The main news of this edition of TWIT (This Week in Tennis) is that Dan Evans wins his first ATP 500 title in Washington, D.C.
Dan Evans wins his first ATP 500 title
On Sunday, Dan Evans lifted the biggest trophy of his career as he defeated Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor to win the DC Open title. The Brit backed up his stellar wins against the higher-ranked players of Frances Tiafoe in the quarter-final and Grigor Dimitrov in the semi-final before serving his way past the 12th seed Griekspoor to win, 7-5, 6-3.
This was Evan’s first ATP 500 title and the second overall title of his career, having previously won the Murray River Open 250 event in February 2021.
Even more surprising was Evans’ lack of form coming into the tournament. He had lost in the first round of this year’s French Open and Wimbledon and hadn’t won a match on the ATP tour since April. With the win, Evans rises to a career-high of 21 in the ATP singles rankings. If he continues this form, he will surely crack the top 20 and cement himself with a seed at this year’s US Open in September.
Coco Gauff wins first big WTA title
The Brit wasn’t the only player to win their first 500-level title in Washington, DC. Coco Gauff lifted the biggest trophy of her young career, defeating Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-3.
Coming off back from a tough first-round loss at Wimbledon to Sofia Kenin, Gauff reminded us why she is one of the best players in the world.
In the quarter-finals, the American dispatched Belinda Bencic, dropping just three games before defeating defending champion Liudmila Samsonova 6-3, 6-3 to reach her fifth WTA tour-level final.
In the final, Gauff powered through Sakkari without dropping a set. With the result, the American remains firmly inside the world’s top ten. If she can continue her hard-court form, she will be a threat at this year’s US Open.
Ps. On a side note, Gauff has recently added Brad Gilbert to her coaching team Ds.
Tsitsipas back to winning ways
Over in Mexico, Stefanos Tsitsipaslifted his first trophy of 2023 with a straight sets win over Aussie Alex de Minaur. This was the Greek star’s first tour-level title since July 2022 and, with the victory, rises to number 4 in the ATP rankings.
This Week in Tennis – Canada
This week sees the top ATP and WTA players in the world battle it out at the first Masters 1000 event since May.
The ATP players will take part in the Canadian Open held in Toronto, while the WTA players head to Montreal to take part in the historical hard-court event.
Both men’s and women’s defending champions Pablo Carreno Busta and Simona Halep, will not be defending their titles this year.
Returning to the tour for the first time since his thrilling victory at Wimbledon, the world number 1 Carlos Alcaraz will look to make more history and win his first Canadian Open title.
Alcaraz’s toughest competition will come from the 2021 champion, Daniil Medvedev, the in-form Alexander Zverev, who won the tournament in 2017, and the likes of Holger Rune, Jannik Sinner and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
WTA Number One on the line
The WTA world number 1 ranking is on the line this week.
Iga Swiatek must reach at least the quarter-final stage to hang onto the top spot. If she doesn’t, the Pole leaves the door open for Aryna Sabalenka to knock her off her podium.
Sabalenka will need to win the tournament to have a chance to achieve this. The Belarusian was ever so close to becoming world number 1 at Wimbledon, so she will be hungry to make this happen this week.
Prediction – Alcaraz and Sabalenka to win
