It has been a big week for many in the tennis world, with some unlikely champions at the Masters and WTA 1000 level.
As such, both Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Maja Chwalinska have rocketed up their respective rankings and put themselves in really strong positions to enjoy even more success in 2027.
Rafael Jodar and Sonay Kartal, the losing finalists, are also well worthy of credit, having put together a stunning run of form.
However, there is life on both tennis tours beyond just the highest available level at the time.
After all, whilst new champions were crowned in Shanghai and Wuhan respectively, we actually saw a couple of former US Open winners win big too, albeit at a level far below a 1000 event.
Bianca Andreescu wins WTA 125 event in Italy
The scale of this title should not be diminished because of what was going on elsewhere; this was still a big moment for Bianca Andreescu.
In fact, her WTA 125 title in Rovereto, Italy, actually represents her biggest since claiming the US Open in 2019.
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Sabalenka, Gauff and Swiatek all went without a major title in 2026…
That year, she won her first and thus far only three titles at the WTA Tour level: Indian Wells, the Canadian Open, and her maiden major in New York.
Since then, injuries have completely halted her momentum, and just years after beating Serena Williams in the final of a Grand Slam, she was back competing on the ITF circuit.
Even this year, Andreescu lost in US Open qualifying, and only managed one Grand Slam main-draw match all season.
It’s therefore so good to see such a promising talent return to winning ways, and at a level just one below the WTA Tour.
Hopefully, this can prove to be the catalyst that helps bring her back to the pinnacle of the sport, where many will feel she belongs.
It was a big week for former US Open champions as Sloane Stephens wins title
Andreescu was not alone in returning to the winner’s circle, interestingly joined by another former US Open champion.
Although her title this week was at a level below the Canadian’s, it is still worth celebrating Sloane Stephens’ success.
In winning the ITF W100 Edmond title, the American will rise to 118th in the world and has given herself a great chance to be seeded for the Australian Open qualifying. Should she maintain this form, returning to the top 100 feels very plausible.
As for Andreescu, she now finds herself 132nd in the world rankings, just behind Ajla Tomljanović.
