Daniil Medvedev beat Alexander Zverev in straight sets to win the Shanghai Masters, continuing his incredible form that kicked into high gear this summer.
Appearing in a sixth straight final, the young Russian overcame Zverev 6-4, 6-1 to pick up his first ever victory over the German following four losses. Medvedev’s success in Shanghai earned him a seventh career title and fourth of 2019, in a season that has seen the 23-year-old assert himself as the most likely of the "Next Gen" of players to break the stranglehold of the big three of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer — both of whom were upset in China — and Rafael Nadal at the top of the sport. Djokovic’s loss will ensure Nadal regains the No. 1 ranking, if only temporarily.
And in the week's most exciting news, Coco Gauff won her first WTA tour title by beating Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 on Sunday to lift the Linz Open trophy. Gauff, 15, who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and third round at the U.S. Open, entered the tournament as a lucky loser, replacing injured sixth seed Maria Sakkari, having initially failed to make the main draw after suffering a straight-sets defeat to Germany's Tamara Korpatsch in qualifying.
Add Coco to the list!
Her second-round win against Kateryna Kozlova earlier in the week secured her a place in the top 100 of the women's rankings and a first WTA tour quarterfinal, from which the teenager emerged victorious after seeing off top seed and world No. 8 Kiki Bertens in straight sets. Gauff's first tour semifinal led to her first final thanks to a win over Andrea Petkovic of Germany, again in straight sets. "I'm still overwhelmed and shocked," Gauff said after her victory on Sunday. "I guess it's crazy to say it's my first WTA title.
Sweden's Rebecca Peterson won her second title of the 2019 Asian swing as she defeated Britain's Heather Watson 6-4 6-4 in the Tianjin Open final on Sunday
Brazil's Bruno Soares says working hard and believing things would eventually get better has paid off for him and partner Mate Pavic. The duo, who have been playing together since Queen's Club, won their maiden team title at the Shanghai Masters this past week. No. 8 seeds Soares and Pavic dropped just six games en route to beating defending champions Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo 6-4, 6-2 in the final.
Jonny O’Mara and Ken Skupski from Great Britian captured the doubles title at the Internationaux de Tennis de Vendée held at the Vendespace Arena in La Roche sur Yon, beating Sander Arends and David Pel from the Netherlands 6-1, 6-4. The encounter lasted 52 minutes.
Neal Skupski -- who lost with Jamie Murray to Soares/Pavic in the Shanghai semis -- wished his big brother well.
In Challenger land, where all my favorite hunks seem to play anymore:
Australian dreamboat Christopher O’Connell
turned in a dominant performance all week at the NorthBay Healthcare Men’s Pro Championship, and that didn’t change at all Sunday, even if the level of opponent did.
The 29-year-old Sydney native needed just one hour, 10 minutes to beat seasoned 29-year-old veteran Steve Johnson 6-4, 6-4.
Hubba hubba!
Around the net ...
Robert Farah strikes again ...
Which didn't go unnoticed by Robert Lindstedt!
Talk about a birthday present, girl!
Borna recruits another kid to the gay lifestyle ...
Vasek Pospisil built on his U.S. Open upset of Karen Khachanov, beating Sousa and Mannarino to qualify in Shangahi, then knocking out No. 14 seed Diego Schwartzman in the first round before pushing eventual champion Medvedev to two tight sets in the second round.
Alex Robein + Albano Olivetti = heaven.
(With wire services)
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