🎾 New Kid on the Block

Happy Tuesday! The WTA's future proved bright last week as a 17-year-old star made history in Dubai, while tennis saw major developments on and off the court. Clicks on our ad’s links help support independent tennis journalism, we appreciate your help!

In this week's newsletter:

• ⭐ Mirra Andreeva: Russia's Newest Superstar

• 🎾 Weekly Roundup: Match Point Madness & Spanish Farewell

• 🤔 Opelka’s War on Doubles Backfires

🧠 Tennis Trivia Challenge 🧠

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

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⭐ Mirra Andreeva: Russia's Newest Superstar⭐

History is made as Mirra Andreeva captures her first WTA 1000 title at the Dubai Tennis Championships, signalling the arrival of tennis's newest superstar. Following in the footsteps of her childhood idol Maria Sharapova, who famously defeated three consecutive Grand Slam champions as a teen to win the WTA Finals in 2004, Andreeva matched the feat by conquering her own trio of major winners, taking down Iga Świątek, Elena Rybakina, and Markéta Vondroušová to become the youngest WTA 1000 champion at 17 years and 299 days old.

Andreeva’s breakthrough title underscores her rapid ascent. Her composure under pressure was on full display in the final against Clara Tauson, where she recovered from an early deficit to win in straight sets. The victory propels her into the Top 10, making her the first 17-year-old to reach such heights since Nicole Vaidisova in 2007. Even more remarkably, she's achieved in February what she'd set as her goal for the entire year.

What sets Andreeva apart isn't just her laser-like backhand or her remarkable defensive skills, but her ability to combine these weapons with tactical maturity beyond her years. Her seamless transition from defense to offense, paired with precise shot selection under pressure, makes her a nightmare for the tour’s elite. She credits LeBron James's interviews for shaping her championship mentality, noting, "What makes you a champion is when you're giving your best when you don't feel great." This wisdom, combined with her natural talent and relentless drive, suggests we're witnessing the rise of a player who could dominate women's tennis for years to come. With her sights now set on cracking the Top 5 by year's end, Andreeva embodies the perfect blend of youthful enthusiasm and professional focus that forges tennis legends.

🎾 Weekly Roundup: Match Point Madness & Spanish Farewell 🎾

Andrey Rublev claims second Qatar Open crown with a gritty 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 victory over Britain's Jack Draper, while Sebastian Baez made history in Rio by becoming the first player to successfully defend the title, defeating Alexandre Muller 6-2, 6-3. Mirra Andreeva became the youngest-ever WTA 1000 champion in Dubai, taking down Clara Tauson 7-6(1), 6-1.

Venus Williams will not compete at Indian Wells despite being announced as a wild card recipient. Speaking at an event in Denmark, she revealed that she learned of the entry at the same time as the public did. The 44-year-old seven-time Grand Slam champion, who hasn't played since last March, cited overseas commitments as the reason for declining the opportunity.

Two of the most unusual matches of 2025 unfolded this week. In Dubai, Paula Badosa squandered six match points in a heartbreaking loss to Elena Rybakina, while in Doha, Serbia's Hamad Medjedovic stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas despite suffering a third-set leg injury before withdrawing from his next match.

Tennis bids farewell to Fernando Verdasco, who ended his 23-year career alongside Novak Djokovic in the Doha doubles event. The former world No. 7, best known for his thunderous forehand and epic 2009 Australian Open semifinal against Rafael Nadal, amassed 15 ATP Tour-level titles (7 singles, 8 doubles) and helped Spain secure three Davis Cup titles.

Andy Murray will continue as Novak Djokovic's coach "indefinitely." The Serb made the announcement before his early exit in Doha, expressing excitement about working with his former rival through the American hardcourt swing and European clay season.

Emma Raducanu broke down in tears behind the umpire’s chair during her Dubai match with Karolina Muchova after spotting a stalker who had followed her across multiple tournaments. The man was promptly removed and has been banned from WTA events pending a threat assessment.

🤔 Opelka's War on Doubles Backfires 🤔

Reilly Opelka has intensified his attack on doubles tennis, sparking controversy with inflammatory social media comments. The world No. 114 dismissed doubles players as "failed singles players" and suggested the discipline should be eliminated from professional tournaments altogether. In his latest Instagram comment, the American argued that doubles players "don't sell a single ticket, take up practice courts/physios/resources, don't turn a profit and complain that they don't make enough money." Following the US Open's announcement of format changes to mixed doubles, Opelka further antagonized the doubles community by mockingly asking, "Wait...mixed dubs wasn't always an exhibition?"

The doubles community has rallied in response, with former world No. 1 Rohan Bopanna leading the defense. Bopanna highlighted how doubles tennis has allowed him to give back to the sport, supporting underprivileged children and building an academy. Other players, including Alexandre Muller, showed solidarity by writing "#watchmoredoubles" on camera after his round of 16 victory at the Rio Open. Several other active players have also defended doubles' value, with Jasmine Paolini and Ben Shelton crediting doubles play for sharpening their singles game.

Public sentiment strongly favors the doubles community in this debate. In our Instagram story poll with 257 responses, 70% of respondents believed doubles players deserve more respect, while only 30% agreed with Opelka's sentiments. The strong support for doubles suggests Opelka's views are out of step with the broader tennis community. Many fans have criticized his comments as disrespectful to his colleagues and detrimental to the sport's inclusive nature.

🎥 Reel of the Week 🎥

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