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Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev, veteran ATP tennis players, won their respective tournaments in Gstaad and Bastad, respectively.
For Tsitsipas, the Swiss Open Gstaad ATP 250 is his first title in over a year. It is his 13th overall, and perhaps most significant, the first without his father as his coach.
Rublev added his 18th title to his resume at the Nordea Open, his first in over a year.
MORE: Karolina Muchova, Maria Sakkari make WTA news for very different reasons
The good news for both players is that they will gain a huge confidence boost from winning these events.
Great play and winning streaks often begin in smaller tournaments and carried forward to larger ones.
MORE: Pegula, Brady, Krawczyk attend Asia Muhammad wedding
The less positive news is that both won clay court events. As we are headed into hardcourt season leading into the US Open, clay court training is not as vital. However, the ATP, with head scratching decision making, puts the clay events on the tournament calendar immediately after Wimbledon.
May 29, 2026; Paris, France; Andrey Rublev reacts during his match against Nuno Borges of Portugal on day six at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
Alexander Zverev captured his first career Grand Slam, but Tsitsipas, Rublev, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, and Frances Tiafoe are in a group of players in their late 20s in the sandwich generation. They played at the end of the Big Three era of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. Then, they got lost in the shuffle as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz burst on the scene immediately after the Big Three.
Regardless, winning these week-long tournaments are great for both men who were ranked in the top five in 2021 and still have the games to reach that ranking again.
Continue reading...
For Tsitsipas, the Swiss Open Gstaad ATP 250 is his first title in over a year. It is his 13th overall, and perhaps most significant, the first without his father as his coach.
Rublev added his 18th title to his resume at the Nordea Open, his first in over a year.
MORE: Karolina Muchova, Maria Sakkari make WTA news for very different reasons
Winning begets winning
The good news for both players is that they will gain a huge confidence boost from winning these events.
Great play and winning streaks often begin in smaller tournaments and carried forward to larger ones.
MORE: Pegula, Brady, Krawczyk attend Asia Muhammad wedding
Winning a clay court event during hardcourt preparation is less ideal
The less positive news is that both won clay court events. As we are headed into hardcourt season leading into the US Open, clay court training is not as vital. However, the ATP, with head scratching decision making, puts the clay events on the tournament calendar immediately after Wimbledon.
Sandwich generation, late 20s players, have fewer opportunities
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May 29, 2026; Paris, France; Andrey Rublev reacts during his match against Nuno Borges of Portugal on day six at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
Alexander Zverev captured his first career Grand Slam, but Tsitsipas, Rublev, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, and Frances Tiafoe are in a group of players in their late 20s in the sandwich generation. They played at the end of the Big Three era of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. Then, they got lost in the shuffle as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz burst on the scene immediately after the Big Three.
Regardless, winning these week-long tournaments are great for both men who were ranked in the top five in 2021 and still have the games to reach that ranking again.
Continue reading...
