2013 ATP/WTA - Week 5 Highlights

Barthel was on impressive form in Paris

2013 ATP/WTA - Week 5 Highlights

From epic matches to bizarre clothes and breakthroughs the fifth week of the 2013 season was eventful.

2013 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group

The opening weekend of the 2013 Davis Cup will live long in the memory as the Swiss and Czech teams played out the longest ever Davis Cup rubber.



At the end of the 7 hour EPIC



Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol's 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-7(3), 24-22 victory over Stanislas Wawrinka and Marco Chiudinelli lasted two hours over the 7 hour mark to make it the second longest tennis match ever. 

The Swiss heroically survived 12 match points before Chiudinelli double faulted on the 13th as the only break in the final set came in the 46th game.

For Wawrinka it is his second appearance in a marathon match in 2013 while it ensures Rosol will now remembered for another reason other than his stunning upset of Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon last year.  

The Czechs - the 2012 winners - won the tie 3-2 and are joined in the last eight by Canada, Italy, Serbia, USA, France, Argentina and Kazakhstan.

Spain fell to Canada without their star players Nadal, Ferrer or Almagro.  The Bryan Brothers lost to Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares in five sets but the US had a strong performance from Sam Querrey in the deciding rubber against the Brazilians.

Open GDF SUEZ - Paris

Fashion Faux Pas - Mona Barthel took out Vinci, Bartoli and Errani to win her first WTA Premier title with some impressive power hitting despite wearing some rather unfortunate maternity style dresses

Bouncing back - After a disappointing performance in Melbourne Errani reached a rare hard court final and maintained her red hot form with Vinci as the Italians took the doubles crown.

Breakthrough - 19 year-old Kristina Mladenovic scored big wins over Julia Goerges, Yanina Wickmayer and 2nd seed Petra Kvitova to reach her biggest semi-final. Barthel stopped her.

Slumping - Having taken a wild card It was another disappointing week for 2011 champion Kvitova who did not impress against Voegele before falling in two sets to Mladenovic. 

PTT Pattaya Open - Pattaya City

Queen of long matches - 12 months after losing a 3 hour and 14 minute final Maria Kirilenko won a 2 hour 37 minute final against Sabine Lisicki to lift her first title since 2008.

Back on form - After a difficult time with injuries and inconsistent form it was good to see Lisicki back in a final.

Age defying - Kimiko Date-Krumm's 2013 success continued as she lifted the doubles title with Australian Open finalist Casey Dellacqua.  For the Japanese veteran it was her fourth WTA doubles crown, three of which have come since her 2008 comeback. There is no stopping her!

Date-Krumm and Dellacqua beat Amanmuradova and Panova in the Pattaya Final