Monday Tennis Briefing
Welcome back to the Monday Tennis Briefing, where The Athletic delves into the intriguing stories and highlights from the past week on the tennis circuit. This week, the Miami Open concluded with Aryna Sabalenka and Jakub Menšík clinching the singles titles. Meanwhile, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner enjoyed a remarkable hard-court swing despite participating in just one tournament. Home players faced challenges as the sun evaded them, and Mirra Andreeva utilized her doubles experience to remain grounded amidst the pressures of the tour.
How did Sinner’s absence leave him untroubled as world No. 1?
When tallying the ranking points from this year’s Australian Open, BNP Paribas Open, and Miami Open, it’s intriguing to note that the highest total belongs to a player who only participated in one of those events. The standout ATP performer from the first Grand Slam of 2025, along with the subsequent ‘Sunshine Double’ in California and Florida, is none other than Jannik Sinner. Due to a three-month anti-doping ban, Sinner missed both the latter tournaments.
While the two-time Australian Open champion was engaged in training sessions in preparation for his return to the tour in May, his competitors failed to seize the opportunity presented by his absence. It is almost certain that Sinner will retain his No. 1 ranking when he resumes play in five weeks on home clay at the Italian Open in Rome.
Alexander Zverev, the nominal world No. 2, has not been seen competing since Melbourne, unlike Sinner, who has only played in one event since. Zverev has struggled to regain his form since Sinner’s defeat of him in the Australian Open final. He suffered a first-round exit in Indian Wells and lost to Arthur Fils in the Miami Open round of 16, despite having held a break advantage in the final set.
Sinner’s primary rival, Carlos Alcaraz, faced an early exit in Miami, having stumbled in his first match. He had previously struggled in Indian Wells, where he was unable to recover from a disastrous first set in the semifinals, ultimately losing to the eventual champion Jack Draper. Alcaraz has often appeared out of sorts in recent matches, reminiscent of his quarterfinal loss at the Australian Open to an injured Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic appeared rejuvenated in Miami following his early departure in Indian Wells but had a relatively unchallenging path to the final, not needing to defeat a top-14 player. However, he lost to Menšík in a match that highlighted the very skills that have defined Djokovic’s career. The 19-year-old Menšík showcased his talent in a thrilling 7-6(4), 7-6(4) victory, demonstrating a knack for neutralizing powerful serves and clinching tiebreaks, skills Djokovic has historically mastered.
Menšík’s impressive tournament run, alongside Draper’s victory in Indian Wells, has highlighted the challenges faced by established players during this period. March 2025 has undoubtedly solidified Sinner’s position atop men’s tennis, even in his absence from competition.
How is Andreeva using doubles to keep her grounded?
Mirra Andreeva also experienced her own version of a “sunshine double,” following her Indian Wells singles title with a victory in the Miami Open doubles alongside her close friend and fellow Russian, Diana Shnaider.
At just 17 years old, Andreeva stands out among the world’s top 10 players for her commitment to regularly competing in doubles. This decision has proven beneficial not just for her game, but also for her mental well-being. The lively camaraderie shared between her and Shnaider fosters an atmosphere of levity that is often absent in the high-pressure arena of singles competition. This is particularly crucial for young athletes navigating the intense demands of professional tennis.
During a lengthy rain delay in their final against Spain’s Cristina Bucsa and Japan’s Miyu Kato, Andreeva and Shnaider’s sense of humor shone through, contributing to their eventual 6-3, 6-7(5), 10-2 victory. This marks their second title as a duo, having first teamed up to secure Olympic silver medals last August. Both players have consistently expressed how much they enjoy pairing up and how it benefits their overall performance.
“When we play doubles, we both don’t like it to get too tense,” Andreeva noted in an interview at Melbourne Park in January. “So, for example, when the score is 5-4 and we have to serve for the match, we both try to lighten the mood with jokes or just chill a bit.”
Shnaider echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of humor during matches. “I need some jokes on court. I need some smiles. I need to have some talks with a partner enjoying doubles. Because for me, it’s a way to relieve stress and tension,” she stated in an interview before last year’s U.S. Open.
After facing disappointing singles defeats in Miami, both players could have easily opted to leave for rest or practice. Instead, they found valuable camaraderie and success on the doubles court.
Not the ‘Sunshine Double’ the American men were hoping for
A couple of months ago, there was optimism regarding the potential for an impressive performance by American men during the Indian Wells and Miami swing. With world No. 1 Sinner sidelined and Djokovic’s form in question as he approaches 38, there appeared to be a prime opportunity for a group of rival players who tend to thrive on home soil.
Top American players, known for their hard-court prowess, looked to capitalize on the North American hard-court swing — especially this one, which leads into a three-month European clay season. Ben Shelton had recently reached the Australian Open semifinals, while Taylor Fritz was coming off a strong season that included a U.S. Open final appearance, a runner-up finish at the ATP Tour Finals, and a victory at the United Cup with his compatriots. Tommy Paul was riding high as a top-10 player, and Frances Tiafoe often finds inspiration from cheering home crowds.
As the dust settled, Fritz emerged as the most successful American across the two events, reaching the Miami semifinals before falling to Menšík in a tense third-set tiebreak. Remarkably, Fritz managed to complete the match without having his serve broken. However, a few critical errors during the tiebreaks cost him a chance at the final.
Meanwhile, Shelton reached the quarterfinals in Indian Wells but suffered an opening match defeat in Miami against wild card Coleman Wong from Hong Kong. Paul struggled significantly, losing in the round of 16 to Daniil Medvedev in Indian Wells and encountering another early exit to Francisco Cerundolo in Miami. Tiafoe ended the swing with a 2-2 record, falling to Arthur Fils and Yosuke Watanuki.
Other American talents like Learner Tien and Alex Michelsen also found the going tough, with Tien failing to secure a victory and Michelsen managing just one win. The outlook for American players during March was not as bright as hoped.
Danielle Collins gets a win
Though Danielle Collins couldn’t defend her title in Miami, she left with a different kind of victory. During her time in the city, Collins encountered a dog that had been injured in an accident. Without hesitation, she took the animal to a local veterinary hospital and ensured it received necessary care, including surgery and five days on oxygen.
After the pup recovered, Collins joyfully announced her decision to adopt it, naming the dog “Crash.” She shared on Instagram, “His breathing is back to normal, his wounds are healing, and he is definitely enjoying all the love he is receiving.” Crash joins Collins’ other dog, Quincy, who has been her loyal companion on the tour.
“Witnessing a dog in such pain after being hit by a car was heartbreaking,” Collins expressed. “I’m just grateful I was able to help him get the care he needed.” While it may not be another trophy, the bond she has formed with Crash represents something profoundly rewarding, especially as she looks to continue her career and defend her title in Charleston, S.C., this week.
Recommended reading:
- Aryna Sabalenka surges past Jessica Pegula to win the Miami Open
- Jakub Menšík bests Novak Djokovic in Miami final to delay pursuit of history
- Russian tennis star Daria Kasatkina becomes a permanent resident of Australia
- Alex Eala is making tennis history for the Philippines. For her, that’s the easy part
The winners of the week
🎾 ATP: 🏆 Menšík def. Djokovic (4) 7-6(4), 7-6(4) to win the Miami Open (1,000) in Miami. This marks his first ATP 1,000 title.
🎾 WTA: 🏆 Sabalenka (1) def. Pegula (4) 7-5, 6-2 to win the Miami Open (1,000) in Miami, marking her 19th WTA Tour title.
On the rise / Down the line
📈 Eala moves up 65 places from No. 140 to a career-high No. 75 after her impressive run to the Miami Open semifinals.
📈 Menšík ascends 30 spots from No. 54 to No. 24 after winning the Miami Open.
📈 Tereza Valentová climbs 41 positions from No. 211 to a career-high No. 170 after her victory at the ITF W75 event in Murska Sobota, Slovenia.
📉 Medvedev drops three places from No. 8 to No. 11, marking his exit from the ATP top 10 for the first time since 2019.
📉 Caroline Garcia falls 27 spots from No. 74 to No. 101, exiting the WTA top 100 for the first time since 2013.
📉 Thiago Seyboth Wild tumbles 15 places from No. 96 to No. 111, leaving the ATP top 100.
Coming up
🎾 ATP
📍Houston: U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship (250) featuring Paul, Tiafoe, Michelsen, Tien.
📍Marrakech, Morocco: Grand Prix Hassan II (250) featuring Tallon Griekspoor, Lorenzo Sonego, Otto Virtanen, Pavel Kotov.
📍Bucharest, Romania: Tiriac Open (250) featuring Sebastian Baez, Gabriel Diallo, Botic van de Zandschulp, Nishesh Basavareddy.
📺 UK: Sky Sports; U.S.: Tennis Channel 💻 Tennis TV
🎾 WTA
📍Charleston, S.C.: Charleston Open (500) featuring Pegula, Madison Keys, Zheng Qinwen, Belinda Bencic.
📍Bogotá, Colombia: Copa Colsanitas Zurich (250) featuring Marie Bouzkova, Camila Osorio, Iva Jovic, Alycia Parks.
📺 UK: Sky Sports; U.S.: Tennis Channel
Share your observations from this week in the comments below as the men’s and women’s tours continue to unfold.
(Top photo: Patrick Hamilton / AFP via Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
