Tennis made a roaring comeback this week with exciting tournaments held on the lush green courts of Nottingham and 's-Hertogenbosch. The spotlight was on Katie Boulter, who defended her title at the WTA 250 Nottingham with a dramatic comeback, and Alex De Minaur, who clinched the ATP 250 's-Hertogenbosch crown.
Boulter's Stunning Victory in Nottingham
Katie Boulter had a memorable week in Nottingham, becoming the first player to defend her title on these courts. Seeded third, Boulter faced a tough draw but showcased resilience and talent. In the semifinals, she overcame Emma Raducanu in a thrilling match, eventually winning the tiebreaker 15-13 in the first set before sealing the win in the next two sets. The final saw her triumph against former world number one Karolína Plíšková, despite dropping the first set. This victory marked Boulter's third career title and her second in 2024, following her win in San Diego against Marta Kostyuk.
"My boyfriend didn't come to support me this time, but we'll definitely talk about it tonight," Boulter joked after her win, referring to Alex De Minaur.
De Minaur Dominates 's-Hertogenbosch
On the men's side, Alex De Minaur put on a masterclass performance to secure the title in 's-Hertogenbosch. Without dropping a set throughout the tournament, he dominated the final against Sebastian Korda. This victory adds to his impressive 2024 season, where he has already won a title in Acapulco and reached the final in Rotterdam. De Minaur's consistency has seen him climb to a career-high 7th in the ATP rankings.
Highlights from Stuttgart and 's-Hertogenbosch
In Stuttgart, Jack Draper captured his first ATP title by defeating Matteo Berrettini in a hard-fought final. Berrettini, making a strong return from injury, pushed Draper to three sets but ultimately fell short. Draper's milestone win also earned him a new peak ranking of 30th in the ATP. Meanwhile, in the WTA 250 event in 's-Hertogenbosch, Jessica Pegula was a surprise early exit, losing to Alexandra Krunic. The tournament saw Bianca Andreescu reaching the final, showcasing her potential resurgence despite losing to Ludmilla Samsonova, who claimed her first title since 2019.
Ukrainian Participation and Future Prospects
The week also had limited participation from Ukrainian players at higher levels, though some shone in ITF events. Daria Snigur and Marta Kostyuk faced off in Nottingham's first round, with Snigur unexpectedly prevailing. However, Snigur's journey ended in the Round of 16 against Emma Raducanu. Tennis fans have their eyes on Wimbledon and the possibility of seeing upcoming stars like these Ukrainians making an impact on the grand stage.
Editor: Emiliia Morozova
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