Weekly Recap: Pro Tennis Around the Globe

What happened in pro tennis around the globe in the past week? Plenty. We can't cover it all here but a few key highlights follow below in order to catch you up on all the action... 

Madrid, Madrid, Madrid!

With both the WTA and ATP Tours hosting 1000-level events in Madrid this week, all the focus turns to Spain. Here's a rundown to update you on what has happened so far as we roll into the quarterfinals...

WTA 

World #1 Iga Swiatek has been having a good time in Madrid so far. She's won every match in straight sets, and in every match she won at least one set with the score of 6-1, to illustrate her dominance in the top half of the draw. She now takes on Beatriz Haddad Maia in the quarterfinals. The Brazilian also has a good time, but has endured a rough draw, having gone through Emma Navarro and Maria Sakkari, the latter of which looks to be coming back to form after a very long dry spell.

Photo: © On

The United States still fly the flag oversees, with Madison Keys trying to bring the trophy back home. Keys has played beautifully all week, taking down Samsonova, Gauff and  Jabeur. 

In the other two quarterfinals, two unseeded women will try to take the title, with Yulia Putintseva just coming off a win against Daria Katsatkina, and birthday girl Mirra Andreeva showing that a seventeen year-old can play amongst the more experienced crop of big players. They will take on Rybakina and Sabalenka, respectively. 

ATP

R16 is still in play for the guys, with Danill Medvedev and Andrey Rublev already taking quarterfinal spots. Medvedev, famous for ranting at tournaments on his least favorite surface---clay, is keeping his composure this week. He's taken down Matteo Arnaldi, Alexander Bublik, and Sebastian Korda this week so far, all good wins for the man who doesn't "want to play here on this...surface." Andrey Rublev meanwhile is the opposite of Medvedev, and while he still prefers hardcourt, he is enjoying himself out there this week after taking down Facundo Bagnis, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and Tallon Griekspoor. 

Taylor Fritz has played solid all week on the dirt, with wins against clay court specialist Sebastian Baez and top dog Hubert Hurkacz. Baez, who has won a bucketload of titles this year so far, didn't do enough against the American who took the dub in straights. While his battle was tougher against Hubi, the 26-year-old prevailed again in straight sets and awaits his quarterfinal matchup. 

Sinner and Alcaraz remain in the draw and are expected to defeat their R16 opponents, while Ruud, who has had the season of his life on clay this year, is also featured in the Tuesday line-up. Zverev is expected to lose to Francisco Cerundolo, and is currently on court. He trails by a set and a break. Numerous critics have condemned the tours for allowing the German to still play after allegations of abuse from his former partner still linger. 

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Written by William Turvey.  Top photo: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour.