TENNIS TUESDAY: Dimitrov and Sharapova Win Titles On Same Day

Tennis' power couple Maria Sharapova and Grigor Dimitrov each won titles this weekend on clay. Dimitrov won just his 3rd career title, by defeating 2-time defending champion Lukas Rosol 7-6(2) 6-1 in Bucharest while Sharapova became a 3-time champion in Stuttgart by coming back from 0-5 down in the first set to win 3-6 6-4 6-1.

For Dimitrov it was his second title of the year and first ever on clay, but for Sharapova it was her first title since winning at Stuttgart last year. On clay, Sharapova has only lost to Serena Williams (3 times) in the last two clay court seasons (2012 and 2013) and has yet to face the World #1 on the surface this year. Serena is taking a long break from tennis after suffering a couple shocking losses this year, to Alize Cornet in Dubai and Jana Cepelova in Charleston.

Sharapova's win was timely because it forestalled her dropping out of the Top 10. Dimitrov's win keeps him at a career high #14 in the world. He will need to make some inroads at the Masters tournaments in Madrid and Rome coming up in order to reach the Top 10, but I certainly expect him to be there before Wimbledon.