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After an eventful opening week to the 2016 tennis season, chock full of big-name stars, week two was a much more low key affair. The biggest name in action this week was WTA #2, Simona Halep, still dealing with lingering Achilles/leg problems. On the men's side, David Ferrer at #8 was the top ranked player on the circuit. Nonetheless, there was plenty on offer to delight tennis fans: a resurgent Svetlana Kuznetsova, an improved Bouchard, Fast 4 Tennis, a Troicki defence, and 32 qualifiers who battled their way into the main draw of the Australian Open. While we're on the topic, be sure to check out my preview of The Happy Slam!
ATP Week 2 Winners
Spotlight Once dubbed "Baby Fed" for the uncanny similarities to Roger Federer in style of play, Grigor Dimitrov now finds himself struggling to stay afloat inside the ATP top 30. From a career high of #8 in August 2014, Dimitrov now resides at #28 after a disastrous 2015 season, when he advanced to the final eight only six times. However, his quarterfinal showing in Brisbane and run to the finals in Sydney promise to spark a comeback of sorts for the beleaguered Bulgarian. Both losses -- to Federer in Brisbane, and Troicki in Sydney -- were in three sets. Along the way, he scored wins against: Troicki (Brisbane), Simon, Cuevas, Dolgopolov, and Muller. While his name won't be mentioned as a favourite in Melbourne, Dimitrov is at least able to carry some momentum into the rest of the season as he begins the climb back to the ATP top 10. Other Standouts
Other events this week: Kooyong Classic, Fast4 Tennis, Australian Open Qualifying
Parting Thoughts While most of the top players were off the circuit this week, getting practices in ahead of the Australian Open, 128 lower ranked players were still trying to qualify for the year's first major. For Tim Smyczek, this was the second year running that he won three matches and earned one of the 16 available spots to be slotted into the main draw. Last year, Smyczek qualified, won his first round match, then found himself one game from defeating #3 seed, Rafael Nadal, before eventually losing in the fifth set. Smyczek will be remembered for his tremendous sportsmanship during the most important game of his career, offering Nadal two serves after the Spaniard's first serve fault was hindered by a boisterous fan. Smyczek has since been depicted as the clichéd nice guy who finishes last, but hopefully this year the tennis gods will look more kindly on him.
Australian Open Preview: Where the Seeds Fall
On The Web
WTA Week 2 Winners Sydney - Svetlana Kuznetsova d. Monica Puig 6-0 6-2 (16th career title) Hobart - Alize Cornet d. Genie Bouchard 6-1 6-2 (Fifth title of Cornet's career and first since April, 2014) Spotlight At 30 years old, Svetlana Kuznetsova is not the first name that comes to mind when one considers likely Slam winners. In the almost seven years since her last Grand Slam title at the 2009 French Open, Kuznetsova has managed only four appearances in the final eight of a major. Yet, she remains a four-time Slam finalist, the same number of appearances as Victoria Azarenka, and her two titles match those held by Kvitova and Azarenka. Even though she's suffered from extended bouts of inconsistency, Kuznetsova still possesses a rare pedigree which separates her from other players of similar ranking. Her title in Sydney is also her second in less than three months, following her triumph at the Kremlin Cup in October. Perhaps, then, Kuznetsova is entering a new phase of success in her career; her blitzing of Monica Puig in the Sydney final was a reminder that Kuznetsova's best still ranks highly among the game's elite. Other Standouts Monica Puig - F, Sydney (d. Rybarikova, Schmiedlova, Stosur, Bencic) Simona Halep - SF, Sydney (d. Garcia, Pliskova) Genie Bouchard F, Hobart (d. Mattek-Sands, Van Uytvanck, Giorgi, Cibulkova)
Australian Open Preview: Where the Seeds Fall
On The Web
Parting Thoughts Genie Bouchard turned in another good performance this week, building on her quarterfinal appearance in Shenzhen last week with a run to the finals in Hobart. The result boosts her ranking nine spots to #38. With 430 points to defend at the Australian Open, Bouchard might have found form at the right time. Should Bouchard lose early in Melbourne, she could see her ranking plummet as low as the sixties. The good news for the Canadian is she only has 636 points to defend the rest of the year. If her start to 2016 is any indication, she should return to the WTA top 20 in no time. Podcasts The Body Serve -"The Return of the Happy Slam" No Challenges Remaining - "Starting on the Right Foot" No Challenges Remaining -"Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Draw, Draw, Draw!" Realz Tenis Fanz - "ATP/WTA First Week Report Cards" Realz Tenis Fanz - "Going All Up in the Aussie Open 2016 Draws" WTA Insider -"Vika Victorious" Beyond The Baseline - "Previewing the 2016 Australian Open with Lindsay Davenport" Tennis.com - "The Results Are In" The Main Draw - "It's OK to Love Novak" Tennis Connected - "Previewing the 2016 Australian Open"
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