Monday, February 17, 2020

Weekend Tennis Roundup


Gael Monfils followed last week's triumph in Montpellier by retaining his Rotterdam Open crown on Sunday, beating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2, 6-4. Monfils was appearing in his third final in Rotterdam, having lost to Martin Klizan in 2016 before lifting the trophy last year with a win over Stanislas Wawrinka.


The 19-year-old Canadian is now 0-4 in finals. :-(


Eighth-seeded Brit Kyle Edmund saved his best tennis for last on Sunday at the New York Open, winning eight of the last nine games in a comprehensive 7-5, 6-1 victory over Italian Andreas Seppi to take the title. The 25-year-old Brit picked up his second ATP Tour crown, with his maiden trophy coming 16 months ago in Antwerp (d. Monfils). 


The 35-year-old Italian was looking good!


Casper Ruud clinched his first title by beating lucky loser Pedro Sousa 6-1, 6-4 in the Argentina Open final on Sunday. (He is the first Norwegian to win an ATP tour title.) The 21-year-old Ruud didn't face a break point in his nine service games and broke his 31-year-old Portuguese opponent three times. Ruud is also the youngest winner of the tournament in its 20-year history.


Kiki Bertens powered past Kazakh Elena Rybakina 6-1, 6-3 in the St Petersburg Ladies' Trophy final on Sunday to become the first woman in history to defend the title. The world No. 8 converted four out of eight break points and saved all five on her serve to seal a 10th WTA singles title after 74 minutes on court. 


You may have heard that Bertens took an "excused withdrawal" after drawing Kim Clijsters in the first round today in Dubai. Champagne Kimmy instead played Garbine Muguruza, to whom she lost 6-2, 7-6(6) in her first tour match since 2012.


No.5 seed Magda Linette sealed her second WTA Tour title as she overcame qualifier Leonie Kung, 6-3, 6-2 to lift the GSB Thailand Open. The draw became wide open after No. 1 seed Elina Svitolina was knocked out by Nao Hibino in the quarterfinals, 6-4, 6-2.

Around the net ...


Now we know who Vasek Pospisil's HOT TRAINER is!


I guess consistency is never easy, as Maple Man proved by upsetting top-seeded Medvedev and then immediately losing to Krajinovic.


Young Thiago Seyboth Wild is all man (spread)


Borna Coric looked adorable promoting the Argentina Open ...



Doing posts with Visit Argentina.


Before promptly losing in the first round to Thiago Monteiro of Brazil.



Meanwhile, Tommy Paul seemed to be having a great time exploring the city while competing in the New York Open on Long Island.


I'll take Bachelor No. 1, please.


"Are those Bugle Boy jeans that you're wearing?"


New York Open defending champ Reilly Opelka lost in the quarters to Jason Jung, but won as a fledgling fashion model.


Unfortunately after a great run Down Under, Tommy drew No. 6 seed Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round, going out 6-4, 6-2.


Jamie Murray turned 34 ...


Here's hoping his sexy doubles partner, Neal Skupski, did something "special" for him.


Damir Dzumhur, who has lately become my highest hope for a gay player on tour, lost in a third-set tiebreak to eventual finalist Andreas Seppi in New York.


If designer Shyam Vador wants Matt Ebden's legs wrapped around him, he's gonna have to wait in line.


Grigor Dimitrov fell to Felix in Rotterdam, but there's no escaping his hot body.


I want to be one of Pavle Zderic's friends.



After losing in New York, Tommy Paul headed to warmer weather with pal Stefan Kozlov.


Jonny O'Mara and Marcelo Arevalo looked good reaching the quarters in New York, losing to Stevie Johnson and Reilly Opelka.


The hot American duo went on to lose to Dominic Inglot and Aisam ul Haq Qureshi in the final (7-6, 7-6).


BTW: Stevie and his 'stache were looking awfully good in his three-set victory over Tennys Sandgren.


Novak Djokovic and his "Little Nole" are the cutest duo you'll see today! More HERE.


P.S. Disgusted to read that Indian Wells tournament owner Larry Ellison is a Trump supporter. (He's also donated to vile Devin Nunes, Lindsey Graham and Kevin McCarthy's Victory Fund.) Despite the omnipresent woman on his arm, I've always gotten a queeny vibe off the Oracle CEO -- and god knows gay Republicans are all the rage these days. Doubtful tournament director Tommy Haas will be of much help -- his father-in-law is another rich Republican (David Foster). I've long wanted to attend the famed desert event, but for now I'm over it.

(With wire services)

2 comments:

martini421 said...

Always look forward to your take on Weekend Tennis Roundup along with the Instagram posts! FYI- O'Mara was paired with Arevalo and they beat Lindstedt and Sandgren in QF. Lost to Johnson and Opelka in the SF.

Kenneth M. Walsh said...

Oops, thanks!