The tennis version of March Madness took place last month with men’s and women’s combined 1000-level events taking place in California and Florida.
Caty McNally
After closing February with a singles semifinal and doubles title, Caty McNally’s March was highlighted by continued doubles success as she reached the quarterfinals at Indian Wells and Round of 16 in Miami. In singles, her last three losses have all been in three sets, but a first round victory in Charleston helped push her to a career high ranking of No. 67. Last week, McNally made her second straight appearance for Team USA in the Billie Jean King Cup. She partnered with Coco Gauff in doubles Saturday in the qualifying tie against Austria to help the US to a 4-0 win and return to the finals, which will take place in November. Early in March, Caty discussed how doubles helps her singles and more on the Tennis Tribe Podcast.
Next Up: Madrid (April 25-May7) Rome (May 9-20)
Peyton Stearns
Peyton Stearns opened April with a breakthrough as she reached her first career WTA Tour final at the event in Bogota. Stearns lost in three sets in the title match to Tatjana Maria, a 2022 Wimbledon semifinalist. The result comes just over one month after Stearns recorded her first WTA match win. The 2022 NCAA Champion was ranked No. 384 when she turned pro last June, and that Bogota run vaulted her into the Top 100 to No. 89. Check out this WTA profile of Peyton.
Next Up: Charleston-ITF (April 17), Madrid (April 25-May7) Rome (May 9-20)
JJ Wolf
Texas continues to treat JJ Wolf very well. After reaching the semifinals at the Dallas ATP 250 in February, he returned to the Lone Star state earlier this month for the Tour’s event in Houston and reached the quarterfinals. The result has helped him keep his ranking safely within the ATP’s Top 50. His powerful serve was the subject of this Tennis.com story.
Next Up: Madrid (April 25-May7) Rome (May 9-20)
Tennis Tidbits
- Just over one month after taking part in the NBA All Star Celebrity Game, Frances Tiafoe scored his second career title with a win in Houston to open the month and climb to No. 11 in the ATP Rankings.
- The first two combined 1000-level tournaments of the season took place in the US In March. On the men’s side, Carlos Alcaraz won in Indian Wells to briefly return to No. 1 in the world but lost that ranking to Novak Djokovic during Miami where 2019 W&S Open winner Daniil Medvedev won to claim his fourth title of the season. Reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina was the WTA titlist at Indian Wells while 2022 W&S Open runner-up Petra Kvitova won in Miami. The next two combined 1000s will take place in the coming weeks in Madrid and then Rome. August’s Western & Southern Open will be the fifth and final combined 1000 of the season.
- Ticket Packages and Premium Offerings for the Aug. 12-20 Western & Southern Open remain on sale at wsopen.com. These weeklong full series packages and multi-day mini plans sold out in July last year.
Advertising
