NADAL & STEPHENS HOIST U.S. OPEN TROPHIES

This Week In Tennis
Season 2, Vol 23

#ThisWeekInTennis recaps the tennis happenings of the last week via news reports, social media, featured articles, rankings, and podcasts. This edition takes a look back at week two of the 2017 U.S. Open.

Photo credit: Andres Kudacki/AP

RUNDOWN​

• Rafael Nadal won his 16th career Slam title, and third at the U.S. Open, when he defeated Kevin Anderson 6-3 6-3 6-4 in the final. Already a finalist in Australia and champion in Paris, Nadal extends his points lead as world number one to 1,960 over Federer.
• Sloane Stephens continued her improbable run of form all the way to the U.S. Open title. Sidelined by injury for a year, Stephens entered the U.S. Open coming off back-to-back semifinal showings in Toronto and Cincinnati, before scoring the biggest win of her career in New York. Her path to the title: Vinci, Cibulkova, Barty, Goerges, Sevastova, Venus Williams, and Madison Keys. 
• ​Kevin Anderson made full use of a depleted bottom half of the men's draw to achieve his career-best Slam result. A finalist in Washington D.C. earlier this summer, Anderson continued his good form in New York, besting Sam Querrey and Carreno Bust in the preceding rounds before losing to Nadal.
• Madison Keys joined Sloane Stephens in an all-American final, but was unable to repeat her sublime form she showed in beating CoCo Vandeweghe in the semifinals. The 6-3 6-0 scoreline didn't do justice to the body of work Keys put forth in the past fortnight, including comeback wins over Svitolina and Vesnina.
• Venus Williams, runner-up at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, was two points away from another finals appearance in New York. Unfortunately for the elder Williams, Sloane Stephens conjured her best tennis to thwart her advances in those crucial moments to deny her a third Slam final in 2017.
• Juan Martin del Potro came back from a two-sets-to-love deficit against Thiem in the fourth round to beat Federer in the quarterfinals, but was unable to push Nadal past four sets in the semifinals. The 2009 U.S. Open champion showed yet again that, even if his ranking might not suggest it, he is as formidable as they come on the ATP Tour.
• Roger Federer, hindered by a balky back throughout the tournament, went out to del Potro in the quarterfinals. Federer's loss ensured that tennis fans were left waiting for a first ever Federer-Nadal meeting at the U.S. Open yet again. 
• Martina Hingis partnered with Latisha Chan and Jamie Murray to win both Women's and Mixed Doubles at the U.S. Open. For Hingis, it was her 25th combined Grand Slam title: 5 in singles, 13 in doubles, and 7 in mixed. Meanwhile, the men's duo of Rojer and Tecau won their second doubles Slam title together. 
• Andy Murray says he is unlikely to return to the ATP Tour in 2017, joining Kei Nishikori, Novak Djokovic, and Stan Wawrinka on the sidelines.
• The next class of Tennis Hall of Fame nominees has been announced: Pat Cash, Michael Stich, and Helena Sukova among the candidates.

BEST. DAY. EVER. □□□ pic.twitter.com/R8ARc09Qwb

— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) September 10, 2017

To step on Arthur Ashe with @RafaelNadal for my first Slam final was an honour. I look forward to sharing the court with you again soon □ pic.twitter.com/lojLczEeil

— Kevin Anderson (@KAndersonATP) September 11, 2017

Un torneo inolvidable. Gracias por el amor que me dan y los momentos increíbles que me hicieron vivir. □☺️❤️□ // I won't forget this tournament. Thanks for the love and for the wonderful moments we shared again.

A post shared by Juan Martin del Potro (@delpotrojuan) on Sep 9, 2017 at 8:38am PDT

??? pic.twitter.com/joG3gcECpG

— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@Naomi_Osaka_) September 12, 2017

Very tough end to the Us Open.. still an incredible match.. see you in 2018 □ #mygame #KTLOML

A post shared by Dominic Thiem (@domithiem) on Sep 6, 2017 at 8:39am PDT

Esta foto la soléis ver al revés. Nuestros amigos los fotógrafos le hacen la foto. Aquí los tenéis tal y como los veo yo. You guys have probably seen the picture they take of me... this is that selfie I took Sunday night with the #usopen photographers #thanks #gracias #usopen 17 #newyork #vamos □□□□□☝️

A post shared by Rafa Nadal (@rafaelnadal) on Sep 12, 2017 at 8:56am PDT

So happy for my friend @sloanestephens today. Hope we have many more of these days in the future □□

A post shared by Madison Keys (@madisonkeys) on Sep 9, 2017 at 9:00pm PDT

what a wonderful 2 weeks this has been! thank you to my partners @jamie_murray & @YungJan_Chan for 2 more GS! #2for2 #usopen2017 pic.twitter.com/BVlqJGCXjM

— Martina Hingis (@mhingis) September 12, 2017

ENORME!!! ?? https://t.co/il31EgtL9D

— diego schwartzman (@dieschwartzman) September 11, 2017

Of course that loss hurts, it hurts a lot, but... that's what I dreamed about. To come back and play, compete on big stages against great players like Venus. To prove to myself that I can compete with them! So, at the end of the day I will take positives from this US Open. Thank you to my team, my family, New York City and of course my #teampetra for being here with me ❤

A post shared by Petra Kvitova (@petra.kvitova) on Sep 6, 2017 at 1:22pm PDT

RANKINGS WATCH

• ATP:  Federer (+1 to #2), Zverev (+2 to #4), Wawrinka (-4 to #8), Carreno Busta (+9 to #10), Anderson (+17 to #15), Querrey (+5 to #16), Tsonga (-6 to #18), Sock (-5 to #21), Schwartzman (+5 to #28), Monfils (-14 to #36), Rublev (+16 to #37), Shapovalov (+18 to #51), Fritz (+14 to #94).

​

• ​WTA​​: Muguruza (+2 to #1), V. Williams (+4 to #5), Ostapenko (+2 to #10), Kerber (-8 to #14), Stephens (+66 to #17), Goerges (+7 to #26), Barty (+6 to #37),Brady (+26 to #65), Krunic (+11 to #67), Vinci (-37 to #84),Sharapova (+43 to #103), Kanepi (+308 to #110), Zvonareva (+317 to #306).

ON THE WEB

​Sloane Stephens’s Brilliant Run at the U.S. Open​
TBS Diary: Memorable Moments From The 2017 U.S. Open
50 Parting Thoughts from the 2017 U.S. Open
​Rafael Nadal’s Serene Dominance at the U.S. Open
​For Rafael Nadal and His Uncle Toni, the Coaching Never Ends
You can try anything against Rafa, he'll just try harder
​Rafael Nadal's 16th Slam Was A Fitting Final Tribute To His Uncle Toni
​Tornado Black, Tennis Prodigy, Sidelined by an Operation’s High Cost
​Champion, Friend, Comedian: Sloane Stephens Did It All On Finals Day
​Five Moments That Defined The 2017 U.S. Open
​Juan Martín del Potro’s Beautiful Upset of Roger Federer at the U.S. Open
​Sexism and Shopping: Female Players Get Most of the Odd Questions at the U.S. Open
​Lessons Learned on Frosty Roads Help Estonian Kaia Kanepi Gain Traction at U.S. Open
​‘Youzhny Lobs! Federer’s Underneath!’ Challenge of Tennis on Radio
Diego Schwartzman, Tennis' Smallest Male Star, Is Gaining Stature
​Anderson’s success could be rocket fuel for our sport, says Tennis SA CEO
​Bag? Check. Racket? Check. Dog? Of Course.
​A 13-Year-Old’s Success in Tennis Raises Questions About Age Limits
​Jean-Julien Rojer's Fashion Statement Was A Moving Political Statement

PODCASTS

The Body Serve - Sloane Storms NY & El Decimosexto de Rafa
​WTA Insider - Champions Corner: Sloane Stephens is the 2017 US Open Champion
No Challenges Remaining - U.S. Open - Rafa, Sloane, Battle of the Sexes, Unstoppable
Beyond The Baseline - Paul Annacone from the 2017 U.S. Open
Realz Tenis Fanz - ​We Finally Sloane Our Way to a Century
Tennis Connected - Reviewing the 2017 US Open: Sloane and Rafa Reign NYC
​​Thirty Love - The Wall Street Journal's Jason Gay from the US Open
The Night Session - US Open 2017 Recap, Winners Sloane Stephens & Rafa Nadal
The Tennis Podcast - Multiple Episodes