Casper Ruud came so close to winning his first ATP Tour singles title in Houston and tying his dad’s record, unfortunately the pressure of the occasion and a determined opponent got the better of him. There is no consolation for missing an opportunity to claim that first singles title; however, he can take solace in a new career high ranking. Ruud can also learn from this loss and build on what he has learned going forward. I expect to see him winning many titles in his career.
There are currently six teenagers ranked in the top hundred of the WTA, and one of them is seventeen-year-old Iga Swiatek. The young Polish player came very close to winning her first WTA title in Lugano this past weekend at the Samsung Open; unfortunately, she ran into a red-hot Polona Hercog and lost in three sets to the Slovenian. I liked her demeanor and her game; I am curious to see how her game matures and how far she goes in her career (she was the 2018 junior Wimbledon champion).
| NAME | SPOTS MOVED | NEW RANKING |
| Casper Ruud (NOR) | UP 27 | 68 CAREER HIGH |
| Cristian Garin (CHI) | UP 26 | 47 CAREER HIGH |
| Benoit Paire (FRA) | UP 26 | 43 |
| Steve Johnson (USA) | DOWN 20 | 59 |
| Ivo Karlovic (CRO) | DOWN 20 | 97 |
| Pablo Andujar (ESP) | DOWN 16 | 86 |
| Juan Ignacio Londero (ARG) | DOWN 13 | 79 |
| Iga Swiatek (POL) | UP 27 | 88 CAREER HIGH |
| Polona Hercog (SLO) | UP 25 | 64 |
| Amanda Anisimova (USA) | UP 22 | 54 CAREER HIGH |
| Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS) | UP 22 | 73 |
| Fiona Ferro (FRA) | UP 16 | 92 CAREER HIGH |
| Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) | UP 14 | 87 |
ATP: there were no changes amongst the top ten members, they all remained the same and maintained their positions from the previous week. #1 Novak Djokovic (SRB).
WTA: there were also no changes in the top ten members as well, they all maintained their exact positions from the previous week. #1 Naomi Osaka (JPN).
SOURCE OF IMAGES: Zimbio.com (Pat Scala/Getty Images AsiaPac-Casper Ruud and Michael Steele/Getty Images Europe-Iga Swiatek)
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