It’s time for This Week in Tennis or TWIT as well call it at Tennisnerd HQ. Alex Mann writes about more titles for Djokovic and Krejcikova.
More titles for Djokovic and Krejcikova – TWIT #41
Novak Djokovic and Barbora Krejcikova won their second consecutive tour-level titles this week, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas and Iga Swiatek, respectively. Krejcikova continued her impressive form after last week’s win in Tallinn, battling back from a set down to beat world number 1 Iga Swiatek, 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-3.
The match, which lasted over 3 hours, was packed with scintillating rallies and outstanding shotmaking. The final had everything and is definitely one of the best matches of the year.
With this win, Krejcikova will return to the top 20 of the WTA singles rankings. An elbow injury earlier this year caused Kejcikova to fall down the rankings, but she seems to have found her best form in the past few weeks and has now won back-to-back tour-level tournaments.
The Czech has been almost unplayable in the women’s doubles this season, winning three out of the four major doubles titles with partner and fellow Czech Katerina Siniakova.
Before playing in the final against Krejcikova, Swiatek had won her past 10 WTA finals, stretching back to April 2019.
Even with this loss, Swiatek still firmly holds on to the number 1 ranking, having double the number of points as the world number 2, Ons Jabeur.
Djokovic on a roll
Like Krejcikova this week, Novak Djokovic won back-to-back titles, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.
It was a fairly comfortable week for the former world number 1, who dropped only one set to Daniil Medvedev in the semi-final.
With this victory in Astana, Kazakhstan, Djokovic not only won his 90 career title but also confirmed his spot in Turin, qualifying for the ATP finals for the 15th time.
This week in tennis!
This week in tennis sees players travel to San Diego, USA, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Gijon, Spain and Florence, Italy.
San Diego Open (WTA 500)
Iga Swiatek leads the lineup in the first WTA event in San Diego for the first time since 2013. Paula Badosa, Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, Maria Sakkari, Coco Gauff, Caroline Garcia and Daria Kasatkina make up the top eight seeds.
This year’s Wimbledon champion, Elena Rybakina is also in the draw, as are former world number 1’s, Karolina Pliskova and Garbine Muguruza, as well as major champions Sloane Stephens and Sofia Kenin.
After losing to Kejcikova last week, Swiatek will be looking to bounce back and take home an eighth title of the year.
Prediction – Swiatek to win
Transylvania Open (WTA 250)
Barbora Krejcikova was this year’s top seed but after her victory in Ostrava, an injury concern led to her withdrawal.
She joins Emma Raducanu, who has also withdrawn from the competition. The defending champion, Anett Kontaveit, has decided not to participate so Anhelina Kalinina will enter as the highest-ranked player.
Anastasia Potapova, Magda Linette, Wang Xiyu, Jule Niemeier and Dayana Yastremska are also competing.
Prediction – Niemeier to win
Gijon Open (ATP 250)
Gijon, Spain, hosts the first edition of the ATP 250 hard-court tournament. Looking to qualify for the ATP finals for the third consecutive time, Andrey Rublev hopes to gain some vital ranking points this week.
Spaniards Pablo Carreno Busta, Roberto Bautista Agut, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and Albert Ramos Vinolas will all pose a threat. Andy Murray and Dominic Thiem are unseeded entries and will look for a deep run this week as they continue to climb the ATP rankings.
The up-and-coming Francisco Cerundolo is competing, as is veteran Feliciano Lopez.
Prediction – Rublev to win
UniCredit Firenze Open (ATP 250)
The hard-court event in Florence, Italy, is the first edition of the tournament since 1994. Several top 50 players have entered the event. Felix Auger-Aliassime will be looking to improve on his early exit in Astana last week and push for a potential place in the ATP tour finals. He faces the likes of Matteo Berrettini, Lorenzo Musetti, Maxime Cressy, Aslan Karatsev, Jenson Brooksby, Alexander Bublik, and Brandon Nakashima.
Prediction – Berrettini to win
