Monday, February 10, 2020

Weekend Tennis Roundup


The Associated Press reports that Gael Monfils beat Vasek Pospisil, 7-5, 6-3, on Sunday to win the Open Sud de France title for a third time, equaling French countryman Richard Gasquet’s tournament record. The ninth-ranked Monfils improved to 6-0 in career matches against Pospisil, ranked No. 132 and still searching for his first career title. He has lost both finals in his career. 


The 29-year-old Canadian, blighted by injuries since he reached a career-high ranking of 25th in 2014, is hopeful that his best form is coming back. “It was an incredible week. I had great wins and I feel like I am definitely improving week by week," Pospisil said, who appeared to sip maple syrup on the changeover. "I will try to rest now, take a couple of days easy and get ready for the next event.”


And wouldn't you know it, the poor boy pulled something during the match  ...


as did I while watching this medical timeout.


Coach Frank Dancevic and his beautiful hair, and a built blond.

UPDATE: That's Richard Johnson, a physiotherapist at Coast Performance Rehabilitation in North Vancouver, British Columbia.


Pavic and Cacic on top ...


Hubba hubba!


In an all-South American final, Christian GarĂ­n beat local hero Diego Schwartzman 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 to win the Cordoba Open, his third ATP title in 10 months, after Houston and Munich 2019. 


The sexy Chilean moves up to No. 26 in the ATP Ranking, a new career high.


Five years after capturing his maiden ATP Tour title in Auckland, Jiri Vesely added a second trophy to his collection on Sunday to complete a dramatic week at the Tata Open Maharashtra. The Czech fired 26 aces to beat Egor Gerasimov 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-3 and become only the eighth player since 2013 to save match points in two matches en route to an ATP Tour crown. Vesely saved two match points to overcome Ilya Ivashka in a final-set tie-break to reach the semi-finals and advanced to the championship match after surviving four match points in another final-set tie-break against Ricardas Berankis.


Serena Williams lost a Fed Cup singles match for the first time ever, but Team USA still managed to edge Latvia 3-2 to advance to the 12-team finals in Budapest in April, as did Belarus and Russia.


In Challenger-land: Great effort from 20-year-old Jurij Rodionov to win his second singles challenger title (first since June 2018 on clay) ...


after beating hunky Denis Kudla, above, 7-5, 7-6(10) in Dallas. 

Around the net:


Nico Mahut puts it all ON DISPLAY.


Freezing Tommy has never been hotter ...


Yet somehow we don't have plans to attend the ATP's stop in Long Island, third year running.


Austrians do it better ...


Vasek's got legs, knows how to use 'em ...


That's one lucky guy in the middle ...


Reilly Opelka's doing a meet-and-greet in Long Island -- damn my need to have a roof over my head!


Borna Coric seems to have arrived in Buenos Aires without incident ...


Let's hope he fares better at the Argentina Open than he did Down Under.




Pospisil and Dancevic have Pacman Fever ...


Daria Kasatkina looks like she's in good hands at the St. Petersburg Open ...


Karen and Andrey and their legs ...


And about the only man hotter than Tommy Paul and Reilly Opelka might be their friend Luca Corinteli ...


who was a standout at the University of Virginia.


Looks like we should've been dining at Il Mulino last night.

(With wire services)

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