In the absolutely packed Stuttgart event for the women, Sharapova finally bested Azarenka and finally won a title, and it happened to be on red clay, where the Russian has actually had some of her best success (French Open SF, Rome title) in her comeback. In other tournaments, young Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens won her first career title and moved inside the top 100 in the process, and Gilles Simon and continued his run of good form by cruising to the title in Bucharest.
WTA Premier: Stuttgart, Germany
2) Maria Sharapova (RUS) def. 1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
-Sharapova wins her 25th career title, last '11 Cincinnati
-Since her comeback 3 of her 6 titles have come on clay ('10 Strasbourg, '11 Rome, '12 Stuttgart)
-Other QF: 3) Petra Kvitova (CZE)-SF, 4) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)-SF, 5) Samantha Stosur (AUS), 8) Na Li (CHN), Angelique Kerber (GER), Mona Barthel (GER)
-Other seeds: 6) Wozniacki (R2 l. to Kerber), 7) Bartoli (R2 l. to Barthel)
-Goerges title defense ended in R2 to Stosur.
-Stosur and Radwanska were the only two return quarterfinalists from last year.
-Two Germans reached the quarters this year, while 4 reached that stage last year, but they were six different women.
-Barthel gave Azarenka another run for her money, eventually capitulating 7-5 in the 3rd.
-On the down side, Petkovic is out another 3 months after tearing a ligament in her ankle. And this all after reaching 3 major quarterfinals last year.
-In all, Germans went 6-5 in the event, with Lisicki out with injury.
ATP 500: Barcelona, Spain
1) Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. 3) David Ferrer (ESP) 7-6(1) 7-5
-Nadal wins his 48th career title, 2nd of 2012, last '12 Monte Carlo
-It is his 7th win in Barcelona ('05-'09,'11-'12), skipped '10 tournament
-Other QF: 2) Andy Murray (GBR), 5) Janko Tipsarevic (SRB), 7) Feliciano Lopez (ESP), 8) Kei Nishikori (JPN), 9) Fernando Verdasco (ESP)-SF, 11) Milos Raonic (CAN)-SF
-Other seeds: 4) Berdych (w/d), 6) Almagro (R3 l. to Raonic), 10) Stepanek (w/d), 12) Granollers (R1 l. to Gil), 13) Anderson (R3 l. to Verdasco), 14) Chela (w/d), 15) Tomic (R2 l. to Montanes), 16) Andujar (R2 l. to Farah), 17) Ramos (R3 l. to Nishikori), 18) Istomin (R1 l. to Giraldo)
-As mentioned above, Nadal's title defense was successful
-Nadal, Ferrer, and Lopez were all also in the quarterfinals last year.
-There were 13 Spaniards in the draw, and they compiled a 21-12 record, with 6 of the losses to compatriots.
-Two Colombians reached the round of 16: Giraldo and qualifier Farah.
-This equals Raonic's best clay court run ('11 Estoril), and he beat Almagro and Murray along the way.
-This equals Raonic's best clay court run ('11 Estoril), and he beat Almagro and Murray along the way.
ATP 250: Bucharest, Romania
1) Gilles Simon (FRA) def. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-4 6-3
-Simon wins his 10th career title, last '11 Hamburg
-Half his titles have on clay, and now 3 in Bucharest
-Half his titles have on clay, and now 3 in Bucharest
-Other QF: 6) Andreas Seppi (ITA), 7) Lukasz Kubot (POL), Xavier Malisse (BEL), Matthias Bachinger (GER)-SF, Q) Daniel Brands (GER), Q) Attila Balazs (HUN)-SF
-Other seeds: 2) Mayer (R2 l. to Malisse), 3) Melzer (w/d), 4) Troicki (R2 l. to Bachinger), 5) Baghdatis (R2 l. to Fognini), 8) Dodig (R1 l. to Brands), 9) Chardy (R1 l. to Starace)
-Mayer was the defending champion, though last year the tournament was played in September. I believe it was moved up due to the shortened tour schedule that begins this year.
-There were no players that reached the quarters both last September and last week.
-Simon was the only player with a bye to win his opening match.
-There were no players that reached the quarters both last September and last week.
-Simon was the only player with a bye to win his opening match.
-The story of the tournament was "Attila the Hun", a qualifier ranked no. 450 who beat Lacko, Starace, and Malisse to reach the semis in his first ATP main draw. His ranking increased 200 spots after that performance, and now he gets special exempt into a tournament this week. He is 23-yrs-old and was ranked near 150 in the past.
-Another somewhat unknown that got a win here was the Estonian no. 1 Jurgen Zopp, who I often see in slam qualifying and Davis Cup rosters.
-Romanians went just 1-4 but Hanescu did not compete.
-Another somewhat unknown that got a win here was the Estonian no. 1 Jurgen Zopp, who I often see in slam qualifying and Davis Cup rosters.
-Romanians went just 1-4 but Hanescu did not compete.
WTA International: Fes, Morocco
Q) Kiki Bertens (NED) def. Laura Pous-Tio (ESP) 7-5 6-0
-Bertens wins first career title at the age of 20
-She was not in the top 10 of players born in 1991 in my last compilation (after Miami)
-She was not in the top 10 of players born in 1991 in my last compilation (after Miami)
-Other QF: 1) Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP), 3) Petra Cetkovska (CZE), 5) Simona Halep (ROU)-SF, Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU), L) Mathilde Johansson (FRA)-SF, Q) Garbine Muguruza Blanco (ESP)
-Other seeds: 2) Kuznetsova (R2 ret. to Begu), 4) Wickmayer (R1 l. to Mayr-Achleitner), 6) Scheepers (R2 l. to Bertens), 7) Zakopalova (R1 l. to Rus), 8) Peer (R2 l. to Johansson)
-Brianti lost in the first round of her title defense.
-Halep was the only player to reach the quarters in both '11 and '12. The '11 list also included Safina and Oudin.
-Moroccan Nadia Lalami, who also made the quarters last year, managed just 2 games in her first round loss to Johansson.
-Another nice result for Muguruza Blanco, who reached the last 16 at Miami, she qualified and reached the quarters here, succumbing to Bertens.
There was also some minor Davis Cup action, the Asia/Pacific Zonal Group III, being played in Tehran, Iran. Syria and Kuwait gained promotion to Group II. This was an immediate promotion for Syria, who was relegated last year. Iran was the another nation relegated last year, but they finished 4th. Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan were both relegated back to Group IV after being promoted last year. Malaysia, Oman, and Vietnam were the nations remaining in Group III along with host Iran.
The Europe Zonal Group III will be played this week in Sofia, Bulgaria with 13 nations. Bulgaria and Lithuania will be the favorites to advance as Dimitrov and Berankis are both playing. The pools have not yet been chosen, but the other nations are Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Georgia, Greece, Iceland, Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, and San Marino.
The Europe Zonal Group III will be played this week in Sofia, Bulgaria with 13 nations. Bulgaria and Lithuania will be the favorites to advance as Dimitrov and Berankis are both playing. The pools have not yet been chosen, but the other nations are Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Georgia, Greece, Iceland, Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, and San Marino.
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