What Were Fans’ Favourite Stories In February?
What Were Fans’ Favourite Stories In February?
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 50th 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.