ATP/WTA: savouring the final harvest

Musetti ends a long wait

Before heading to the final Masters 1000 event of the season at the Plenitude Arena, several ATP stars stopped off in Lyon for the Grand Prix Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Few were happier about that decision than Lorenzo Musetti. Without a title since lifting the trophy in Naples in 2022, the Italian had lost each of his previous seven finals, including one in Hong Kong earlier this season.

That streak finally came to an emphatic end on Sunday as he defeated Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4 in 1h21 to claim the title. The champion himself could hardly believe it after surviving several dramatic moments throughout the week, including a marathon quarter-final against Luca Van Assche (7-6(5), 6-7(7), 6-4 in 3h33) and saving four match points against compatriot Flavio Cobolli in the semi-finals (4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in 2h32).

“It is totally unexpected for the history of this tournament for me this week. It is such a rollercoaster,” he said after the victory. “I saved four match points and then played a fantastic final. Before I stepped on court I was feeling pain everywhere. But when I stepped on court I started to focus on the match and the tennis I think was my best. I am really proud and happy of this.“

“The spirit of fight was the key for this tournament," Musetti added. "I had an incredible attitude. I have to say thanks to my team. The medical staff and physio to get me back in shape. Today I felt more relaxed inside my head and my tennis was more fluid and it was a great performance... It is such a dream I don't want to wake up!”

Having finally ended a four-year title drought, Musetti will now look to carry that momentum into Vienna and Paris. Fritz, meanwhile, collected valuable points in the Race to Turin and will be hoping to continue his charge in Basel before heading to the French capital.

Medvedev makes it back-to-back

Absent from the ATP Finals in 2025, Daniil Medvedev moved significantly closer to booking his place this year by successfully defending his title at the ATP 250 event in Almaty.

Long associated with first-time triumphs, having won his first 22 titles at 22 different tournaments before the 2026 season, the world No.5 collected his fourth trophy of the year after Brisbane, Dubai and Chengdu by defeating Nikoloz Basilashvili in the final, 7-6(6), 1-6, 3-6 in 1h50.

Despite missing a set point and dropping the opening set, Medvedev never lost sight of his objective after comfortably negotiating his earlier matches.

“It is just a matter of time, luck, a moment,” he said when asked about successfully defending the title. “I was feeling fresh, physically good. Sascha [Bublik] being injured in the semis gave me an extra push in the final and I am happy to finally do it.”

The first successful title defence of his career, and the 25th ATP title overall, gives Medvedev a healthy cushion in the Race over Alex De Minaur as he begins his campaign in Vienna this week.

Griekspoor, king of the comeback in Brussels

Like Medvedev, Tallon Griekspoor had to recover from a difficult position to lift the trophy at the ATP 250 event in Brussels.

The Dutchman fought back to defeat Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in 2h02, but his resilience had already been on display earlier in the week through comeback victories over second seed Jiri Lehecka and third seed Francisco Cerundolo.

“Another big fight. Very challenging match again,” he said modestly. “We have played a couple of times before and all of them were absolute fights, which could have gone either way. I don't know how it went my way [today]. I just tried to stay in there... found some good tennis towards the end of the match.”

The title is the fourth of his career and sends him back into the world's Top 50. As for Struff, who at 36 could have become the second-oldest ATP title winner of the year after Novak Djokovic in Beijing, he climbs to No.47 in the rankings thanks in particular to wins over Zizou Bergs and Arthur Fils.

Rybakina keeps rolling

After early disappointment in Beijing and a withdrawal from Wuhan, Elena Rybakina returned to winning ways at the WTA 500 event in Ningbo, the very place where her surge to the top began a year ago.

“Very happy and definitely for me, Ningbo is already a special place,” she told reporters. “Last year, I started to play really well from this tournament and all the way, so hopefully it's going to give me more motivation and more good energy to continue this season and start the next one.

“I feel like I was getting better with each match this week and today it was a really solid performance from my side. I hope that next week I can continue as well.”

Like Medvedev in Almaty, Rybakina completed the first successful title defence of her career. The victory was her fourth trophy of the season, following triumphs at the Australian Open, Stuttgart and the US Open.

The world No.1 proved far too strong for Leylah Fernandez in the final, cruising to a 6-2, 6-2 victory in just 1h16. The win was her 53rd of the season, the highest total on the WTA Tour, ahead of Mirra Andreeva and Jessica Pegula, who both sit on 50.

Rybakina has now won 15 titles from 28 career finals and an impressive 11 of her past 15 championship matches. “I remember I was getting very upset, always losing in the finals and now it's going my way,” she added. “Of course, I cannot expect it all the time. The final is the final and there is an opponent who wants to win as much as you. I hope I can continue this way all the way till my career finishes. For now, it's working and I'm really glad that it is going my way.”

Siniakova wastes no time

1h04. That was all Katerina Siniakova needed to defeat Ashlyn Krueger in the final of the WTA 250 tournament in Osaka, 6-1, 6-0.

The current world No.1 in doubles also defeated Peyton Stearns, Magda Linette, Mary Stoiana and Katie Boulter during a dominant week in which she dropped just one set. The result earned her a sixth career singles title and a first since Nanchang in 2023. It was the ideal confidence boost ahead of a busy end to the season.

“I played a very good match, I don't remember when I played so well. ” she said. “Everything was going my way, so I really enjoyed it. I had a lot of confidence. I'm just really proud of how I played.

“Tomorrow I'm traveling to Guangzhou and then the WTA finals. So we have a few more weeks left. But I'm looking forward to it.”