DIMITROV WINS AGAIN; U.S. BOTCHES GERMAN ANTHEM AT FED CUP

This Week In Tennis
Season 2, Vol 5

Grigor Dimitrov and Alexander Zverev built on their strong showings at the Australian Open with a pair of titles over the weekend. Dimitrov won on home soil for his second trophy of the young season, while Zverev's was the second overall of his young career. Elsewhere, Victor Estrella Burgos won the Ecuador Open for a third successive year, catapulting him back inside the ATP top 100 (#93). But, the most sensational headlines came out of Hawaii, where the U.S.T.A. had to issue an apology to their German Fed Cup opponents after playing an outdated Nazi-era version of their anthem. 

​#ThisWeekInTennis recaps the tennis happenings of the last week via news reports, player tweets, featured articles, rankings, and podcasts.

Photo: Jonathan Newman/The Body Serve

RUNDOWN
​

• Grigor Dimitrov continued his fast start to the 2017 season, winning his second title on the year, this time on home turf at the Sofia Open. Dimitrov added to his Brisbane title when he beat David Goffin in the final, and is now 14-1 in 2017.
• Victor Estrella Burgos completed a three-peat at the Ecuador Open in Quito, beating Paolo Lorenzi in a third set tiebreak.  
• Alex Zverev scored the second ATP Tour title of his career, winning in Montpellier. The young German cracks the ATP top 20 for the first time, landing at #18 in this week's rankings; he also paired with his brother to win the doubles title. 
• Richard Gasquet, aiming for a three-peat in Montpellier, fell one match short losing to Alex Zverev in the final.  
• The ​Fed Cup semifinals are set: Czech Republic d. Spain, U.S.A. d. Germany, Belarus d. Netherlands & Switzerland d. France.

• As with Davis Cup last week, the Fed Cup action produced a shocking moment when the host U.S.A. team played an outdated version of the German National Anthem. Worse yet, the version played was one used during Nazi-era Germany. The U.S.T.A. promptly issued an apology for the debacle, while Andrea Petkovic termed the fiasco "the epitome of ignorance."
• Not long after Denis Shapovalov was fined $7,000 for hitting an umpire in the eye at Davis Cup last week, came the news that Arnaud Gabas underwent surgery as a result of the accident.
• Sloane Stephens announced that she had successful foot surgery, and hopes to be back on the WTA Tour by the summer. 
• Absent in Rotterdam: Top seeds Stan Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal both announced their withdrawals from the event.
• WATCH: A python eats a tennis ball, has to have it removed.

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A photo posted by Grigor Dimitrov (@grigordimitrov) on Feb 13, 2017 at 1:26am PST

Sin palabras! Este triunfo es de todo el pueblo dominicano ??! Gracias Dios por tanto ?!… https://t.co/ll3xNzYx4B

— Víctor Estrella B. (@Vitiestrella80) February 12, 2017

The USTA extends a sincere apology to the German Fed Cup team & fans 4 the outdated National Anthem. This mistake will not occur again. pic.twitter.com/4LyG3ACe5u

— USTA (@usta) February 11, 2017

We rock, @Gael_Monfils □ pic.twitter.com/LDs2dxxXkr

— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) February 13, 2017

Thank you Team □□!What an honour to enjoy this crazy ride with you all ❤!#fedcup #semifinal #limitless @mhingis @BelindaBencic #VikiGolubic pic.twitter.com/8Qz525Z0nC

— Timea Bacsinszky (@TimeaOfficial) February 13, 2017

3 trophies in one week for me and my brother @opensuddefrance . I couldn't be more happy right now and I'm already on the way to @abnamrowtt for the next one @atpworldtour #thankful

A photo posted by Alexander Zverev (@alexzverev123) on Feb 12, 2017 at 11:51am PST

? @maxibendahan ?

A photo posted by Juan Monaco (@picomonaco) on Feb 11, 2017 at 3:02pm PST

Amazing experience competing with Team USA this week @FedCup! #TeamUSATennis @CoCoVandey @BMATTEK @Riske4rewards pic.twitter.com/JlFW1Rx9Tx

— Shelby Rogers (@Shelby_Rogers_) February 13, 2017

I am very sorry to announce I won't be able to play in Rotterdam next week. After last year's absence... https://t.co/Vj7VltxGv5

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) February 9, 2017

? https://t.co/yrWlw4L02P

— Karolina Pliskova (@KaPliskova) February 10, 2017

​RANKINGS WATCH

• ATP: Federer (+1 to #9), Dimitrov (+1 to #12), Zverev (+3 to #18), Gasquet (+3 to #19), Lorenzi (+9 to #37), Edmund (+4 to #49), Almagro (-7 to #51), Mahut (-10 to #52), Basilashvili (+20 to #67), Brown (+13 to #71), Klizan (-37 to #73), Bellucci (+25 to #75), Estrella Burgos (+63 to #93)

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• ​WTA​​:​ V. Williams (-1 to #12), Bertens (+2 to #22), Vinci (-4 to #25), Kasatkina (-4 to #32), Niculescu (-3 to #39), Doi (-6 to #48), Wickmayer (-3 to #63), Beck (-3 to #68), Buyukakcay (+4 to #82), Rodina (+3 to #83), Witthoeft (-7 to #84), Nara (-4 to #89), Schiavone (+3 to #97)

 
​ON THE WEB

​Serena, Venus and the Williams movement
Letter to My Future Self​ - Milos Raonic
​Judy Murray rallies project to attract more women to tennis
With Right Temperament & Experience, Rinaldi is Perfect Fed Cup Fit
Steve Johnson Takes us Through a Year of the ATP Tour's Global Grind
​Mailbag: Scheduling problems, the physicality of the game and more
​Stefan Edberg: The King Of Returns
​Sir Andy Murray ready for return to Davis Cup duty – in quarter-final against France
​Courier At No. 1: 25 Years On...
​Practice Anyone? Ivo Looks For A +1
​Grigor Dimitrov Is A Guy To Know
Whose Weekend Meant More - Alexander Zverev's or Grigor Dimitrov's?
Week in Preview: Kerber Leads a Loaded Field in Doha
​Canada's young tennis star talks about Davis Cup outburst
Should Venus and Serena Williams' Parents be in the Tennis Hall of Fame?
Humanity Magazine: Interview with Venus Williams

PODCASTS

The Body Serve - Never a Dull Moment, Even in February
No Challenges Remaining - Making a Racquet
​Beyond The Baseline - 19-year-old American Reilly Opelka
The Main Draw - ​Grappling with David Foster Wallace
​Realz Tenis Fanz - Oh Tennis!! Can’t we behave like normal pro sports?
WTA Insider - Spasibo! A Salute to the Kiki and Yulia Variety Hour
Tennis With An Accent - Interview with Jose Morais