ATP and WTA winners: ‘Subdued’ Ben Shelton off the mark, Gael Monfils follows in Elina Svitolina’s footsteps

Shahida Jacobs
Gael Monfils in action
Gael Monfils of France gestures during a match

The 42nd week of the 2023 ATP and WTA seasons have been completed and there were trophies for young and old as Ben Shelton won his maiden title, Gael Monfils made history and Katerina Siniakova saved three match points.

Ben Shelton tones it down but wins in Tokyo

In what is sure to be the first of many titles, 20-year-old Ben Shelton completed a dream week at the Japan Open as he won his maiden ATP Tour singles trophy.

Appearing in his first final at the highest level in tennis, the rising American star defeated Alexander Karatsev 7-5, 6-1 with the victory also earning him a new career-high ranking of No 15 while it boosted his hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals.

But it was a “much quieter” Shelton who turned up in Tokyo for the ATP 500 event as he admitted after his win that he has been a bit more restrained.

“How much energy I spend, when to show emotion, when not to show emotion, it’s something that I’m kind of learning and figuring out for myself,” he admitted after his win.

“Compared to most of my weeks out on tour, I was much quieter, more subdued this week.

“I think it’s all about finding the balance.”

Gael Monfils follows in his wife’s footsteps

Five months after his wife Elina Svitolina won her first WTA singles title as a parent, Gael Monfils followed in her footsteps as he won his first title after becoming a father in October last year.

After giving birth to their daughter Skai in October last year, Svitolina returned to action in April this year and then won the Internationaux de Strasbourg in May.

And on Sunday Monfils also joined the party as he also made history at the Stockholm Open, becoming the oldest player to win the title at the age of 37.

Monfils won his 12th title – and first since January 2022 – when he defeated qualifier Pavel Kotov 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.

The Frenchman will return to the top 100 of the ATP Rankings on the back of his title.

Alexander Bublik denies Arthur Fils

After winning the Japan Open, Ben Shelton issued a “challenge” to fellow rising star Arthur Fils, but unfortunately the Frenchman couldn’t follow in his footsteps as he was denied the European Open title by Alexander Bublik.

Shelton was hoping Fils would join him in this week’s winner’s circle, but Bublik was having none of it as he defeated the 19-year-old 6-4, 6-4 to win his third ATP Tour singles title.

It is Bublik’s second title of the 2023 season following his success at the Halle Open in June.

Katerina Siniakova’s three-hour marathon

In a battle of the Czechs Katerina Siniakova and Marie Bouzkova slugged it out for three hours and 33 minutes before the former finally got the job done to win the Jiangxi Open.

Siniakova overcame a nightmare start and saved three match points during the 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4) victory for the fifth title of her career.

The Jiangxi title run comes just a week after she finished runner-up to Leylah Fernandez in the Hong Kong Open final.

Elise Mertens doubles up

Defending champion Elise Mertens dropped only three games en route to a dominant win over top seed Jasmine Paolini in the Jasmin Open final.

The Belgian notched up her eighth WTA singles title with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Paolini in 70 minutes in the WTA 250 event in Tunisia.

Tamara Korpatsch’s Romanian delight

Tamara Korpatsch can call herself a WTA Tour singles title winner after she defeated home favourite Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the Transylvania Open final in Cluj-Napoca.

The German claimed a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 victory in her maiden final and the win will see her climb to a career-high No 70 in the rankings on Monday.

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