Welcome back to the Monday Tennis Briefing, where The Athletic delves into the notable stories from the past week’s matches.
This week highlighted 11 remarkable escapes in one match, sparked discussions about the quality of grass courts, and showcased a superb demonstration of slicing by one finalist.
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How to Save 11 Match Points?
Just days after Carlos Alcaraz saved three match points against Jannik Sinner in the French Open final, Belgium’s Elise Mertens accomplished an even more incredible feat in the Netherlands.
While Alcaraz’s points were championship points, Mertens astonishingly saved 11 match points against Ekaterina Alexandrova during the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships semifinal, equaling a WTA Tour record for match points saved by a winning player this century. Zsófia Gubacsi also saved 11 match points in the 2001 French Open, but Mayar Sherif holds the record for saving 12 in a lower-tier event in 2022.
Trailing 6-2, 5-4 and facing the first of 11 match points at 15-40 on her serve, Mertens, now ranked No. 24, saved those two and then hit a brilliant backhand to save another match point in the same game. Serving at 6-5, she salvaged five more match points to push the set to a tiebreak, where she claimed a narrow 9-7 victory.
Despite missing multiple opportunities, Alexandrova advanced to lead again in the third set, but ultimately lost when Mertens capitalized on her second match point, clinching the match 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-4. The world No. 18 Alexandrova faces a challenging recovery after this match, while Mertens went on to win the title by defeating Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the final.
The Debate on Grass-Court Match Quality
In tennis, especially on grass courts, perceptions of beauty greatly vary. Some appreciate the fast-paced nature of grass, while others find it less appealing compared to other surfaces.
The unique characteristics of grass—its slickness and low bounce—lead to faster matches with shorter points, generally resulting in a ratio of winners to errors that can misrepresent match quality if considered without context.
In a quarterfinal at the Rosmalen Championships, one player recorded 44 winners against 26 unforced errors, while her opponent had 22 winners to 12 errors. Comparatively, in the noted French Open final, both players had more unforced errors than winners, which is typical for clay courts and demonstrates the subjective nature of what constitutes a “quality” match.
The grass-court match with 66 winners highlighted a shift in play style from the prolonged rallies of clay, providing a distinct viewing experience that’s like a double-edged sword in terms of taste.
Celebrating Tatjana Maria’s Mastery
For professional tennis players, facing a qualifier during this transition week can be particularly daunting, as players shift from the slow clay to fast grass courts.
One such qualifier is Tatjana Maria, who triumphed in the Queen’s women’s tournament by overcoming seven opponents, including four seeded players and two Grand Slam champions.
At 37 and ranked No. 86, Maria’s success is remarkable, as she navigates her career alongside her husband and their two children, celebrating her title on Father’s Day. She showcased her skills by defeating Amanda Anisimova in straight sets, concluding an impressive streak against top competitors.
A New Chapter for the ‘Sandwich Generation’
As younger players born in the 2000s rise in the tennis world, there’s a notable shift in rankings, with Ben Shelton breaking into the top 10 for the first time after his semifinal run at the Stuttgart Open.
Currently, there are six players born in the 2000s in the ATP top 10, with Alexander Zverev as the sole representative from the 1990s generation. Shelton’s ascent marks a significant moment in the ongoing evolution of men’s tennis.
With notable upcoming tournaments, including the Queen’s and Halle Open, the competitive landscape continues to shift, creating excitement for fans and players alike.
Winners of the Week
🎾 ATP
🏆 Taylor Fritz (2) defeated Alexander Zverev (1) 6-3, 7-6(0) to claim victory at the Stuttgart Open.
🏆 Gabriel Diallo overcame Zizou Bergs 7-5, 7-6(8) to capture his first ATP Tour title at the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships.
🎾 WTA
🏆 Tatjana Maria (Q) triumphed over Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-4 to secure the Queen’s title.
🏆 Elise Mertens (3) defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 7-6(4) to win the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships.
On the Rise / Down the Line
📈 Iva Jovic rises from No. 115 to No. 88 after winning the WTA 125 Ilkley Open, becoming the youngest player in the WTA top 100.
📈 Ben Shelton moves up to No. 10 after reaching the Stuttgart semifinals—his debut in the top 10.
📈 Tatjana Maria climbs back into the top 50, moving from No. 86 to No. 43.
📉 Katie Boulter drops to No. 39, making Emma Raducanu the British women’s No. 1.
📉 Jack Draper falls two positions to No. 6, affecting his Wimbledon seeding.
📉 Matteo Berrettini descends five spots to No. 33, missing out on a top-32 Wimbledon seed.
Upcoming Events
🎾 ATP
📍London: Queen’s (500) featuring Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper, and Ben Shelton.
📍Halle, Germany: Halle Open (500) featuring Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.
📺 UK: Sky Sports, BBC; U.S.: Tennis Channel 💻 Tennis TV
🎾 WTA
📍Berlin: Berlin Open (500) featuring Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff.
📍Nottingham, U.K.: Nottingham Open (250) featuring Beatriz Haddad Maia and Katie Boulter.
📺 UK: Sky Sports; U.S.: Tennis Channel
Share your thoughts on this week in tennis in the comments as both tours continue to unfold.
(Top photo: Joris Verwijst / BSR Agency via Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton / The Athletic)
