Served 5 Setter
Exquisite rants, Doha surprises and the future of wearable devices.
Welcome to your weekly 5 Setter, an express roundup of all things racquet sports with Producer Mike. In this episode:
Bublik and Medvedev rant through Rotterdam
JW’s scoop on the future of wearable devices in tennis
Padel’s growing pains
Injuries and upsets in Doha
Victoria Mboko’s giant week
Tiebreak Trivia
Click below to watch today’s 5 Setter on YouTube, and come back here for this week’s bonus stories.
Taylor Fritz, Good Sport
Remember when Taylor Fritz wore his “BOSS” headband upside down at the US Open last year, prompting this classic response?
This SSOB story continued to create tears of laughter at the Dallas Open when fans staged a prank on the No. 1 seed with the help of his clothing sponsor, Boss, which is also an official partner of the tournament. Fritz walked out to the court to the sight of fans wearing headbands—some backward—and our own Blair Henley flipped hers while interviewing Fritz after his win over Marcos Giron.
But if anyone manages to re-create his latest viral moment—an improvised behind-the-back volley, below—you have to let us know. (Read More)
Meddy Meltdowns: Rotterdam Edition
In today’s episode, Producer Mike fills you in on two mouthy moments in Rotterdam this week, courtesy of (who else?) Alexander Bublik and Daniil Medvedev. Check them out below if you haven’t yet.
We promised you Part 2 of the Medvedev saga—his conversation with the ATP supervisor. Check it out over at The Athletic.
As amusing as it is, Meddy might have a point about the balls. According to The Athletic, Alex de Minaur and Arthur Fils backed him up afterward. (Read More)
Golden Boy
February and March should be Joao Fonseca’s moment in the sun, but the Brazilian phenom is in danger of crashing out of this year’s Golden Swing.
Fonseca is a marquee attraction during the fan-favorite trio of clay-court tournaments in South America, named for Chile’s two gold medals in the 2004 Summer Olympics. Fonseca won his maiden ATP Tour title last year at the first stop, Buenos Aires.
But this week, Fonseca dropped his opening match in Buenos Aires to Alejandro Tabilo. He cited the expectations of the title defense more than his chronic back problem, but also said he wasn’t 100 percent physically.
“I certainly felt a bit more pressure. I felt tense from the beginning of the match. I was pissed off with my legs, which weren’t moving the way they needed to. My body wasn’t helping me hit the good shots I wanted.” —Joao Fonseca in his post-match press conference
Fonseca’s back kept him out of the first two tournaments of the year. For fans hoping to see him when the Golden Swing moves on to the Rio Open or Chile Open, or even the Miami Open next month, Fonseca’s form has to be a concern.
The 19-year-old is still winless in 2026. His only previous match was a first-round loss to Eliot Spizzirri at the Australian Open. (Read More)
Badminton’s Big Bird Problem
There’s only supposed to be one birdie on a badminton court, and it’s not supposed to make a mess.
Pigeons at a tournament in India last month broke the rule, complicating what the sport hopes is a badminton boom on the horizon.
This week, the World Badminton Federation announced host venues for its revamped World Tour calendar starting in 2027, part of a restructuring plan aimed at increasing the sport’s popularity worldwide. The changes include doubling the amount of live coverage internationally, expanding brackets and upgrading amenities for players.
They also reduce the number of tournaments in India, the sport’s traditional epicenter. The India Open in New Delhi was spared, though, retaining its 750 status and becoming a mandatory event. The problem is, some players aren’t happy about the conditions there.
Last month, world No. 3 Anders Antonsen was fined $5,000 for skipping the event, citing the city’s extreme pollution. Other players reported a different kind of filth—bird droppings on the court. Play was halted more than once to clean them up.
It’s safe to say that won’t fly when the BWF World Championships take place in New Delhi this summer. (Read More)
Q&Andy Recap
Andy answers fan questions every Thursday on Q&Andy. This week, he addresses his 2002 US Open classic versus Pete Sampras and the workout that makes him want to vomit just thinking about it.
📮 Submit a question by emailing askandy@servedmediagroup.com or sending it through our website or social media. Right now, hit us with your questions on umpires and match etiquette.
Love All Recap
On Love All this week, Kim Clijsters and Blair Henley talked to Ajla Tomljanovic, aka the last person to beat Serena Williams. Find out what the Australian thinks about the GOAT’s possible comeback, playing without regrets and the challenge of the modern game.
Quick Hits
Marin Cilic won 100% of his first-serve points—all 38 of them—in his win over Ethan Quinn in the Dallas Open yesterday.
The Qatar Open is the first WTA 1000 since August 2021 without either Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff or Jessica Pegula in the semifinals.
The Association of Pickleball Players debuted in Asia this week with the Kuala Lumpur Open, intensifying its rivalry with the sport’s premier sister tours, Major League Pickleball and the Pickleball Players Association. (Read More)
Jannik Sinner’s new bromance ⬇️
The Weekend Draw
Doha, Qatar
Semifinals: Fri., Feb. 13
Final: Sat., Feb. 14
Dallas, Texas
Semifinals: Sat., Feb. 14
Final: Sun., Feb. 15
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Semifinals: Sat., Feb. 14
Final: Sun., Feb. 15
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Semifinals: Sat., Feb. 14
Final: Sun., Feb. 15
Full international WTA and ATP broadcast lists
Tiebreak Trivia
In today’s 5 Setter, we told you that Iga Swiatek has reached the quarters in 61.9% of her WTA 1000 events, the highest percentage since 2009. Which Hall of Famer—whom she has never played—did she dethrone from the top spot?
Answer: Serena Williams. She reached the quarters of 61.2% of the WTA 1000s she played. (Source: OptaAce)
📝 We’ll be back Tuesday with a new episode. In the meantime, join us on Substack for our live Chattabouts during the weekend’s biggest matches.
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