Watch Out WTA, She's Back!

Five tournaments were contested last week but the biggest story has to be Serena Williams' return to the winner's circle.  She won her first title since Wimbledon last year, which is actually only her 3rd tournament back, defeating Marion Bartoli, who she lost to at this year's Wimbledon, 7-5 6-1 in Stanford, California.  Bartoli served for the first set at 5-4 but then fell apart, combined with Serena raising her level as the American won 9 of the last 10 games.  Serena won her 38th career title and broke several strings.  It was her first regular tour win (not counting majors or the tour championships) since '08 Charleston.  She was the first American to win in the US since her win at the '08 US Open.  She was the first American to win a regular tour event since Venus won Acapulco last year etc etc.  She is now back inside the top 100 and I wouldn't be surprised if she managed to gain a seed come the US Open.  Before moving on, I want to mention this as another good result from Bartoli, who continues her very solid year, which has already included an IW final, French Open SF, Wimbledon QF, and grass court title.

In the inaugural tournament in College Park, Maryland (a WTA International event) we heard from someone who seemingly disappeared from the tour.  Nadia Petrova -- who was in the top 10 in early '09 -- defeated Shahar Peer (another slumping name) 7-5, 6-2 for her 10th career title, but first since '08 Quebec City (and Cincinatti before that).  Maybe she is finally over the vertigo what affected her and ready to get back to her inconsistent but often big-time performing self.  She did have a solid '10 season going before being derailed by injury at the French Open that year.  And this also is a good result from Peer, who had been having trouble winning at all, and now manages to get to the final of a tournament, albeit a small one.

Now to the men, who mysteriously had 2 small clay events besides the US Open series tournament in LA.  Ernests Gulbis won the latter, coming from nowhere to beat the top two seeds (Fish and Del Potro) en route to his second career title (first was in Delray Beach last year).  He beat Fish 5-7 6-4 6-4 in the final, ending the American's 7 match win streak.  Is this just a temporary uptick or does it mean Gulbis is actually on the rise again?

Over in Europe, who should emerge from Gstaad, Switzerland and a field that included some fine clay courters such as Almagro and Verdasco but Marcel Granollers.  The Spaniard beat compatriot Verdasco in the final 6-4 3-6 6-3 for his second career title, other '08 Houston.  Granollers is certainly enjoying the form of his life (lost to Ferrer in '10 Valencia final) and just moved up to #33 in the world so he has an excellent shot at being seeded at the US Open.  Maybe Spanish Davis Cup captain Albert Costa wasn't mad when he selected Granollers to the team.  And this also is the best result in awhile for Verdasco, who had been slumping.  Granollers became the 10th different Spanish player (and 7th male) to win a title this year.  They have now accounted for 16 titles.

And last but certainly not least, Alexandr Dolgopolov won his first career title in Umag, Croatia defeating local favorite Marin Cilic 6-4 3-6 6-3 in the final.  And so the breakout season continues for the Ukrainian who made the Aussie Open QF and then his first final a few months ago in Costa do Sauipe.  Also this is a reversal of recent trends for Cilic, who perhaps is getting back on the winning track.