A Look Back at January 2016 — Stunning Upsets, the German Uprising, and Bad Tennis Omens
Daria Gavrilova, whose lively personality and aggressive play on court has been gaining her increasing amounts of fans, dealt blows to two of the games “rising stars” on the men’s side–to amusing effect.
and the first super awkward tennis moment of 2016 goes to Kyrgios and Gavrilova https://t.co/gV2kbwtEoq
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) January 3, 2016
Zverev gets drilled by Daria https://t.co/VyX5S5mWDd
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) January 3, 2016
Despite that hella awkward moment, both NK and Daria will likely look more fondly on the 2016 Hopman Cup, when they were champions. This year didn’t go so smoothly.
Sloane Stephens, currently out of contention at the start of the year with a foot injury, was celebrating a victory in Auckland last year. Stan Wawrinka notched another Chennai win, and Vika Azarenka, currently on pregnancy leave, nabbed the trophy in Brisbane.
.@IMG signs @SloaneStephens to marketing & management deal. American rising star won second @WTA title this weekend pic.twitter.com/MCQue68JVF
— IMG Tennis (@IMGTennis) January 11, 2016
It’s a third consecutive Chennai title for @stanwawrinka, who defeated Borna Coric 6-3, 7-5 https://t.co/VDMUbH8Kq8 pic.twitter.com/IWs76y39a5
— Tennis View Magazine (@TennisViewMag) January 10, 2016
.@VIka7 Azarenka visits Brisbane’s Kangaroo Point with @BrisbaneTennis trophy
–> https://t.co/AXB79WV9lN #WTA pic.twitter.com/uqjOnOiHv7
— WTA (@WTA) January 10, 2016
Once again in the category of “If we knew then…” back in January 2016, Stan was still fielding questions about whether he’d play doubles with Roger at the Olympics (and looking very hot while doing it, apparently).
Dreamy eyes. Check. Tantalizing lower lip. Check. Less scruff. Check. Total fangirl swooning reaction. Check. https://t.co/kK2koj7czG
— Tennis Inside Out (@TennisInsideOut) January 16, 2016
The Australian Open Kids’ Day featured Aussie Lleyton Hewitt, who retired after his home tourney, and two other big-name players we ended up seeing a lot less of in 2016 than expected…
Kids Day [AFP] pic.twitter.com/Hr4M4jqZ73
— Sofia_RF (@Sofia__RF) January 16, 2016
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Meanwhile, Jack Sock beat David Ferrer in a tough 3-setter semi in Auckland, only to have to retire with an illness in a final he fought hard to persevere through. What he missed out on? This…interesting trophy that Roberto Bautista Agut ended up thrusting into the air on finals day…
Congrats to @BautistaAgut who wins his 3rd #ATP title after 2 trophies in 2014. He’s the 2016 @ASB_Classic champ. pic.twitter.com/7oxTObttn9
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 16, 2016
Jack did get his hands on that shiny silver cylinder in 2017, though…
Grigor Dimitrov, who we hope is kicking off a stellar 2017 with his win in Brisbane, faced Viktor Troicki twice at the start of 2016. Their final in Sydney was an explosion of brilliant, creative, go-for-broke tennis that had our Twitter feed littered with effusive terms like “elegant,” “impressive,” “phenomenal,” and… “insane.”
Grisha holds for 6-5. I am so horny right now. What a display of fine tennis from these guys.
— Tennis Inside Out (@TennisInsideOut) January 16, 2016
Though Vik’s victory at 2-6 6-1 7-6(7) ended up being one of many close contests that Dimitrov should have won throughout the year, it was impossible to be upset about a match that featured such high quality sparring.
HUGE shout-out to @GrigorDimitrov & @troicki_viktor for that amazing, beautiful display of tennis. Phenomenal final! pic.twitter.com/2EaBchrWhA
— Tennis Inside Out (@TennisInsideOut) January 16, 2016
Go on to PAGE 3 for Twitter milestones, the rise and fall of #Merica, and salacious moments!!
