Grass season is here! 🌱

And there's been lots of action so far

Author

Ellen
June 16, 2024

Welcome back to Latest Racquet, where we love tennis even more than Carlos loves clubbing 😂… This week we’re talking:

  • a double win for one of tennis’ fave couples 💕

  • US Open champs facing off in Holland 🌷

  • who is Jack Draper anyways? 🇬🇧 

  • Eurocup mania! ⚽️

But first…

This week’s big winners

‘s-Hertogenbosch (WTA 250) — Liudmila Samsonova

Road to Victory: Andreescu (4-6, 6-3, 7-5), Alexandrova (6-3, 6-7(1), 6-1), Minnen (6-4, 7-5), Naef (7-5, 6-2), Van Uytvanck (6-1, 6-3)

Nottingham (WTA 250) — Katie Boulter 🇬🇧

Road to Victory: Pliskova (4-6, 6-3, 6-2), Raducanu (6-7(13), 6-3, 6-4), Frech (6-2, 6-4), Marino (6-4, 6-3), Dart (6-7(5), 6-4, 7-5)

Valencia (WTA 125) — Ann Li 🇺🇸

Road to Victory: Tomova (6-3, 6-4), Bouzas Maneiro (3-6, 6-2, 6-4), Kalieva (6-2, 6-0), Trevisan (2-6, 6-3, 6-3), Maristany Zuleta de Reales (6-4, 6-7(3), 6-1)

‘s-Hertogenbosch (ATP 250) — Alex De Minaur 🇦🇺 

Road to Victory: Korda (6-2, 6-4), Humbert (7-6(4), 6-3), Raonic (7-5, 6-2), Bergs (7-5, 6-4)

Stuttgart (ATP 250) — Jack Draper 🇬🇧

Road to Victory: Berrettini (6-3, 7-6(5), 6-4), Nakashima (6-3, 6-3), Tiafoe (5-7, 6-4, 7-6(1)), Giron (6-4, 3-6, 6-3), Ofner (7-6(4), 7-6(5))

Wins all around for De Minaur and Boulter

The tennis couple managed to both win titles on grass this weekend. This included a title defence for Katie in Nottingham! Hopefully we can see the pair in mixed doubles at Wimbledon again this year.

Osaka vs Andreescu blockbuster

After her strong showing against Iga in Paris, Osaka fell just shy (again) against Bianca, losing in a third set tiebreak. Both players seem to be continuing their promising returns from extended leaves. Bianca went on to the final of the tournament in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, losing to Samsonova.

Us Open Sport GIF by Tennis Channel

Gif by tennischannel on Giphy

A Brit worth backing at Wimbledon?

Jack Draper pulled off his first ATP title this weekend in Stuttgart, and it was no small feat — he faced Berrettini in the final, a grass court specialist and 2-time champion at the event. But who is Draper anyways?

Jack is 22 years old, 6’4” and from a middle class suburb of London. His family is quite involved in tennis — his father was the chief exec of Sport England (a public body in the UK) as well as the Lawn Tennis Association (the governing body of tennis in the UK), while his mother was also a top junior tennis player. His brother played NCAA tennis at University of California-Berkeley.

As a junior, Jack was the 2018 Wimbledon runner-up. He is apparently a natural right-hander, but plays left-handed (like Nadal). His early career has been plagued by injuries, including a ruptured ankle ligament in 2021, and ab and shoulder injuries in 2023.

At this year’s majors, Draper lost in the second round at the Australian Open and the first round in the French Open. But the grass seems to be more kind to him…With the title this weekend, he will become no. 30 in the world and the highest-ranked British man.

Hopefully Jack can keep up the high level for his upcoming favourite tournament — Wimbledon!

Eurocup mania has started ⚽️

Our hearts area slightly broken from all the sports channels switching from tennis to soccer, but the tennis players seem to be enjoying the fun!

Happy Father’s Day to our favourite Tennis Dads

Coming up this week…

ATP:

  • London 500 (Top seeds — Alcaraz, de Minaur, Dimitrov, Fritz)

  • Halle 500 (Top seeds — Sinner, Zverev, Medvedev, Ruble)

WTA:

  • Berlin 500 (Top seeds — Gauff, Sabalenka, Rybakina, Pegula)

  • Birmingham 250 (Top seeds — Ostapenko, Krejcikova, Cirstea, Boulter)

  • Gaiba 125 (Top seeds — Maria, Carle, Bouzas Maneiro, Errani)

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