Game Week 9 results

 A busy game for FTLers which gave us the chance to test our squad depth at some lower tier events.

The only 500 level event this week was in Charleston which boasted a strong WTA lineup.  Jess Pegula's consistency over the last 2 months and her never say die attitude make her a must have for FTL teams.  A title in Austin and a final in Miami, she could be forgiven for feeling a bit jaded going into this event but once again she showed her dogged determination to - come back against reigning champ Collins after being blasted away in the 1st set -  to come through in three sets against  Alexandrova, a player who has had the better of her in the past -  and to run off a string of 6 games from 1-5 down in the 2nd set against Kenin to clinch the title. 

A popular trade in this week was Camilla Osorio and with good reason.  She just loves playing in front of her home fans in Colombia and had already won this title twice.  She very nearly came unstuck in her 2nd Round match against Emina Bektas but she dug deep to turn the match around and after that it was plain sailing against another Bogota champ Tatjana Maria in the quarters, Riera in the semi finals and surprise package Katerzyna Kawa in the final.

Jenson Brooksby's return to tennis has been well documented.  He served a lengthy ban from the game after failing to attend mandatory drug testing and his return was further complicated by injury. He has also spoken about his struggles with autism. When he emerged on the scene it was clear he had the talent and battling qualities to do well in the game and they were on display in Houston last week. Remarkably the quarter final lineup in Houston was an all American affair and Brooksby went on to beat Kovacevic, Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe to land a very well deserved title.

Flavio Cobolli took the first title of his career in Bucharest.  It has been a rough start to the season for Flavio and he was certainly not one of the favourites to win this title but he gradually found his rhythm as the tournament progressed.  In the final he faced Sebastian Baez (who continues to do well at lower tier clay events and had despatched reigning champ Fucsovics in the semi finals.) Coboli prevailed surprisingly easily 6-4, 6-2 in the final and is bound to take confidence for the rest of the clay swing.

And the ATP Tour also made a stop off in Africa this week at the Grand Prix Hassan in Marrakech.  And once again it was an Italian name on the trophy at the end of the week. Luciana Darderi defeated Tallon Griekspoor in 2 tie breaks to secure his 2nd ATP Title. Darderi dropped just one set all week (to Hugo Gaston.)

Here are the standings in the Global Leaderboard.

It was a remarkably tight contest this week with the top 5 teams separated by just 10 points.  Congrats to Tom Vaughan and his team "I like this Alex Bolt"  for managing to finish top of the tree.  Lets take a look at his lineup

Tom's captain Madison Keys didn't deliver but his KPs certainly did with both Jessica Pegula and Camila Osorio winning their respective events.  Tom also had a finalist in Frances Tiafoe but perhaps his key differential was Bucharest winner Flavio Cobolli.

The level 2 contest could not have been closer.  Anton's Amazing Team (Anton Gaydorov)  and Pimdebeer (Tom Grizzell)  were separated by the sum total of 0.43 points!!   Here is the head to head but its hardly worth disecting the differences when they finished so close.

Anton's key pick this week was undoubtedly putting Colombian Queen Camila Orosio as his Captain.  He also had Charleston winning Pegula and two runners up in Baez and Griekspoor.   Tom also had two winners in Cobolli and Pegula and the same two runners up.  Like i said, nothing between them, well exepct those 0.43 points which makes all the difference as its Anton who wins the weekly prize!  

Congrats Anton and Tom on a great week!