kenneth in the (212): Weekend Tennis Diary

Monday, April 05, 2021

Weekend Tennis Diary

Bizarre couple of weeks in Miami, ending with Hubert Hurkacz capturing the men's title (huh?) and Ash "I'm No. 1 for no apparent reason" Barty suddenly finding her form to win the women's. Yet as is all too often these days, I found myself far more interested in what was going on off the court than on. Keep reading HERE.

Hurkacz became Poland's first ATP Masters 1000 champion on Sunday after taking down 19-year-old Jannik Sinner 7-6(4), 6-4 in the Miami Open. The 24-year-old needed one hour and 45 minutes to clinch the biggest ATP Tour title of his career, and his second of the year after lifting the trophy at the Delray Beach Open.

Ashleigh Barty clinched the women's crown when an emotional Bianca Andreescu had to retire trailing 6-3, 4-0. Barty -- well aware that people do not think she belongs on top of the rankings -- is a champion in Miami for the second straight time, and sees the win as validation of the No.1 ranking she has held for 70 weeks and counting. “I know there has been a lot of talk about the ranking,” Barty said later, “but I didn’t play at all last year and I didn’t improve any of my points whatsoever. There were girls who had the chance to improve theirs, so I felt like I thoroughly deserve my spot at the top of the rankings. I think everyone needs to understand that it’s a pandemic. It’s probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing for a lot of us to go through, so it’s a bit of a difficult situation. But yeah, no, it doesn’t ever really get to me. I mean, it’s just what people say and I can’t change their opinion, so it doesn't stress me out at all.” I agree that it's been anything but business as usual. But something has to be wrong that Naomi Osaka can be the current titleholder of two Grand Slam titles to Barty's none yet the Aussie is still on top. (When are her 2019 French Open points ever going to expire???)

Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic were crowned champions of the 2021 Miami Open, beating Brits Daniel Evans and Neal Skupski 6-4, 6-4. It’s the Croatian dreamboats' fourth title together in the 2021 season. Mektic and Pavic came as favorites after winning the Antalya, Melbourne-2 and Rotterdam titles. They also reached the Dubai final and the Australian Open semifinals.

Isn't he pretty in pink?

Elsewhere around the net ...

Congrats to Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils, two of the nice players in pro tennis. Whenever a couple announces they're getting married after taking a break I always get a little nervous, but here's wishing them best wishes in their new life together.

Juan Martin del Potro is giving his latest comeback attempt a go

Another early exit for Reilly Opelka meant more time for sleeveless ping-pong

Two thumbs up for the return of Quentin Halys's facial hair

Guido Pella is a model on ...

and off the court

Marton Fucsovics giving the gay boys blue balls

Stan Wawrinka spent his 36th birthday ...

rehabbing ...

John Millman and Juan Carlos Ferrero make a nice couple

Los Angeles-based Czech fashion photographer Radka Leitmeritz turned her lens to the tennis courts throughout the Miami Open for a series of behind-the-scenes portraits featuring ATP Tour and WTA Tour players and these were some of the results. More HERE.