Youth vs Experience

A former world no. 1 and 5-time Wimbledon champ is returning to the tour… or is she… Plus a high-profile player-coach partnership is set to run it back.

As always, there is plenty to discuss, so let’s get into this week’s topics!

New Videos!!

We have a brand new video on our channel this week!

It is another full recap of last week’s action across both tours! 

Check it out and let us know what you think!

What Happened Last Week?

Mirra Andreeva has become the youngest-ever WTA 1000 champion after winning in Dubai. The 17 year-old will also make her top 10 debut after taking down fellow youngster Clara Tauson in straight sets 7-6 (1) 6-1.

Andrey Rublev overcame a tough test from the Brit Jack Draper, eventually securing his 17th career title with a 7-5 5-7 6-1 win. This is also Rublev’s first title of the season.

Defending champion Sebastian Baez made it back-to-back titles in Rio. He got it done with a 6-2 6-3 over a surging Alexandre Muller. Baez maybe didn’t get as many headlines as some of his compatriots this week, but he did get that last word.

Live Ranking Update: The Biggest Movers Of The Week

Mirra Andreeva will see a single digit next to her name in the rankings for the first time this week. Following her triumph in the Middle East, the young star is up 5 spots to #9.

Clara Tauson had an incredible week in Dubai. She was not the last woman standing, but she is up 15 spots to a new career high of #23. That plus a $350,000 pay check is a pretty decent consolation prize.

Alexandre Muller is having a career year at the ripe age of 28. The Frenchman won his first Tour-level title this season, and made another final this week in Rio. Baez was too good in the final, but Muller is up 19 spots to a new career high (#41).

Two young Argentinians are up to new career highs this week. Francisco Comesaña & Camilo Ugo Carabelli have both shined on the red clay of Rio this week. Francisco is up 19 spots to #67 & Camilo is right behind at #69 (+22).

Major Tournament Updates

Here’s a quick look ahead to what's coming up this week:

• ATP Abierto Mexicano Telcel - Acapulco, MEX (February 24 - March 1)

• ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (February 24 - March 1)

• WTA Mérida Open Akron - Mérida, MEX (February 24 - March 2)

• ATP Movistar Chile Open (February 24 - March 2)

• WTA ATX Open - Austin, TX (February 24 - March 2)

The ATP Tour action  will once again be on multiple continents this week. In Mexico, six Americans, Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Brandon Nakashima, Marcos Giron, & Alex Michelsen, are in contention. 

The ATP Dubai draw has plenty of big names, including Daniil Medvedev, Alex de Minaur, Grigor Dimitrov, Matteo Berrettini, Gael Monfils, and more!

The WTA is also heading to Mexico this week, in Merida. The top seeds there include Emma Navarro, Paula Badosa, Beatriz Haddad Maia, & Anna Kalinskaya. Sloane Stephens, Donna Vekic, Marta Kostyuk, & Camila Osorio are also in the draw.

In Chile, Francisco Cerundolo, Alejandro Tabilo, Sebastian Baez, & Pedro Martinez are the top seeds.

The WTA 250 in Texas has plenty of star power in the draw, including Jessica Pegula, Diana Shnaider, Peyton Stearns, & Petra Kvitova! Kvitova is playing her first event since taking time off to have her first child. Should be an exciting week 🤠.

Watch Out For These Players

Clara Tauson:

Yes, Andreeva was the winner this week, but Tauson has had the better year overall so far. Plus, I already highlighted Mirra in this section in a previous newsletter, and want to avoid repeats, if possible. 🙃

Now, back to Tauson, she has had quite the year. Clara is the only player who has beaten Madison Keys this season, in a tournament that she eventually won. Also, she picked up her first win over a world #1 this week by beating Aryna Sabalenka.

Even if she doesn’t win a major this year, her first is coming very, very soon. 👀

Francisco Comesana:

This 24 year-old has been climbing the ranks over the past year. 

He broke into the top 100 last April, and earned his first top 10 win at Wimbledon over Andre Rublev. That Wimbledon was also his first Grand Slam tournament appearance.

Now, fast forward to February 2025, and he has secured his first top 5 win, this time against Alexander Zverev with a gritty 4-6 6-3 6-4 win.

He couldn't quite back it up, failing in the semis to Alexandre Muller in 3 sets. But, that doesn't take anything away from how massive a week this could end up being for his confidence.

Off The Court

Venus Williams Denies Return To Tour, Despite Wildcard:

The legendary Venus Williams had been granted a wildcard into this year’s BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. 

This was exciting news that set the tennis world into a frenzy.

Unfortunately, it’s not happening.

A few days after the announcement was made, Venus revealed it “wasn’t true” during an event in Denmark.

”No, I’m not playing,” Venus said. “Actually I found the announcement super amusing because, I don’t know, people seem to be happy, so I was like, ‘maybe I’ll just go with it’…I’m actually not going. I’m going to be overseas. I found out about the wild card when you guys did.”

Tournament director Tommy Haas put out a statement on the tournament’s social media:

Venus has not played a match on tour since last year’s Sunshine Swing, where she lost in the first round at Indian Wells & Miami. 

The 44 year-old hasn’t won a match since a win over Veronika Kudermetova at the 2023 Cincinnati Open. 

It would have been great to see Vee back on Tour, but we’ll all have to wait a little bit longer.

Petra Kvitova, Joao Fonseca, & Learner Tien are now the only wildcards announced so far.

Murray To Continue As Djokovic’s Coach Indefinitely:

Novak Djokovic has announced that Andy Murray will continue as his coach for an “indefinite” period of time. 

Murray began working with Novak in the build-up to this year’s Australian Open, which drew plenty of media attention.

Unfortunately, after the Serb had to retire from the tournament, the pair’s future was uncertain. 

However, ahead of the Qatar Open, Djokovic confirmed that the two are preparing for the North American hard court swing and the European clay season.

”I expressed my desire to continue the collaboration with him, so I am really glad he did accept. It’s indefinite in terms of how long we are going to work together but we agreed we are going to work most likely in the [United] States and then some clay-court tournaments and see how it goes after that.”

These comments from Novak are encouraging, and hopefully the pair at least has fun working together, no matter how successful the job is. 

Highlights Of The Week

Check out some of the best shots from last week’s tournaments!