Weekend Tennis Roundup

Well, I wanted to be furious when Sloane Stephens came displaying an "anything you can do I can do better" style of play against Elina Svitolina in the WTA finals -- only to lose.  But when all was said and done, it was hard to argue that Svitolina didn't deserve the biggest title of her career, finishing off the 2017 U.S. Open champ 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. The rallies were incredible, and after awhile it just seemed Sloane couldn't figure out a way to win against the Ukrainian backboard.

Here's hoping Elina can build on this title -- like Caroline Wozniacki did but Dominika Cibulkova and Agnieszka Radwanska did not -- and finally play well in the majors.

God knows we'd like to see more of her hunky coach -- but for now she's like the female Alexander Zverev. Time for both of them to step it up in the Slams.

Was this her real trophy?

Perhaps more frustrating was the final in Switzerland. Marius Copil's large body came through qualifying to reach the final -- beating both Zverev brothers along the way -- then was up a break in both sets only to predictably fold against Roger Federer. The unheralded Romanian's serve and backhand are unbelievable. 

But his Steffi Graf sans confidence forehand gets him into trouble at key times, which is probably what cost him the match. Still, it was an incredible run. And watching Federer make his victory speech -- his 99th singles crown -- in three language was equally impressive.

Meanwhile in Austria, South African Kevin Anderson secured his spot at next month’s season-ending ATP Finals by beating Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-3 7-6(3) to win the Vienna Open on Sunday. The world number eight sent down 13 aces and 36 winners, winning 91 percent of his first-serve points as he wrapped up victory in just under two hours. (And his hair seems to have finally found a part!)

 The 32-year-old is the first South African to reach the ATP Finals in 23 years and follows in the footsteps of compatriot Wayne Ferreira who achieved the feat in 1995. Anderson joins Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin del Potro, Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev in sealing his spot at the season finale, which will run from Nov. 11-18 at the O2 Arena in London.

Worth noting that Anderson beat Fernando Verdasco in three sets in the semifinals. Not sure if the Spaniard has been getting more home-cooked meals or what, but he was certainly looking hunkier than ever. 

Two hunks are better than one ...

The men are in Paris this week. Here's hoping Dominic "there isn't a tournament I won't enter" Thiem fares better than he did before in home crowd, where he was demolished 6-3, 6-1 by Nishikori. And speaking of Thiem ...

Whose daddy would you rather do: Dominic's ...

or Stefanos Tsitsipas's? 

Waiting to Exhale

I couldn't be more relieved that Kevin Anderson beat Trump sympathizer John Isner. The American's tennis is as one-dimensional as our fake leader, and both of them need to just go away) As for the second semifinal, I won't sleep well tonight, but suffice to say I am comforted that Novak Djokovic managed to win the third set after blowing a break and being down three set points. 

What a shame they (we) now have to wait until tomorrow, but at least I'm off so I can pay more attention rather than fleeting glances in the newsroom!

As Damian put it, you live by the sword and you die by the sword, so Isner won the longest match in Wimbledon history and lost the second longest.

And Then There Were Four (x Two)

Well there was certainly no lack of drama at the All England Club, even if only one of the four men's semifinals went the way I wanted it to -- Novak Djokovic beat Kei Nishikori. (Would it kill Juan Martin del Potro to wake up before the match started?) 

Although I wasn't thrilled Kevin Anderson gave his Obama-bashing wife something to cheer about, I was even more disgusted that John Isner beat Milos Raonic. (Do we really need a geriatric Trump sympathizer in the semifinals of Wimbledon?) 

In years past one would think the winner of Djokovic and Nadal would be the obvious eventual winner. But given their advanced ages and levels of fragility, I'm scared either one of them could end up losing to either one of the giants. [Sigh.]

On the women's side I will say that with all Top 10 players being eliminated before the quarterfinals, it still wound up being a pretty respectable final four. While I still think it's Serena's to lose, I'm rooting for Kerber to win it all. Interestingly, Ostapenko has never played Serena, so it's hard to gauge who has a better shot against the mother GOAT.

Respect, above all else. 👏 . One of the great final sets - according to @andymurray - caps an almighty battle between Nadal and Del Potro on Centre Court . #Wimbledon @rafaelnadal @delpotrojuan #TakeOnHistory

A post shared by Wimbledon (@wimbledon) on Jul 11, 2018 at 1:27pm PDT

One point away from a straight-sets defeat, now one win away from a Wimbledon final 🙌 . See you in the semis, Kevin Anderson 🔜 . #Wimbledon @kandersonatp #TakeOnHistory

A post shared by Wimbledon (@wimbledon) on Jul 11, 2018 at 11:06am PDT

Sloane Stephens Dominates Madison Keys for U.S. Open Crown

Attending the women's final yesterday in Flushing was a dream come true. And even though the match wasn't as competitive as we'd hoped, it was a thrill to see Sloane Stephens win her first major title. 

The 3.7-million-dollar woman

What a brilliant and measured performance -- a combination of defense and offense that hasn't been seen since Kim Clijsters -- made even sweeter by attending my first Grand Slam final with Damian and his mother and sister Gabby!

The family that watches tennis together ...

Trophy wives 

Fountains of Walsh

View to a thrill

Today we are bracing ourselves for Rafael Nadal versus Kevin Anderson. Although Anderson's wife was an anti-Obamacare lunatic on Twitter for a while, I'm mainly rooting against him because I think it would be so fitting for Roger Federer and Nadal  to each win two Grand Slam titles this year, something that never even happened in their (first) heydays. 

UPDATE:

Much to Damian & Co.'s delight, Rafa handily won his 16th major, giving him an even bigger majors buffer from Novak Djokovic. It was pretty anticlimatic -- Anderson has never had much luck against his childhood rival and seemed overwhelmed by the setting -- but as a man of a certain age, I'm not going to begrudge an old timer another title. Hardly anyone could have seen 2017 coming. Will be very eager to see if Novak Djokovic can escape that cult and return to form -- and whether or not Stan Wawrinka has anything left in the tank. 

BTW:

Had the good fortune to see Martina Hingis team up with Jamie Murray to win the mixed doubles on Saturday. The Wimbledon champs defeated Hao-Ching Chan and Kiwi dreamboat Michael Venus 6-1, 4-6, 10-8 to seal their second title.

And then to top it off, the Swiss Miss teamed with Chan Yung-Jan -- her mixed doubles victim's sister -- to capture the women’s doubles title on Sunday when they rolled past the Czech partnership of Lucie Hradecka and Katerina Siniakova 6-3 6-2. The victory took Hingis’s career Grand Slam tally to 25 -- five singles titles, 13 doubles and seven mixed doubles!

Chucky's in love: Hingis shook Yung-Jan's hand after the match, but moved in for the double kiss on this one -- so Continental. Girl's no fool.

Everyone's a winner when Michael Venus plays ...