February is the busiest month on the ATP Tour, with 12 tournaments in eight countries across four continents. The month backed up its reputation with plenty of storylines for fans to follow. Below are five of the most-read ATPTour.com stories from February.

1. Blood, Sweat And Cramps: Kyrgios Defeats Wawrinka In Acapulco Thriller
Even the mercurial Aussie could not have seen this coming. Kyrgios had fallen to No. 72 in the ATP Rankings, his lowest spot since June 2014, and he hadn’t beaten a Top 5 opponent since January 2018 at the Brisbane International (d. then-No. 3 Dimitrov).

But in Acapulco, Kyrgios saved three match points and beat No. 2 Rafael Nadal and then backed up his match of the year with a tough three-set win against former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka.

For Kyrgios, his match with Wawrinka started with blood – from his hands – featured some cramps – from his legs – but ended in victory.

2. Federer Surprises Lindsey Vonn With Retirement Congrats
Retirement can jolt the best of athletes, but a call from Roger Federer would surely help them all ease into the unknown. Alpine skiing great Lindsey Vonn finished her final run on 10 February, and a pre-recorded message from the Swiss was waiting for her.

“Hey, Lindsey, it’s me. Many, many congratulations on a wonderful career. I know you tried everything the last few months to get ready. I was thinking of you. I was watching you,” Federer said.

“I saw the fall, as well, in the super-G a few days ago. I was really feeling sorry. I was sitting there with my children and hoping for you. So I just wanted to say, well done. You can be so, so proud.

“And I hope you enjoy this moment even though it might be a little bit sad for you right now. Take care, bye, bye.”

Vonn shared her shock at receiving the message, and vowed to attend Wimbledon in July to see Federer go for his ninth title at the All-England Club.

3. Federer Maintains Historic Bid, Battles Past Verdasco In Dubai
The anticipation had been building, really, ever since the Swiss won tour-level title No. 99 at the Swiss Indoors Basel last October: When would Federer join American Jimmy Connors as the only two players to have won 100 tour-level titles?

So of course the tennis world followed how Federer was faring at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, where, on Saturday, he answered the question with a straight-sets win against Greece’s #NextGenATP star Stefanos Tsitsipas. Read Match Report

After his 50^th victory at the ATP 500, Federer expressed relief – a feeling he’d know well in Dubai by Saturday evening. “I was like, ‘Phew, 50, a lot of tennis here in Dubai,” Federer said. “I’m very happy. It’s a big number.”

4. Monfils Beats Wawrinka In Rotterdam For Eighth ATP Tour Crown
Few words will draw more excitement from tennis fans than “Gael Monfils Hot Shot”. And the Frenchman had plenty of “Are you kidding me?” shots in Rotterdam, but the ATP 500 also required top-level tennis from the 32-year-old, which he brought in full supply.

Monfils overcame a mid-match dip against Stan Wawrinka to improve to 8-21 in tour-level finals and hoist his first ATP Tour trophy since 2018 Doha. The Frenchman evened his FedEx ATP Head2Head with Wawrinka to 3-3 and denied the Swiss his second title at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament (2015).

5. Murray Injury Update: Judy Talks Andy’s Comeback Chances
We know Andy Murray has undergone another hip surgery, but will he be returning to the ATP Tour? His mum, Judy Murray, thinks so.

“I think he will [return], [but] I think he’s aware it might not possible,” she said to the Associated Press. “He’s a smart guy. He has a lot of interest in different things [and] he has a lot of options in life after tennis.”

Murray last played at the Australian Open, falling in five sets in the first round to eventual quarter-finalist Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain.

Roger Federer made history on Saturday evening, winning the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships to become the second man in the Open Era to reach 100 tour-level titles, joining Jimmy Connors (109).

In his own words, the 37-year-old Swiss looks back on some of his biggest milestone titles.

Title No. 1, 2001 Milan
Final: Defeated Julien Boutter 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-4

“I’d lost my previous two finals, in the Marseille final and Basel final, so I really wanted to win my first ATP title. That was a big week for me. I beat some great players along the way to get there,” the Swiss recalled.

Federer defeated Goran Ivanisevic and Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively, before defeating Julien Boutter to earn his maiden moment.

“That was great fun and then beating Boutter in the final, I felt like I had pressure because maybe I went into that final as a little bit of a favourite,” Federer said. “But it was fast indoors and Boutter was a big server, so you never knew what was going to happen.”

“I have a really small space in the career of Federer. I am the first one to lose in a final against him. But many guys did the same as me,” Boutter said, cracking a laugh.

“I think [it was] more of a relief than actual joy and happiness. I think that kicked in like 24 hours later,” Federer recalled. “I remember what I said, that at least I have one. I never thought I’d make so many wins.”

Title No. 25, 2005 Dubai
Final: Defeated Ivan Ljubicic 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-3

Ahead of the 2005 tournament, Federer and Andre Agassi went to the top of the Burj Al Arab to play sky-high tennis on a helipad. “It was the iconic shot that went around the world,” said Federer.

The two players would meet in the semi-finals, where Federer recalled another memorable shot against the American. “On break point, I hit one of the most ridiculous shots I’ve ever hit. I remember it was sort of a flick lob on break point. You can see by my reaction, I started laughing after the point… It’s still one of my favourite, best shots of all-time for me in my career.”

The Swiss, who survived his two opening matches by prevailing in a third-set tie-break, faced current coach Ivan Ljubicic in the final. Although it was only the second month of the season, the match was already their third clash for a title.

Ljubicic joked during the trophy ceremony: “I’m a little bit sick of this guy.”

“He always thinks I was very lucky,” said Federer with a laugh. “But he’s joking of course. Or maybe not, I’ll have to check.”

Watch Roger’s Hot Shot Against Agassi:

Title No. 50, 2007 Cincinnati
Final: Defeated James Blake 6-1, 6-4

Federer arrived at the Western & Southern Open fresh off a disappointing third-set tie-break loss in the Montreal final against Novak Djokovic. In the semi-finals, the Swiss battled past former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt in a final-set tie-break, giving him a chance to take home title No. 50 against home favourite James Blake.

“I remember the final against James Blake. It was a good one. I think I came out of the blocks very fast, served well, got the one break I needed and then served it home,” Federer said. “It was my 50th, so it was a big one.”

It was Federer’s second of seven triumphs in Cincinnati.

“Cincinnati [is] one of my favourite hunting grounds on the [ATP] Tour,” Federer said. “I’ve always played very well there.”

Title No. 75, 2012 Wimbledon
Final: Defeated Andy Murray 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 (Read More)

The Swiss star arrived at Wimbledon having not lifted a Grand Slam trophy since the 2010 Australian Open. But Federer defeated World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, and fended off Andy Murray’s efforts to end Great Britain’s 76-year wait for a home-grown Wimbledon champion.

“Massive tournament for me. Also brought me back to World No. 1,” Federer said. “The Wimbledon win was epic for me. It was great to see my girls there at the trophy ceremony. That was very emotional for me.

“It was a tough one, because it was also played outdoors and then indoors with the rain, under the roof. That was special. And I played a great semis against Novak. I finished very strong that year.”

Federer joined William Renshaw and Pete Sampras as the only seven-time winners at the All England Club, adding to his triumphs in 2003-2007 and 2009.

Follow Roger’s Media Tour After His 2012 Wimbledon Win:

Title No. 100, 2019 Dubai
Final: Defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 (Read & Watch)

In October 2018, Federer triumphed in Basel at his hometown tournament to lift trophy No. 99. From then on, the countdown to No. 100 began. 

At the 2019 Australian Open, Federer was stunned in the fourth round by #NextGenATP Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas. That was his third tournament since Basel. But the fourth event proved the charm and, fittingly enough, Federer beat Tsitsipas in the final to join Connors in the ‘100 Club’.

“Sitting here today, having won 100, it’s disbelief. Then last year, after reaching 96, 97, I started feeling maybe 100 was possible, and it was,” Federer said. “I’d like to thank the team, everyone who’s made it possible for myself. I’m privileged still to be playing this sport right now today.”

How much do top-tier players adjust their strategies against left-handed opponents?

An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of the current Top 10 focuses on return direction back to the opponent’s Serve +1 forehand or backhand, which naturally change sides of the court against a left-handed or right-handed server.

The results are compelling and highlight which side of the equation each player is on when it comes to answering the following question: Is it more important to hit the ball where you want to hit it, or more important to hit it where your opponent does not want it?

The data set comes from ATP Masters 1000s and Nitto ATP Finals from 2011-2018, and is specific to the following two criteria:

• Returning a second serve.

• The second serve is directed wide in the Ad court.

These two criteria were chosen as the returner has more control of his return direction versus a second serve, and if the serve is wide in the Ad court, both cross and down the line are viable options.

Return Direction vs. Right-Handed Server
As expected, every player in the Top 10 primarily directed the wide second serve return back crosscourt to the right-hander’s Serve +1 backhand.

Juan Martin del Potro stuck to this strategy the most, directing 91 per cent of his Ad court wide returns crosscourt. Both John Isner and Kei Nishikori mixed the most, with 64 per cent crosscourt and 36 per cent down the line to the Serve +1 forehand.

Current Top 10: Returning Direction vs. Right-Handed Server

Return Direction vs. Left-Handed Server
This is where gamestyle, opponent awareness, specific strategies and prowess with the backhand return all come into play.

Four of the Top 10 players in the ATP Rankings changed the primary return direction down the line to stick with the common strategy of making the server have to hit a Serve +1 backhand. Roger Federer hit the most down the line (71%), followed by Rafael Nadal (59%), Isner (56%) and Novak Djokovic (55%). Kevin Anderson was equal with a 50-50 ratio.

Current Top 10: Returning Direction vs Left-Handed Server

Interestingly, players such as Marin Cilic, Del Potro and Alexander Zverev led the way with backing their aggressive returns crosscourt, where they like to hit it, not concerned that it was going to the left-hander’s Serve +1 forehand.

Overall, the Top 10 averaged directing 79 per cent of returns crosscourt against right-handers, but only 58 per cent against left-handers. That definitely highlights an adjustment versus left-handed servers.

Sometimes, the return crosscourt is so dominant that it doesn’t really matter what’s waiting for it. Other times, it’s all about the age-old strategy of trying to make your opponent hit as many backhands as possible.