ATPTour.com counts down five of the most-read stories during the busy month of March:

1. Thiem Topples Federer For Maiden Masters Title
Dominic Thiem produced a special performance to claim the biggest title of his career on Sunday, surviving Roger Federer in the BNP Paribas Open final. The third time is the charm for the Austrian, who secured his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy in his third final appearance.

Thiem denied Federer a record sixth BNP Paribas Open crown, battling back for the championship 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in just over two hours. The 25-year-old produced an impressive display under the Southern California sun, storming back from a set down to stun the Swiss and leave everyone at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in awe.

“It’s unreal,” said Thiem. “It’s a pleasure to compete against Roger in this great final. I lost my last two Masters 1000 finals, but I won this one and it feels as nice as a Grand Slam.

“It was a great week and I think also a very good final today. Just amazing that I got here, my first really big title. I came from a really bad form in all categories and now I’m the champion of Indian Wells. It feels not real at all.”

2. Federer In Full Flight: Roger Soars To Fourth Miami Crown
Victory was swift and convincing for Roger Federer on Sunday at the Miami Open presented by Itau. The Swiss produced a championship masterclass under the Florida sun, dominating reigning champ John Isner 6-1, 6-4 to take his fourth tournament title and No. 101 in his storied career.

The battle between the last two Miami champions went the way of Federer in a flash, as he needed just 64 minutes to triumph. Federer toppled the big-serving American behind four breaks of serve and a staggering 32 of 35 points won on his own delivery.

“It was a dream start, relaxing my nerves [to break in the opening game],” said Federer. “What a week it’s been for me. I’m just so happy right now. It’s unbelievable. I played here in 1999 for the first time and here I am in 2019. It means a lot to me.”

3. Federer Routs Shapovalov To Reach Miami Final
Canadian Denis Shapovalov had been looking forward to playing Roger Federer practically his entire life. Before the match, he called it “a dream come true”. The 19-year-old, however, didn’t envision their semi-final going like it did on Friday night at the Miami Open presented by Itau.

The Canadian was nervous to start, and that was more than Federer needed as the three-time champion delivered another near-perfect performance at Hard Rock Stadium.

The Swiss glided around court and hit winners all match, cruising to his fifth Miami final – his 50th at the ATP Masters 1000 level – 6-2, 6-4 and will face American John Isner for a chance at his 28th Masters 1000 crown. The defending champion Isner beat 18-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6(3), 7-6(4) earlier Friday.

“I enjoyed it. I think I played very well. I had to. Because I think when you let Denis play, he’s got some serious power, and he gets rhythm going. He can really put you in uncomfortable situations,” Federer said. “So I think I did well, and I’m very happy how I played.”

4. Kohlschreiber Upsets Djokovic In Indian Wells
World No. 39 Philipp Kohlschreiber stunned five-time BNP Paribas Open champion Novak Djokovic on Tuesday, eliminating the sluggish top seed 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 38 minutes.

The 12th time proved the charm for Kohlschreiber, who was previously 0-11 against players ranked No. 1 in the world. The German also entered the match with just one win in nine FedEx ATP Head2Head matches against Djokovic.

“It’s a very special win today,” Kohlschreiber said. “I had a great strategy to play against him. I had two good wins [entering the match]. So everything came together. [It’s] very special to beat the No. 1. Unfortunately the tournament is not over. I have to get back tomorrow with a great mindset. Today I want to take the moment, celebrate with my coach. I’ve got a lot of messages. I know it’s a very special victory today.”

5. Felix Becomes Youngest Miami Semi-finalist In 35 Years
He’s only 18, but he’s already rewriting the history books at the Miami Open presented by Itau. #NextGenATP Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime became the youngest Miami semi-finalist in the tournament’s 35-year history on Wednesday.

The qualifier, who played an ATP Challenger Tour event two months ago, beat 11th seed Borna Coric of Croatia 7-6(3), 6-2 to set up a final-four matchup against defending champion John Isner. The American beat Novak Djokovic’s conqueror Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain 7-6(1), 7-6(5).

Auger-Aliassime’s success, including his straight-sets win against the 22-year-old Coric, has surprised the teenager from Montreal.

“Playing Borna, who’s been established for a few years now, I definitely didn’t expect to win. I expected more, a set like in the first. But the second really surprised me. I felt like I had margin over him, had a bit of an edge. I just felt really comfortable out there from the first balls,” he said.

1. Bryan Brothers Are Back
There was not much certainty around Bob Bryan’s comeback from a right hip replacement last August. Nobody had returned to action on the ATP Tour under the same circumstances before.

But Bob and twin Mike Bryan have picked up right where they left off, winning their 117th and 118th tour-level titles as a team, including a victory at the Miami Open presented by Itau, an ATP Masters 1000 event. “A doctor was cutting me open eight months ago and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to make it back on court,” said Bob. “To win this title is a dream and certainly wasn’t possible eight months ago. This is huge for us.”

The brothers also reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, but fell in a tight match against eventual champions Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut. The Americans are in prime position to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for their 15th time as a pair.

2. Frenchmen Flying
Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut completed their career Grand Slam with a dream run in Melbourne. Their only other tournament of the year thus far came at the BNP Paribas Open, where the Frenchmen lost in the second round to eventual champions Nikola Mektic and Horacio Zeballos.

Herbert and Mahut currently lead the ATP Doubles Race To London with 2,090 points. They are trying to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the fifth straight year. Last season, they finished runner-up in London to Mike Bryan and Jack Sock.

3. Mektic/Zeballos’ Magical Run
Nikola Mektic and Horacio Zeballos had only competed together once before the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. But it didn’t take long for the Croat-Argentine team to click. After saving two match points against Herbert and Mahut in the second round, Mektic and Zeballos found their best form, eliminating four of the Top 6 seeds en route to the title.

“[It’s] a little bit unreal. We’re still looking at each other and just repeating, ‘Did we just win?'” Mektic said.

Mektic and Zeballos’ future as a tandem remains unclear, with Zeballos potentially spending more time with fellow Argentine Maximo Gonzalez. But even if they never team up again, Mektic and Zeballos produced a run fans and opponents won’t soon forget.

4. Ram/Salisbury A Breakthrough Pair?
The highest-placed team in the ATP Doubles Race To London that has not competed together before is American Rajeev Ram and Brit Joe Salisbury, currently in fourth. The pair spent a week together in Florida training ahead of the season — which Ram says isn’t always an option for new teams — and they’ve been playing well every since.

Ram and Salisbury claimed their first team title in Dubai, reached the final in Brisbane, and took a set off of eventual Australian Open champions Herbert and Mahut in Melbourne.

Ram says that one of the reasons his team has enjoyed early success is that Salisbury complements him and vice versa. The American touts the 26-year-old Brit’s athleticism, and at 35 he says that he brings experience and ball-striking abilities that help them mesh well.

“We’ve built a decent foundation and now we’re just trying to refine our skills a bit more to keep improving,” Ram told ATP Tennis Radio. “I think we’ve had good results but that doesn’t mean we’re going to be playing great the rest of the season or anything like that. I think we need to keep getting better.”

5. Maximo’s March
Few doubles stories have been better than that of Argentine Maximo Gonzalez. At 35, Gonzalez has enjoyed his best season to date.

Gonzalez began 2019 with four ATP Tour doubles titles, with his first triumph coming more than a decade ago at Valencia in 2008 alongside Juan Monaco. But Gonzalez went on a tear in February, winning three titles in three weeks with three different partners. He won Buenos Aires with Zeballos, Rio de Janeiro with Nicolas Jarry and Sao Paulo with Federico Delbonis. The week before Buenos Aires, he made the final in Cordoba with Zeballos, so he went a stretch during which he won 14 of 15 matches.

Gonzalez’s play has seen him climb to a career-high ATP Ranking of No. 28.

6. Two-time Nitto ATP Finals Champs Back On Track
Henri Kontinen and John Peers won the Nitto ATP Finals in 2016-17, but they surprisingly failed to qualify for the season finale last year, finishing the ATP Doubles Race To London in 10th place.

But the Finnish-Aussie duo showed signs of its best form immediately this season. Kontinen and Peers made the Australian Open final (l. to Herbert/Mahut) and then captured their 14th tour-level trophy as a duo in Rotterdam. The veterans are currently third in the Race.

7. Veteran teams Battling For Race Position
Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo have booked their spots at The O2 together in each of the past two seasons, and they’re making an early claim to return once again, currently sitting sixth in the Race. Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic, who were the year-end No. 1 ATP Doubles Team last year, are in eighth. 

Three teams that qualified for London in 2018 that are on the outside looking in are Jamie Murray/Bruno Soares (12th), Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah (13th) and Raven Klaasen/Michael Venus (14th).

Felix Auger-Aliassime has surprised everyone save for maybe himself with his fast start to the 2019 ATP Tour season. ATPTour.com presents the 18-year-old’s rise by the numbers:

14: Number of wins Auger-Aliassime has through three months, sixth best on the ATP Tour.

Best Starts To 2019 Season

18: His age. He’s the youngest player inside the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings

33: Auger-Aliassime’s ATP Ranking, a new career-high. He’s climbed 75 spots, from No. 108 at the start of the year.

2: Auger-Aliassime’s place in the ATP Race To Milan, which will determine seven of the eight 21-and-under players who compete at the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals, to be held 5-9 November in Milan. The eighth spot will be given to a wild card.

35: By making the Miami semi-finals, Auger-Aliassime became the tournament’s youngest semi-finalist in its 35-year history.

5-1: Auger-Aliassime has lost only once to a Top 20 player.

Felix Against The Best

It was nearly four years ago that a precocious 14-year-old with heaps of potential etched his name in the record books. A first ATP Challenger Tour match win was secured by a player born in the year 2000, as Felix Auger-Aliassime celebrated a breakthrough on home soil in Granby.

Flash forward to 2019 and not only has the Canadian transitioned from Challenger prodigy to ATP Tour star, he is enjoying a meteoric rise up the ATP Rankings to the Top 50. But Auger-Aliassime is not alone. The 18-year-old is carrying the mantle for players born in the 2000s, with many others earning breakthroughs of their own this year.

This week, the Challenger circuit welcomed two fresh faces to the winners’ circle, as 17-year-old Lorenzo Musetti and 15-year-old Carlos Alcaraz Garfia celebrated their first match wins in thrilling fashion.

On Monday, Musetti became the first player born in the year 2002 to win a Challenger match, advancing at the Mouratoglou Open in Sophia Antipolis, France. He stormed back from a set down to defeat Karim-Mohamed Maamoun 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.

A native of Carrara, Italy, Musetti would eventually fall to fellow teen and World No. 118 Alexei Popyrin on Tuesday. But the 2019 Australian Open junior champion has certainly made his mark to open his professional career. With the victory, he earns his first ATP Rankings points.

“It’s something that you cannot describe,” Musetti said of his first taste of victory, “There are a lot of emotions on and off the court. This is completely different from juniors and it’s the real tour here. You meet players older than you with a lot of matches behind their shoulders.

“I feel like I am playing at home and I really enjoy playing with the crowd that supports you from the beginning.”

Musetti, who trains at the Mouratoglou Academy, finished runner-up in the US Open boys’ final last year, before capping his junior career with the title at Melbourne Park. He is competing in just his second Challenger main draw, following a first-round exit in Bergamo in February to open his professional career.

The 2000s Club

Meanwhile, in nearby Alicante, Spain, a 15-year-old named Carlos Alcaraz Garfia claimed a slice of history of his own. One day after Musetti became the first player born in the year 2002 to win a match, Alcaraz Garfia became the first born in the year 2003 to emerge victorious.

Held at former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero’s academy in the town of Villena, the tournament is celebrating its second edition this week. Alcaraz Garfia, who trains at the academy, defeated fellow teen Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in Tuesday’s opener. Trailing 0-3 in the deciding set, he would mount an impressive comeback, reeling off the final six games to earn his first ATP Rankings points.

“I entered the court knowing that I could win by playing my game,” said the Spaniard. “I was able to compete against a player who is young and has been doing very well, so my feelings are very good. “I came here with good results last week from a junior tournament. I’m playing like it’s my house and that’s always a plus that really helps. I played very well with a lot of courage and it gives me confidence for the next match.

Youngest To Win A Match In 20 Years

“I know I can win against great players now. Tomorrow I have another match and I hope to continue playing like I did today. I like to play at home, both in Murcia and here. Playing in front of your people, who cheer for you and who try to lift you when you go down, is great. That gives me a lot of confidence, knowing that I have the people behind me.”

With his victory, Alcaraz Garfia becomes the fourth-youngest player to win a Challenger match in the last 20 years. Only Felix Auger-Aliassime, Rafael Nadal and Nikolai Soloviev were younger. His Challenger debut continues on Tuesday with a second-round clash against eighth seed Lukas Rosol.

The votes are in, and fans believe that seven of the eight players who competed at the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals will return to the season finale at The O2 again from 10-17 November. The Top 8 vote-getters, in order, were Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Kei Nishikori, Dominic Thiem and Marin Cilic.

Fans were provided with an opportunity to pick the eight players they believed would qualify for November’s Nitto ATP Finals by 31 March, with the opportunity to win the ultimate trip for two to London to attend this year’s season finale. Nearly 17,000 people participated, selecting more than 5,200 different combinations.

Top 8 Vote-Getters

Fans — more than 58 per cent of them to be exact — believe that reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, currently fourth in the ATP Race To London, will make his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals. The #NextGenATP Greek is trying to become the first player to compete in Milan one year and reach London the next.

The ‘Big Three’ of Djokovic, Nadal and Federer each received at least 94 per cent of fans’ backing to reach London. Between them, they have qualified for the year-end championships 35 times. Federer (6) and Djokovic (5) have captured the title in 11 of the past 16 years.

Despite his modest start to 2019, fans also feel that reigning champion Alexander Zverev, currently 22nd in the Race, will make it to The O2 to try to retain his crown. He received nearly 89 per cent of voters’ selections. Of the eight players whom fans picked to reach London, only five of the eight are currently in the Top 8 in the Race.

Federer leads the Race after the Miami Open presented by Itau for the third consecutive year, as he tries to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the 17th time.

Fans’ Most Popular Combination (351 picks): Kevin Anderson, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Kei Nishikori, Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev

Buy Your Tickets For The 2019 Nitto ATP Finals

Eight months ago, Bob Bryan’s future on the ATP Tour appeared in jeopardy when he underwent right hip replacement surgery. Nobody had come back from such an operation before. But three months into his comeback, on Saturday, Bob and twin Mike Bryan won the Miami Open presented by Itau.

Even Roger Federer has taken notice. When asked about the 40-year-old lefty after winning his own title in Miami on Sunday, the Swiss had nothing but praise for Bob.

“What Bob is doing is definitely I think inspiring for a lot of the players, even if it’s just doubles in the sense that it’s not as physical as the singles,” Federer said. “Nevertheless, he’s not just playing a little bit; he’s winning, and that is just beautiful to watch. I’m really happy for him.”

While the Bryan brothers have captured 118 tour-level doubles titles as a team, in singles, Bob climbed as high as No. 116 in the ATP Rankings in 2000. At 2001 Marseille, he actually played Federer in singles, falling short in a straight-sets defeat. Federer first competed in the Miami main draw in 1999. The only player from that draw who is still active: Bob Bryan.

“We go way back with Bob,” Federer said. “It’s great when they come back. I’m sure also Bob is a big inspiration for [Andy] Murray to come back. I hope that’s going to help Andy maybe finding a way back.”

Former World No. 1 Murray underwent the same surgery as Bryan after the Australian Open. Serbian Nenad Zimonjic returned from double hip replacement in February at the Sofia Open, and he is seeking the first match win of his own comeback.

“A doctor was cutting me open eight months ago and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to make it back on court,” said Bob. “To win this title is a dream and certainly wasn’t possible eight months ago. This is huge for us.”

While many have been impressed by Bob’s efforts, the journey hits nobody closer to home than Mike. The right-handed Bryan, playing with Jack Sock, won Wimbledon, the US Open and the Nitto ATP Finals last year. But there was never a doubt that he would join forces with his brother once again, when Bob was ready.

“Bob’s been through a lot on the couch. To have him back at full strength and winning here in Miami, [our] hometown, with all the friends and family support is unreal,” said Mike. “This is a special event for us and to defend it is amazing.”

It is unclear what the future may hold for former World No. 1 Andy Murray. But fans around the world will be happy about one thing: the Scot is hitting tennis balls again.

On Monday, Murray posted a video of himself hitting balls against a wall on his Instagram stories, just more than two months after he underwent hip resurfacing surgery on 28 January.

Where there’s a wall, there’s a way……… https://t.co/SrUch0ZAjz

— judy murray (@JudyMurray) April 1, 2019

“I think he will [return], [but] I think he’s aware it might not be possible,” Murray’s Mom, Judy Murray, told the Associated Press in February. “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’s most recent match came in the first round of the Australian Open, where he played inspired tennis to push Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut to five sets. While at the time he was undecided about whether or not he would undergo the surgery, Murray knew that the future was unclear. He has taken inspiration from watching Bob Bryan return to action, as the American underwent a similar surgery last August. Bryan and his twin, Mike Bryan, won the Miami Open presented by Itau.

“Having an operation like that, there’s absolutely no guarantees I’d be able to play again. I’m fully aware of that. It’s a really big operation. There’s no guarantees that you can come back from that,” Murray said after losing to Bautista Agut. “But there is the possibility, because guys have done it before. Bob Bryan is doing it just now. Some other athletes have given it a go. But, like I said, there’s no guarantees. That’s kind of the decision I have to make, that possibility of not having one more match by having the operation.”

After Britain’s parliament again rejected a Brexit deal to withdraw from the European Union on Monday, there was little to encourage House Speaker John Bercow. But there was one exception: a tennis match on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

“Nothing is won tonight. In what do I take comfort? Well, Roger Federer put on a majestic masterclass in Miami last night, so I’m happy about that,” Bercow said.

At least @rogerfederer is trying to put a smile on the faces of British politicians ?

?: @stu_fraser | #Brexit pic.twitter.com/CGKPNeO1qF

— ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) April 2, 2019

Federer defeated 2018 champion John Isner on Sunday to win his fourth Miami Open presented by Itau trophy, also his 28th ATP Masters 1000 title. It’s not the first time that Bercow has taken notice of Federer during these Brexit proceedings, though. He also used Federer to inject humour into the conversation in March.

“I always say the best thing about Switzerland is not its watches or its financial services or its chocolate. The best thing about Switzerland is Roger Federer,” Bercow said.

Another gem from the Speaker: During a discussion about UK-Swiss trade, John Bercow interjects to inform the House that ‘the best thing about Switzerland is Roger Federer’. pic.twitter.com/YMqnjeB1pD

— Philip Sime (@PhilipSime) March 14, 2019

Last year, with the help of the Speaker, the launch event for the Nitto ATP Finals was held at the Houses of Parliament.