The Russians are coming

 

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Players of Russian ancestry are taking over tennis.

The WTA’s top 100 rankings have recently included more than a dozen women with Russian heritage. Inspired by Maria Sharapova, these women include Sofia Kenin, ranked 20th at age 20, and Anna Anisimova, ranked #24 at age 17.

In the ATP, top men of Russian heritage include Daniil Medvedev, 5; Alexander Zverev 6; Stefanos Tsitsipas 8; Karen Khachanov 9; Denis Shapovalov 33; and Andrey Rublev 43.

Medvedev won the tournament in Ohio, while beating Nick Kyrgios in the Washington final and losing the Montreal final to Rafa Nadal.

Zverev has won the ATP world tour finals as well as Masters in Montreal, Madrid and Rome. Tsitsipas has beaten Federer and Nadal. Khachanov won the Paris Masters.

Recovering from a back injury, Rublev hit Roger Federer off the court at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati.

If trends continue, these Russians — raised and trained in Russia or around the world — will dominate the game.

(words and images copyright Christopher Johnson Globalite Media all rights reserved)