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**By TW Contributing Editor, Ed McGrogan
Last Week's Tournaments**
Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships (ATP - Grass - Newport, United States)
Singles Bracket
- Rajeev Ram def. Sam Querrey
Doubles Bracket
- Jordan Kerr/Rajeev Ram def. Michael Kohlmann/Rogier Wassen
Davis Cup (ITF - Various)
Czech Republic vs. Argentina
- Czech Republic wins 3-2
Croatia vs. United States
- Croatia wins 3-1 (3-2)
Israel vs. Russia
- Israel wins 3-0 (4-1)
Spain vs. Germany
- Spain wins 3-2
Collector Swedish Open (WTA - Clay - Bastad, Sweden)
Singles Bracket
- Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez def. Caroline Wozniacki
Doubles Bracket
- Gisela Dulko/Flavia Pennetta def. Nuria Llagostera Vives/Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez
GDF Suez Grand Prix (WTA - Clay - Budapest, Hungary)
Singles Bracket
- Agnes Szavay def. Patty Schnyder
Doubles Bracket
- Alisa Kleybanova/Monica Niculescu def. Alona Bondarenka/Kateryna Bondarenko
McGrogan's Heroes
ATP - Marin Cilic
Juan Martin del Potro and Philipp Kohlschreiber were both sensational in their away Davis Cup matches (del Potro didn't drop a set in his two duels; Kohlschreiber beat Tommy Robredo in straights and outlasted Fernando Verdasco 8-6 in the fifth), but both of their teams ultimately lost the tie. That's no fault of theirs, of course, but this week's award goes to the only player to win two singles matches in a victorious effort -- Cilic, of Croatia.
Just 20, Cilic plays beyond his years. His forehand wind-up is an odd one -- I feel like there's a great potential for mishits -- but he keeps it under control and it usually delivers. His backhand is lovely, and he moves around the court well for someone of his height (6'6"). Toss in a very effective serve and you've got a player who should be reaching the semifinals of Slams soon enough. For now, Cilic will have to make do with the semifinals of the Davis Cup.
On Friday, Cilic fought back from two-sets-to-one down against Mardy Fish to give the home side an imposing 2-0 lead heading into the weekend. Croatia's doubles team couldn't handle the superior Bryan brothers Saturday, so Cilic clinched the tie himself when given the opportunity Sunday against James Blake. The Croat took the first two sets 6-3, 6-3 to demoralize Blake (how low can he go?), and ended up winning in four.
When speaking to an on-court reporter about Croatia's upcoming home semifinal with the Czech Republic, Cilic was elated. "This was one of the greatest ties I've played so far," he said. "I think I've gained a lot of experience here, everyone supported me, and it really felt good to play at home. The Czechs are also a great team, but playing at home is a little bit of an advantage, so with our team we can go through to the final." I think he's right.
WTA - Agnes Szavay
It wasn't too long ago that Szavay was being talked about as a potential WTA star. In 2007, the Hungarian reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open as an 18-year-old, and she was ranked as high as No. 13 in the world in early 2008. But Szavay hasn't been heard from much since; her best result in the past 12 months was a semifinal showing at Bad Gastien last July.
Szavay opened this year's campaign inauspiciously with four consecutive losses, but a quarterfinal run at Acapulco (where she lost a game three-setter to top seed Venus Williams) proved to be her much-needed tonic. Szavay's next few events weren't spectacular -- a fourth round at Indian Wells, a fourth round at Miami, a quarterfinal at Madrid -- but they were marked improvements from before.
At the French Open, Szavay reached the fourth round, her best-ever finish at Roland Garros. It made sense for her, then, to go back to clay this past week in Budapest (besides the fact that the tournament is held in her home country). The draw was far from loaded -- Patty Schnyder got the top seed as a wild card -- but Szavay didn't need style points, she needed wins. And that's what she got, beating Katalin Marosi, Tathiana Garbin, Timea Bacsinszky, Alona Bondarenko, and finally, Schnyder, to win the title, Szavay's first in nearly two years.
Heading into last week, Szavay was ranked No. 37 in the world rankings. The label of "potential WTA star" is now with Victoria Azarenka (if she isn't already), Caroline Wozniacki, and Sabine Lisicki. Szavay is old news. Let's see if she'll change our minds.
This Week's Tournaments
(TV Schedule)
Catella Swedish Open (ATP - Clay - Bastad, Sweden)
Singles Bracket
Doubles Bracket
Mercedes Cup (ATP - Clay - Stuttgart, Germany)
Singles Bracket
Doubles Bracket
ECM Prague Open (WTA - Clay - Prague, Czech Republic)
Singles Bracket
Doubles Bracket
Internazionali Femminili di Tennis di Palermo (WTA - Clay - Palermo, Italy)
Singles Bracket
Doubles Bracket