As March nears, Daniil Medvedev and Jessica Pegula return to action in Dubai and San Diego
The tours say good-bye to February, and single-gender events, with six tournaments across three continents this week.
The ATP and WTA continue to go their separate ways for one more week, before they get together again in Indian Wells. On the men’s side, February concludes with three fairly short flights: From Doha to Dubai, Los Cabos to Acapulco, and Rio to Santiago. On the women’s, it finishes with a long-haul leap across a couple of continents. Here’s a look ahead at the week’s six events.
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (ATP)
- Dubai, UAE
- $3,113,270; ATP 500
- Hard court
- Draw is here
A year ago, Daniil Medvedev was in the middle of a run that would bring him four titles in five tournaments. Dubai was the third of those victories, and the most impressive—it ended with a straight-set win over Novak Djokovic in the final.
Twelve months later, Medvedev returns not with unstoppable momentum, but with a need to shake off a bitter defeat. For the second time, the Russian lost an Australian Open final from two sets up—this time to Jannik Sinner. He hasn’t played since that loss, but after his performance in Dubai last year, it makes sense for him to get back on the horse here.
Medvedev is the top seed, followed by Andrey Rublev, Hubert Hurkacz, and Doha champ Karen Khachanov.
First-round blast from the recent past to watch: Andy Murray vs. Denis Shapovalov
Abierto Mexicano Telcel (ATP)
- Acapulco, Mexico
- $2,377565; ATP 500
- Hard court
- Draw is here
The ATP has a second 500 this week, in Acapulco. While the tournaments offers a million dollars less in prize money than Dubai, it may have a slightly better field from top to bottom. The relative proximity to Indian Wells obviously helps.
The top eight seeds—Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, Alex De Minaur, Taylor Fritz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Tommy Pul, and Frances Tiafoe—make for a strong lineup. The order, with Rune, De Minaur, and Fritz ahead of two recent Grand Slam finalists, Tsitsipas and Ruud, may also be a little surprising. So, perhaps, is the fact that Felix Auger Aliassime and Ben Shelton aren’t seeded at all.
Potential second-round match to watch: Rune vs. last week’s Los Cabos champion, Jordan Thompson
San Diego Open (WTA)
- San Diego
- $922,573; WTA 500
- Hard court
- Draw is here
What was once known as the Southern California Open has come in all shapes, sizes, and names since it was first held in 1971. The latest shift is in the schedule. After two appearances in the fall, after the US Open, this 500 has moved to the spring, and will now serve as a local lead-in to Indian Wells.
Top-seeded Jessica Pegula will try to push reset on her 2024, which began with an early loss at the Australian Open and continued with a surprise split from longtime coach David Witt. She’s followed in the seedings by Beatriz Haddad Maia, Emma Navarro, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and two Ukrainians who made splashes in Melbourne: Dayana Yastremska and Marta Kostyuk.
Movistar Chile Open (ATP)
- Santiago, Chile
- $742,350; ATP 250
- Red clay
- Draw is here
The Golden Swing through the red-clay courts of South America winds to a close with this 250 in Chile. The top four seeds are Nicolas Jarry, Sebastian Baez, Arthur Fils, and Alejandro Tabilo.
To start, though, no one may get as much attention as Brazilian wild card Joao Fonseca. The 17-year-old wowed the world last week with his futuristic forehand during a run to the quarters in Rio. If he survives two rounds here, he could play Jarry.
ATX Open (WTA)
- Austin, Texas
- $232,244; WTA 250
- Hard court
- Draw is here
The week is rounded out by this women’s 250 in Texas. Anhelina Kalinina is the top seed, followed by two veteran Americans, Sloane Stephens and Danielle Collins. But it’s a younger American, 22-year-old Peyton Stearns, who will hear the most crowd support. She won the NCAA women’s title a few years ago while a student at the University of Texas in Austin.