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? 

North American Beauties

Mixed feelings about the results from the Rogers Cup on Saturday. Was happy Sloane Stephens outfoxed Elina Svitolina -- who still comes out a winner with dreamy Andrew Bettles in her box. If there's a god she will exact revenge on Simona Halep in Sunday's final. 

And was equally thrilled that Stefanos Tsitsipas extended his Top 10 massacre with a three-set win over Kevin Anderson, whose biggest fan was in his box (above). 

But then it was boring business as usual when Karen Khachanov, who Damian and I agree is the hottest man on tour these days -- which is really saying something -- came up short again versus Rafael Nadal.

Well, short in the Game Department, that is.

Meanwhile, the rest of the men are already getting ready in Cincinnati, where Roger Federer will return to action for the first time since getting knocked out by Anderson at Wimbledon, squandering a two-set lead. Borna Coric -- who Damian and I also agree is No. 2 on the hot list -- and Bosnian shorty Damir Dzumhur are my pick for cutest couple!

Weekend Tennis Roundup

 Frances Tiafoe won the title in Delray Beach, Fla., yesterday, hitting two consecutive aces to defeat Peter Gojowcyk of Germany, 6-1, 6-4. It was particularly nice to see that he didn't suffer a letdown after upsetting Juan Marin del Potro in the fourth round -- and that he was able to beat fellow NextGen stars Denis Shapovalov and Chung Hyeon, about whom you hear so much more. The breakthrough title for the 20-year-old inserted a much-needed burst of energy into American men's tennis, with Tiafoe becoming the youngest U.S. man to win a tournament since Andy Roddick captured Houston at 19 in 2002. 

And between Tiafoe's ass and Gojowcyk's cute hair, the match was an eye candy feast!

Diego Schwartzman won the Rio de Janeiro Open with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Fernando Verdasco. The title raises the Argentine's ranking to 18th. (The Jewish Telegraphic Agency points out that it is the first time that a Jewish player is among the top 20 in the ATP rankings since 1990, when American Brad Gilbert was fourth.) “I’m very happy to break into the top 20,” Schwartzman, 25, said afterward. “It’s a very difficult tournament, with top 10 [players], great players in the draw and when the week starts you don’t think you are going to play the finals.”

Dominic Thiem working on his volleys earlier this week at the Rio Open! 👏🔥🎾#tennis #news #channel
🎥 tenis.argentina ✅ @ThiemDomi pic.twitter.com/zTXBZo9tLN

— tennisnewschannel (@tennisnewschan1) February 25, 2018

No. 1 seed Marin Cilic was taken out by Gael Monfils and No. 2 Dominic Thiem inexplicably lost 4 and 0 to Verdasco. 

And in another porn-worthy final, Karen Khachanov outlasted Frenchie Lucas Pouille 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 for the crown in Marseille. It was the big-serving Russian's second ATP title of his career.

"I hope there are many more finals between us in the future," Khachanov said to Pouille, who celebrated his 24th birthday at the event. "I felt I was playing good here from the first day. It's nice to play on a full court in the final, and I hope to come back next year."

In Budapest, 23-year-old Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck upset Dominika Cibulkova 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in the final of the Hungarian Ladies Open, to clinch a second career WTA title. 

And finally, just when it seemed we were safe from Elina Svitolina overtaking the No. 1 ranking, she easily defended her title in Dubai, with a 6-4, 6-0 blowout against unseeded Darya Kasatkina. (En route to the final, the 20-year-old Russian had saved two match points to beat seventh-seeded Johanna Konta in the second round, and three against second-seeded Garbine Muguruza in the semifinals.) Angie Kerber looked like she was continuing her strong play by killing Barbora Strycova and Karolina Plishkova, only to lose to Svitolina 3 and 3. (Sigh.)  

Of course, this photo with Andrew Bettles sort of softens the blow ...

Birthday Boy Dominic Thiem Loses in Five

Am not very happy that Dominic Thiem just lost in five sets to Juan Martin del Potro in the Round of 16 at the U.S. Open. (The Argentine has such severe fiaca I can't even tell if he wants to win. And you can bet your favorite empanada he will turn around and lose to Roger Federer in an hour -- he even admitted in the post-match interview that winning tonight was "good enough" for him.) It looks like the dreamy Austrian had a nice 24th birthday party yesterday at Nobu, however, where Denis Shapovalov and Roger Federer stopped by to wish him well. 

Perhaps he would have won if his "boyfriend" had been here to cheer him on instead of watching from a hotel room where he's playing a Challenger event in South America. Long-distance love affairs are never easy ...

UPDATE:

At least one of my wishes came true -- congrats to Madison Keys for one of the biggest wins of her career, coming from behind to defeat Elina Svitolina in three thrilling sets to advance to the quarterfinals!

Anyone know who the Armie Hammer lookalike is in Keys's box? Don't think it's coach Lindsay Davenport's husband, Jon Leach, although he has worked with Madison before, too.

Svitolina added yet another prize to her box -- and Andrew Bettles and new coach Gabriel Urpi had a lot to be happy about, until they didn't.

Weekend Tennis Roundup

"You're hot, but you really need to shut up right now."

Elina Svitolina defeated Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-0 to win the Rogers Cup tournament in Toronto on Sunday, the Ukrainian's fifth title of the season. The 22-year-old beat Garbiñe Muguruza 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the semis and is now 6-1 against Top 5 players in 2017. Wozniacki, on the other hand, fell to 0-6 in final appearances this season and is now 0-3 in career head-to-head matches against Svitolina. 

Oliver Fawls and Andrew Bettles celebrate with their star pupil

We know who has the edge on the court -- so now we can argue who has a hotter man in her box: Andrew Bettles (Svitolina) or David Lee (Wozniacki).

In Svitolina's other box is "Hampshire fast bowler" Reece Topley, whatever that means!

Meanwhile in Montreal, Alexander Zverev stunned Roger Federer in straight sets to win his fifth title of 2017. It was a regular Youthquake up north, with the 20-year-old beating 18-year-old Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the semis, who had knocked out Juan Martin del Potro and Rafael Nadal earlier in the event. With Federer still winning majors, and the generation after him -- Milos Raonic, Grigor Dimitrov and Kei Nishikori -- seeming like they will never step up to plate, it will be interesting to see if Zverev really is the next big thing.

In Legends news:

Tracy Austin, winner of the 1981 Canadian Open (as it was known back then), was inducted into the Rogers Cup Hall of Fame on Sunday. As she explains in this moving video -- I immediately noticed they got her age when she won it wrong, and Tracy notices, too! -- the tournament was where she launched her comeback after being sidelined for five months with sciatica. She defeated Pam Shriver, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert en route to the title, then went on to capture her second U.S. Open and the season-ending championships before her career was effectively over for good. Congrats, Tracy! Watch HERE.

From HERE.