Served 5 Setter
The WTA's major move, a meat-free tournament, the Marty Supreme effect and more.
Welcome to your weekly 5 Setter, an express roundup of all things racquet sports with Producer Mike. In this episode:
The WTA’s new blueprint
A vegetarian tournament
ATP stars in sarongs
Eala mania in Dubai
Table tennis’s Hollywood surge and Agassi’s Vegas gamble
Tiebreak Trivia
Click below to watch today’s 5 Setter on YouTube, and come back here for this week’s bonus stories.
Pegula Steps Up
Jessica Pegula was named this week to lead the WTA’s new 13-person Tour Architecture Council, a heavy-hitting group tasked with rethinking the calendar, ranking rules and player requirements to address burnout. While she’s busy reshaping the tour’s future, she and two fellow Americans are busy dominating its present.
For only the third time since the current WTA 1000 format began, three American women have reached the semifinals of a 1000-level event. Pegula is joined by Coco Gauff and Amanda Anisimova in the Dubai semifinals (along with Elina Svitolina).
For Gauff, the run is a sharp turnaround. She fell in the first round in Doha last week and committed a record number of double faults in her first two matches in Dubai. But she steadied in time, rolling past Alex Eala 6-0, 6-2 in the quarterfinals. Not bad for a week that started rocky. (Read More)
Menšík's Moment—and Sinner’s Rare Stumble
Jakub Menšík pulled off the biggest upset of his career Thursday in Doha, serving his way past world No. 2 Jannik Sinner 7-6, 2-6, 6-3 in the quarterfinals.
Worth noting: The last time we saw Menšík, he was withdrawing injured from his Australian Open quarterfinal against Djokovic.
Next up is a semifinal against Arthur Fils—and if he wins that, a possible final against Alcaraz, who has never lost to a player younger than himself. Menšík, born in 2005, is three years Alcaraz’s junior. Something to watch this weekend.
As for Sinner, it’s the first time in 18 months he lost before the final at back-to-back events. One telling detail: He actually won more points than Menšík. You don’t really beat Sinner so much as squeak past him.
The Italian isn’t sweating it.
🎤 Jannik Sinner
“I’ve had two incredible years and now I’m having a little downturn, but it’s not something that worries me.”
The ranking hit will be minimal, too. Sinner has no points to defend until Rome, since he was suspended last February.
How to Own-Goal in Tennis
Sometimes the cruelest moments in tennis aren’t the tight tiebreakers or the double faults on match point. Sometimes they’re the ones where you beat yourself.
In Rio de Janeiro this week, German Daniel Altmaier found himself in exactly that situation. Down a set and locked in a second-set tiebreak at 7-all against Dusan Lajovic, Altmaier ripped a gorgeous drop shot that would have given him set point and new life in the match. But convinced it wasn’t going to clear the net, he blurted out “Noooo!” while the ball was in the air.
It cleared the net. It also cost him the point.
His outburst was ruled a hindrance, gifting his opponent match point. Which he converted. Ouch doesn’t quite cover it.
Q&Andy Recap
Andy gets philosophical about chair umpires on this week’s Q&Andy. He walks fans through how to professionally argue with an umpire, weighs in on whether umpires need playing experience and shares his biggest pet peeve: umpires in loafers. There’s also a bladder-control discussion involving John Isner that you won't soon forget.
📮 Submit a question by emailing askandy@servedmediagroup.com or sending it through our website or social media.
Love All Recap
This week on Love All, Kim and Blair cover a packed week in women’s tennis, a revealing look at Ben Shelton’s off-court character, Karolina Muchova’s tactical resurgence, Victoria Mboko’s rise into the Top 10 and Destanee Aiava’s blistering take on the sport’s “toxic” culture.
Quick Hits
Learner Tien survived a match point to beat defending Delray Beach champion Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 and advance to the quarterfinals. (Tennis.com)
Veteran journalist Brett Phillips of The First Serve podcast reported that Craig Tiley will be announced as the new USTA CEO next week. (Ubi Tennis)
A limited-edition Marty Supreme table tennis table is now for sale. (GQ)
Carlos Alcaraz isn’t always smiling ⬇️
The Weekend Draw
WTA 1000 Dubai Tennis Championships
Dubai, UAE
Semifinals: Fri., Feb. 20
Final: Sat., Feb. 21
Doha, Qatar
Semifinals: Fri., Feb. 20
Final: Sat., Feb. 21
Delray Beach, Florida
Quarterfinals: Fri., Feb. 20
Semifinals: Sat., Feb. 21
Final: Sun., Feb. 22
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Quarterfinals: Fri., Feb. 20
Semifinals: Sat., Feb. 21
Final: Sun., Feb. 22
Full international WTA and ATP broadcast lists
Tiebreak Trivia
In today’s 5 Setter, we told you that Timothée Chalamet’s Marty Supreme has been nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor. If Chalamet wins, he will be the second-youngest Best Actor winner in Oscar history. The youngest famously kissed the woman who presented his trophy. Who is it?
Answer: Adrien Brody, who won Best Actor for The Pianist at age 29 in 2003. The kiss heard around the world was with presenter Halle Berry.
📝 We’ll be back Tuesday with a new episode. In the meantime, join us on Substack during the weekend’s biggest matches.
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