Tick Tock Tennis

Fight to the Finish

Fresh off a run to the final in Beijing, Linda Noskova gets an immediate test in Wuhan.

The Czech goes the distance to defeat Yulia Putintseva, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6², and avoid an early out after her big breakthrough run.

Rune Recovers

Things got tricky in the 2nd set tiebreaker, but Holger Rune finds his way past Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, 6-4, 6-7⁷, 6-3, in Wuhan.

With the win, Rune moves into his 3rd quarterfinal at a hardcourt Masters 1000 this year, tying Ben Shelton for the most.

Better Than Nothin'

After going completely winless in Asia last year (and losing her only match so far this year), Liudmila Samsonova finally gets on the board in Wuhan.

A former runner-up in Beijing and winner in Tokyo, the 26yo gets her groove back with a win over Emiliana Arango, 6-1, 7-5.

Playing the Numbers

The points from her back-to-back finals last September have come and gone, and Rebecca Sramkova is still firmly lodged in the top 100.

With points from ANOTHER final about to drop off later this month, the Slovakian picks up a nice chunk of points in Wuhan.

Year Over Year

Despite missing pretty much the entire claycourt season this year, Karolina Muchova looks on track to finish 2025 ranked higher than 2024.

And 2024 was pretty great for the Czech!

Muchova rallies past Marta Kostyuk, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, to add points in Wuhan.

The Long Shot

Naomi Osaka still has a mathematical chance to make the field at the WTA Finals this year.

But, she can't get there unless she reaches the final in Wuhan. (And wins her 3 other events.)

The 4-time slam champ keeps hope alive with a comeback win over Leylah Fernandez, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Deja Wu...han

For the 2nd year in a row, Zhang Shuai plays a key role in denying Emma Navarro a shot at the WTA Finals.

After taking down Navarro in Beijing last year, Zhang does it again in Wuhan, winning 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, to reach the 2nd round and eliminate Navarro from Riyadh.

Cristian Revival!

Jaqueline Cristian adds her name to the list of come-from-behind upsets in Wuhan today.

The Romanian recovers after dropping a tight opening set, dominating McCartney Kessler from there on out, 6-7⁶, 6-0, 6-3.

🗣ZIZZOOOOUUUU!!

My favorite name in the game keeps pulling off the wins in Shanghai.

Zizou Bergs reaches his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal, fighting off two match points to defeat Gabriel Diallo, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6⁸.

Bergs has earned 8 of his 14 career Masters 1000 wins this year.

The Everyman - The Second Serve Since Alex de Minaur saved three championship points to beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the final of the Citi Open, leaving Foki’s heart cracked and dripping over the court, the 26-year-old Spania...

I wrote about Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who has been going through it in an endearingly mortal way for the last little while: www.thesecondserve.com/alejandro-da...

Tuesday content loading...

30 graphics ready to go!

IN ACTION:
Mirra Andreeva
Zizou Bergs
Gabriel Diallo
Novak Djokovic
Leylah Fernandez
Anna Kalinskaya
McCartney Kessler
Marta Kostyuk
Karolina Muchova
Emma Navarro
Linda Noskova
Naomi Osaka
Emma Raducanu
Holger Rune
Iga Swiatek

Ruzic Is Ready

You probably haven't heard a lot about Antonia Ruzic, but the Croatian has quietly had a breakout year.

With wins over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Anastasia Potapova, and now Magda Linette, the 22yo has moved up 110 spots in 2025, and is at #69 in the live rankings.

Tauson & Turnin' It Up

It's been a crazy year for Clara Tauson, who has finally gotten healthy and consistent enough to fulfill that incredible potential she's been hinting at since she was 17.

Now well inside the top 20, the Dane gets going in Wuhan, defeating Olga Danilovic, 6-3, 7-5.

Whack Him Again!

No. That Wimbledon win over Alexander Zverev was no fluke.

Because the Frenchman just did it again in Shanghai, disposing of the German, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, to reach the round of 16 and set himself up for a return to the top 50... back up to #49 in the live rankings.

Straight Fire

With the heat index approaching 120°F on court, the match had to be stopped in the 2nd set to close the roof.

Insanity.

When things resumed, Katerina Siniakova pulls through with a 6-4, 6-4 win over 15th seeded Diana Shnaider in Wuhan.

FAA Takes Flight

Felix Auger-Aliassime started the season with two titles in his first three ATP tournaments.

Still searching for his third trophy of the year, the Canadian powers into the 4th round in Shanghai with a scrappy 6-4, 7-5 win over Jesper de Jong.

Daria Kasatkina is wrapping up her 2025 season early to recharge after a tough year on and off the court.

Hoping she gets what she needs in her time off. 🫶

Demon Gets it Done

Alex de Minaur recovers from a 2nd set wobble to secure the win in Shanghai.

The #7 seed gets by Kamil Majchrzak, 6-1, 7-5, to reach the round of 16, and keep alive his hopes of making the lineup at the ATP Finals for the second straight year.

In case you were wondering how it's going in Wuhan right now, play was just suspended due to heat...

🌞🫠

Marie Momentum

With a title in Prague, a semifinal finish in Monterrey, and a 4th round run last week in Beijing, Marie Bouzkova comes into Wuhan with a 13-4 record since June.

The Czech picks up another win in Wuhan, defeating Camila Osorio (a wildcard here? 🤷‍♂️), 6-3, 6-4.

Baptiste's Back At It

Hailey Baptiste scored the biggest win of her career (so far!) in Wuhan last year, taking out Barbora Krejcikova in the 2nd round.

After kicking off her Asian swing with a tough loss to Katie Boulter in Beijing, the American returns to Wuhan with a win over Ashlyn Krueger.

Monday content loading...

48 graphics ready to go!

IN ACTION:
Felix Auger-Aliassime
Ekaterina Alexandrova
Hailey Baptiste
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Maya Joint
Alex de Minaur
Daniil Medvedev
Victoria Mboko
Lorenzo Musetti
Shang Juncheng
Denis Shapovalov
Clara Tauson
Learner Tien

Welcome back, Madison Brengle!

The American, who returned to the tour this summer after an extended hiatus due to skin cancer treatment, wins her first ITF title since 2022 in San Rafael, California.

*Britney voice

It's Golubic

Viktorija Golubic is quietly climbing back toward the top 50, up to #64 in the live rankings after taking the WTA 125 title in Suzhou.

The Swiss rallies past Katie Volynets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, to lift her 4th 125 trophy.

Yeah. Rendy Lu (who's now coaching Zhang Zhizhen) is the Challenger GOAT.

Young & Undefeated

Nicolai Budkov Kjaer goes 4-0 in ATP Challenger finals, blasting past Patrick Kypson to lift the trophy in Mouilleron la Captif.

With the win, the Norwegian becomes one of only four teenagers inside the ATP top 150, climbing to #137 in the live rankings.

That Thing Champions Do...

If you wanna get that monster win, you gotta seize the moment (and momentum) when you have it.

Yannick Hanfmann learns that lesson the hard way as Novak Djokovic avoids the upset in Shanghai, slipping through 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

A Trio of Titles

Sara Bejlek lifts her third WTA 125 trophy of the year, holding off Serbia's Lola Radivojevic, 6-2, 6-7¹, 6-3, in Rende, Italy.

The win puts the Czech in position to reach a new career high ranking, up to #107 in the current live rankings.

She's a Winner, Baby!

Amanda Anisimova scores a big-time win in Beijing, withstanding a second set surge to defeat Linda Noskova, 6-0, 2-6, 6-2.

With the win, the American climbs to #3 in the Race to the WTA Finals, and heads to the WTA 500 in Wuhan with a cool $1.1 million.

The New Wave

With Marin Cilic and Borna Coric still rocking in (or close to) the top 100, a swell of young Croatians are emerging to follow in their footsteps.

Enter Luka Mikrut.

The 21yo captures his 2nd Challenger title in a month, taking out Vilius Gaubas, 6-3, 6-4.