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THIS WEEK IN TENNIS: VENUS WINS 49TH TITLE OF CAREER

2/15/2016

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The main purpose of this weekly series is for readers to easily catch up on anything they might have missed in tennis. With that in mind, here goes for week six: Venus wins her 49th career title, Kei gets his fourth on the trot in Memphis, Taylor Fritz busts out in a big way, Thiem beats Rafa in the semis then backs it up by winning the Buenos Aires title, SanTina's unbeaten streak continues, Bencic breaks into the top 10 for the first time, Klizan and Vinci win the biggest titles of their careers, Ash Barty makes a winning return, and Monfils' futility in ATP finals continues. 

​Exhausted? Take a breather and let's delve a bit deeper. 

ATP
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Embed from Getty Images


​WINNERS


  • Buenos Aires - Thiem d. Almagro 7-6 3-6 7-6 (Carreno Busta, Elias, Lajovic, Nadal, Almagro)
  • Rotterdam - Klizan d. Monfils 6-7 6-3 6-1 (Robredo, Baghdatis, Bautista Agut, Mahut, Monfils)
  • Memphis -Nishikori​ d. Fritz 6-4 6-4 (Harrison, Kukushkin, Querrey, Fritz)

​STANDOUTS
​
  • ​Mahut - SF, Rotterdam
  • ​Fritz - F, Memphis
  • Almagro - F, Buenos Aires
  • Monfils - F, Rotterdam​


​EARLY LOSERS
​
  • Goffin (Baghdatis R32, Rotterdam)
  • Fognini (Delbonis R32, Buenos Aires)
  • Dolgopolov (Schwartzman R32, Buenos Aires)
  • ​Groth (Marchenko R32, Memphis)
  • ​Paire (Dodig R32, Rotterdam)

​SPOTLIGHT

A pair of Frenchmen -- Nicolas Mahut and Gael Monfils -- take the spotlight this week. Gael Monfils' loss in the Rotterdam final leaves his career record in ATP finals at 5-18. That is a poor output by any metric. The list of opponents who have beaten him in finals indicate many missed opportunities: Klizan, Ljubicic, Montanes, Stepanek, Melzer, and Petzschner. Still, this was a positive week for Monfils, as he rises two places in the rankings to #16, continuing his solid start to 2016 after making the quarterfinals at the Australian Open.

Nicolas Mahut rises to #40, a mere four spots away from reaching a new career high. His success in Rotterdam was twofold; he made the semifinals in singles and then won the doubles title. With Jack Sock out of action last week, Mahut borrowed Vasek Pospisil to take the doubles event. The 2015 U.S. Open doubles champion (with Herbert) rises three spots in the doubles rankings to #13.

 

MY 2 CENTS

One of the bigger stories on the ATP Tour this week was Taylor Fritz making his big breakthrough in Memphis. While Fritz had a great tournament, caution should be exercised in making any definitive statements about his prospects going forward. So many times we've seen the progress of young talent crushed under the weight of expectation and media pressure. American men's tennis has been starved of Grand Slam talent since Andy Roddick's retirement, and even longer since the Sampras-Agassi era ended. We've been hearing about the so-called "next wave" of American tennis players for 15 years now, and Fritz now assumes the mantle of the "one to watch." Hopefully, he will be able to manage the added spotlight that comes with his meteoric rise up the rankings. He began the year ranked #174 and is now, at #102, on the cusp of breaking into the top 100 for the first time. Going back another year, he began 2015 ranked #1151.


RANKINGS WATCH
​
  • RISING: Monfils (+2 to #16), Kohlschreiber (+3 to #29), Klizan (+16 to #27), Mahut (+14 to #40), Almagro (+19 to #53), Zverev (+14 to #56), Berankis (+23 to #79), Fritz (+43 to #102)​
​
  • FALLING: Cuevas (-10 to #45), Young (-10 to #58), Stakhovsky (-14 to #81), Giraldo (-10 to #83), Dzumhur (-10  to #88)

Merci @VasekPospisil pr 7 semaine.On perd uniquement VS les très grandes équipes @julienbenneteau @ERogerVasselin pic.twitter.com/HCVkBCmoK9

— Nico Mahut (@nmahut) February 14, 2016

taking in the rio sites from a □ one of the coolest experiences being that close to Christ the Redeemer □□ pic.twitter.com/nd3nYSCZrm

— Jack Sock (@JackSock) February 13, 2016

Had a great week here at the @memphisopen reaching my first @ATPWorldTour Final □□□ Excited to keep working hard and moving forward □□□

— Taylor Fritz (@Taylor_Fritz97) February 15, 2016

Most awkward comment I got this week:
"it's so nice to see all the guys playing with your balls here in Memphis" □□

— Robin Söderling (@RSoderling) February 14, 2016

When I Read Some Posts/Tweets Directed @ Myself Or Other Players I Can Only #SMFH□□... Tennis Is A Sport Wid So Many Variables Like (1)

— Dustin Brown (@DreddyTennis) February 11, 2016

Different Balls & Courts Week In, Week Out... Plus There Are So Many Good Players Out There Tryin Their Best No Matter The Ranking (2)

— Dustin Brown (@DreddyTennis) February 11, 2016

Get A New Job, Or A Hobby Or Try 2 Atleast Understand Our Sport Before Writing Nonsense Messages (3)

— Dustin Brown (@DreddyTennis) February 11, 2016

A pleasure to spend some time with @MauricioMacri, President of #Argentina. Thanks for making me feel at home. pic.twitter.com/mxAgotsfQJ

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) February 10, 2016

Hello Delray!! Thanks for your warm welcome. I missed you!! □□□□ pic.twitter.com/0KF1GRPNAg

— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) February 13, 2016
​ON THE WEB

​Tennis Umpires Secretly Banned over Betting Scam 
​
Baghdatis Recommitted to Tennis 
Jon Weretheim's Mailbag
Ideal Time for Snakebit Nadal to Make a Move
WATCH Dustin Brown's behind-the-back winner
From Wimbledon to Wall Street: Mario Ancic
Mardy Fish Returns to Competitive Tennis 
Tennis Umpire was Allowed to Work at US Open Despite Betting Offences Ban
Tennis Integrity Review to Take at Least a Year
Milos Raonic Still Hampered by Injury
The 'For Real' Question
The Catch 22 of Lower Tier Professional Tennis 



​WTA

​
Picture


​WINNERS
​


St. Petersburg - Vinci d. Bencic 6-4 6-3 (Wickmayer, Babos, Ivanovic, Bencic)

​Kaohsiung -  V. Williams d. Doi 6-4 6-2 (Lee, U. Radwanska, Sevastova, Putintseva, Doi)
​

​STANDOUTS
​
  • Ivanovic - SF, St. Petersburg
  • Kasatkina - SF, St. Petersburg
  • ​Putintseva - SF, Kaohsiung
  • Doi - F, Kaohsiung​



​EARLY LOSERS


  • Wozniacki (Cibulkova R16, St. Petersburg)
  • Mladenovic (Siegemund R32, St. Petersburg)
  • Riske (Vekic R32, Kaohsiung)
​​​
SPOTLIGHT

The winning streak continues for SanTina. Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza have not lost a doubles match on the WTA Tour since Cincinnati last August. During that stretch, they've reeled off 40 consecutive wins, including four more in St. Petersburg last week on their way to the title. They were tested in the semifinal when they beat the third seeded Spanish duo of Medina Garigues and Parra Santonja in a super tiebreak. They are now just five wins shy of overtaking Jana Novotna and Helena Sukova for the longest doubles win streak of the last quarter century. Hingis and Mirza, holders of the last three Grand Slam doubles titles, have already won four titles in 2016 to  go along with the nine they won together in 2015. All together, that's 13 titles in less than 12 months. 


MY 2 CENTS

Belinda Bencic breaks into the top 10 for the first time after making the finals in St. Petersburg. Still only 18 years old, Bencic has been building an impressive resume for a teenager the last couple of seasons: she made the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open at 17, and beat Serena Williams en route to the Rogers Cup Toronto title last year. Her official entry into the WTA top 10 feels like an arrival of sorts. It would not surprise me if Bencic remains there for a long, long time. 

Venus Williams is almost twice Belinda Bencic's age, and the oldest woman inside the WTA top 100. Yet, Williams scored her fourth WTA title since the start of 2015, tying Aga Radwanska, and leaving her behind only Serena and Kerber with five during that span. She also won five straight-set matches in Kaohsiung to capture the 49th title of her career. After a poor start to the season -- losing in the first round in Auckland and the Australian Open -- Williams has won seven straight matches, including two wins in Fed Cup the week prior to the Taiwan Open.

The heavy strapping on Venus' left leg remains a concern; it's been a constant presence since sustaining an injury in the Wuhan semifinals last September. Her movement in Kaohsiung was noticeably better than during her first round loss in Melbourne. Still, it cannot be said that Venus won while playing her best tennis. As has been the case numerous times since her resurgence, Williams won with a lot of grit and resilience. If her body cooperates, she could be a real force throughout the rest of the season.


RANKINGS WATCH
​​
  • RISING: Bencic (+2 to #9), Vinci (+3 to #13), Babos (+7 to #44), Kasatkina (+18 to #45), Doi (+9 to #52), Putintseva (+7 to #57), Hsieh (+16 to #65), Siegemund (+10 to #77), Sevastova (+8 to #95)
​
  • FALLING: Suarez Navarro (-3 to #11), Petkovic (-5 to #28), Puig (-11 to #58), Tomljanovic (-26 to #100), Schiavone (-18 to #132), Hantuchova (-48 to #149)
​

First title of the year, Asia is very lucky for me! Thank you to all the fans and the Taiwan… https://t.co/8HhpIdzWI0

— Venus Williams (@Venuseswilliams) February 14, 2016

Thank you for all the baby messages. Thrilled to bits. □□
Love from Granny. X

— judy murray (@judmoo) February 10, 2016

⚠️ Earlier today, I underwent an arthroscopy on my knee to remove a tear in my meniscus. The onset of pain began several months ago

— Vicky Duval (@vicky_duval95) February 8, 2016

Pretty cool monday morning this time□ pic.twitter.com/g3BjvThvDp

— Belinda Bencic (@BelindaBencic) February 15, 2016

In her first tournament back, Ash Barty picks up a doubles title at the ITF 25K in Perth. https://t.co/LqSVrC6aw2

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) February 14, 2016

And the winner is...ioooo!!!!□□□Che figataaa!!!Grazie x i messaggiiii!!Siete fantastici!!□□❤️❤️ #SanPietroburgo2016 pic.twitter.com/Z0eFwqP5Pb

— Roberta Vinci (@roberta_vinci) February 14, 2016

St.Petersburg □ Title number ✌️✌ #SanTina pic.twitter.com/vnsdRVUIac

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) February 14, 2016

After all the hard work, the school is finally finished! #ribboncutting #SerenaWilliamsFund… https://t.co/hGLAaGsuYa

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) February 10, 2016

ON THE WEB

​Venus Captures 49th Title in Kaohsiung
​The Evolution of Madison Keys
Barty's Return a Loss for Cricket 
​Catching Up with Nadia Petrova 
Quotable Quotes: Venus in Taiwan 
At the Dubai Duty Free Tennis, You Can Get Close to the Stars
Why Serena Williams Went to Jamaica
WTA Injury Report: Dubai
Streaking Santina Hit St. Petersburg
Simona Halep: Growing Belief Points to a Glorious Future

​
​PODCASTS

Beyond the Baseline: Lyndrea Price
No Challenges Remaining: Gaming the System
The Main Draw: Crop Tops and Commentators
Tennis.com: Fed Cup and Follow Up
WTA Insider: The Russians are Coming 
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  • Home
  • THE BODY SERVE TENNIS PODCAST
  • Selected Writing
  • #ThisWeekInTennis
  • TBS DIARY
  • SOCIAL
  • Contact