Well, I wanted to be furious when Sloane Stephens came displaying an "anything you can do I can do better" style of play against Elina Svitolina in the WTA finals -- only to lose. But when all was said and done, it was hard to argue that Svitolina didn't deserve the biggest title of her career, finishing off the 2017 U.S. Open champ 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. The rallies were incredible, and after awhile it just seemed Sloane couldn't figure out a way to win against the Ukrainian backboard.
Here's hoping Elina can build on this title -- like Caroline Wozniacki did but Dominika Cibulkova and Agnieszka Radwanska did not -- and finally play well in the majors.
God knows we'd like to see more of her
hunky coach -- but for now she's like the female Alexander Zverev. Time for both of them to step it up in the Slams.
Was this her real trophy?
Perhaps more frustrating was the final in Switzerland. Marius Copil's large body came through qualifying to reach the final -- beating both Zverev brothers along the way -- then was up a break in both sets only to predictably fold against Roger Federer. The unheralded Romanian's serve and backhand are unbelievable.
But his Steffi Graf sans confidence forehand gets him into trouble at key times, which is probably what cost him the match. Still, it was an incredible run. And watching Federer make his victory speech -- his 99th singles crown -- in three language was equally impressive.
Meanwhile in Austria, South African Kevin Anderson
secured his spot at next month’s season-ending ATP Finals by beating Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-3 7-6(3) to win the Vienna Open on Sunday.
The world number eight sent down 13 aces and 36 winners, winning 91 percent of his first-serve points as he wrapped up victory in just under two hours. (And his hair seems to have finally found a part!)
The 32-year-old is the first South African to reach the ATP Finals in 23 years and follows in the footsteps of compatriot Wayne Ferreira who achieved the feat in 1995.
Anderson joins Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin del Potro, Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev in sealing his spot at the season finale, which will run from Nov. 11-18 at the O2 Arena in London.
Worth noting that Anderson beat Fernando Verdasco in three sets in the semifinals. Not sure if the Spaniard has been getting more home-cooked meals or what, but he was certainly looking hunkier than ever.
The men are in Paris this week. Here's hoping Dominic "there isn't a tournament I won't enter" Thiem fares better than he did before in home crowd, where he was demolished 6-3, 6-1 by Nishikori. And speaking of Thiem ...
Whose daddy would you rather do: Dominic's ...
or Stefanos Tsitsipas's?