Welcome back to the Monday Tennis Briefing, where The Athletic brings you the latest updates from the court highlights of the past week.
This week, Italy successfully defended their Billie Jean King Cup title, Team World triumphed at the Laver Cup, and Iga Świątek corrected a family legacy in Seoul.
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Weather Interruptions in Seoul Before Świątek Breaks Family Cycle
Just a year after heavy rain disrupted the Shanghai Masters, a similar fate befell the Korea Open in Seoul last week.
Rain fell throughout the week, forcing doubles matches indoors as early as Tuesday. This created an unusual scene as Grand Slam champions Kateřina Siniaková and Barbora Krejčíková played to spectators sitting on the floor in a venue resembling a school gym.
The pair, juggling singles matches, also competed indoors for their quarterfinal on Friday, with their singles quarterfinals pushed to Saturday. This meant they could possibly play two singles matches and one doubles match all in one day. Krejčíková, managing a recurring back issue, faced Świątek, who had her first match delayed until Thursday due to inclement weather, while Siniaková challenged Suzan Lamens from the Netherlands.
Świątek’s Significant Victory
Świątek began her final strongly, achieving a decisive 6-0 in the first set before closing out the match 6-3 in the second, alleviating Krejčíková’s scheduling conflict. However, Siniaková defeated Lamens and then faced Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova before returning to the doubles match with Krejčíková. Although Siniaková lost to Alexandrova in straight sets, she and Krejčíková bounced back to win the doubles semifinals against Yang Zhaoxuan and Xu Yifan.
Siniaková and Krejčíková wrapped up a challenging week by clinching the doubles title on Sunday, overcoming America’s Caty McNally and Australia’s Maya Joint 6-3, 7-6 (6).
Conversely, Świątek’s victory was notably dramatic; she faced a first-set loss of 1-6 against Alexandrova but ultimately won the tightly contested final 1-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5, despite her opponent winning more points in total.
Innovative Animated Tennis Coverage Gains Popularity
One of the most intriguing developments at this year’s Australian Open was the success of AO Animated, which aired matches with graphics reminiscent of a Nintendo Wii game. This innovative approach helped navigate broadcast restrictions via YouTube while also engaging younger audiences. The unique aesthetics led to viral moments, such as players performing backflips during matches.
Fast-forward eight months, and a similar effort was seen at the U.S. Open within the tournament app, introducing graphics that were less engaging yet more realistic than those of its Australian counterpart. Last weekend’s Laver Cup also featured this technology, with Tennis Australia noting its importance for reaching digitally savvy audiences.
The Impact and Success of Team Events
As the Asian swing commenced last week, team events took center stage. Team World triumphed in one of the most thrilling Laver Cups yet, emerging victorious after previously losing five of the first seven contests. On the women’s side, Italy retained their Billie Jean King Cup title in Shenzhen, China, following intense matches in the quarter and semifinals.
The Italians made a remarkable comeback from near defeat in the semifinals, with Jasmine Paolini, ranked No. 8, rallying from a set and 4-2 down in games against Elina Svitolina. The final clash against the U.S. saw Italy dominate, winning both singles matches in straight sets without needing a doubles decider.
This adjustment of the Billie Jean King Cup finals to September in China proved effective, aligning with the upcoming Asian swing in tournaments.
Shot of the Week
The standout moment of the week came from Carlos Alcaraz’s stunning backhand drop-volley during the Laver Cup. The shot drew a standing ovation from teammates, as it left opponents Reilly Opelka and Alex Michelsen with no chance. Europe secured a convincing win at 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, with this shot being a highlight of the match.
🏆 Weekly Winners
🎾 ATP:
🏆 Team World defeated Team Europe 15-9 to claim the Laver Cup.
🎾 WTA:
🏆 Italy triumphed over the U.S. 2-0 to win the Billie Jean King Cup in Shenzhen.
🏆 Świątek (1) overcame Alexandrova (2) 1-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5 to secure the Korea Open (500) title in Seoul, marking her third title this year.
📈📉 On the Rise
📈 Ella Seidel breaks into the top 100 for the first time, moving from No. 105 to No. 92.
📈 Katerina Siniakova rises 17 places to No. 60 following her semifinal appearance in Seoul.
📈 Loïs Boisson achieves a career-high ranking of No. 39, climbing from No. 49.
📅 Upcoming Events
🎾 ATP
📍 Beijing: China Open (500) featuring Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur, Daniil Medvedev.
📍 Tokyo: Japan Open (500) featuring Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Holger Rune, and Denis Shapovalov.
📺 UK: Sky Sports; U.S.: Tennis Channel 💻
🎾 WTA
📍 Beijing: China Open (1,000) featuring Iga Świątek, Zheng Qinwen, Amanda Anisimova, and Naomi Osaka.
📺 UK: Sky Sports; U.S.:
Feel free to share your thoughts about this week as the men’s and women’s tours continue.
(Top photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
