Welcome back to the Monday Tennis Briefing, where The Athletic shares the behind-the-scenes stories from the past week on the court.
This week: a disruptive hindrance call, a tournament marked by player withdrawals, two players making headlines, and another responding firmly.
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A Player’s Brilliance Overshadowed by a Hindrance Call
The hindrance rule in tennis is meant to prevent a player from affecting their opponent’s shot. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka faced a call during her Australian Open semifinal versus Elina Svitolina; after believing she missed a shot, her usual grunt may have interfered with Svitolina’s reaction.
Sabalenka protested slightly after the chair umpire deemed her noise a hindrance, resulting in her losing a crucial point.
A more poignant instance occurred during the Rio de Janeiro Open when Daniel Altmaier was facing Dušan Lajović. Tied at 7-7 in a tiebreak, Altmaier executed a brilliant backhand drop shot that Lajović couldn’t reach, but mistakenly flooded the court with a cry of “no, no!” This led the umpire to call a hindrance, granting Lajović a point he would have lost, ultimately costing Altmaier the match.
Statements from Pegula and Alcaraz
Jessica Pegula celebrated her consistency this past Saturday by clinching the Dubai Tennis Championships title with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Elina Svitolina. This win marked her fourth WTA 1000 championship after an impressive streak of semifinals without securing a trophy.
Pegula attributed her success to focused improvements in her game over the past six months, targeting efficiency and more decisive footwork.
On the men’s side, world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz triumphed at the Qatar Open, maintaining his position atop the rankings with 13,550 points. After hard-fought matches against Khachanov and Rublev, Alcaraz demonstrated his versatility with an easy victory over Arthur Fils, reinforcing his dominance on the hard court.
A Memorable Final Day for Etcheverry
In a remarkable achievement at the Rio de Janeiro Open, Tomás Martín Etcheverry emerged victorious amid challenging circumstances. After rain delays disrupted semifinal matches, he battled through a grueling three-hour and 57-minute contest against Vít Kopřiva, ultimately overcoming fatigue to clinch his first ATP title against Alejandro Tabilo.
Concerns Over Tournament Sustainability
The Dubai Tennis Championships witnessed a significant number of withdrawals, including top players like Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Świątek. Tournament director Salah Tahlak has called for stricter penalties for such withdrawals, urging that ranking points be docked, a sentiment echoed by other players but criticized by Jessica Gauff as unfair during a tight schedule.
Badosa Responds to Fan Criticism
Paula Badosa defended herself against online criticism following her withdrawal from her match against Svitolina at the Dubai Tennis Championships due to an injury. Badosa explained the struggles of managing a chronic injury, asserting her commitment to the sport despite setbacks and putting up with online negativity.
Winners This Week
🎾 ATP:
🏆 Carlos Alcaraz defeated Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-1 to win the Qatar Open.
🏆 Tomás Martín Etcheverry overcame Alejandro Tabilo 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 to win the Rio de Janeiro Open.
🎾 WTA:
🏆 Jessica Pegula triumphed over Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-4 at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
