Lucy and Eugene roundup events from the past two weeks before getting into Naomi Osaka’s documentary and the Tokyo Olympics
Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina got married in Switzerland. Both were draped in clothing designed by Off-White founder Virgil Abloh aka “Two Virgils”.
Alycia Parks made her European WTA Tour-debut in Lausanne, Switzerland. Beat Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in round one – hit 13 aces in that match. Lost to second seed Fiona Ferro in round two. Continues to climb up the rankings.
Mikael Ymer reached his first ATP Tour-level quarter-final last week in Gstaad picking up wins against Enzo Couacaud and Feliciano Lopez before going out in straights to Vit Kopriva.
Big bro Elias was in Los Cabos, Mexico and reached the second round where he gave the eventual champion Cam Norrie the toughest time.
Shout out to the Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard who won his first pro title in Uriage, France. Beat Arthur Fils in the final and then they won the doubles crown together.
Also, Jay Clarke finished runner-up in the Nur Sultan Challenger – lost out to Max Purcell (more on him later) in the final.
Naomi Osaka Netflix Documentary
The four-time Grand Slam champion lets us in to her world away from the court. Also became the first Haitian and Japanese woman to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition.
Tokyo Olympics
Naomi Osaka became the first tennis player to light the Olympic cauldron. The highest seed left in the draw after Ashleigh Barty’s defeat in round one – comfortably beat China’s Zheng Saisai in her opener and then Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland in round two. Plays Czech Marketa Vondrousova next.
*Tumaini Carayol in Tokyo: “Not everyone is capable of immediately performing after not competing for two months, but this has been a constant feature Osaka’s past year. Good start.”
Frances Tiafoe is having a good Olympics won his doubles match with Rajeev Ram on Day 1 – beating sixth seeded ROC team Rublev and Khachanov – and then on Day 2 got the job done in singles with a confident straight-sets win over Soonwoo Kwon. Takes on Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in round two.
First-round exits for Gael Monfils (lost to I.Ivashka 4-6, 6-4, 5-7); Felix Auger-Aliassime (lost to M.Purcell 4-6, 6-7); Heather Watson (lost to A.Friedsam 6-7, 3-6); and Jasmine Paolini (lost to P.Kvitova 4-6, 3-6)
Monfils is still in doubles with Jeremy Chardy. They play Alexander Zverev and Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany in round two after beating Alexander Bublik and Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan in round one.
Happening now…
Generali Open in Kitzbuhel, Austria (ATP 250)
Mikael Ymer is through to the second round in Kitzbuhel after an impressive 6-3, 7-5 win over Pablo Cuevas. Takes on in-form 10th seed Carlos Alcaraz or wildcard Alexander Erler next.
LTP Women’s Open, Charleston (WTA 125)
Sachia Vickery, seeded seventh, opens against Allie Kiick. Katrina Scott takes on top seed Madison Brengle. Whitney Osuigwe lost to Jamie Loeb on Day 1.
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