Andrey Rublev and Jiri Vesely both had to win final set tiebreakers Friday to reach the final in Dubai.

Vesely followed up his stunning win over Novak Djokovic with another big upset knocking out Denis Shapovalov 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 7-6(3) in 3 hours, 12 minutes.

Vesely won the first three games of the match, but dropped the opener. The second and third sets were break-less, but both saved break chances.

Vesely held it …

Alexander Zverev has been given a fine of $40,000 for his attack on an umpire chair and the verbal abuse that followed toward umpire Alessandro Germani Tuesday night during a doubles match in Acapulco.

Zverev, who was defending his 2021 title, also loses all his points and prize money ($31K) from the event, which were not much at the time.

The German was fined $20K for verbal abuse and another $20K …

Daniil Medvedev has already clinched the No. 1 ranking coming Monday, but he has more work to do. Specifically, he wants revenge on Rafael Nadal for a historic Australian Open collapse last month.

Medvedev, who solidified No. 1 after Novak Djokovic’s shock defeat in Dubai, cruised into the semifinals with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Yoshihito Nishioka.

Medvedev knew his No. 1 fate prior to the match.

“The first goal for …

Dubai champion Jelena Ostapenko continued to stay in form, racking up her 9th straight win toppling fellow French winner Garbine Muguruza 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the Doha quarterfinals.

It’s Ostapenko’s second straight win over French champion after upending Barbora Krejcikova also in straight sets a round earlier.

“I knew it was going to be a tough match against her,” Ostapenko said after. “But I really knew I also have to be …

For the first time in over 18 years, a non-Big 4 will sit atop the ATP rankings come this Monday. Daniil Medvedev will assume the role after Novak Djokovic suffered a shock loss today in Dubai, falling to Jiri Vesely 6-4, 7-6(4) in just under two hours.

Vesely has just one win in his last 10 tour-level matches coming into Dubai, but the Czech lefty got some momentum through qualifying, then …

With Alexander Zverev defaulted from Acapulco, the tournament still has plenty of star power, and tonight that will be on full displayer with Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas all playing in succession.

Nadal opened play last night keeping his 2022 record perfect with a comfortable win over lucky loser Denis Kudla 6-3, 6-2.

“It has been a positive match. I think I started playing well, a good victory in …

A reminder that Alexander Zverev is currently under investigation for violently attacking a former girlfriend. Now, he’ll be under investigation for violently attacking an umpire chair and intimidating an umpire.

Last night in Acapulco in a doubles match with good friend Marcelo Melo, Zverev slammed his racquet into the umpire chair — narrowly missing the umpire’s feet — and then verbally assaulted the chair umpire following a loss.

The tournament has …

Speaking yesterday after his first match of 2022, Novak Djokovic admitted that he had no interest in watching the Rafael Nadal’s incredible Australian Open final win over Daniil Medvedev or the event as a whole following his deportation.

But with others in his house watching, he had no choice.

“I wasn’t enjoying watching the tournament knowing that I’m not able to be there. So the finals, I was trying not …

Due to vaccine requirements, Novak Djokovic said yesterday in Dubai that he will not be playing the March Masters events at Indian Wells and Miami.

Following his first win of 2022, Djokovic confirmed he will miss the first two Masters events unless something changes quickly.

“As of today, not,” Djokovic said of going to the U.S. “I can’t go, can’t enter United States. As of today I’m not able to play. But …

Novak Djokovic got his 2022 season off to a positive start rolling past Italian teen Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-3 in the first round at Dubai.

The 5-time champion Djokovic saved all seven break points he faced.

“I’m very pleased with the way I managed to hold my nerves I think in the crucial moments when I was facing break points, found the right serve,” said Djokovic. “I know I can always do …

Jenson Brooksby doesn’t overpower you, he just keeps tracking balls and getting them back, and that’s what he did last night against Alexander Zverev at the ATP event in Acapulco. But it was the German coming through from a set down in 3 hours, 18 minutes 3-6, 7-6(10), 6-2 in a match that ended at 4:55am, making it the latest finish ever to a pro tennis match.

“Right now I’m happy …

Novak Djokovic met the media in Dubai yesterday, and the questions linger over his positive COVID test result in December which allowed him to travel to Australia.

There are time stamp issues, quarantine issues and timeline issues with his test results, all which Djokovic has either apologized for or sidestepped. He continued to dance in Dubai.

“I’m not in a position to understand how these tests are being processed and registered,” he …

Novak Djokovic will play his first match this week in Dubai. The world No. 1 missed January after famously getting deported from Australia but with less restrictions in the U.A.E., he’s able to open his 2022 season in Dubai.

Yesterday, the 5-time tournament champion met the media, first saying he was excited to get back on court.

“I’m excited,” Djokovic said. “I haven’t played a match since Davis Cup in Spain …

Cameron Norrie kept his cool when he needed to the most against American big man Reilly Opelka. The lefty stayed mentally tough to win two tiebreakers and capture the Delray Beach title over Opelka 7-6(1), 7-6(4).

“I thought I played a very clean match,” said Norrie. “I didn’t face a break point so that was great. I was happy with the way I played and obviously with the result.

“The tiebreaks I …

Carlos Alcaraz continued his quick ascent up the ATP ladder claiming his second and biggest career title to date by taking Rio over clay stud Diego Schwartzman 6-4, 6-2.

Just 18, Alcaraz is the youngest to win a 500 event since the level was established in 2009.

“I can’t believe it, honestly. It has been a great week for me playing a great level,” Alcaraz told the crowd. “First tournament on clay …