Roger Federer, just like Highlander

Feb 28, 2017, 9:09:08 AM

Roger Federer, just like Highlander
The immense Roger Federer is back on the top of our ranking thanks to his announcement saying that he’ll remain on the circuit until… 2019, and some pictures of his stay in Prague.

The immense Roger Federer is back on the top of our ranking thanks to his announcement saying that he’ll remain on the circuit until 2019 at least, and some pictures in Prague or Dubaï, where he looked happier than ever. He’s in front in Eugenie Bouchard, who’s now an essential part of our ranking, and Elina Svitolina, the player who keeps on rising, week after week…

 

1- Roger Federer (+2).

 

Last week, Roger Federer made a stop in Prague. Floating, with his aura, and the status of living legend he has definitely acquired after winning his latest Grand Slam title in Melbourne.

 

 

He was there to promote the first edition of the Laver Cup, which will be held in Czech Republic at the end of September, and which is a tennis equivalent of the Ryder Cup, in golf. A team representing Europe will be facing a team representing the rest of the world, in 3 singles matches, and one double.

 

 

The eternal Federer, from whom we learned that he vowed to play the Basel tournament, at home, until 2019 at the very least. Retirement seems very far away, and it seems to make him smile. Let’s not lie to each other, we’re also very happy.  

 

 

 

His program for the next few days : a return on the courts at the Dubai tournament, where the headliner, this time, will be Andy Murray.

 

2- Eugenie Bouchard (-1).

 

Not a week goes by without Eugenie Bouchard creating a buzz around herself outside of the courts. This time, her birthday was a good opportunity to post on her social networks : the Canadian turned 23.

 

 

A birthday which she celebrated at the airport. Nice.

 

 

Among the numerous presents she’ll receive, maybe she’ll find a sweater that actually fits her ?

 

 

Careful, here’s a rare image : Bouchard in her sporting outfit, during training. It looks that she still is a tennis player. Incredible.

 

 

« lol »

 

3- Elina Svitolina (NE).

 

She’s the rising star on the WTA circuit : Elina Svitolina who, after winning in Taiwan at the end of January, has won her second title of the season in Dubai.

 

 

 

A title won after a marvelous match point, in a final played against Caroline Wozniacki.

 

 

Svitolina can leave the Persian Gulf with a lot of good memories in mind… 

 

 

 

…and a great jump forward : her excellent performances since the start of the year have gotten her in the world Top 10 for the first time in her career.

 

4- Caroline Wozniacki (-2).

 

In Dubai, the unlucky finalist was Caroline Wozniacki. The Dane has once again showed a very interesting level of play.

 

 

After losing in Doha last week, it’s the second final lost by Wozniacki. Not enough to bring the ex-world number 1 down, as she is fighting back to the top with a 14th spot at the WTA ranking this week.

 

 

With, as a bonus, the cover of the Danish edition of the magazine Elle. Looking good.

 

 

 

5- Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (+1).

 

Here’s another one who’s been multiplying the great performances and has been all over the tennis-related news : Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The Marseille Open 13 ? Easy as pie.

 

 

The Frenchman has dominated his fellow countryman Lucas Pouille in the final to win his second title in a row, after Rotterdam.

 

 

He’s now slowly but surely coming back at the top of the ATP ranking with a 7th spot. A place which is very close to his personal record : a 5th spot which he held five years ago.

 

6- Fabio Fognini (NE).

 

Fognini, on his side, looks far away from the Top 10. But he’s got style, with his pirate outfit.

 

 

But his current level doesn’t enable him to hope for great things, and he got annoyed by that idea, which resulted in an unusual scene. Well…only if seing the Italian juggling with his mood swings can still be considered unusual.

 

 

But Fognini is also capable of the best in the very next second, with this beautiful public statement for his pregnant wife, Flavia Pennetta.

 

 

Cute.

 

7- Arthur De Greef (NE).

 

Do you know Arthur De Greef ? Us neither, well, not really. Here’s the guy we’re talking about.

 

 

In Rio, the young Belgian who went through the qualifying rounds achieved a small feat by knocking out one of the favorites of the competition, Cuevas, in the first round, and by showing a pretty exceptional level of play. We’ll let you be the judge, but the boy looked unstoppable. 

 

 

 

8- Angelique Kerber (NE).

 

Angelique Kerber is still smiling, and her smile is as beautiful as ever.

 

 

But she’s been slightly concerned these last few days. Despite some very nice rallies, like here, with these winners against Barthel…

 

 

…or against Puig during the first and second rounds of the Dubai tournament.

 

 

She lost in the semi-finals and is having a pretty complicated start of the season : she hasn’t lifted a single trophy since last September, at the US Open.

 

9- Lucas Pouille (NE).

 

If one guy can be reassured by what he showed last week, it’s Lucas Pouille. 

 

 

In Marseille, the Frenchman, who celebrated his 23rd birthday, has had a series of wins, which hadn’t happened to him since the end of last season.

 

 

 

After reaching the final, he logically lost against his buddy Tsonga but has found his confidence and his level of play back, to be able to really kickstart his season.

 

 

10- Grigor Dimitrov (NE).

 

Running in the snow…

 

 

…mountain-biking in the snow also…

 

 

…a helicopter ride…

 

 

…and lunch with Anna Wintour.

 

 

Dimitrov is doing everything he can to prepare in the best of ways for the second part of his season.

 

11- Novak Djokovic (-2).

 

Djoko has created quite a buzz this week with some pretty unusual footage : a live training session for his fans on the social networks which ended with a reproach from his wife, who was offended by the fact that her husband hadn’t thanked her. A little domestic squabble which aired live !

 

 

For a professional of public communication like Djoko, it didn’t really go down well. Surely, the Serb preferred his idol-like arrival at the Acapulco tournament for his return on the courts. 

 

 

12- Dominic Thiem (NE).

 

Lucky Dominic Thiem, who was in Brazil these last few days.

 

 

Not really to chill out but to play the Rio tournament and show all his class.

 

 

 

As a result : a well deserved win in the final against Carreno Busta and an eighth title for the Austrian in his career.

 

 

13- Jack Sock (NE).

 

As for Jack Sock, his victory in Delray Beach resulted in his third title won in the singles on the circuit, the second one in 2017, after the one won in Auckland at the start of the season.

 

 

At home, the American won the title without playing the final, as his opponent Milos Raonic withdrew because of a leg injury. Whatever, he still got the car which was offered to the winner of the tournament.

 

 

A funny guy, this Jack Sock : look at how he celebrated Valentine’s Day the other day…

 

 

14- Timea Babos (NE).

 

The feel-good story of the week : at home in Budapest, the Hungarian Timea Babos has won the second title of her career, exactly five years after the first one, won in Monterrey.

 

 

In the final, Babos defeated Safarova, after 2h30 of a hard-fought battle.

 

 

15- Maria Sharapova (NE).

 

Meanwhile, Maria Sharapova is still preparing for her return and posting pictures, in which her poses are more natural than ever. During training.

 

 

Relaxing.

 

 

And in town.

 

 

 

Oh, Maria. We can’t wait for her to come-back and light up the circuit again…

 

Outs : 

 

S.Williams, Pliskova, Goffin, Kozlov, Nadal, Dolgopolov, Cuevas, Harrison , Herbert, Del Potro

 

By Régis Delanöe