Monday, January 17, 2022

Weekend Tennis Update

 

I had hoped to have this done before the Australian Open officially began but was busy with family obligations -- so will you settle for "better late than never"? Thanasi Kokkinakis, Aslan Karatsev, Paula Badosa and Madison Keys won tune-ups over the weekend, plus we got an eyeful of Kevin Krawietz, Liam Broady and more BELOW.




Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis has won his first ATP title and reacted to the breakthrough in priceless scenes, shouting repeatedly in triumph and breaking down in tears. The 25-year-old clinched a 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 victory over Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech to win the men's Adelaide International two singles title.


Dutchman Wesley Koolhof and Briton Neal Skupski continued their explosive start as a new team in 2022, claiming a second consecutive title in the Adelaide International 2 final Saturday. The Dutchman and Brit, who last week won the Melbourne Summer Set title in their team debut, defeated Uruguay’s Ariel Behar and Ecuador’s Gonzalo Escobar 7-6(5), 6-4. They did not concede a set en route to the title.


Former world No. 1Andy Murray's quest for a first ATP title in over two years ended in defeat at the hands of top seed Aslan Karatsev at the Sydney Tennis Classic on Saturday, with the Russian easing his way to a 6-3 6-3 win. It was a third career title for the 28-year-old Karatsev, who reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open as a qualifier last year.


In doubles, John Peers and Filip Polášek defeated Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini in the final, 7–5, 7–5


Paula Badosa captured her third career title and second on hard courts at the Sydney Tennis Classic, defeating No.4 Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4) in a hotly contested final Saturday. The win capped off a week that included wins over Jelena Ostapenko, Ajla Tomljanovic, Belinda Bencic and Daria Kasatkina, and boosted the Spaniard to a new career-high No.6.


And this sure was nice to see. Madison Keys has warmed up for the Australian Open in strong form winning an all-American final of the WTA tournament in Adelaide against Alison Riske, 6-1, 6-2. The former U.S. Open finalist and onetime world No. 7, who has slipped to her current 87th-ranking due to injuries and a slump in recent years, had progressed to the final after overcoming a leg injury to beat third-seed Coco Gauff in three sets in another all-American match up in the semifinals.

More news from Down Under ...


Karen Khachanov and Coco Gauff take in the local flavor


Lorenzo Musetti looks good enough to eat


Your weekly helping of Albano Olivetti


How do you say 'workout buddies' in French?


Now we know what kind of underwear Liam Broady wears. Watch HERE.



Dreamy Jack Draper -- whom Lloyd Glasspool describes as a "stud" -- claims his first #ATPChallenger title after a convincing 6-3, 6-0 win over Jay Clarke in Forli!



Speaking of works of art


Hopefully coach Patrick Frandji consoled him



Daniel Altmaieer had a "learning experience" with Alex Zverev


Croat Franko Skugor is ready for doubles action in Melbourne






My Clinton Thomson obsession continues





Trophy boyfriend Juan Betancourt



He always has tongues wagging



Tommy Paul wouldn't tease a girl, would he?


Note to self: Tommy likes mustaches


Miomir Kecmanovic dodged Novak Djokovic and won his first round against lucky loser Salvatore Caruso. Next up: A drilling from Tommy Paul?






Matteo Berrettini's new clothing contract turns every match into a fashion runway


Also appreciate his bathroom humor :-)



Embarrassingly easy loss for Cam Norrie to Sebastian Korda ... 



But he still looks like this while Korda ...


Laslo Djere came up a little short against Denis Shapovalov, but not before putting on a brieflines show


Canadian jackhammer 


Benjamin Bonzi -- who sadly came out as straight -- won the battle of the bearded hunks against Peter Gojowczyk, and will play everyone's favorite Karen next


Jamie Murray shows off his curves


Stefano Travaglia is all smiles


And now so am I ...




Sam Groth is still serving bullets, as his wife found out the hard way




Liam Broady made Britain proud by making the Melbourne main draw


And the flirting with Joe Salisbury was impressive as well


Who needs to retire more: Dominic Thiem 


Or Borna Coric? 



Erstwhile tennis player Kyle Edmund channels his inner Rocky Balboa


I hope Tom Hill is prepared for his charge to be upset by a 19-year-old qualifier tomorrow


Carlos Alcaraz works up a sweat on the practice court 


The Spanish teen with Andrey Rublev


Double Lock-ed


Leggy Feliciano Lopez kept his playing majors streak alive


Although he lost in the first round to John Millman 


Someone over at Nike doesn't like Grigor Dimitrov 


Marius Copil sure knows how to pick strip-poker opponents


Ugo Humbert went fishing ...


after getting a happy ending 


Corentin Moutet is on a roll, having reached the semis in Adelaide before knocking out countryman Lucas Pouille in the first round of the Australian Open


At least Luca still has his legs


Watch the pint-size Frenchman put on a fashion show HERE.


ITF hotness: Santiago Franchini


Marton Fucsovics hair wound up like his time in Melbourne: short


Hot couple alert: Frances Tiafoe and Holger Rune



Thanasi Kokkinakis celebrates with family






Andreas Mies and Kevin Krawietz re-teamed after a year apart, reaching the semis in Syndey. 


And are now seeded No. 12 at the Australian Open


Noah Rubin does Brazil 



I'd like to see Tommy, Mackie and Taylor after a night of shots


Fit Fritz


Maximilian Marterer takes on Taylor in round 1


Pretty boy alert: Matteo Berrettini and Stefanos Tsitsipas



Matt Ebden's hot body came this close to qualifying for the AO


Harriet Dart is one lucky girl


Marcelo Arevalo, Yari Bernardo and Dutch treat Jean-Julien Rojer


Benoit Paire is here to make friends


The Australian government would have been wise to deport Novak Djokovic on the grounds that he lied on his paperwork rather than claiming he posed an imminent health risk after allowing him to train all week at Rod Laver Arena


Diego Schwartzman's pecs for Fila



Enzo Couacaud's legs


The lickable Flavio Cobolli 


Ryan Harrison's hot suburban dad look


Cristian Garin squeaked past fellow South American Facundo Bagnis to advance to the second round in Melbourne


Where do I sign up for this?


Maxine Cressy continues his nice run, reaching the quarters in Sydney. He'll take on John Isner in the first round in Melbourne


Poor women's tennis


And my latest crush: Fake Kazakh Dmitry Popko is real stud. Follow HERE.

(With wire services.)

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