Amanda Anisimova ended Mirra Andreeva's title defense at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in the quarterfinals, coming through a nailbiter in a third-set tiebreak. She will face Jessica Pegula, who defeated last year's finalist Clara Tauson in three sets, in an all-American semifinal. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva's Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title defense 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) in a quarterfinal thriller, holding off a late charge from 5-3 down in the third set by the 18-year-old to convert her fourth match point after 2 hours and 38 minutes. 4 seed Jessica Pegula in an all-American semifinal, a reprise of last month's Australian Open quarterfinal tilt. 12 seed and last year's runner-up Clara Tauson 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to reach her seventh consecutive semifinal on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz, a streak that stretches back to last year's US Open. "It was such a tough battle, and I thought we played incredible tennis," Anisimova continued. "Seeing Mirra down like that, it's understandable. We both fought so hard today, and it made me emotional seeing her like that. She was playing so well, she's the defending champion and I feel like we both won on the court today. These type of matches, it's always tough that someone has to lose at the end of the day." "It's not easy to see someone that gives their all and then to react like that," she said. "It made me really sad for her. In my mind, I was just thinking if she keeps playing like this, there's a title around the corner for her. Obviously she's going to have a great year. She seems to be doing all the right things." Anisimova's victory was her first Top 10 win of 2026, and marks the first time she has reached a semifinal since the 2025 WTA Finals Riyadh. Last year, she ended Andreeva's 13-match winning streak 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3 in the Miami third round. Pegula has dominated their head-to-head so far with a perfect 4-0 record, including a 6-2, 7-6(1) win in Melbourne last month. Setting the stage for a third-set tug-of-war: As Andreeva advanced to a 6-2, 2-0 lead, the teenager's tactics and execution were both spot on. But with two points to go up a 3-0 double break, Andreeva threw in a pair of her own errors -- and a rejuvenated Anisimova cleaned up her accuracy to reel off five straight games and lead 5-2. Andreeva managed to rediscover her first-set form to level at 5-5, but lapsed into error again in the final game of the set. Anisimova expands her game to pull ahead: But getting tied up in that exchange seemed to only spur Anisimova on. She found her best sequence of no-holds-barred power hitting in response, and took five of the next seven games to lead 5-3. In this passage of play, Anisimova's willingness to come forwards proved crucial -- and she also pulled off a hot shot of her own, a one-handed backhand flick to finish a cat-and-mouse placement battle in the sixth game. Most impressively, Anisimova's adjustments were made on the fly. Net play had not been part of her advance strategy. "Before the match that wasn't really something in my mind," she said. "But as the match went on, she gets to every single ball. "It's something I've also tried to get better at and improve in. We were both trying to play really aggressive. With Anisimova serving at 5-3, Andreeva saved a match point by drawing the error with a short forehand slice. "When it was 5-5 I was like, damn, I had a match point at 5-3," Anisimova recalled in her press conference. "It was just a flying thought in my mind. I think Coco [Gauff] also saved a few match points last night. I ended up coming to watch that match in the end. I feel like the tennis here has been sort of a rollercoaster. That's also what makes this sport so enjoyable to watch. Embracing the wild shifts made possible by tennis's scoring system, Anisimova made one last charge -- and victory ultimately came down to her ability to tee off on the Andreeva second serve. Amanda Anisimova ended Mirra Andreeva's title defense at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in the quarterfinals, coming through a nailbiter in a third-set tiebreak. She will face Jessica Pegula, who defeated last year's finalist Clara Tauson in three sets, in an all-American semifinal.

Listen or stream this week's jam-packed episode now.ByEd McGroganPublished Feb 18, 2026 copy_link Episode 7 of The Big T, a Tennis Channel podcast, is now available to listen on your favorite streaming platforms—click here for the latest drop.You can also watch specific segments and bonus content from every episode on the Tennis Channel app—click here and start digging in!On this week's episode, which for the first time featured three of our hosts in one room… You can also watch specific segments and bonus content from every episode on the Tennis Channel app—click here and start digging in!On this week's episode, which for the first time featured three of our hosts in one room… On this week's episode, which for the first time featured three of our hosts in one room… What do Petra Kvitova and Barbora Krejcikova have in common? Two things, as many tennis fans know: they're both Czech, and they've both won two Grand Slam singles titles.But they shouldn't be the only active Czech ladies with that designation, according to Brad Gilbert.“I feel like she's the biggest ‘What if?' But the surging Canadian teen—who had defeated Mirra Andreeva and Elana Rybakina just to reach the semifinals—couldn't handle Muchova's signature blend of all-court craftsmanship in the title bout.Yet despite having reached three Grand Slam semifinals, ascended as high as No. 8 in the world and posted a 338-163 win-loss record, this was just Muchova's second WTA-level title of any sort, and her first since 2019!I feel like she's the biggest ‘What if?' Brad Gilbert on Karolina MuchovaCoco Vandeweghe heard Gilbert out, but offered another Muchova comp: Ash Barty.Karolina “really disrupts the big power game…we haven't seen for at least a good eight years now, since Ash retired.”Muchova's biggest problem has always been health. And who do you think will have a better year: Muchova, or Mboko? But they shouldn't be the only active Czech ladies with that designation, according to Brad Gilbert.“I feel like she's the biggest ‘What if?' But the surging Canadian teen—who had defeated Mirra Andreeva and Elana Rybakina just to reach the semifinals—couldn't handle Muchova's signature blend of all-court craftsmanship in the title bout.Yet despite having reached three Grand Slam semifinals, ascended as high as No. 8 in the world and posted a 338-163 win-loss record, this was just Muchova's second WTA-level title of any sort, and her first since 2019!I feel like she's the biggest ‘What if?' Brad Gilbert on Karolina MuchovaCoco Vandeweghe heard Gilbert out, but offered another Muchova comp: Ash Barty.Karolina “really disrupts the big power game…we haven't seen for at least a good eight years now, since Ash retired.”Muchova's biggest problem has always been health. And who do you think will have a better year: Muchova, or Mboko? But the surging Canadian teen—who had defeated Mirra Andreeva and Elana Rybakina just to reach the semifinals—couldn't handle Muchova's signature blend of all-court craftsmanship in the title bout.Yet despite having reached three Grand Slam semifinals, ascended as high as No. 8 in the world and posted a 338-163 win-loss record, this was just Muchova's second WTA-level title of any sort, and her first since 2019!I feel like she's the biggest ‘What if?' Brad Gilbert on Karolina MuchovaCoco Vandeweghe heard Gilbert out, but offered another Muchova comp: Ash Barty.Karolina “really disrupts the big power game…we haven't seen for at least a good eight years now, since Ash retired.”Muchova's biggest problem has always been health. And who do you think will have a better year: Muchova, or Mboko? But the surging Canadian teen—who had defeated Mirra Andreeva and Elana Rybakina just to reach the semifinals—couldn't handle Muchova's signature blend of all-court craftsmanship in the title bout.Yet despite having reached three Grand Slam semifinals, ascended as high as No. 8 in the world and posted a 338-163 win-loss record, this was just Muchova's second WTA-level title of any sort, and her first since 2019!I feel like she's the biggest ‘What if?' Brad Gilbert on Karolina MuchovaCoco Vandeweghe heard Gilbert out, but offered another Muchova comp: Ash Barty.Karolina “really disrupts the big power game…we haven't seen for at least a good eight years now, since Ash retired.”Muchova's biggest problem has always been health. And who do you think will have a better year: Muchova, or Mboko? 8 in the world and posted a 338-163 win-loss record, this was just Muchova's second WTA-level title of any sort, and her first since 2019!I feel like she's the biggest ‘What if?' Brad Gilbert on Karolina MuchovaCoco Vandeweghe heard Gilbert out, but offered another Muchova comp: Ash Barty.Karolina “really disrupts the big power game…we haven't seen for at least a good eight years now, since Ash retired.”Muchova's biggest problem has always been health. And who do you think will have a better year: Muchova, or Mboko? Coco Vandeweghe heard Gilbert out, but offered another Muchova comp: Ash Barty.Karolina “really disrupts the big power game…we haven't seen for at least a good eight years now, since Ash retired.”Muchova's biggest problem has always been health. And who do you think will have a better year: Muchova, or Mboko? Karolina “really disrupts the big power game…we haven't seen for at least a good eight years now, since Ash retired.”Muchova's biggest problem has always been health. And who do you think will have a better year: Muchova, or Mboko? And who do you think will have a better year: Muchova, or Mboko? 2 seed:Dallas: (1) Taylor Fritz vs. (2) Ben SheltonRotterdam: (1) Alex de Minaur vs. (2) Felix Auger-AlassimeBuenos Aires: (1) Francisco Cerundolo vs. (2) Luciano DarderiFrom an American perspective, at least, the highlight was Fritz vs. Shelton, which Andrea Petkovic lauded—especially their final set.“It was exciting, the quality was great, the men were moving incredibly well,” she said. Fritz had three match points, but couldn't capitalize on any. They were all on Shelton's serve—and to Fritz's credit, he returned each one and engaged in a rally—but painfully came up short.“When you get a tournament win like that,” said Gilbert of Shelton, “the next place that you go to…you get in a same situation, I'm going to find another win.”WATCH: Should Fritz, playing through injury, take some time off? “When you get a tournament win like that,” said Gilbert of Shelton, “the next place that you go to…you get in a same situation, I'm going to find another win.”WATCH: Should Fritz, playing through injury, take some time off? WATCH: Should Fritz, playing through injury, take some time off? Taylor Fritz pushed Ben Shelton to the limit, but at what cost? The Big T's favorite game show, Bank or Shank? returned, with each of the hosts giving their proverbial thumbs up or thumbs down to a tennis hypothetical.First statement: There is too much clay on the tennis calendar.Shank, said Petkovic.Safe to say that Coco disagreed: First statement: There is too much clay on the tennis calendar.Shank, said Petkovic.Safe to say that Coco disagreed: Some other topics for the hosts:👉 Vickie Mboko has a higher ceiling than Coco Gauff. (Watch here) 👉 Serena Williams will play a pro singles match this year.And a follow-up question, from Petko to BG: How would you coach Serena? 👉 Vickie Mboko has a higher ceiling than Coco Gauff. (Watch here) 👉 Serena Williams will play a pro singles match this year.And a follow-up question, from Petko to BG: How would you coach Serena? And a follow-up question, from Petko to BG: How would you coach Serena? “They need to look at that.”Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek (neither of whom retired last week) aren't playing this week in Dubai, a 1000-level tournament, nor are Doha finalists Muchova and Mboko. Everyone is seemingly looking for answers.“You blame the tours more than you blame the tournaments,” says Vandeweghe, noting that both tournaments were elevated to mandatory 1000s. While acknowledging the outsized length of the calendar, Gilbert also felt some players were retiring when they really didn't have to—and worse, playing shortly after.“There should be some sort of penalty for retiring, because you screwed the fans—you couldn't have been that bad, you played the next week,” said BG. “They need to look at that.”Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek (neither of whom retired last week) aren't playing this week in Dubai, a 1000-level tournament, nor are Doha finalists Muchova and Mboko. Everyone is seemingly looking for answers.“You blame the tours more than you blame the tournaments,” says Vandeweghe, noting that both tournaments were elevated to mandatory 1000s. “There should be some sort of penalty for retiring, because you screwed the fans—you couldn't have been that bad, you played the next week,” said BG. “They need to look at that.”Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek (neither of whom retired last week) aren't playing this week in Dubai, a 1000-level tournament, nor are Doha finalists Muchova and Mboko. Everyone is seemingly looking for answers.“You blame the tours more than you blame the tournaments,” says Vandeweghe, noting that both tournaments were elevated to mandatory 1000s. Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek (neither of whom retired last week) aren't playing this week in Dubai, a 1000-level tournament, nor are Doha finalists Muchova and Mboko. Everyone is seemingly looking for answers.“You blame the tours more than you blame the tournaments,” says Vandeweghe, noting that both tournaments were elevated to mandatory 1000s. “You blame the tours more than you blame the tournaments,” says Vandeweghe, noting that both tournaments were elevated to mandatory 1000s. Did you care who was in the chair for your matches?Good question, Lynn from Seattle. Email thebigt@tennischannel.com or call 844-678-BIGT🫖 Spilling the T: Code ViolationsThis week, we gave time for the hosts to get a few things off their chests. Email thebigt@tennischannel.com or call 844-678-BIGT🫖 Spilling the T: Code ViolationsThis week, we gave time for the hosts to get a few things off their chests. Email thebigt@tennischannel.com or call 844-678-BIGT🫖 Spilling the T: Code ViolationsThis week, we gave time for the hosts to get a few things off their chests. This week, we gave time for the hosts to get a few things off their chests. New episodes drop every Wednesday: Follow on your favorite platform for instant notifications:SpotifyAppleAmazonYouTubeiHeartPlus: Watch full episodes, individual segments and bonus content on the Tennis Channel app Plus: Watch full episodes, individual segments and bonus content on the Tennis Channel app

The Tour Architecture Council aims to deliver actionable changes as early as 2027 amid growing withdrawals and injuries.ByStephanie LivaudaisPublished Feb 19, 2026 copy_link 2 Iga Swiatek announced their withdrawal from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, the second of back-to-back WTA 1000 events in the Middle East.Their absence renewed the conversation around how sustainable the professional tennis calendar really is—a discussion that only grew louder after eight other players also pulled out of the draw citing injury, illness and schedule changes, while four more players, including top seed Elena Rybakina, retired mid-match in Dubai.Read More: Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek Dubai withdrawals signal 'strategic scheduling' from top playersThe WTA's top players are largely in agreement that the calendar needs an overhaul—and now a new council has been formed to begin addressing the issue head on.On Tuesday, WTA Chair Valerie Camillo announced the launch of the 13-person Tour Architecture Council, whose goal is to recommend “actionable improvements” that could be implemented as early as the 2027 season. Their absence renewed the conversation around how sustainable the professional tennis calendar really is—a discussion that only grew louder after eight other players also pulled out of the draw citing injury, illness and schedule changes, while four more players, including top seed Elena Rybakina, retired mid-match in Dubai.Read More: Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek Dubai withdrawals signal 'strategic scheduling' from top playersThe WTA's top players are largely in agreement that the calendar needs an overhaul—and now a new council has been formed to begin addressing the issue head on.On Tuesday, WTA Chair Valerie Camillo announced the launch of the 13-person Tour Architecture Council, whose goal is to recommend “actionable improvements” that could be implemented as early as the 2027 season. Read More: Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek Dubai withdrawals signal 'strategic scheduling' from top playersThe WTA's top players are largely in agreement that the calendar needs an overhaul—and now a new council has been formed to begin addressing the issue head on.On Tuesday, WTA Chair Valerie Camillo announced the launch of the 13-person Tour Architecture Council, whose goal is to recommend “actionable improvements” that could be implemented as early as the 2027 season. On Tuesday, WTA Chair Valerie Camillo announced the launch of the 13-person Tour Architecture Council, whose goal is to recommend “actionable improvements” that could be implemented as early as the 2027 season. Read More: GI Illness forces Elena Rybakina to retire in Dubai, as lucky loser Antonia Ruzic advances“It's important we take a fresh, collaborative look at how to best preserve the high-quality competition that builds value for tournaments and provides an unparalleled experience for fans,” Camillo wrote in a letter addressed to players and tournament partners titled ‘A Stronger Framework for Women's Tennis. “It's important we take a fresh, collaborative look at how to best preserve the high-quality competition that builds value for tournaments and provides an unparalleled experience for fans,” Camillo wrote in a letter addressed to players and tournament partners titled ‘A Stronger Framework for Women's Tennis. It is made up of players from around the world, leaders from tournaments across the Americas, Europe and Asia, as well as WTA senior leadership—including Camillo and WTA CEO Portia Archer—and experts in Tour operations.The Council will be chaired by world No. “I think at some point in the year, if you do have a few good results, some weeks unfortunately do become a little bit of a sacrifice if you're thinking long term. The Council will be chaired by world No. “I think at some point in the year, if you do have a few good results, some weeks unfortunately do become a little bit of a sacrifice if you're thinking long term. “I think at some point in the year, if you do have a few good results, some weeks unfortunately do become a little bit of a sacrifice if you're thinking long term. “I know that the schedule is very tough, and it's not easy,” she told The National's Reem Abulleil. “I think at some point in the year, if you do have a few good results, some weeks unfortunately do become a little bit of a sacrifice if you're thinking long term. 3 Elena Rybakina to retire against lucky loser Ruzic in Dubai.© 2026 Getty Images "And I think right now we're living in an age where the priority is always staying healthy mentally and physically, and you never know where a player is at with that.“Even if they've been winning matches, you don't know if they've been dealing with an injury throughout that whole time or not. And that's where you see people, especially top players, be a little bit more choosy with that schedule until maybe it changes in the future.”The first order of business for the Council will be to focus on areas where the WTA has direct authority—for example, not the Grand Slams, which the WTA does not govern—while also identifying longer-term opportunities that will require broader coordination across the sport.Other player representatives on the Tour Architecture Council include Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sakkari, Katie Volynets and Anja Vreg, while tournament representatives include Bob Moran, Laura Ceccarelli and Alastair Garland. “Even if they've been winning matches, you don't know if they've been dealing with an injury throughout that whole time or not. And that's where you see people, especially top players, be a little bit more choosy with that schedule until maybe it changes in the future.”The first order of business for the Council will be to focus on areas where the WTA has direct authority—for example, not the Grand Slams, which the WTA does not govern—while also identifying longer-term opportunities that will require broader coordination across the sport.Other player representatives on the Tour Architecture Council include Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sakkari, Katie Volynets and Anja Vreg, while tournament representatives include Bob Moran, Laura Ceccarelli and Alastair Garland. Other player representatives on the Tour Architecture Council include Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sakkari, Katie Volynets and Anja Vreg, while tournament representatives include Bob Moran, Laura Ceccarelli and Alastair Garland.

Flavio Cobolli, feeling like a superhero at the Delray Beach Open. Cobolli, who overcame Terence Atmane 7-5, 6-4, was quick to attribute his victory to the distinctive green character now inked into his right leg: The Hulk. "I feel like Hulk on the court now" 🤣💪🦸‍♂️ Italian superhero @cobollifla has a new tattoo to share...#DBOpen | 📍Delray Beach pic.twitter.com/mCCda4gmim Cobolli's shirt-shredding celebration that inspired the tattoo came after he saved seven match points and won a 32-point deciding-set tie-break to overcome Zizou Bergs and seal Italy a spot in November's Davis Cup Final, which the European country subsequently won. He showcased that sort of on-court grit again against Atmane on Wednesday by bouncing back from four consecutive defeats to set a quarter-final meeting with Coleman Wong, who defeated Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 7-6(4). “It's my first win [for a while], so I'm really happy to be in the middle of the court,” said Cobolli after levelling his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Atmane at 1-1. “It was tough, the beginning of the year, but now I'm really happy to be here at this fantastic tournament. I lost to him last time with a great battle in Cincinnati. I practised well this week and felt comfortable staying on the court for a long time. In other action, second seed Casper Ruud fought off a stern test from Marcos Giron, defeating the American 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4. Giron will rue being two points from victory at 6/6 in the second-set tie-break. Ruud is making his first appearance at the ATP 250 in Delray Beach, where the Norwegian arrived just weeks after he and his fiancée Maria welcomed the birth of their first child, a daughter.You May Also Like: Ruud, new father, returns ‘to win matches and see if I can play for more than myself' Korda defeated countryman Alex Michelsen 6-3, 7-6(6), saving four set points in the second set to avoid a decider and reach the last eight. The 25-year-old broke Michelsen at 4-5 in the second set, crucially getting back on serve after facing three set points in that game. Korda fended off another set point on return at 5/6 in the tie-break. 50 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, is the second man to reach three tour-level quarter-finals this season, alongside Ben Shelton. Ruud is making his first appearance at the ATP 250 in Delray Beach, where the Norwegian arrived just weeks after he and his fiancée Maria welcomed the birth of their first child, a daughter. You May Also Like: Ruud, new father, returns ‘to win matches and see if I can play for more than myself' Korda defeated countryman Alex Michelsen 6-3, 7-6(6), saving four set points in the second set to avoid a decider and reach the last eight. The 25-year-old broke Michelsen at 4-5 in the second set, crucially getting back on serve after facing three set points in that game. Korda fended off another set point on return at 5/6 in the tie-break. 50 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, is the second man to reach three tour-level quarter-finals this season, alongside Ben Shelton. Korda defeated countryman Alex Michelsen 6-3, 7-6(6), saving four set points in the second set to avoid a decider and reach the last eight. The 25-year-old broke Michelsen at 4-5 in the second set, crucially getting back on serve after facing three set points in that game. Korda fended off another set point on return at 5/6 in the tie-break. 50 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, is the second man to reach three tour-level quarter-finals this season, alongside Ben Shelton. Get official marketing communications from the ATP and WTA! No part of this site may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way or by any means (including photocopying, recording or storing it in any medium by electronic means), without the written permission of ATP Tour, Inc..

ATP 500 action returns to Mexico as Alexander Zverev and Alex de Minaur lead the field at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC in Acapulco. Here's what you need to know ahead of the tournament in Mexico: The 2026 Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC will be held from 23-28 February. The Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC will feature Alexander Zverev and Alex de Minaur. The Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC draw will be made on Saturday, 21 February at 3 p.m. Tomas Machac won the 2025 Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC title with a 7-6(6), 6-2 victory against Davidovich Fokina in the final. 129 Juan Ignacio Chela in 2000 Last Home Champion: None Most Match Wins: David Ferrer (32) View Who Is Playing, Past Champions, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown Get official marketing communications from the ATP and WTA! No part of this site may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way or by any means (including photocopying, recording or storing it in any medium by electronic means), without the written permission of ATP Tour, Inc..