Happy Tuesday! As the North American hardcourt swing gets underway, Washington DC delivered a statement start, highlighted by dramatic finals and breakthrough performances.

In this week's newsletter:

• 🏆 Leylah Fernandez Ends Title Drought with Dominance in DC

• 🎾 Weekly Roundup: Titles and Transitions

• ❌ Alejandro Davidovich Fokina: The Champion Without a Crown

🧠 Tennis Trivia Challenge 🧠

Think you know your tennis? Take a swing at this week’s question!

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🏆 Leylah Fernandez Ends Title Drought with Dominance in DC🏆

Leylah Fernandez delivered a statement performance at the Citi Open, capturing the biggest title of her career with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over Anna Kalinskaya in Sunday's final. The 22-year-old Canadian, now ranked 24th in the world, claimed her fourth WTA singles title and first at the 500 level. Her final win came against an opponent who hadn’t lost a set all tournament, underscoring the strength of her performance.

Fernandez battled through marathon matches and grueling conditions, with temperatures reaching 90°F (32°C) throughout the week. She edged past Elena Rybakina in a three-hour semifinal with three tiebreaks and upset top seed Jessica Pegula in a two-hour second-round battle. Afterward, she credited her success to post-match Shake Shack burgers and cheese fries with her father/coach Jorge, joking that eating "everything an athlete should not eat" became the perfect recovery fuel.

The win ends a title drought for Fernandez dating back to the 2023 Hong Kong Open and marks a sharp turnaround for Fernandez, who entered Washington with a losing record and hadn’t won more than two matches at any event since last November. Her performance sets up promising momentum continuing into the North American hard court swing, with the same surface that launched her to the 2021 US Open final.

🎾 Weekly Roundup: Titles and Transitions 🎾

Alex de Minaur captured his 10th ATP title after a dramatic 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(3) victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who heartbreakingly lost three championship points in the final set.

Alexander Bublik and Luciano Darderi continued their remarkable form in twin fashion, each claiming their second consecutive titles. Bublik won Kitzbühel after triumphing in Gstaad, while Darderi captured Umag following his Nordea Open victory.

Marie Bouzková lifted her second Prague Open title with a comeback victory over fellow Czech Linda Nosková, becoming the first repeat champion since the event became a WTA-level event.

Taylor Townsend became the new WTA doubles world No. 1 yesterday after winning the DC Open title with Zhang Shuai. The American becomes the first mother to achieve the doubles top ranking and the 13th American woman to reach No. 1.

Naomi Osaka announced she and coach Patrick Mouratoglou have ended their partnership after 10 months together. Both posted mutual appreciation on social media, with Mouratoglou expressing gratitude for "the trust, the journey and what [they] have built together."

Stefanos Tsitsipas and coach Goran Ivanišević have parted ways after just two months together. The Greek star thanked the 2001 Wimbledon champion for his dedication following their collaboration that began after Tsitsipas' early French Open exit, with Ivanišević believing only Tsitsipas' father can coach him.

Wheelchair tennis returns to the US Open after a hiatus in 2024 for the Paralympics, with Alfie Hewett seeking his third straight men's title and Diede de Groot pursuing a record seventh consecutive women's championship.

❌ Alejandro Davidovich Fokina: The Champion Without a Crown ❌

Born to a Swedish-Russian father and Russian mother in Rincón de la Victoria, Spain, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina began swinging a racket at age 2 under his boxer father's guidance. The multilingual talent captured Spain's junior championships at U12, U15, and U18 levels before claiming the 2017 Wimbledon boys' title without dropping a set. His unique heritage and early success laid the foundation for what would become both a brilliant and, so far, heart-breaking professional career.

Turning professional in 2017, Davidovich Fokina quickly established himself as one of tennis's most entertaining competitors. Known for his daring drop shots, diving retrievals, and occasional underarm serves, he reached his first Masters 1000 final at Monte-Carlo in 2022, stunning world No. 1 Novak Djokovic along the way. His aggressive style has earned him wins over multiple top-10 opponents and a place in the world's top 20 this week.

The cruel irony of his career remains his perfect record in heartbreak. Now 0-4 in ATP finals, including three squandered championship points against Alex de Minaur at last week’s DC Open, the 26-year-old continues his reign as the highest-ranked men's player without a title. From Delray Beach to Acapulco to Washington, each final has slipped away despite stretches of brilliant tennis. His emotional post-match scenes have become as memorable as his shot-making, epitomizing the sports’s beautiful cruelty.

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🎥 Reel of the Week 🎥