Since the coronavirus pandemic induced tennis shut down, fans have clamored for when the best players in the world might step onto the court. The WTA decided to get it going a couple of weeks ago. The ATP had sat on their laurels until this week. Check out how both the men’s and women’s side have, at least we hope, gotten past the pandemic so you can make your bets against their Tennis odds.
COVID-19 Tennis Update – August 26th Edition
Women’s Tennis Association Update
The Great Western & Southern Open started on Saturday, August 22. Since then, a few big time upsets have occurred.
9-Elena Rybakina fell to Ekaterina Alexandrova, Victoria Azarenka beat 15-Donna Vekic, and Venus Williams fell 7-5, 2-6, 5-7 to Dayana Yastremska.
But on Saturday, Williams wasn’t the biggest name to lose. Cori Gauff, the teenage phenom, also lost. Maria Sakkari beat Gauff 6-1, 6-3.
Sakkari beat Yulia Putintseva in the second-round. In the third-round, she bested Venus’ sister, Serena.
Serena took the loss in stride, saying it was her own fault for the defeat after letting lead after lead slip away from her. Sakkari put Williams away in the third set.
That’s okay. Serena should be at full strength when the U.S. Open, over the same Flushing Meadows courts as the Western & Southern Open, kicks off this weekend.
Even if S-dub is at full strength, she may not play well enough to best Naomi Osaka. Naomi loves the Flushing Meadows courts. That was apparent after she blasted her way past Dayana Yastremska in Round 3.
Osaka looks poised for a Western & Southern Open trophy. Even if she doesn’t win, her performance in the last couple of matches proves she’s ready for a deep U.S. Open run.
Association of Tennis Professionals Update
Over in the ATP, Andy Murray and Filip Krajinovic have so far provided the most fireworks.
Murray played the best he has in the past couple of years while defeating one of the Western & Southern Open Tournament favorites, Alexander Zverev, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. Andy couldn’t sustain his great play, though, falling to Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-2 on Tuesday.
Krajinovic knocked out Dominic Thiem in Round 2. Filip beat Thiem 6-2, 6-1. Krajinovic moved to the fourth round and a date with Raonic after beating Martin Fuscovics 6-2, 6-1 on Tuesday.
Huge tournament favorite Novak Djokovic has also had a decent Western & Southern Open. Djoker rolled past Ricardo Berankis and Tennys Sandgren. On Wednesday, Djokovic battles Jan Lennard-Struff.
Novak is playing at an incredibly high-level. Neither Roger Federer nor Rafael Nadal will play at the 2020 U.S. Open. Right now, Novak is hands down the player to beat on the men’s side.
Tennis is back!
Because both the WTA and ATP are on the courts, it’s safe for us to assume that tennis has gotten past the pandemic shut down.
It’s a shame players like Nadal and Simona Halep won’t battle at the U.S. Open. But we shouldn’t worry so much about that.
The French Open starts on Sep. 26. It’s almost a guarantee that Rafa and Simona show up at Roland-Garros.
Have a great rest of your week!
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