šŸŽ¾ Busy Start to February

Happy Tuesday! With February now in full swing, tennis delivers a week of breakthroughs, farewells, and drama both on and off the court.

In this week's newsletter:

  • šŸ§Ø On-Court Recap: Champions Emerge & Tensions Flare

  • šŸŽ¾ Off-Court Recap: Stolen Trophies Returned & ā€œMajorā€ Schedule Change

  • šŸ“ˆ Next Gen Player Spotlight: Alex Michelsen

šŸ§  Tennis Trivia Challenge šŸ§ 

Think you know your tennis? Take a swing at this weekā€™s question! Difficulty: Hard

Among these women's Grand Slam champions, who has won more Grand Slam titles than non-GS WTA tournaments?

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šŸ“† On-Court Recap: Champions Emerge & Tensions Flare šŸ“† 

Image: Imago

Three champions emerge from this weekendā€™s finals as Ekaterina Alexandrova captured her first WTA 500 crown in Linz, outlasting Dayana Yastremska 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 in a dramatic final that saw her overcome a nine-game losing streak. Elise Mertens claimed her ninth career title at the Singapore Tennis Open, defeating Ann Li 6-1, 6-4, while Felix Auger-Aliassime earned his second trophy of 2025 at the Open Occitanie, edging first-time finalist Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-2, 6-7(7), 7-6(2).

A Davis Cup clash turns heated in OrlĆ©ans as Brazil's Thiago Seyboth Wild and France's Arthur Fils faced off in a tense confrontation over a disputed point. With Fils leading 6-1, 4-4, controversy erupted when his shot, aimed at Seyboth Wildā€™s body, sailed long, but the point was awarded to France after the umpire ruled the Brazilian had touched it. The decision proved pivotal, as Fils closed out the set 6-4, sparking a heated exchange that required captain Paul-Henri Mathieuā€™s intervention. After the match, Fils acknowledged the uncertainty, stating that he didnā€™t believe Seyboth Wild had touched the ball but deferred to the umpireā€™s ruling.

Davis Cup drama ensues in Belgium as Zizou Bergs' celebratory leap collides with Cristian GarĆ­n, sparking an international dispute. Preparing to serve for the match at 6-5, Bergs inadvertently struck GarĆ­nā€™s face with his shoulder during a changeover celebration, prompting Chile to demand his disqualification. The umpire instead issued multiple time violations for GarĆ­nā€™s refusal to continue, leading to Chileā€™s loss via game penalty. Chileā€™s Olympic Committee condemned the decision, calling it a ā€œshameful international incident.ā€

Richard Gasquet's Montpellier chapter ends in an emotional three-set loss to Tallon Griekspoor, marking his final appearance at a tournament where he holds the records for most titles (3), wins (29), and appearances (13). The 38-year-old Frenchman, set to retire at Roland-Garros, received a heartfelt send-off in front of friends and family near his hometown of BĆ©ziers, just 45 miles (70 km) away. "I got the end I wanted, producing good tennis in front of my people," said Gasquet, who will continue his farewell tour in Marseille.

šŸŽ¾ Off-Court Recap: Stolen Trophies Returned & ā€œMajorā€ Schedule Change šŸŽ¾

Image: Tennis365

Pam Shriver recovers stolen Grand Slam trophies nearly two weeks after her car was stolen during California wildfire evacuations. Eleven of Shriverā€™s major doubles trophies, along with family photos, mysteriously appeared outside her Marina Del Rey hotel, though her Dodge Durango remains missing. "Today feels like we won another major," Shriver told longtime doubles partner Martina Navratilova after retrieving the trophies, which police determined were returned by a person in a black SUV.

Simona Halep hints at retirement as serious knee injury hampers her comeback efforts. The former World No. 1, who missed last month's Australian Open due to knee and shoulder pain, has admitted to considering retirement amid ongoing physical struggles. The two-time Grand Slam champion has won just one of five matches since returning from her reduced doping ban in 2024, and at 33, she is now contemplating life beyond tennis.

The US Open shifts to a 15-day schedule with a Sunday start in 2025, joining the Australian and French Opens in extending their duration. This yearā€™s edition will now run from August 24 to September 7, spreading first-round matches over three days and offering six new ticketed sessions. The USTA's decision follows record attendance in 2024, leaving Wimbledon as the only major still maintaining a traditional Monday start.

šŸ“ˆ Next Gen Player Spotlight: Alex Michelsen šŸ“ˆ

Image: The Daily Reporter

From an early age, Alex Michelsen displayed exceptional athletic promise, honing his skills in the highly competitive Southern California tennis scene. His potential became evident in his teenage years with a remarkable 2022 Easter Bowl performance, where he became the first American since Donald Young to win both the singles and doubles titles. The 6'4" right-hander further bolstered his junior resume by capturing the 2022 Wimbledon Boys' doubles title alongside Sebastian Gorzny.

Michelsenā€™s leap to the professional circuit took place in August 2023, following a meteoric rise from outside the top 500 to world No. 134 in just seven months. A breakthrough run to the Hall of Fame Open final in Newport helped cement his decision to forgo his commitment to the University of Georgia. The choice quickly paid off as he established himself on tour, claiming his first Challenger title in Chicago and developing a reputation for his dynamic playstyle that combines powerful serving with creative shot-making.

Michelsenā€™s rapid ascent continued with an impressive string of results. After qualifying for the 2023 Next Generation ATP Finals, he reached new heights at ATP events, including a run to the Cincinnati Masters doubles final with Mackenzie McDonald. His momentum carried into late 2024, climbing to world No. 42 and setting the stage for his biggest breakthrough yet at the 2025 Australian Open, where he upset 11th-seed Stefanos Tsitsipas en route to his first Grand Slam fourth round, firmly establishing himself as one of America's most promising young talents.

šŸŽ„ Reel of the Week šŸŽ„ 

We grew our Instagram community by more than 3x during this year's Australian Open, and we're incredibly grateful for each one of you! As we look back on an amazing tournament in Melbourne, we want to say THANK YOU for all the support!

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