Tennis in General - Results and Comments

The ATP has issued an update to the ATP Tour calendar with the addition of ATP 250 clay-court tournaments in Belgrade, Serbia and Parma, Italy, in the week prior to Roland-Garros. The additions to the calendar follow the one-week postponement of the second Grand Slam of the season, with a number of tournament applications received in order to fill week 21 (24 May) of the schedule. The additional Belgrade event will be held at the same location as next week’s Serbia Open, the Novak Tennis Centre, while the Emilia-Romagna Open will be held at the President Tennis Club of Montechiarugolo. The "MercedesCup", the ATP 250 in Stuttgart, plans to remain in its original week, commencing 7 June. Meanwhile, the "Libema Open", the ATP 250 grass-court tournament in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, will not take place in 2021. All other events remain as originally scheduled on the 2021 ATP Tour calendar.

The WTA tour evealed nine more weeks of its 2021 calendar, including two 1000-level events in Toronto and Cincinnati, one 500, six 250 tournaments and an extended series of 125 events. The WTA had already released the first 27 weeks of its calendar, which has been rolled out in phases due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic, and plans at least one tournament each week through the US Open. Notable changes from the 2019 schedule include the "Internationaux de Strasbourg's" move to the week of May 24 in light of Roland Garros' decision to postpone its fortnight by a week. Though the move ultimately forced the cancellation of two planned grass-court events in Cologne and 's-Hertogenbosch, and leaves a third event in Nottingham up in the air, there are still four Wimbledon warm-ups available in the two weeks leading up to Wimbledon, including two new events in Berlin and Bad Homburg. Moving into July's slate of clay-court tournaments, the tour is making an intriguing return to Poland, home country to reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek, for the first time since 2016. The 250-level event will take place in the city of Gydnia, replacing the longtime "Citi Open" event that took place in Washington, D.C. In addition to "Western & Southern Open", which will be held in its regular Cincinnati home after taking place in Flushing Meadows last summer, Ohio will also welcome an inaugural event in Cleveland before the US Open.

RANKINGS AT APRIL 12TH :

ATP TOUR (FIRST 15 PLACES) : 1. Novak Djokovic SRB 11.963 points
2. Daniil Medvedev RUS 10.030 points
3. Rafael Nadal ESP 9.670 points
4. Dominic Thiem AUT 8.660 points
5. Stefanos Tsitsipas GRE 7.040 points
6. (7.) Alexander Zverev GER 6.125 points
7. (6.) Roger Federer SUI 5.875 points
8. Andrey Rublev RUS 5.400 points
9. Diego Schwartzman ARG 3.720 points
10. Matteo Berrettini ITA 3.453 points
11. (12.) Roberto Bautista-Agut ESP 3.090 points
12. (15.) Pablo Carreno Busta ESP 2.630 points
13. (12.) Denis Shapovalov CAN 2.820 points
14. (13.) Gael Monfils FRA 2.770 points
15. (14.) David Goffin BEL 2.750 points

WTA TOUR (FIRST 15 PLACES) : 1. Ashleigh Barty AUS 9.285 points
2. Naomi Osaka JPN 7.985 points
3. Simona Halep ROU 6.965 points
4. Sofia Kenin USA 5.915 points
5. Elina Svitolina UKR 5.750 points
6. Bianca Vanessa Andreescu CAN 5.265 points
7. Aryna Sabalenka BLR 5.085 points
8. Serena Williams USA 4.850 points
9. Karolina Pliskova CZE 4.660 points
10. (11.) Petra Kvitova CZE 4.530 points
11. (10.) Kiki Bertens NED 4.490 points
12. Belinda Bencic SUI 4.315 points
13. Garbine Muguruza ESP 4.120 points
14. Jennifer Brady USA 3.765 points
15. Victoria Azarenka BLR 3.625 points

The 2021 Davis Cup Finals will be held in three cities, with Innsbruck and Turin joining Madrid as hosts, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced on Monday. The competition was reformed in 2019, with Rafael Nadal's Spain winning the 18-team competition in Madrid, but scheduling issues resulted in a number of late finishes and poor attendances at some matches. The ITF said Madrid, Austrian city Innsbruck and Turin in Italy would host two of the six groups each, with the latter two both staging one Quarter-final, while the Spanish capital will host two Quarter-finals, the Semi-finals and the Final. The Finals will run from 25 November to 5 December. "It was important to find two European cities that were well connected to Madrid, with similar playing conditions, to provide a smooth transition for players travelling from other venues," said tournament director Albert Costa. "With confirmation of the three venues, we are already working hard to offer the best possible event in 2021". The 2020 tournament was called off due to complications posed by the Coronavirus pandemic.

ATP & WTA FINALS OF THE WEEK :

ATP 250 Cagliari : Lorenzo Sonego (3) won his second ATP tournament in career (both ATP 250 and first on red clay), defeating
Laslo Djere 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4

ATP 250 Marbella : Pablo Carreno Busta (1) won his fifth ATP tournament in career (all ATP 250 and second on red clay), defeating
Jaume Munar 6-1, 2-6, 6-4

WTA 500 Charleston : Veronika Kudermetova (15) won her first WTA tournament in career, defeating Danka Kovinic 6-4, 6-2

WTA 250 Bogotà : Maria Camila Osorio Serrano (wc) won her first WTA tournament in career, defeating Tamara Zidansek (5) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4

NEXT WEEK SCHEDULE :

Roquebrune-Cap-Martin (France), 11-18 April : "2021 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters"
Category : ATP Tour Masters 1000
Prize Money : € 2.460.585
Surface : Red Clay

Charleston (United States), 12-18 April : "2021 MUSC Health Women's Open"
Category : WTA 250
Prize Money : $ 235.238
Surface : Green Clay

There will also be the "Billie Jean King Cup" play-offs (16 & 17 April); here's the schedule :

Bytom (Poland) - "Hala na Skarpie" (Hard Indoor) Poland vs Brazil
London (England) - "National Tennis Centre" (Hard Indoor) Great Britain vs Mexico
Kraljevo (Serbia) - "Kraljevo Sports Hall" (Hard Indoor) Serbia vs Canada
Jurmala (Latvia) - "National Tennis Centre Lielupe" (Hard Indoor) Latvia vs India
Chornomorsk (Ukraine) - "Elite Tennis Club" (Clay) Ukraine vs Japan
Cluj-Napoca (Romania) - "BTarena" (Hard Indoor) Romania vs ITALY
Còrdoba (Argentina) - "Còrdoba Lawn Tennis Club (Clay) Argentina vs Kazakhstan
's'Hertogenbosch (Netherlands) - "Maaspoort" (Clay Indoor) Netherlands vs China

ATP & WTA SEMIFINALS OF THE WEEK :

ATP 250 Cagliari : L. Sonego (3) def. T. Fritz (2) 6-4, 5-7, 6-1
L. Djere def. N. Basilashvili (4) 6-2, 6-0

ATP 250 Marbella : P. Carreno-Busta (1) def. A. Ramos-Vinolas (4) 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (5)
J. Munar def. C. Alcaraz (wc) 7-6 (4), 6-4

WTA 500 Charleston : D. Kovinic def. O. Jabeur (12) 6-3, 6-2
V. Kudermetova (15) def. P. Badosa Gibert 6-3, 6-3

WTA 250 Bogotà : T. Zidansek (5) def. V. Tomova 6-3, 7-5
M. C. Osorio Serrano (wc) def. H. Tan (q) 6-1, 6-2

The French Tennis Federation (FFT) announced Thursday that Roland-Garros will be pushed back one week due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will now be played from 30 May through 13 June. Last year, the clay-court Grand Slam was moved from its traditional dates to 27 September-11 October because of the pandemic. The ATP and WTA released a joint statement on the tournament’s one-week postponement : "Tennis has required an agile approach to the calendar over the past 12 months in order to manage the challenges of the pandemic, and this continues to be the case. The decision to delay the start of Roland-Garros by one week has been made in the context of recently heightened COVID-19 restrictions in France, with the additional time improving the likelihood of enhanced conditions and ability to welcome fans at the event. Both the ATP and WTA are working in consultation with all parties impacted by the postponement to optimise the calendar for players, tournaments and fans in the lead up to and following Roland-Garros. Further updates will be communicated in due course".

RANKINGS AT APRIL 5TH :

ATP TOUR (FIRST 15 PLACES) : 1. Novak Djokovic SRB 11.963 points
2. Daniil Medvedev RUS 10.030 points
3. Rafael Nadal ESP 9.670 points
4. Dominic Thiem AUT 8.660 points
5. Stefanos Tsitsipas GRE 7.040 points
6. (7.) Alexander Zverev GER 6.125 points
7. (6.) Roger Federer SUI 5.875 points
8. Andrey Rublev RUS 5.400 points
9. Diego Schwartzman ARG 3.720 points
10. Matteo Berrettini ITA 3.453 points
11. (12.) Roberto Bautista-Agut ESP 3.090 points
12. (11.) Denis Shapovalov CAN 2.820 points
13. (14.) Gael Monfils FRA 2.770 points
14. (13.) David Goffin BEL 2.750 points
15. Pablo Carreno Busta ESP 2.630 points

WTA TOUR (FIRST 15 PLACES) : 1. Ashleigh Barty AUS 9.186 points
2. Naomi Osaka JPN 7.985 points
3. Simona Halep ROU 6.965 points
4. Sofia Kenin USA 5.915 points
5. Elina Svitolina UKR 5.750 points
6. (9.) Bianca Vanessa Andreescu CAN 5.265 points
7. (8.) Aryna Sabalenka BLR 5.085 points
8. (7.) Serena Williams USA 4.850 points
9. (6.) Karolina Pliskova CZE 4.660 points
10. (11.) Kiki Bertens NED 4.490 points
11. (10.) Petra Kvitova CZE 4.476 points
12. Belinda Bencic SUI 4.315 points
13. Garbine Muguruza ESP 4.120 points
14. Jennifer Brady USA 3.765 points
15. Victoria Azarenka BLR 3.625 points

ATP FINAL OF THE WEEK :

ATP Masters 1000 Miami : Hubert Hurkacz (26) won his third ATP tournament in career (all on hard and first ATP Masters 1000), defeating
Jannik Sinner (21) 7-6 (4), 6-4

NEXT WEEKS SCHEDULE :

Cagliari (Italy), 5-11 April : "2021 Sardegna Open"
Categories : ATP Tour 250
Prize Money : € 408.800
Surface : Red Clay

Marbella (Spain), 5-11 April : "2021 Anytech365 Andalucia Open"
Category : ATP Tour 250
Prize Money : € 408.800
Surface : Red Clay

Charleston (United States), 5-11 April : "2021 Volvo Car Open"
Category : WTA 500
Prize Money : $ 565.530
Surface : Green Clay

Bogotà (Colombia), 5-11 April : "2021 Copa Colsanitas"
Category : WTA 250
Prize Money : $ 235.238
Surface : Red Clay

WTA FINAL OF THE WEEK :

WTA 1000 Miami : Ashleigh Barty (1) won her 10th WTA tournament in career (second consecutive in Miami, first WTA 1000 and fifth on hard), defeating
Bianca Vanessa Andreescu (8) 6-3, 4-0 ret. (Sprained Right Ankle)

ATP SEMIFINALS OF THE WEEK :

ATP Masters 1000 Miami : J. Sinner (21) def. R. Bautista-Agut (7) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
H. Hurkacz (26) def. A. Rublev (4) 6-3, 6-4

WTA SEMIFINALS OF THE WEEK :

WTA 1000 Miami : A. Barty (1) def. E. Svitolina (5) 6-3, 6-3
B. V. Andreescu (8) def. M. Sakkari (23) 7-6 (7), 3-6, 7-6 (4)

RANKINGS AT MARCH 22ND :

ATP TOUR (FIRST 15 PLACES) : 1. Novak Djokovic SRB 12.008 points
2. Daniil Medvedev RUS 9.940 points
3. Rafael Nadal ESP 9.670 points
4. Dominic Thiem AUT 8.625 points
5. Stefanos Tsitsipas GRE 6.950 points
6. Roger Federer SUI 6.375 points
7. Alexander Zverev GER 6.070 points
8. Andrey Rublev RUS 5.101 points
9. Diego Schwartzman ARG 3.640 points
10. Matteo Berrettini ITA 3.453 points
11. (12.) Denis Shapovalov CAN 3.000 points
12. (13.) Roberto Bautista-Agut ESP 2.910 points
13. David Goffin BEL 2.795 points
14. Gael Monfils FRA 2.770 points
15. Pablo Carreno Busta ESP 2.630 points

WTA TOUR (FIRST 15 PLACES) : 1. Ashleigh Barty AUS 9.186 points
2. Naomi Osaka JPN 7.835 points
3. Simona Halep ROU 7.255 points
4. Sofia Kenin USA 5.760 points
5. Elina Svitolina UKR 5.370 points
6. Karolina Pliskova CZE 5.205 points
7. Serena Williams USA 4.915 points
8. Aryna Sabalenka BLR 4.815 points
9. Bianca Vanessa Andreescu CAN 4.735 points
10. Petra Kvitova CZE 4.571 points
11. Kiki Bertens NED 4.505 points
12. Belinda Bencic SUI 4.260 points
13. Garbine Muguruza ESP 4.235 points
14. Jennifer Brady USA 3.765 points
15. Victoria Azarenka BLR 3.665 points

ATP & WTA FINALS OF THE WEEK :

ATP 500 Acapulco : Alexander Zverev (2) won his 14th ATP tournament in career (third ATP 500 and fourth on hard), defeating
Stefanos Tsitsipas (1) 6-4, 7-6 (3)

WTA 500 Saint-Petersburg : Daria Kasatkina (8) won her fourth WTA tournament in career (first WTA 250 and second on hard indoor), defeating
Margarita Gasparyan 6-3, 2-1 ret. (Back Problem)

WTA 250 Monterrey : Leylah Annie Fernandez won her first WTA tournament in career, defeating Viktoria Golubic 6-1, 6-4

NEXT WEEKS SCHEDULE :

Miami Gardens (United States), 23 April - 4 March : "2021 Miami Open presented by Itaù"
Categories : ATP Tour Masters 1000 & WTA 1000 (Mandatory)
Prize Money : $ 3.340.000 (ATP) & $ 3.340.000 (WTA)
Surface : Hard

ATP & WTA SEMIFINALS OF THE WEEK :

ATP 500 Dubai : L. G. Harris (q) def. D. Shapovalov (3) 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (6)
A. Karatsev (wc) def. A. Rublev (2) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
Final : Aslan Karatsev (wc) won his first ATP tournament in career, defeating Lloyd George Harris (q) 6-3, 6-2

ATP 500 Acapulco : A. Zverev (2) def. D. Koepfer 6-4, 7-6 (5)
S. Tsitsipas (1) def. L. Musetti (q) 6-1, 6-3

WTA 500 Saint-Petersburg : M. Gasparyan def. V. Zvonareva 6-3, 7-6 (9)
D. Kasatkina (8) def. S. Kuznetsova (4) 1-6, 6-0, 6-2

WTA 250 Monterrey : V. Golubic def. A. Li (8) 6-2, 6-4
L. A. Fernandez def. S. Sorribes Tormo (7) 7-5, 7-5

RANKINGS AT MARCH 15TH :

ATP TOUR (FIRST 15 PLACES) : 1. Novak Djokovic SRB 12.008 points
2. (3.) Daniil Medvedev RUS 9.940 points
3. (2.) Rafael Nadal ESP 9.670 points
4. Dominic Thiem AUT 8.625 points
5. Stefanos Tsitsipas GRE 6.765 points
6. Roger Federer SUI 6.375 points
7. Alexander Zverev GER 5.635 points
8. Andrey Rublev RUS 5.011 points
9. Diego Schwartzman ARG 3.640 points
10. Matteo Berrettini ITA 3.453 points
11. (13.) Roberto Bautista-Agut ESP 2.910 points
12. (11.) Denis Shapovalov CAN 2.865 points
13. (14.) David Goffin BEL 2.795 points
14. (12.) Gael Monfils FRA 2.770 points
15. (16.) Pablo Carreno Busta ESP 2.630 points

WTA TOUR (FIRST 15 PLACES) : 1. Ashleigh Barty AUS 9.186 points
2. Naomi Osaka JPN 7.835 points
3. Simona Halep ROU 7.255 points
4. Sofia Kenin USA 5.760 points
5. Elina Svitolina UKR 5.370 points
6. Karolina Pliskova CZE 5.205 points
7. Serena Williams USA 4.915 points
8. Aryna Sabalenka BLR 4.815 points
9. Bianca Vanessa Andreescu CAN 4.735 points
10. Petra Kvitova CZE 4.571 points
11. Kiki Bertens NED 4.505 points
12. Belinda Bencic SUI 4.260 points
13. (16.) Garbine Muguruza ESP 4.235 points
14. (13.) Jennifer Brady USA 3.765 points
15. (14.) Victoria Azarenka BLR 3.665 points

ATP & WTA FINALS OF THE WEEK :

ATP 250 Marseille : Daniil Medvedev (1) won his 10th ATP tournament in career (fifth ATP 250 and on hard indoor), defeating
Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-4

ATP 250 Santiago : Cristian Garin (1) won his fifth ATP tournament in career (all on red clay and fourth ATP 250) defeating
Facundo Bagnis 6-4, 6-7 (3), 7-5

WTA 250 Guadalajara : Sara Sorribes Tormo (4) won her first WTA tournament in career, defeating Eugenie Bouchard (wc) 6-2, 7-5

NEXT WEEK SCHEDULE :

Dubai (United Arab Emirates), 14-20 March : "2021 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships"
Category : ATP Tour 500
Prize Money : $ 2.048.855
Surface : Hard

Acapulco (Mexico), 15-21 March : "2021 Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC"
Category : ATP Tour 500
Prize Money : $ 1.204.960
Surface : Hard

Saint Petersburg (Russia), 15-21 March : "2021 St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy"
Category : WTA 500
Prize Money : $ 565.530
Surface : Hard (Indoor)

Monterrey (Mexico), 15-21 March : "2021 Abierto GNP Seguros"
Category : WTA 250
Prize Money : $ 235.238
Surface : Hard