What's New, What's Not, What's Next? (Feb. 24)
This week, we had the youngest ever WTA1000 champion, two repeat champions on the ATP tour, and more off-the-court news. Here's the weekly roundup.
What's new?
Mirra Andreeva is a top 10 player
Mirra Andreeva continued making waves in tennis this week by winning the Dubai WTA1000 event, dropping only a single set along the way. At 17 years old, she's the youngest player to ever win a 1000-level event, and she now moves inside the world's top 10 for the first time.
Perhaps what's most remarkable here is that this didn't feel all that remarkable. Andreeva was actually seeded at the event, and has already won a WTA title - achievements which make it easy to forget how young she still is.
It may not feel remarkable, but it does feel significant. In two defeats against Aryna Sabalenka this year - one of only two players to beat Andreeva in 2025 - the teenager has looked a little way off the level at the very top of the game. In particular, while Andreeva's game already doesn't really have any weaknesses, she hasn't been able to live with Sabalenka's power. Few people on the tour actually have that kind of hitting power of course, but Andreeva has struggled to cope with the kind of pressure the biggest ball strikers put their opponents under.
This week however, she beat Iga Świątek in straight sets, cementing a disappointing Middle Eastern swing for Świątek, who usually cleans up in this part of the schedule. She did the same to Clara Tauson in the final, after a gutsy three set victory over Elena Rybakina in the semi-final: two players who both hit the ball about as big as anyone.
With how quickly Andreeva is rising, and how well she seems to have coped with the hype swirling around her, it's starting to feel like the sky is the limit.
Some interesting statements on the Sinner ban
The BBC reported this week that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)'s general counsel considers Jannik Sinner's case to be "a million miles away from doping". This raises questions about why WADA was pursuing a multi-year ban if they were counselled that Sinner's case could not have been a deliberate attempt to gain a competitive advantage. But it does douse the flames somewhat on an issue that has seriously undermined confidence in the anti-doping system.
Novak Djokovic also commented on the matter this week, stating that there was clearly a sense in the locker room that there is "favouritism" in the way cases are handled, and calling for a review of the sport's anti-doping system. This isn't too surprising, given the move that the PTPA took a few weeks ago to provide legal support to players who don't have access to the resources that the likes of Sinner have to defend themselves. But Djokovic's willingness to accept the notion that Sinner and Świątek are "innocent" may help shift the focus from individual cases to the kinds of structural changes that the sport needs to repair its image.
What's not?
Sebastian Baez is winning on the clay
Sebastian Baez successfully defended his Rio title this week to win his seventh ATP title from nine finals, and his sixth on clay. Baez beat three fellow Argentines along the way, and managed to avoid playing anyone inside the world's top 45.
But make no mistake, it is a very impressive feat to defend a 500-level title, and Baez's resumé is already stellar at 24 years old. Baez has done a great job of racking up event wins over the last few years, enabling him to maintain a ranking that's usually enough to ensure he's seeded at Slams and smaller events. He has a very good shot at going back-to-back this week in Chile.
Andrey Rublev has another ATP500 title
Andrey Rublev came through multiple three set battles to win the title in Doha this week, the first of his 17 titles that he has won before. With this win, Novak Djokovic is now the only active player with more ATP500 titles than Rublev.
This was a really positive week for Rublev, whose mentality was tested repeatedly. His quarter-final against Alex de Minaur was an epic, with Rublev failing to take his first seven match points before finally taking the final set tie-breaker. He came back and did it all again against familiar foe Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-final, again winning a tight third set breaker.
When Jack Draper evened the final at a set all, it seemed reasonable that either Rublev's legs or his mind would start to buckle. But Rublev managed to maintain his focus and his level, and cruised through the final set 6-1 to outlast a tiring Draper. There have been signs of Rublev keeping his demons at bay before, so let's hope this time he's actually turned a corner.
Andy Murray is still coaching Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic confirmed in Dubai that he's asked Andy Murray to continue to be part of his team, and they are working together "indefinitely". For now, this apparently means at least the upcoming events in the States and the start of the clay court season. It seems increasingly plausible that Murray could still be involved come the Grand Slam summer.
What's next?
The WTA is in Mérida, which is an upgraded 500 event, and Austin for a 250. Emma Navarro and Paula Badosa are the top seeds in Mexico, while Jess Pegula and Diana Shnaider headline Austin.
The ATP has two 500 hard court events this week, in Acapulco and Dubai, while the final stop on the South American swing is the 250 in Santiago. Daniil Medvedev, Alex de Minaur, Andrey Rublev and defending champ Ugo Humbert are all playing in Dubai, while Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud and Tommy Paul top a very strong field in Acapulco. Francisco Cerundolo, Alejandro Tabilo and Sebastian Baez are among the players in Chile.