Monday, March 04, 2019

Weekend Tennis Roundup


Nick Kyrgios capped an incredibly Nick-like week in Acapulco on Sunday, defeating No 3 Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4 victory to capture the Mexican Open. The Greek-Australian will regain his place in the world’s top 50 after hoisting his first trophy in almost 14 months, which saw him beating Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka and John Isner en route to the final. 


It wasn't a complete loss for the young "German": he and brother Mischa captured the doubles crown over hottie Austin Krajicek and Artem Sitak. 


It almost pains me to mention the women's final. "American" Sofia Kenin looked in complete control up a set and break before she began to double fault and relentlessly overhit, handing the title to No. 65-ranked Wang Yafan of China, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5. "This is my first time in Acapulco, and I really like it here," Wang said on-court. (She is ranked fourth in China.) "It was an amazing week. This is a good tournament and everything is very nice." To Wang's credit, she was an incredible retriever. (WTF Award goes to top-seeded Sloane Stephens, who lost in straight sets to qualifier Beatriz Haddad Maia in the second round.) 


Roger Federer joined an elite group of players who have won 100 titles, with a straight sets victory over Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas to win the Dubai Championship Saturday for the eighth time. CNN reports that the 37-year-old Swiss legend is just the second man after American Jimmy Connors to reach a century of tournament wins, a run he started way back in 2001 in Milan. (Just three women have completed the remarkable feat: Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf.)


"It's an absolute dream come true right now," Federer said after wrapping up his latest triumph 6-4 6-4 in just 69 minutes. It was also partial revenge for the shattering defeat Federer suffered against the up and coming Tsitsipas in the last 16 in his defense of the Australian Open crown in January.


And in Sao Paulo, third seed Guido Pella of Argentina claimed the first professional title of his career, beating Chile’s Christian Garin 7-5, 6-3 at the Brazil Open on Sunday. It was a nice moment of redemption for the 28-year-old Pella who had been in a winning position before his home crowd a couple weeks ago before collapsing against countryman Juan Ignacio Londero in the Cordoba Open. 


BBC Sports reports Britain's Kyle Edmund secured a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 win over Andrey Rublev in the final of the Oracle Challenger Series at Indian Wells. World number 27 Edmund was playing in his first event since losing in the Australian Open first round in January. He now moves on to the Indian Wells Masters 1,000 event, which starts on Wednesday. 


 Edmund took part in the second-tier Challenger event as he completed a comeback from a knee injury. (Rublev is also trying to find his game again.) He pulled out of February's tournaments in Marseille and Rotterdam after he was beaten in straight sets in Melbourne by Tomas Berdych.


Marton Fucsovics and his sexy barber make a hot couple ...


As do Ryan Harrison and Aussie Jordan Thompson ... 

P.S.


I posted this photo on Facebook the other night. John Millman lost a nail-biter to John Isner -- but definitely was the winner with this young man in his box. Anyone recognize him?


(With wire services)

1 comment:

demc7 said...

Roger wins 4-5 tournaments a year these days- if he wants to pass Connors, he should play more 250s with less competition- he'll be 40 before he passes Connors 109 record if he doesn't. He only needs 68 to pass Martina for the all time record (that will NEVER be broken)