There were three ATP tournaments last week. Two on the clay courts of Hamburg and Umag, and one on the hard courts of Atlanta. It was a week that brought many exciting matches for fans to enjoy in the stadiums or watching from home. Here is a countdown of the best matches of the week.
The Five Best Matches Last Week on the ATP Tour
5. Hamburg quarterfinal: Arthur Fils vs Casper Ruud
This match is not chosen due to how close it was, but because of how incredibly Fils played. He obliterated the two-time French Open runner-up Ruud 6-0 6-4 in a devastating show of power, accuracy, and strategy. Fils hit a truly extraordinary 35 winners in just 16 games. The Lyon champion spoke about how he and his coach talked before the match about peppering the weaker Ruud backhand at every available opportunity, and that allowed him to repeatedly bring his hammer of a forehand into play.
Fils was unable to replicate that level against Alexander Zverev in the semifinal, but that is understandable for a man of 19 years old. He has now beaten Francisco Cerundolo, French tennis legend Richard Gasquet and Ruud this season.
4. Atlanta Semifinal: Aleksandar Vukic vs Ugo Humbert
Vukic and Humbert produced one of the hardest-hitting matches of the season in their Atlanta semifinal. It was a contest that went down to the wire, and Vukic narrowly prevailed 3-6 7-6 7-5 to progress to his first-ever ATP final. Humbert had recovered from a break down in the final set but his Australian opponent played a stunning return game at 5-5. That proved to be the pivotal moment. There were 66 winners hit over the course of the match; 35 from Humbert and 31 from Vukic.
Humbert has now lost consecutive semifinals after falling at the same stage to compatriot Adrian Mannarino last week in Newport. However, he is still playing very good tennis and will be a threat for the rest of the North American hardcourt season. Vukic lost the final to Taylor Fritz in three sets in another good match but is now at a career-best ranking of #62.
Embed from Getty Images
3. Atlanta First Round: Thanasi Kokkinakis vs Gael Monfils
The always entertaining Monfils was involved in a dramatic match with 2022 Australian Open doubles champion Thanasi Kokkinakis. The Frenchman was absolutely superb as he won the first set 6-1. Kokkinakis then won the second set 6-3 with a single break of serve, before the final set was decided on a tiebreak. Monfils looked a near-certain winner after racing into a 4-0 lead. However, the Australian managed to somehow win seven of the last eight points to claim a 1-6 6-3 7-6 victory.
Monfils will be feeling bitter after complaining about the schedule before the tournament. He should still take some positives from his performance level after not playing since the French Open. Kokkinakis lost in the next round to compatriot Alex De Minaur but will take confidence from winning a tight match after losing some close battles earlier this season.
Embed from Getty Images
2. Hamburg First Round: Andrey Rublev vs Bernabe Zapata Miralles
Rublev clearly arrived somewhat fatigued for his match against the gritty Spanish competitor Zapata Miralles. This is due to his run to the title in Bastad the previous week. Hence unsurprisingly he was struggling against his fresher opponent and looked down for the count when he found himself 6-4 down in the final set tiebreak. But suddenly Rublev found something special. He hit what seemed like a barely makeable shot down the line at 6-4, an ace at 6-5 and then at 7-6 down somehow smashed an angled forehand winner. The eight-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist ended up winning the tiebreak 9-7, and the match 5-7 6-1 7-6.
An exhausted Rublev was hammered 6-2 6-2 in the second round by Daniel Altmaier, but can now rest up after his part in this epic match and his title win in Bastad.
1. Umag Final: Alexei Popyrin vs Stan Wawrinka
Popyrin was in a difficult position against Wawrinka. He lost the opening set on a tiebreak after serving for the set at 5-4, and with the crowd strongly behind the three-time Grand Slam champion, he may have wilted under the pressure. But Popyrin stood up superbly to the challenge and eventually prevailed 6-7 6-3 6-4. It is his second ATP title, and his first since his win in Singapore in February 2021. The Australian’s serve and forehand are his biggest weapons, but he also showed excellent defence at times and also used the drop shot very smartly on important points including the crucial break of serve at 4-4 in the deciding set.
It is still wonderful to see the former French Open champion playing so well, and Wawrinka has reinvented himself amazingly at the age of 38. For Popyrin hopefully, this gives him the confidence to use his undoubted talent more consistently.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
