This week is full once again with five tournaments - two ATP 500s in Santiago and Acapulco, along with a 250 in Dubai. The WTA hosts a 250 in Austin, Texas and a 500 in San Diego. A lot of activity right before 12 days in Indian Wells next week.
I'd say the biggest surprise was the WTA 1000 in Dubai where the top seeds fell, leaving the Final a battle between qualifier Kalinskaya (who dispatched three Top 10 seeds to reach the Final) and the unseeded victor Paolini (who defeated Haddad-Maia and Sakkari on her way, but likely benefited from a W/O by Rybakina in the SF,). Interesting that Paolini lost to Kalinskaya in the 4R of the AO and lost in the 1R of both Linz and Doha before lifting her 2nd title here) However, both ladies made a dramatic rise in the rankings as a result - #14 for Paolini and #24 for Kalinskaya (who I'm hoping to see much more of)!
On the men's side perhaps we should all take notice of the surprising performance of the Czech teen Jacub Mensik who defeated the #1 seed Rublev to face the #2 seed and victor Khachanov. IMO, results and surprises like these in Dubai and Doha make tennis much more interesting (and more difficult for some MCM prognosticators).
Congratulations to this past week's Champions:
WTA 1000 Dubai
Singles: Jasmine Paolini d. Anna Kalinskaya
Doubles: Hunter/Siniakova d. Melichar-Martinez/Perez
ATP 500 Doha
Singles: Karen Khachanov d. Jakub Mensik
Doubles: Murray/Venus d. Musetti/Sonego
ATP 250 Los Cabos
Singles: Jordan Thompson d. Casper Ruud
Doubles:Purcell/Thompson d. Nedovyesov/Escobar
ATP 250 Rio
Singles: Sebastian Baez d. Mariano Navone
Doubles: Barrientos/Matos d, Erler/Miedler
A lot of tennis coming up for you👇
