Early Fall Tournament Champions

In the couple weeks after the US Open, we have a couple weeks of smaller tournaments generally only attended by lower ranked players, giving some of them a chance to win a title and build form going into some bigger events.

First from a week ago.

Guangzhou, China (WTA International)
Shahar Peer was the defending champion, but did not compete in 2010.
Jarmila Groth (AUS) won her first career title, defeating Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) in the final 6-1, 6-4.

Quebec City, Canada (WTA International)

Melinda Czink was the defending champion, but did not compete in 2010.

Qualifier Tamira Paszek (AUT) won her second career title (first in 2010), defeating Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) in the final 7-6(6), 2-6, 7-5.

Of the 16 quarterfinalists in these two tournaments from 2009, three managed to repeat that performance in 2010:  Kudryavtseva (QF at Quebec City in '09, Champion at Guangzhou in '10), Mattek-Sands (QF at Quebec City in '09, F there in '10), and Lucie Safarova (F at Quebec City in '09, SF there in '10)

Now on to this week.

Seoul, South Korea (WTA International)

Kimiko Date Krumm was the defending champion, and made the QF in 2010

Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) won her 4th career title (2nd in 2010), defeating Klara Zakopalova in the final 6-1, 6-3.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (WTA International)

Shahar Peer was the defending champion, but did not compete in 2010.  She'll probably drop some in the upcoming rankings after choosing not to defend back-to-back titles.

Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) won her first career title, defeating Elena Vesnina (RUS) in the final 6-4, 6-4. She had a very successful two weeks.

Of the 16 quarterfinalists in these two tournaments from 2009, three also managed to repeat that performance in 2010:  Date Krumm (Champ at Seoul in '09, QF there in '10), Amanmuradova (F at Tashkent in '09, QF there in '10), and Darya Kustova (QF in '09 and '10 at Tashkent).

Now for the men, who got back to ATP action after the Davis Cup weekend.

Metz, France (ATP 250)

Gael Monfils was the defending but had to pull out of this tournament in 2010.

Gilles Simon (FRA) won his 7th career title (1st in 2010), defeating Mischa Zverev (GER) in the final 6-3, 6-2.

Bucharest, Romania (ATP 250)

Albert Montanes was the defending champion, but was knocked in the semis in 2010.

Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) won his 6th career title (2nd in 2010), defeating qualifier Pablo Andujar (ESP) in the final 7-5, 6-1.

Of the 16 quarterfinalists in these two tournaments from 2009, four managed to make it that far in 2010:  Montanes (Champ at Bucharest in '09, SF there in '10), Cuevas (QF in '09 and '10 at Bucharest), Gasquet (SF in '09 and '10 at Metz), and Kohlschreiber (F in '09 at Metz, SF there in '10)