Monday, March 21, 2022

Weekend Tennis Roundup

 

The big boys -- and girls -- have all moved on to Miami. But it was a memorable two weeks in Indian Wells, where Taylor Fritz and Iga Swiatek were crowned champions. My full tennis report BELOW.


Any guesses?



A Masters 1000 final featuring two injured men wasn't exactly ideal -- nor was having an American win the first big title of his career by beating a hobbled legend. But I won't lie that I was relieved that Taylor Fritz -- who was reportedly in excruciating pain -- did manage to keep his level of play high enough to eke out a 6-3, 7-6(5) win over Rafael Nadal in Indian Wells, if for no other reason than I didn't want to see the Spaniard rewrite the history books yet again in another tournament Novak Djokovic was barred from playing. Nadal had already pulled out of Miami as a precautionary measure, so here's hoping things get back to normal travelwise so we won't have to deal with the Serb's idiotic stance on vaccines again. 


Looking a lot like she did when she came out of nowhere to win the 2020 French Open without dropping a set, Poland’s Iga Swiatek crushed No. 6 seed Maria Sakkari, 6-4, 6-1 to claim the women's crown in Indian Wells and her fifth career tour-level title. Question: I know it would be career suicide in her native country, but is there any way Iga isn't a lesbian? 


Taylor with former player/department-store-heiress mom Kathy May Teacher Paben Fritz


ATP notes that it wasn't the first time Fritz has made a seemingly miraculous injury comeback. After leaving the court on a wheelchair at Roland Garros in 2021, Fritz underwent surgery for a torn meniscus. Less than a month later, he reached the third round at Wimbledon before losing a five-setter to Alexander Zverev.


Shoutout from Reilly Opelka ...


and son Tommy Paul


The American wildcard team of John Isner and Jack Sock won their second BNP Paribas Open title together on Saturday evening when they defeated Mexico’s Santiago Gonzalez and France’s Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-6(4), 6-3 for the trophy.

Elsewhere around the net ...


Borna's disappointing answer ...


The Pulgar twins 


And their star pupils get ready for Miami


The Arizona Republic writes that Denis Kudla played such good tennis over the past week at the Arizona Tennis Classic, the 29-year-old from Virginia gave himself two opportunities to win a trophy on Sunday, the final day of the ATP Challenger Tour event at Phoenix Country Club -- and wound up with both trophies. The Ukrainian-born Kudla, whose family moved to Fairfax, Va., on his first birthday -- won in his first match of the day, the singles championship. 


His 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Germany's Daniel Altmaier saw him take control midway through the second set and dominate from there. Some 20 minutes after his victory, he was back on the court for the doubles final.



Kudla won it in three sets with partner Treat Huey, who represents the Philippines in international events, over Oscar Otte and Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany 7-6, 3-6, 10-6.



The Russian invasion of Ukraine has affected his family, and Kudla -- whose third-set tiebreak win over J.J. Wolf in the semis was the highlight of the tournament -- said those relatives are safe. His parents have been keeping up to date on loved ones in the country. "Obviously the nerves and the stress of potential air strikes is not fun, but again, you just hope for peace, no war," Kudla said. "It's definitely a mess. It's sad to see in this time. We just hope for the best and send all our blessings over there."


Adorable Renzo Olivo and Andrea Collarini won the doubles at the Campeones Challenger 80 de Concepción


Matt Ebden does his cheesiest smile for American Airlines


Bernard Tomic's comeback seems to be sinking


IW tournament director Tommy Haas is fit as ever ... 


but could sure use a haircut


Speaking of hair, Lindsay Davenport rocked the Rosie O'Donnell 1996


I like Carlos Alcaraz, but he is a bit much at times ...


Aljaz Bedene attracts a nice crowd 


I couldn't help but notice a standout player in Cameron Henricy photo with his Valdosta State University teammates


Say bonjour to Swann Flohr


Tommy with sister-in-law Erin Foster and some hot boys


Vasek Pospisil visits Johnny Mac on Roosevelt Island


Cesar Ramirez can't quit Christian Harrison


But he always keeps one in the wings ...





Just some more hot photos of J.J. Wolf in Phoenix


Hot Couple Alert: 30-year-old Federico Coria practices with teen sensation Holger Rune 


Andreas Mies visited Phoenix to lend support to his countrymen 




Tom Hill & Co. saw their star pupil reach the final in Indian Wells


Liam Broady is the irascible little brother Andy Murray didn't know he needed


Pretty in pink


Oh, Lloyd. I wouldn't say you're just a pretty face/hot body, but ...


Liam with British Davis Cup hunk Leon Smith and some chick



David O'Hare and Big Joe Salisbury and possibly the luckiest woman on earth


I know the sound of Marton Fucsovics's wheels


Manspread Monday: Lock Edition


Borna Coric managed to not reinjure himself in Indian Wells, so let's see how Miami goes



Jan-Michael Gambill and Shelby Rogers are looking for a fourth


We need to talk about Veronika Kudermetova's coach-cum-husband


Maria Badosa wasn't able to defend her desert crown, but her box was anything but dry


I'm not sure this coaching arrangement between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Thomas Enqvist is paying dividends. But it sure has provided me with a lot of fantasy material. Question: Am I the only one who thinks the Greek's one-handed backhand -- however pretty it may be to look at it -- just isn't strong enough for him to go to the next level? 


How random for Tim Olyphant to visit Tulane's tennis team


Noah Rubin and two men in underwater-camera-colored shorts


JMG is stuck in traffic


Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies 


Nice action shots of Oscar Otte 



And Kevin Krawietz 


Woof


For the life of me I can't figure out what Victoria Azarenka was crying about 


And last but not least: I'm not exactly sure how this Djordje -- how do you say the last name ... Joe-ko-vich? -- person became the tournament director of the Serbian Open. 





But he sure is pretty ... lol

2 comments:

Scott said...

JJ looks sooo much better sans mullet

ATANNER said...

You continue to enable my JJ Wolf addiction by posting hot photos...THANK YOU!