Lucas Pouille, the roaring twenties

Power to the youth ! Last week has seen Lucas Pouille, 22, and Alexander Zverev, 19, both win their first ATP title, respectively in Metz and Saint-Petersburg. So stick your tongue out, the French’s new trademark, as he’s first of our offbeat ranking.

Power to the youth ! Last week has seen Lucas Pouille, 22, and Alexander Zverev, 19, both win their first ATP title, respectively in Metz and Saint-Petersburg. The two of them are both on the podium of our offbeat ranking, in front of a born again Caroline Wozniacki.

1- Lucas Pouille (NE).

There’s a real « Pouille mania » going on at the moment on the courts of the ATP circuit. Proof is, everyone is reproducing his trademark, and sticking out their tongues.

A rising popularity which should continue grow after his first title on the circuit, in Metz.

A trophy which looked like a 20 kilos extraterrestrial egg, difficult to lift, which earned him compliments from his fellow countryman Martin Fourcade, the biathlon champion.

His girlfriend also looked very happy.

What a season for Lucas Pouille…2016’s revelation ?

2- Caroline Wozniacki (+6).

Scandalmongers thought Wozniacki was definitely lost for tennis after months of poor results and early knock-outs. Jokes on them, as she has started winning again, and going all the way in tournaments, like this week, at the Pan Pacific Tokyo Open.

She played at a very high level all week-long.

And after all, it’s the 24th tournament won by the Dane who, since she turned professional in 2009, has always won at least one trophy every season.

Wozniacky very well deserved to go back and relax at her hotel with her friend Madison Keys…

Or simply take a nap.

Keep going, it’s almost the end of the season !

3- Alexander Zverev (NE).

Triumphant youth, part two : the prodigy Alexander Zverev, 19 years old only, has confirmed all the praise he has received from the tennis observers by winning his first tournament in Saint-Petersburg.

Germany has got a real talent for the next decade at least.

Moreover, the « first » occurred against the very strong Stan Wawrinka.

4- Serena Williams (+3).

Deprived of her world number 1 status and currently injured, is the American still really focused on tennis ? It’s possible to doubt it if you’re following her news, exclusively centered around her projects and her presence in the world of fashion.

In any case, she has no trouble making a buzz around herself, especially with that outfit…

It’s hot in here, no ?

5- Novak Djokovic (NE).

Who’s the boss ?

Yes, it’s Djoko, along with his misses for his foundation’s party (while also silencing the rumors of a split between the two).

A party during which he tried to sing, as usual.

During this empty tennis week for the world number 1, there was also the official opening of a new Patrick Mouratoglou academy in the south of France.

6- Rafael Nadal (NE).

Yes, it really is Rafael Nadal on this screenshot of an advert for one of his sponsors.

Admit it, the wig suits him pretty well, right ? Especially as baldness is slowly taking over…

Not too bad for the Majorcan, who shows that he is still a child at heart, like here, during a promotional exhibition.

7- Andy Murray (-4).

After Great-Britain’s defeat in the BNP Paribas Davis Cup semi-finals, Andy Murray said he was exhausted. He still took the time to organize a big show, « Andy Murray Live », in favor of Unicef, inviting for the occasion his brother Jamie, his fellow countryman Tim Henman, and his buddy Grigor Dimitrov.

Andy is a true gentleman, always there to help a good cause.

8- Karolina Pliskova (NE).

Pliskova is that good friend, who’s never the last to take a picture with her friends of the circuit, in « princess mode ».

Omnipresent on the social networks, the Czech insisted on showing that her heart wasn’t available.

9- Dominic Thiem (NE).

A good week for Thiem in Metz, despite his defeat in the final against Lucas Pouille.

The Austrian played a game of rock-paper-scissors in the middle of his doubles match.

He also revealed his favorite football team : he supports the Blues of Chelsea.

Even if his first football love is the obscure TFC Matzendorf.

10- Lara Arruabarrena (NE).

A kiss for the trophy.

A kiss for the towel.

Four and a half years after her first WTA title, the Spaniard Lara Arruabarrena won a second in Seoul, dominating the Romanian Monica Niculescu in the final.

Well played, Lara !

11- Stan Wawrinka (NE).

A sharp backhand…

A malicious eye and enthusiasm…

All those assets didn’t help Wawrinka in his final in Saint-Petersburg : he lost against the sensation Zverev but still gained a few ATP points before the Masters.

12- Fabio Fognini (+2).

The Fognini couple in town.

The Fognini couple on a court, along with Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams.

An unmissable couple. The most unmissable in tennis after Agassi/Graf ?

13- Gaël Monfils (NE).

The tweet of the week : with a selfie, Gaël Monfils tried to calm the controversy surrounding his absence during the BNP Paribas Davis Cup semi-final lost by Noah’s Bleus against Croatia.