GB's Pinnington Jones stuns world number 20 Cobolli
Great Britain’s Jack Pinnington Jones claims the biggest win of his career as he stuns world number 20 Flavio Cobolli at the Dallas Open.
Great Britain’s Jack Pinnington Jones claims the biggest win of his career as he stuns world number 20 Flavio Cobolli at the Dallas Open.
In a Nexo Dallas Open rubber match, Taylor Fritz used a late surge to defeat fellow American Marcos Giron in the opening round at the ATP 500. After the pair split two previous meetings at the event, Fritz prevailed Tuesday night, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(1), in his first action since the Australian Open.
The top seed in Dallas for the fourth time in five years, Fritz made his statistical superiority count by storming to a 6/0 lead in the deciding tie-break. He did not face a break point in the final set, while Giron saved all four against him in the decider, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
“I know it sounds crazy, because I didn’t break serve, but I think that whole third set is the best set of tennis I’ve returned,” Fritz said post-match. “From a returning serve standpoint, that’s the best returning set I’ve played in years, I think.”
Fritz’s victory continued his dominance in the opening round of hard-court events after posting a 13-0 mark on such occasions last season. The American also improved to 17-1 against players outside the Top 50 of the PIF ATP Rankings since June and 6-2 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Giron.
Long before the third-set tie-break, there were two flash points in the opening set, including a shot-of-the-year contender. Fritz came up with the gem when he went behind the back for a winner after a net cord appeared to leave him stranded. Fritz also required early treatment for a tweak in his leg, but he quickly recovered and said the issue was not related to his lingering knee tendinitis.
“The shot I hit is cool, but it’s honestly not that hard to hit,” Fritz said modestly. “It was good. It was one of those where it was actually the only option I had, because I was moving, my momentum, I was fully lunging to the down-the-line pass and then, off balance, it was kind of all I had. But yeah, it was a fun one.”
[ATP APP]Ben Shelton also earned a Tuesday win, with the second seed notching a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Gabriel Diallo. The American saved all three break points against him and improved to 10-1 in opening rounds since Wimbledon.
Marin Cilic earned his 600th tour-level win with a 7-5, 7-6(4) upset of sixth seed Learner Tien, joining Novak Djokovic as the only active players to reach that wins milestone. The victory also moved him past fellow Croatian Goran Ivanisevic, who ended his career on 599 tour-level wins.
Great Britain’s Jack Pinnington Jones also sprung an upset, beating fourth seed Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-2, while Alex Michelsen knocked off Grigor Dimitrov 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Marin Cilic celebrated his 600th tour-level win Tuesday at the Nexo Dallas Open, becoming just the second active player behind Novak Djokovic to reach the milestone.
In which victory did the former No. 3 player in the PIF ATP Rankings play his best tennis?
“I have to say, playing Roger [Federer] in the semis of the US Open was an unreal level. Also, Rafa [Nadal] at the Australian Open,” Cilic said. “A few of those matches were just something at the top.”
Cilic earned one of his two Lexus ATP Head2Head triumphs against Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals of the 2018 Australian Open. But the match the 21-time tour-level champion referenced first was his famous 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory against Roger Federer in the last four of the 2014 US Open.
Not only did Cilic never beat Federer again, but he took advantage of the opportunity he earned by beating Kei Nishikori for his lone major title.
“I would say that was one of the best connections I had in terms of both my skills, playing on the court, feeling the ball, feeling the conditions,” Cilic said. “And just also playing by instinct, being free, playing by the instinct and everything is flowing beautifully. That was just pure — just absolutely pure, pure tennis.”
Ironically, the match after Cilic’s victory against Learner Tien Tuesday in Dallas was between Alex Michelsen and Grigor Dimitrov. Michelsen’s coach, Kristof Vliegen, was Cilic’s opponent in his first ATP Tour match more than 20 years ago. Vliegen defeated Cilic 7-5, 6-2 in 2005 in Umag.
“I remember that I was feeling relaxed before the match. Everything was fine. And just preparing for the match, no nerves,” Cilic said. “But when we started the warm-up during the match and the announcer announced me in front of a packed stadium in Croatia, I got such a great welcome and a great applause there.
“My legs were gone. I wasn’t feeling my legs anymore.”
[NO 1 CLUB]Cilic vividly remembers the conditions that day in his home country, where he competed on the ATP Tour aged 16.
“We were playing in the brutal heat of Umag and I still remember that it was one of the most difficult days as a youngster,” Cilic said. “Finishing the first set, I was looking to the referee to get the medical and I couldn’t see him.
“Everything was black, so it was an interesting experience, but it was a beautiful one.”
Now 37, Cilic stands alone with Djokovic (1,168 wins) as the only active men with 600 tour-level wins. With the amount of respect he has for the Serbian, it makes the accomplishment even more special.
“Definitely, but he is too far ahead,” Cilic said, cracking a laugh. “It’s such a credit to the longevity we had in our careers and so many years on the Tour. We have had some great seasons.
“You have some difficult moments, going through many things. But the passion, the drive, the grit stays and that definitely has helped me to reach this milestone.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]The Qatar ExxonMobil Open is a hard-court ATP 500 in Doha, Qatar. The tournament will feature No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of the tournament in Doha.
The 2026 Qatar ExxonMobil Open will be held from 16-21 February. The hard-court ATP 500 tournament, established in 1993, will take place at Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in Doha, Qatar. The tournament director is Karim Alami.
The ATP 500 event in Doha will feature a stacked field of Top 10 stars including Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic, Auger-Aliassime and Alexander Bublik. Defending champion Andrey Rublev, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas will also compete.
The Qatar ExxonMobil Open draw will be made on-site on Saturday, 14 February at 2 p.m.
[NO 1 CLUB]*Qualifying: Saturday 14 February at 11 a.m. & Sunday 15 February at 1:30 p.m.
*Main Draw: Monday 16 February – Saturday 21 February
*Monday-Thursday sessions starting at 1:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
*Friday, Doubles final at 3 p.m. and Singles semi-finals at 7 p.m.
*Singles Final: Saturday, 21 February at 9 p.m.
View On Official Website
The prize money for the Qatar ExxonMobil Open is $2,833,335.
SINGLES
Winner: $529,945/500 points
Finalist: $285,095/330 points
Semi-finalist: $151,935/200 points
Quarter-finalist: $77,625/100 points
Second Round: $41,435/50 points
First Round: $22,095/0 points
DOUBLES ($ per team)
Winner: $174,050/500 points
Finalist: $92,820/300 points
Semi-finalist: $46,960/180 points
Quarter-finalist: $23,490/90 points
First Round: $12,150/0 points
Watch Live on Tennis TV
TV Schedule
Hashtag: #QatarTennisFederation
Facebook: Qatar Tennis
X: @QatarTennis
Instagram: @qatartennis
Andrey Rublev won the 2025 title with a 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 victory against Jack Draper in the championship match. Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool won the doubles trophy, defeating Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski 6-3, 6-2 in the final.
Watch highlights from the 2025 Singles final between Rublev and Draper:
Most Titles, Singles: Roger Federer (3)
Oldest Champion: Roberto Bautista Agut, 33, in 2022
Youngest Champion: Andy Murray, 20, in 2008
Highest-Ranked Champion: No. 1s Roger Federer in 2005-06, Rafael Nadal in 2014 and Novak Djokovic in 2016.
Lowest-Ranked Champion: No. 124 Rainer Schuettler in 1999
Last Home Champion: NA
Most Match Wins: Roger Federer (27)
View Who Is Playing, Past Champions, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Could this finally be the year Alex de Minaur breaks through at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam?
The top-seeded Australian was handed an immediate challenge in the form of heavy-hitting Arthur Fils on Tuesday, but he passed the test with a composed 7-6(3), 6-2 victory. After finishing runner-up at the indoor hard-court ATP 500 event in both 2024 and 2025, De Minaur wasted little time in reminding the field why he is the player to beat this week.
”It was never going to be easy. I told myself I was ready for a battle, up for the challenge, and excited for it,” De Minaur said of his clash with Fils, who was competing in his second tournament since returning from an eight-month back injury. “I haven’t had too many easy matches this year and I’m looking at this as a challenge, which I’m enjoying. It pushes me to be ready from the first point.”
De Minaur will next face Aleksandar Vukic or 2015 Rotterdam champion Stan Wawrinka, who is playing his final season on Tour. The No. 8 player in the PIF ATP Rankings also extended his lead for the most ATP 500 wins since the start of the 2023 season.
ATP 500 Win Leaders (since start of 2023 season)
| Player | Wins | Titles |
| Alex de Minaur | 49 | 3 |
| Carlos Alcaraz | 44 | 6 |
| Jannik Sinner | 43 | 6 |
| Alexander Zverev | 43 | 2 |
| Daniil Medvedev | 42 | 2 |
Earlier, seventh seed Tallon Griekspoor delighted his home crowd with a classy 6-4, 6-4 win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. With his 11th victory in Rotterdam, the 29-year-old tied Tom Okker for the fourth-most among Dutchmen in tournament history.
Griekspoor saved all six break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats, against Mpetshi Perricard and fired 10 aces. He will next meet Quentin Halys, who rallied past 18-year-old home qualifier Mees Rottgering 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 in one hour, 54 minutes.
[ATP APP]Jan-Lennard Struff surged past French qualifier Hugo Grenier 6-0, 6-4 in just 64 minutes to improve to 2-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. It marked Struff’s second tour-level win of the season after defeating Juan Pablo Varillas en route to Germany’s 4-0 Davis Cup victory over Peru. Struff awaits Hubert Hurkacz or third seed Alexander Bublik in the second round.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Marin Cilic’s 600th tour-level victory, which he earned against Learner Tien Tuesday at the Nexo Dallas Open, is a reflection of his consistency and longevity, qualities that have helped him earn a place among the modern greats. Across two decades on the ATP Tour, much of it spent competing in the ‘Big Three’ era, the Croatian has not only survived, but thrived.
Cilic, 37, is one of the sport’s fiercest competitors in the game, armed with equally imposing baseline firepower. At the same time, the 21-time tour-level titlist balances a quiet intensity with an easy smile and genuine kindness that resonates with players and fans alike.
Cilic boasts the second-most wins amongst active players, only behind Novak Djokovic (1,168 and counting). By capturing his 600th tour-level win, Cilic became the all-time winningest Croatian, surpassing former World No. 2 Goran Ivanisevic, who collected 599 tour-level victories throughout his illustrious career.
One of Cilic’s career highlights came in 2014 at the US Open, where he lifted his maiden major trophy. Cilic downed Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the final, just days after upsetting five-time champion Roger Federer in the semi-finals. That win marked Cilic’s lone victory against Federer in their 11 Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings.
“All my dreams came true,” Cilic said while reflecting on his Flushing Meadows triumph last August. “Coming [to the US Open] again always brings the goosebumps and always brings a little bit of a sensation of, ‘Can I do it again?’”
Most Tour-Level Wins (Active Players)
| Player | Wins |
| 1) Novak Djokovic | 1,168 |
| 2) Marin Cilic | 600 |
| 3) Stan Wawrinka | 586 |
| 4) Gael Monfils | 583 |
| 5) Alexander Zverev | 526 |
Cilic’s US Open triumph helped him qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time that season, a feat he accomplished again for three consecutive years from 2016-18. In 2016, Cilic won his first ATP Masters 1000 crown in Cincinnati. He reached the Wimbledon final in 2017 and the Australian Open championship match in 2018, falling to Federer on both occasions.
From 2009 to 2023, Cilic spent much of that time comfortably inside the Top 20 of the PIF ATP Rankings. Then, in January 2023 at the ATP 250 in Pune, Cilic suffered a torn lateral meniscus just before his quarter-final match. Cilic underwent the first surgery of his life and played just one additional tournament that season. Despite his tireless rehab efforts post-surgery, Cilic was not able to return to the level at which he hoped, opting for a second surgery in May 2024.
“I [was] reading through the whole internet and going through research, reading dozens and dozens, if not hundreds of researchers about knee surgeries, recovery, the methods, what to do, what not to do, how to train, what to train afterwards,” Cilic recalled last April.
Four months after his second surgery, Cilic made history. Days before his 36th birthday in September 2024, Cilic won the ATP 250 in Hangzhou as World No. 777, becoming the lowest-ranked champion in ATP Tour history (since 1990).
Beyond his achievements on the court, Cilic is one of the most respected players on Tour. A father to two sons, Cilic has also made an impact away from the court. In 2016, he launched the Marin Cilic Foundation.
“We do everything in our power to help kids in need, whether through scholarships, motivational speeches or by providing proper guidance to point them in the right direction,” Cilic said in 2022. “I hope for a world in which all children have an equal opportunity to reach their full potential.”
Despite its small size, Croatia has consistently produced world-class talent in professional tennis, including Cilic, Ivanisevic, former No. 3 Ivan Ljubicic, former No. 7 Mario Ancic, among others. Cilic’s achievement as the country’s all-time winningest player speaks to his remarkable longevity.
Cilic’s longtime friend Ivan Dodig, who reached a career-high No. 2 in the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings in 2023, has had a front-row seat to his journey.
“It’s just amazing. All his career is unbelievable,” said Dodig. “I’m super happy and proud for him. From the beginning, he broke the Top 100 at quite an early age, like as a teenager, and he stayed one of the best players in the world, achieved so many things in his career, winning so many ATP tournaments, a Grand Slam tournament.
“He’s achieved everything you can do in tennis. I’m happy for Marin [earning] his 600th win. Hopefully some more are coming. I’m sure he has the courage and motivation to play some more years.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]The International Tennis Hall of Fame has announced the 2026 Induction Celebration schedule of events. Roger Federer will be inducted in the Player Category and Mary Carillo will be inducted in the Contributor Category during the festivities from 27-29 August, 2026. Individual tickets for select events and full-weekend packages will be available for purchase starting 11 February at 10 a.m. EST.
The reimagined celebration, originally introduced in 2025, will return with three days of programming in Newport, R.I. The Hall of Fame Celebrity Pro Classic presented by Fidelity Investments returns on Friday, 28 August, featuring a doubles appearance by Federer alongside other tennis legends. New events include an all-new Red Carpet Pre-Show and Watch Party for fans ahead of the Induction Ceremony.
With tickets starting at $90, fans will enjoy a rare opportunity to watch Federer play on a surface where he achieved many of his greatest successes. More information about participants in the Hall of Fame Celebrity Pro Classic presented by Fidelity Investments will be announced in the coming months.
For the first time in 2026, fans can also secure their spot for an exclusive Red Carpet Pre-Show where Federer, Carillo and additional Hall of Famers will make special appearances just ahead of the 2026 Induction Ceremony. Tickets to the Red Carpet Pre-Show also include access to the Induction Watch Party, allowing fans to view the ceremony together on the big screen at the stadium court on the grounds of the Hall of Fame.
Additionally, the three-day celebration in Newport will bring back existing programming like Courting Fashion, a cocktail evening hosted at the iconic Marble House mansion, and the Fit for Fame Blazer Presentation dinner. Fame Fest will take over the Hall of Fame’s grounds where fans can enjoy engaging tennis experiences, live podcast recordings, food trucks and more. The celebrations will also kick off with the return of The Tennis Wave, a pop-up tennis court at Bowen’s Wharf with appearances from Hall of Famers.
Individual tickets for the 2026 Induction Celebration’s Red Carpet Pre-Show and Watch Party, Hall of Fame Celebrity Pro Classic presented by Fidelity Investments and Courting Fashion will go on sale on Wednesday, February 11, at 10 a.m. EST. Fans looking for a more robust Induction Celebration experience can choose from various ticket packages, which range from access to the weekend’s programming and the Induction Ceremony in Horseshoe Court, to VIP access and seating to the weekend’s events and a 3-night stay at a premium Newport hotel. Further details, full schedule and pricing for a la carte tickets and packages can be found at tennisfame.com/induction.
[NO 1 CLUB] About the International Tennis Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) is a non-profit organization that preserves the history of tennis and celebrates its champions to inspire excellence across generations globally. Induction into the Hall of Fame is the Ultimate Honor in Tennis, and to date has been presented to 270 Hall of Famers representing 28 nations. Located in Newport, Rhode Island in the United States, the Hall of Fame honors these legends and chronicles the sport’s history in an interactive museum, digital experiences and global programming. For more information on the International Tennis Hall of Fame, visit tennisfame.com.
Sebastian Korda gained his 150th tour-level win and a measure of revenge with a crisp opening performance Monday night at the Nexo Dallas Open.
Three weeks after losing to Michael Zheng at the Australian Open, Korda beat the Columbia University star 6-3, 6-4 to open his campaign at the ATP 500 event. The victory continued Korda’s recent success on home soil after his run to the final at an ATP Challenger Tour event in San Diego one week ago.
Now 150-100 at tour-level, Korda is the sixth man born in 2000s to reach the 150-wins mark.
Korda lost just one point on first serve against Zheng, according to Infosys ATP Stats, winning 29 of 30 points behind his first delivery. He saved the only break point he faced, which came as he served out the opening set. Korda’s victory drew the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series level at 1-1 after Zheng picked up his first tour-level win in their Aussie Open meeting.
Men’s Tour-Level Wins Leaders (Born since 2000)
| Player | Born | W-L |
| Sinner | 2001 | 326-87 |
| Alcaraz | 2003 | 287-65 |
| Auger-Aliassime | 2000 | 270-173 |
| Musetti | 2002 | 184-135 |
| Rune | 2003 | 175-107 |
| Korda | 2000 | 150-100 |
Eighth seed Frances Tiafoe also advanced Monday with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 result against Terence Atmane. Now a perfect 4-0 in Dallas, Tiafoe is seeking the biggest title of his career this week after reaching previous ATP 500 finals in Vienna (2021) and Tokyo (2022).
“It was kind of nice to get through that. Probably a year ago, last season, I’d lose a lot of those types of matches,” said Tiafoe, who was competing for the first time since the Australian Open. “To be able to not hit the panic button and keep going, trust my legs… I feel like I’m in great shape, so I can run and be tough out there.”
[ATP APP]Brandon Nakashima also advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 win against Mattea Bellucci, but third seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina prevented an American sweep on the day with his 6-4, 7-6(1) result against qualifier Zachary Svajda. The Spaniard is through to the Dallas second round for the second straight year; the No. 14 in the PIF ATP Rankings is seeking his first ATP Tour title and his second indoor final after reaching the Basel title match last October.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]After posting on Instagram about his search for a Nexo Dallas Open doubles partner, Ben Shelton said he received “100s of DMs” from potential teammates. After an opening win Monday, it seems he made the right choice in pairing with countryman Aleksandar Kovacevic for his first competitive action since his Australian Open singles quarter-final run.
On centre court, the American duo earned a 5-7, 7-6(3), 10-3 win against Bulgarians Grigor Dimitrov and Georgi Georgiev, the latter a current college player at nearby Southern Methodist University.
Despite missing out on both of their break chances in the match, according to Infosys ATP Stats, Kovacevic and Shelton rose to the occasion in the two tie-breaks to advance. They won the second-set tie-break by claiming its first point against serve at 6/5, then raced to an 8/0 lead in the Match Tie-break. The Americans fired 18 aces in the match, including one from Kovacevic on match point, and won 88 per cent (49/46) of their first-serve points.
Kovacevic and Shelton await either third-seeded Frenchmen Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul or American qualifier Tyler Hilderbrand and Mac Kiger in the quarter-finals.
In the only other doubles match played so far this week in Dallas, Evan King and John Peers saved two match points to upset fourth-seeded Americans Robert Cash and James Tracy 7-6(1), 3-6, 11-9.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Tomas Martin Etcheverry made a winning start on his return to the IEB+ Argentina Open on Monday.
The Argentine, competing in the main draw in Buenos Aires for the fifth consecutive time, earned a 6-3, 6-4 win over Italian qualifier Andrea Pellegrino.
“It was an incredible match. Playing here in Buenos Aires in front of my people is super special,” he said. “I have a different energy when I play here and I’m super happy to get the first victory. I am looking forward for a long week here.
In his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting against Pellegrino, Etcheverry produced a dominant serving display. He fired seven aces and won 85 per cent (29/34) of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, sailing to victory in one hour and 38 minutes.
The two-time quarter-finalist will next face Laslo Djere or fellow Argentine Roman Andres Burruchaga.
In other action on the opening day of the tournament, 2025 semi-finalist Pedro Martinez cruised past Argentine qualifier Lautaro Midon 6-4, 6-1, earning his 50th tour-level clay-court win. The Spaniard saved 80 per cent (4/5) of the break points he faced.
Watch Highlights from Martinez vs. Midon:
Hugo Dellien set a second-round clash with top seed Francisco Cerundolo after defeating Damir Dzumhur 6-4, 6-1. The victory marked Dellien’s first tour-level win since defeating Thiago Seyboth Wild at the Masters 1000 event in Rome last May.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]