And so it is that, on one Sunday in October, Niculescu won not just the Luxembourg singles title but also the hearts of many tennis fans.

A few games into this entertaining third-round match, you knew the world No. 1 would beat world No. 32 Monica Niculescu. That it was just a matter of the score (6-2, 6-2) and time (76 minutes).

Kirsten Flipkens, face à Monica Niculescu, en ouverture, avec ensuite Yanina Wickmayer, contre Sorana Cirstea, c'est le programme de la première journée de la rencontre de Fed Cup entre la ...