AROUND THE TOUR
A weekly recap of the latest results and news from the tour
With qualifying starting today, we’re only a week out from the main draw of Roland Garros 2021.
There are three remaining warm-up events taking place as players make final preparations for Paris.
In Belgrade, Novak Djokovic stars in an ATP 250 held at his academy.
It will be interesting to see how much effort the world no.1 puts in this week. He is joined there by Gael Monfils, Nikoloz Basilashvili and the immortal Fernando Verdasco.
Meanwhile, in Strasbourg, can top seed Bianca Andreescu put a few desperately needed matches together?
She’ll have to overcome a tricky draw with Jessie Pegula, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Caroline Garcia, Barbora Krejickova and Sorana Cirstea all in attendance.
Finally, in the ATP 250 in Parma, Lorenzo Sonego headlines a draw that also features Benoit Paire, Albert Ramos-Vinolas and rising talent Sebastian Korda.
RESULTS
LYON | ATP 250
I think it’s pretty safe to declare the hierarchy of men’s favourites for Roland Garros as Nadal - Djokovic - Tsitsipas.
While the legendary pair confirmed their status in Rome, Stefanos Tsitsipas was the main man last week.
In Lyon, the Greek secured title no.2 for the season with a straight sets victory over Cam Norrie 6-3 6-3.
The 22-year-old now leads the tour with 33 match wins thanks to deep runs in Melbourne, Rotterdam, Acapulco, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and Lyon.
Still building on his career high ranking of no.5, Tsitsipas is bearing down on Dominic Thiem in both ATP points and stature in the game.
While we can expect a forceful response from the Austrian, Tsitsipas continues to grow with each month.
PARMA | WTA 250
Coco Gauff has capped a superb 2021 campaign so far with the second title of her career.
Still just 17, the American did the double in Italy, winning the singles and doubles (with Caty McNally).
She was far too solid in her singles final for Qiang Wang, as she comfortably won 6-1 6-3 in little over an hour.
With time very much on her side, Gauff isn’t wasting any of it. She moves to a career high of no.25 in the WTA rankings and should be a formidable obstacle at Roland Garros.
GENEVA | ATP 250
Despite all the understandable hype over Federer’s return, the Geneva title was decided by two of the ATP’s form players.
The final pitted Casper Ruud against Denis Shapovalov, both aged 22.
Ruud has had a tremendous clay court swing, with consecutive semi-final runs at Monte-Carlo, Munich and Madrid before Geneva. Meanwhile, Shapovalov took Nadal to three sets in Rome the previous week.
In a final dominated by reliable serving, it was the uber-solid Ruud who took his chances and came through 7-6 6-4 for the second ATP title of his career.
Ruud returns to his career-high ranking of no.16 while Shapovalov moves up one to 14th.
BELGRADE | WTA 250
We have yet another first time winner on the WTA Tour after Paula Badosa beat Ana Konjuh in the Belgrade final.
Badosa claimed the trophy after Konjuh retired with a right hip injury while trailing 2-6 0-2.
23-year-old Badosa has had an excellent campaign on the clay with semi-final showings in Charleston and Madrid.
The Spaniard moves to a career high of no.34 while Konjuh, who was once top 20 before a succession of injuries, leaps up 44 places to no.144.
NEWS
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