The February streak continues with one big week on the tennis calendar. While the WTA plays a 1000-point tournament in Dubai, the ATP offers 500 and 250 pairs. Among those who take the court in Doha, Rio de Janeiro, or Delray Beach are Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Bublik, Daniil Medvedev, Francisco Cerundolo, Joao Fonseca, Casper, Frances Tifo, Taylor.
It’s time to break up another busy ATP week.
Qatar ExxonMobil Open
Where: Doha, Qatar
The face: It’s difficult
Points: 500
Prize moneyPrice: $2,833,335
Top seeds: Carlos Alcaraz
The defending champion: Andrey Rublev
Draw an analysis: Whenever Alcaraz and Sinner enter the same tournament, a head-to-head showdown seems inevitable – especially when neither of the top nine is ranked in the field. That’s the case in Doha, where world No. 10 Alexander Bublik is the third seed. No player has a more difficult draw. Alcaraz’s quarter is a week, so the reigning Australian Open champion should move into a semifinal against Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, or Stefanos Tsitsipas. Medvedev vs. Tsitsipas could be a match for the second round. Sinner faces a tough opener against Tomas Machac before meeting Jakub Mensik in the last eight and Bublik in the semis.
It’s hot: Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Bublik, Jaume Munar
It’s cold: Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexei Popyrin, Arthur Fils, Valentin Royer
Forecasts for the last quarter: Carlos Alcaraz over Jaume Munar, Stefanos Tsitsipas over Andrey Rublev, Alexander Bublik over Jenson Brooksby, and Jannik Sinner over Jakub Mensik
Semi-finalist: Alcaraz over Tsitsipas and Sinner over Bublik
Finally: Sinner over Alcaraz
The Rio Open
Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The face: Clay
Points: 500
Prize moneyCost: $2,469,450
Top seeds: Francisco Cerundolo
The defending champion: Sebastian Baez
Draw an analysis: It will once again be an absolute circus in Rio de Janeiro whenever Fonseca plays. Twelve months ago, the 19-year-old Brazilian was coming off the top in Buenos Aires – and that didn’t help him in Rio, where he lost to Alexandre Muller. Fonseca will be well rested this time after losing his opening match in Buenos Aires to Alejandro Tabilo. A good draw should also help, as the No. 3 seed will be heavily favored in his first two matches before facing either Matteo Berrettini or Lorenzo Sonego in the quarterfinals. Luciano Darderi and Sebastian Baez are on a collision course in the semis at the bottom of the bracket. At the top of this game, Cerundolo opens with his Argentine teammate Mariano Navone before he meets Muller or Tabilo in the last eight.
It’s hot: Luciano Darderi, Sebastian Baez
It’s cold: Matteo Berrettini, Daniel Altmaier, Mariano Navone, Cristian Garin
Forecasts for the last quarter: Francisco Cerundolo over Alexandre Muller, Lorenzo Sonego over Joao Fonseca, Sebastian Baez over Tomas Martin Etcheverry, and Luciano Darderi over Camilo Ugo Carabelli
Semi-finalist: Cerundolo over Sonego and Darderi over Baez
Finally: Darderi over Cerundolo
Delray Beach Open
WhereLocation: Delray Beach, Florida
The face: It’s difficult
Points: 250
Prize moneyPrice: $700,045
Top seeds: Taylor Fritz
The defending champion: Miomir Kecmanovic
Draw an analysis: Don’t sleep on Delray Beach just because it’s a 250 – it will undoubtedly go down as one of the best 250s of the year. Fritz, Ruud, and Tiafoe are joined in the deep field by Tommy Paul, Student Tien, Valentin Vacherot, Sebastian Korda, Alex Michelsen, and Marin Cilic. Korda, Michelsen, and Cilic are not even seeded. Look no further than the first round to appreciate the beauty of this painting. Games including Vacherot vs. Michelsen, Cilic vs. Brandon Nakashima, Paul vs. Corentin Moutet, Ethan Quinn vs. Rafael Jodar, and Eliot Spizzirri vs. Gabriel Diallo. Fritz vs. Paul and Tiafoe vs. Tien are possible quarterfinal matches, although Fritz’s participation should be in question following a long week in Dallas where he was already facing some physical problems.
It’s hot: Learner Tien, Valentin Vacherot, Nuno Borges, Ethan Quinn, Eliot Spizzirri, Rafael Jodar
It’s cold: Flavio Cobolli, Mackenzie McDonald, Gabriel Diallo, Mattia Bellucci
Forecasts for the last quarter: Tommy Paul over Ethan Quinn, Learner Tien over Frances Tiafoe, Nuno Borges over Terence Atmane, and Alex Michelsen over Casper Ruud
Semi-finalist: Paul over Tien and Michelsen over Borges
Finally: Paul over Michelsen
