Nadal Wins Again, Kerber Keeps Rising

This Week In Tennis
​Vol. 16

Rafael Nadal continued his resurgence on the European clay courts with a ninth career title in Barcelona. His 49th career clay court title ties Guillermo Vilas for most in ATP history and comes one week after winning a ninth title in Monte Carlo. Nadal is the only man in ATP history to win a single event nine times, a feat he has now achieved at the two aforementioned tournaments as well as at the French Open. During the last fortnight Nadal has scored wins over: Bedene, Thiem, Wawrinka, Murray, Monfils, Granollers, Montanes, Fognini, Kohlschreiber, and Nishikori. Fernando Verdasco was the other ATP titlist last week in Bucharest.

On the WTA Tour, Angelique Kerber defending her title in Stuttgart while Cagla Buyukakcay won the first title of her career. Kerber struggled in the immediate aftermath of her Australian Open triumph to start the year, but rallied to make two semifinals in Miami and Charleston before returning to the winner's circle this week. As for Buyukakcay, she became the first ever Turkish player to win a WTA title, doing so on home soil in Istanbul. 

Continue reading for a more in depth look at the happenings in tennis last week, including: tweets, articles, podcasts, rankings, and everything you might have missed. 

​ATP​

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​RUNDOWN

• Nadal followed his victory last week in Monte Carlo with another in Barcelona. The back-to-back titles leave him #2 in the ATP Race To London and within 545 points of Wawrinka at #4 in the official ATP rankings.
• The top Spaniard also announced that he has sued former French cabinet minister, Roselyn Bachelot, over doping allegations leveled against him.
• Nishikori, aiming for a third successive title in Barcelona, fell just short in an entertaining final against Nadal. Failure to defend his championship points from a year ago means Nishikori remains at #6 in the ATP rankings, but is now 1,625 points behind Nadal. 
• Fernando Verdasco beat Lucas Pouille in a Monday finish to capture the Bucharest title. Starting the year at #49, Verdasco fell as low as #88 two weeks ago. His Bucharest title sees him on the cusp of returning to the top 50 at #51.
• Pouille assumes a new career high ranking at #56 on the strength of his finals appearance in Bucharest. 
• Benoit Paire made the semifinals in Barcelona before losing to Nishikori. He's now only one spot away from being the fifth Frenchman inside the ATP top 20. 
• The Bryan Brothers scored their second title of 2016, both coming on clay. After a slow start to the year, the U.S. pair have won twice in the last three weeks.
• A tennis umpire has been banned from the sport for ten years.

It’s a tradition in #Barcelona to celebrate the victory with the ball boys & girls! pic.twitter.com/H73d67knoJ

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) 24 April 2016

What a wonderful, emotional night! So grateful and honoured. Thank you @laureussport https://t.co/CHeVDlNBIW

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) 18 April 2016

Bryans bath after their victory at #bcnopenbs @ATPWorldTour @Bryanbrothers @Bryanbros @MGarciaPlanas pic.twitter.com/sl40AWl4EB

— BcnOpen BancSabadell (@bcnopenbs) 24 April 2016

Apparently this looks good, well it's what the Doc says so I'll take his word for it.… https://t.co/SxdGBLp9Hz

— Tommy Haas (@TommyHaas13) 21 April 2016

Reading your messages. Thank you for your support, on and off the court. Very happy for the win in #Barcelona! pic.twitter.com/trUflPZGSm

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) 24 April 2016

No puedo esperar a para jugar otro año más en casa! Gracias @MutuaMadridOpen por todo una vez más! □□□

— Fernando Verdasco (@FerVerdasco) 22 April 2016

Where penguins end □□ #TB begin -110 ✔️ pic.twitter.com/4PbyQS4Bbr

— Tomáš Berdych (@tomasberdych) 23 April 2016

RANKINGS WATCH
​

• RISING: Berdych (+1 to #8), Delbonis (+4 to #36), Kuznetsov (+8 to #39), Zverev (+2 to #49), Verdasco (+35 to #51), Berankis (+7 to #55), Pouille (+16 to #56), Jaziri (+12 to #64)
• FALLING: Ferrer (-1 to #9), Klizan (-8 to #44), Garcia Lopez (-10 to #47), Granollers (-4 to #54), Vesely (-10 to #63), Robredo (-14 to #72), Ram (-18 to #74), Chung (-13 to #84)

​ON THE WEB

Something Old, Something New
​His Own Man
The Resurgence of Rafael Nadal and a Magical Week in Monte Carlo
Boris Becker: Novak is the Intellectual Champion
​Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic Agree to Disagree over Tennis’s Drugs Problem
The Bryans Share 'The Last Time'
Ecuadorian Tennis Rallies For Earthquake Relief
Snow Disrupts Play in Munich

​WTA

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​RUNDOWN

• Angelique Kerber defended her title in Stuttgart, beating Suarez Navarro and Kvitova before taking out Siegemund in the final. The Australian Open champ has has now won two titles in 2016 from three finals, and made a further two semifinals.
• Cagla Buyukakcay becomes the first Turkish woman to win a WTA title, on home soil no less. In winning the Istanbul Cup, Buyukakcay also cracks the WTA top 100 at #86.
• Laura Siegemund had a career week in Stuttgart. She survived the qualifying rounds all the way through to the final. She beat three top 10 players: Halep, Vinci, and Radwanska, as well as Pavlyuchenkova (#27). Her reward? A career high ranking of #42.  
• Huge week for Serena Williams off the court: named Laureus Sportwoman of the Year, made an appearance on HSN, and gave a cameo in Beyonce's new visual album, "Lemonade."
• Hingis/Mirza broke out of their "slump" in Stuttgart but fell one match shy of taking the title, losing to second seeds Garcia/Mladenovic in the final.
• Petra Kvitova made a sunny start with her new coach, making the semifinals in Stuttgart before losing in three sets to Angelique Kerber.
• Sania Mirza named to TIME magazine 100 most influential list.
• Caroline Wozniacki has withdrawn from Madrid and Rome as she rehabs an ankle injury sustained in practice two weeks ago.
• Venus Williams withdraws from the Madrid Open citing a hamstring injury, presumably the same one that has hampered her since last fall. 

One of the best days of my life. Congrats @AngeliqueKerber & thanks to all my amazing fans. pic.twitter.com/NprFtJ43tX

— Laura Siegemund (@laurasiegemund) 24 April 2016

That moment when you're laying in bed and your foot is about to cramp and you panic thinking that it's all over

— Madison Keys (@Madison_Keys) 23 April 2016

Thank you so so much .. Means so much coming from you.. Much love https://t.co/1KcEaUUyMt

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) 23 April 2016

❤️ pic.twitter.com/lLHBZ590Jl

— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) 24 April 2016

The best day of my life! One of my dreams came true, won WTA title at home□□□ pic.twitter.com/vX9EZyO3ED

— Çağla Büyükakçay (@CaglaBuyukakcay) 24 April 2016

beyonce □□□□ https://t.co/59flgVj45j

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) 24 April 2016

Doubles Winner!!! 2nd title in a row with Kiki □ !! □□
Thank you for the beautiful bike □□#PTGP16 @PorscheTennis pic.twitter.com/4BlTLmD3ux

— Caroline Garcia (@CaroGarcia) 24 April 2016

Thanks coach. Not a bad start □ see you next year @PorscheTennis and good luck in the final @AngeliqueKerber pic.twitter.com/Qe2gsSKOZH

— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) 23 April 2016

​RANKINGS WATCH
​

• RISING: Kvitova (+1 to #6), Siegemund (+29 to #42), Kovinic (+13 to #47), Hibino (+4 to #61), Buyukakcay (+36 to #82), Sevastova (+10 to #86)
• FALLING: Halep (-1 to #7), Wozniacki (-4 to #28), Garcia (-6 to #51), Brengle (-17 to #71), Diyas (-9 to #94)

​ON THE WEB
​
Telling Us Something We Don't Know​
Brazilian Tennis Player’s Success Follows a Childhood of Obstacles
Rebecca Marino Finds Joy in Rowing After Retirement from Pro Tennis
ITF: Ruling in Sharapova Doping Case Possible Before Wimbledon
Taiwan Open Moves to Taipei
Champion's Corner: Falconi
Ajla Tomljanovic's Tennis Australia Funding in Doubt as Fed Cup Hopes Take Hit
​After Earthquake Levels Hometown, Ecuador-born Falconi Wins First Title​
Goerges: Guided By New Voices
​Stuttgart, Istanbul, and the Week in Tennis

​PODCASTS 

The Body Serve - "Rafa Is Coming"
Beyond The Baseline - "Judy Murray"
No Challenges Remaining - "Southern Fried Tennis"
The Tennis Podcast - "Barcelona, Stuttgart....."
Realz Tenis Fanz - "Kamau Murray and Monte Carlo"
MTO  - Multiple episodes from Stuttgart