harrison and Evgeny Donskoy, who are competing at this week’s inaugural New York Open, made many cheering fans happy by throwing and hitting tennis balls into the crowd during the tournament’s players’ party, which was held at the game. 

“It was really cool to get out there and have a little bit of cross-sport promotional stuff,” said Harrison, who won the event last year when it was held in Memphis. “Most of us who play tennis play other sports and it’s really cool to be able to see a great venue like this.” The only way this could have been better is if cutie Noah Rubin had joined the action.

And in Fed Cup play: Germany -- without Kerber, Goerges, Petkovic, Lisicki, Siegemund and Witthoeft -- defeated Belarus (without Azarenka) in Minsk to get back to the semifinals. 

Czech Republic is into the semifinals for the 10th straight year, thanks to some outstanding play by Petra Kvitova.

France -- without the help of Caroline Garcia and Alize Cornet -- defeated Belgium to advance to the semis. A resurgent Kristina Mladenovic was the star, beating both Kirsten Flipkens and Elise Mertens in straight sets then teaming with Hesse to win the doubles.

And the U.S. dismissed the Netherlands, despite the shaky return of Serena Williams. In the GOAT's first competition since she gave birth five months ago, she and sister Venus lost 6-2, 6-3 to Lesley Kerkhove and Demi Schuurs. But as rusty as she looked, Damian and I were still having PTSD flashbacks watching that serve. (I don't think it will be long before she's back in form.) 

Hello, Daddy!

And while I don't normally mention ATP Challenger events, hard to ignore Vasek Pospisil winning again, this time beating Nicola Kuhn of Spain in Budapest. (Kuhn and Felix Auger Aliassime won the doubles crown.)

Vasek Pospisil‏Verified account @VasekPospisil Feb 11

Another great week here in Budapest. Second title with the team 🏆🏆. Good start to the year 💪🏼 @rschuettler @dirkhordorff