Weekend Warriors, Champions, and Retirements

ATP Champions

Casper Ruud - Buenos Aires (Second Title in Argentina)

Reilly Opelka - Dallas Open (same management from New York Open, so second title?)

Felix Auger Aliassime - Rotterdam Open (Ninth times the charm)

WTA Champions

Anett Kontaveit - St.Petersburg Open (still undefeated in indoor competition in last 20 matches)

Katie Boulter - W60k in Grenoble, France

Brenda Fruhvirtova - W25 in Tucuman, Argentina

Thank you Delpo

Not only has Casper Ruud maintained a Top 10 ranking, but he has also followed up his 2021 season-high winning five titles, by winning his second consecutive Argentina Open. With a rowdy Argentina crowd that was surely behind the hometown favorite, Diego Schwartzman, Ruud overcame being down a set to win in three. The Norwegian now extends his winning streak in ATP250 events to 18!

From the ashes of the New York Open, GF Sports finally created a decent tournament. Dallas is the perfect place that deserved a good ATP level event. Reilly Opelka really showed that he could be a consistent player inside the Top 20 in the world. The American won the longest tiebreaker EVER in tennis history during his semifinal matchup with John Isner (honestly, not that surprised) and beat possibly a future Top 20 player in the world, Jenson Brooksby. The best part, besides the match play, about this final was President Bush touching the top of Opelka's head before the match. Honestly, Opelka couldn't lose after that amazing moment.

Last but certainly not least, Felix Auger Aliassime claims his first ATP Tour-level title in Rotterdam. Even though he is still so young, it was one of the longest droughts we have been waiting to end for the past 3-4 years. In a battle between two players that were both in a drought (Tsitsipas 0 wins in ATP 500 finals, FAA 0 wins any ATP final), FAA almost pummeled the Greek player in straight sets victory, 6-4 6-2.

Let's talk about Anett Kontaveit. This girl is literally on fire! After her comeback victory against the number one seed, Maria Sakkari, the Estonian has now won four indoor hard court titles and amassed a more than impressive record since last August. This title has now made it five career titles and has moved up to World Number 6, passing her opponent she defeated this past Sunday in the rankings.

We have two standouts on the ITF circuit this past weekend. First, British player Katie Boulter had an impressive final performance against the eighth seed, Blinkova. Winning in three sets, the Brit will move into the Top 120 in the world. Back in Argentina, 14-year-old Brenda Fruhvirtova has won back-to-back ITF tour-level titles. As a fourteen-year-old, and the WTA age rule, she will only be able to play four more pro-tour-level events. It is unfortunate, but with the backing of her sister Linda, she will be ready for anything.