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Juan Manuel Cerundolo won two ATP Challenger Tour titles to start his season. Could this be the week he adds another ATP Tour trophy to his collection?

The Argentine qualifier battled past countryman Pedro Cachin 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 on Monday to reach the second round of the Movistar Chile Open.

“I’m really happy and I hope to keep working to get better,” Cerundolo said. “I still have a lot of things to improve so I need to keep working and see if I have better results.”[

The lefty dominated behind his first serve, winning 85 per cent of those points. Cerundolo saved two of the three break points he faced to advance after two hours and two minutes.

Another qualifier advanced earlier in the day when Yannick Hanfmann ousted defending champion Pedro Martinez 6-2, 6-0.

Daniil Medvedev didn’t take too kindly to falling outside the Top 10 following the Australian Open.

Since he debuted in the Top 10 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in July 2019, Medvedev had not spent a day outside the exclusive club until a straight-sets loss to Sebastian Korda in Melbourne saw him tumble from No. 8 to No. 12 after the year’s first major. That dropped like a punch in the guts.

But it was more than just the loss of his 2022 Australian Open finalist points that underpinned the former World No. 1’s exit from the Top 10. After four titles, including the US Open, and a 63-13 record in 2021, Medvedev went 45-19 last year with just two titles. [He did miss the clay season, save for Roland Garros, after a hernia operation.]

The man nicknamed ‘Bear’ responded to his Australian Open disappointment by winning consecutive titles at the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam and the ATP 250 in Doha. This week in Dubai he will attempt for the first time in his career to win three consecutive titles.

“The defeat [in five sets to Nadal] at the Aussie Open last year was a killer,” said former World No. 4 and esteemed coach and analyst Brad Gilbert. “He also had some other things going on and he wasn’t the same player he’d been. After watching him at these last two tournaments, he looks like the same guy that was winning so much. To me the biggest thing is that his confidence is back.”

The curtain came down on Malek Jaziri’s 20-year career on Monday when he lost to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The 39-year-old Tunisian enjoyed a historic career, becoming one of five Arab men to reach the Top 50 in the history of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings (since 1973), rising to a career-high No. 42 in 2019.

"I hope I have been a good inspiration for a lot of generations in Tunisia," said Jaziri of his homeland, which boasts current WTA World No. 4 Ons Jabeur, who has been as high as No. 2. "[Inspired] the next generation in Tunisia. Tennis has improved a lot in the past few years in Tunisia. A lot of clubs have opened and a lot of people follow tennis.”

Jaziri, who clinched his first tour-level win at the Davis Cup in 2005, reached his only tour-level final in Istanbul in 2018. He earned three Top 10 wins in his career, defeating Grigor Dimitrov, Marin Cilic and Alexander Zverev, while he captured eight ATP Challenger Tour titles.

“Emotions were very high,” Jaziri said. “When you play your last tournament, it could be your last match and it was my last match. I tried to enjoy all the moments on court. I am happy to be here in Dubai, it means a lot to me. Dubai has a piece of my heart. I have been here for many years, so I am happy I had my last tournament in Dubai.

Alexander Zverev appeared in danger of suffering his second straight-sets loss of the year to Jiri Lehecka on Monday evening at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. But despite still searching for form as he continues his comeback from an ankle injury, the German found a way to rally past the in-form Czech 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 for a place in the second round.

“I didn’t start off the match very well. But these kind of matches are extremely important for me right now. I found a way to win and I’m sure that the next few matches I’ll be playing much better,” Zverev said. “Sometimes that’s what makes the best players… If you’re not playing well, you sometimes have to find a way to win.

“That’s what Roger, Rafa, Novak, Andy did throughout the last 20 years, so kind of trying to learn from them.”

Zverev entered the match with a 3-6 record on the season and without a victory against Top 50 opposition. But he maintained his composure against World No. 47 Lehecka, a powerful 21-year-old who blasted his way to the Australian Open quarter-finals and the semi-finals last week in Doha.

The two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion Zverev had high praise for last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals runner-up.

Following his semi-final run at the 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals, Dominic Stricker was eyeing another standout season on the ATP Challenger Tour. However, the Swiss had to battle through a turbulent start to the year before collecting his fourth Challenger title in Rovereto, Italy on Sunday. The #NextGenATP star is among four Challenger champions this week.

The 20-year-old made Swiss tennis history when he won the Citta’ Di Rovereto final against home favourite Giulio Zeppieri 7-6(8), 6-2. Stricker joins Stan Wawrinka as the only Swiss players to win four Challenger titles before their 21st birthday.

Stricker, who fended off five set points in the opening set against third seed Zeppieri, reached the final round of qualifying at the Australian Open, but is still aiming for his maiden Grand Slam appearance.

After a first-round exit at the Vilnius Challenger, where he was the top seed, Stricker found himself nearing another disappointing opening-round loss in Rovereto. Down a set and a break in the first round against Mili Poljicak, the former junior World No. 3 rallied to survive and win the tournament.

Defending champion Andrey Rublev’s 7-5, 6-2 first-round victory against Filip Krajinovic at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Monday was very much a tale of two halves.

Krajinovic came racing out the blocks against the second seed at the hard-court ATP 500, expertly redirecting Rublev’s powerful groundstrokes to open an early 5-2 lead. Rublev, who is trying to become the first back-to-back Dubai champion since Roger Federer in 2014-15, responded in style. He won 11 of the next 13 games to seal an 89-minute victory and level his ATP Head2Head series with the Serbian at 3-3.

“[It was crazy], crazy things were in my head... Filip is one of my good friends and we always have tough battles,” said Rublev when asked about his early struggles. “So today I was going on court thinking that it was going to be a really tough match, and when he started the way he did, I didn’t know what to do because he was playing so good.

“Somehow I calmed myself and said ‘OK, restart at the bottom and raise my level’ and I started to play much, much better. I was able to turn the match around and finish the match in a good way.”

Rublev became increasingly penetrating with his groundstrokes as the match wore on, striking 28 winners and converting four of six break points to improve his record in Dubai to 11-2. The World No. 6 is chasing his first title of 2023, and his sixth ATP 500 crown overall, this week in the U.A.E.

Andy Murray withdrew from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Monday, citing a hip injury.

The Scot reached his first final of the season in Doha last week, winning three-set matches against Lorenzo Sonego, Alexander Zverev, Alexandre Muller and Jiri Lehecka. The former World No. 1, who saved five match points against Lehecka, lost against Daniil Medvedev in the championship match.

An update on @andy_murray.#DDFTennis #ATP @atptour pic.twitter.com/ztxMwWd55U

Murray, 35, has made seven appearances at the ATP 500 event in Dubai, holding a 17-6 record. His best result at the hard-court tournament came in 2017, when he won the title.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic leads the field in Dubai, with Top 10 stars Andrey Rublev, Medvedev and Felix Auger-Aliassime also in action.

A three-tournament week on the ATP Tour saw Cameron Norrie, Daniil Medvedev and Hubert Hurkacz lift titles in Rio de Janiero, Doha and Marseille, respectively. However, despite not playing, Taylor Fritz was the biggest winner in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

ATPTour.com looks at the movers of the week as of Monday, 27 February 2023.

View Pepperstone ATP Rankings

[ATP APP]

No. 5 Taylor Fritz, +2 (Career High)
The 25-year-old is up two places to a career-high No. 5 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, surpassing Andrey Rublev and Rafael Nadal. Fritz, who captured the title in Delray Beach earlier this month, is the first American man to be ranked inside the Top 5 since Andy Roddick in September 2009.

Novak Djokovic has today achieved another historic milestone in his career, overtaking Stefanie Graf’s record for most weeks by a men's or women's tennis player as World No. 1.

The Serbian already held the record for the most weeks as No. 1 in the history of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings (since 1973) when he surpassed Roger Federer’s mark of 310 weeks in March 2021. Now he has moved past Graf by beginning his 378th week on top of tennis’ mountain. 

Djokovic, currently on 6,980 points in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, returned to No. 1 last month for the first time since last June by winning a record-extending 10th Australian Open crown.

ALL-TIME WEEKS AT NO. 1 (MEN AND WOMEN)

The 35-year-old, who is competing at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships this week, first rose to No. 1 aged 24 years and 43 days on 4 July 2011, and spent a personal-best 122 consecutive weeks at the summit of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings between 7 July 2014 and 6 November 2016.

Carlos Alcaraz battled hard on Sunday in the Rio Open presented by Claro final to claim his second title in as any weeks. But after a two-hour, 42-minute clash full of momentum changes, Cameron Norrie triumphed 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 to earn the trophy.

“It [was] a really tough final. I had my chances to win the final, had a break up in the second set and 0/30 to [earn] a second break,” Alcaraz said. “I couldn’t do it and I said before, when you have chances and you don’t make it, it’s really tough to come back against this kind of player. It’s really tough.

“At the end unfortunately I couldn’t [find] my best level physically and it’s really tough to come back in these kind of tournaments against this kind of player. But I would say it has been a good final given that.”

In the middle of the second set, Alcaraz began visibly struggling with a right leg injury. The 19-year-old dialled up his aggression to shorten points, but ultimately fell short of extending his winning streak to nine.

“Even with the injury and the pain, after all the match I could say I’m happy with my performance this whole week and the level that I played in these matches,” Alcaraz said. “But of course playing against Norrie is always tough and it’s great to see him win a title.”

Carlos Alcaraz appeared well on his way to a second consecutive Rio Open presented by Claro title on Sunday when he led Cameron Norrie 7-5, 3-0 0/30. But a resurgent Norrie and physical issues for the Spaniard proved too much to overcome.

Second seed Norrie rallied for a 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 victory after two hours and 42 minutes in the ATP 500 final. The triumph marked the Briton’s fifth ATP Tour title and his first hardware of the season.

"So special to win this one, especially I'd lost a couple finals already this year and I had to do it the tough way," Norrie said. "A set and a break down and 0/30 on my serve, I was looking done there and I managed to flick a switch and turn it around, so it was a good day."

Alcaraz was not at his best in the early going, but when he crushed a backhand return winner to capture the opening set, momentum was fully on his side. Norrie showed frustration as he relinquished an immediate service break in the second set and the match appeared to be slipping away. But he never stopped battling to earn his ATP Tour-leading 18th win of the season (18-3). No other player has more than Daniil Medvedev's 14 victories.

After losing in the Auckland final in January and the Buenos Aires championship match last week, it was an emotional win for Norrie.

Who can stop Novak Djokovic in 2023? So far, nobody has.

The Serbian, who said Sunday he is approaching full health after suffering a hamstring injury in January in Australia, will next bring a perfect 12-0 record for 2023 to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Djokovic is back in action this week for the first time since collecting his record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. His unbeaten season record will be put to the test at the Dubai ATP 500, where he feels right at home.

“Dubai in the last 10 or 15 years has become one of the most important places and bases for tennis players, both men and women,” Djokovic said. “So many players come here in the offseason, including myself. I try to use a week or two in December and come play the tournament [in February]. Fantastic climate, very international, the conditions, facilities, everything is phenomenal.

“People love tennis [here]. People appreciate tennis players here. I feel comfortable. I feel welcomed. I’ve had plenty of support in previous years when I’ve played in Dubai. I’m really looking forward to a great atmosphere on the court.”

Players at the Movistar Chile Open did their part Saturday to help support those suffering due to the wildfires in Chile.

Chilean trio Cristian Garin, Alejandro Tabilo and Nicolas Massu were joined by defending Santiago champion Pedro Martinez for an exhibition to raise money for Desafío Levantemos Chile.

“It’s very sad of course and for me it’s very important to support in some way. I think with this exhibition we are trying to get as much as possible,” Garin said. “Today many people came and it was nice to help in some way the south of Chile in this time. I know the people are suffering a lot, so we try to send love and money of course.”

[ATP APP]

Fans who attended made voluntary donations to benefit those affected by the fires in the south of the country. Money raised will be used to support those in the impacted areas.

A manic February on the ATP Tour will be rounded off with another three-tournament week. Novak Djokovic headlines the field at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, while Carlos Alcaraz is the top seed at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC. Both are ATP 500 hard-court events.

At the Movistar Chile Open in Santiago, an ATP 250 clay-court tournament, Lorenzo Musetti and Dominic Thiem will take to court.

ATPTour.com looks at five things to watch at each event.

View Draws: Acapulco | Dubai | Santiago

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN ACAPULCO
1) Alcaraz Headlines Field: Alcaraz will lead the field as the top seed when he makes his second appearance in Acapulco. The Spaniard, who lost in the first round on debut in 2021, has found his best level since returning to Tour from injury earlier this month. He won his seventh tour-level title in Buenos Aires and is into the final in Rio de Janeiro.

Hubert Hurkacz was not without his vulnerable moments on Sunday in the final of the Open 13 Provence. Yet the top seed repeatedly defied Marseille local Benjamin Bonzi — and the wishes of a vocal home crowd — with a stunning serving display to lift the title at the indoor ATP 250.

The World No. 11 Hurkacz secured a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory in which he sent down 19 aces and won 93 per cent (41/44) of points behind his first delivery. Even when under pressure, the Pole was relentless with his power and accuracy on serve. He fended off three Bonzi set points at 5-6 in the second set and then delivered a rock-solid tie-break display to seal his first ATP Tour title of 2023.

“I’m super happy today. Congrats to Benjamin, he played really well,” said Hurkacz post-match. ”I think he deserved to win the second set, I just tried to compete as hard as I can… He’s been playing really well this year and for sure he’s going to get a title very soon.”

[ATP APP]

Hurkacz is now 10-4 for the season after lifting his first tour-level title since his Halle triumph last June. Although he will not rise any spots in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings as a result of his week in France, he will move to within 96 points of World No. 10 Holger Rune on Monday.

After promising signs for their partnership in 2022, Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin on Sunday claimed their first ATP Tour title together.

The top seeds rallied to victory in the championship match at the Open 13 Provence, where they defeated Nicolas Mahut and Fabrice Martin 4-6, 7-6(4), 10-7 in Marseille.

Gonzalez and Roger-Vasselin teamed twice last season, reaching the final in Indian Wells and the semi-finals in Cincinnati, before they reunited on a full-time basis in January. Despite holding a 4-4 record for the year coming into this week, the duo justified its status as top seeds in Marseille with victory at the indoor hard-court event.

[ATP APP]

Although Gonzalez and Roger-Vasselin could not convert any of their four break points in the final, they held their nerve in the tie-breaks to claim a 99-minute victory. The Mexican-French pairing won the final five points of the match to recover a 5/7 deficit in the Match Tie-break and defeat Mahut and Martin, who are both former champions in Marseille.

Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni can leave the ‘Golden Swing’ happy. The Argentines won a late-night championship match at the Rio Open presented by Claro to claim their second title (Cordoba) of the South American clay-court swing.

At nearly 12:45 a.m. local time, Gonzalez and Molteni downed second seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Marcelo Melo 6-1, 7-6(3) to win the ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro.

[ATP APP]

Gonzalez and Molteni’s first deliveries were effective in the final; the pair won 33 of 40 points off their first serves. In the second set, the Argentines held their nerve as they fended off two set points on their serve to avoid a match tie-break.

The Rio crown marks Gonzalez and Molteni’s third team title. When they made their partnership debut in October 2022 at the ATP 250 in Gijon, they went on a title run and have since made three additional tour-level finals (Vienna, Cordoba, Rio).

Following a deep run in Rio de Janeiro, Nicolas Jarry is set to return to home soil and rock the house at this week’s ATP 250 event in Santiago, where he could meet fourth seed Diego Schwartzman in the second round.

Jarry’s aunt, Catalina Fillol, is the tournament director of the 2023 Movistar Chile Open, where Lorenzo Musetti, Francisco Cerundolo, and Sebastian Baez are also in action during the final week of the ‘Golden Swing’.

The Chilean Jarry earned a special exemption into his home tournament as he was still alive in the Rio de Janeiro semi-finals when the draw was made. The 27-year-old pushed World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz to three sets in the Rio semi-finals. Returning to the Top 100 for the first time since the Pepperstone ATP Rankings froze due to COVID-19 in March 2020, Jarry is set to pass countryman Cristian Garin as the Chilean No. 1 on Monday—just in time for his home tournament. He will open against Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas, who was a semi-finalist last week in Buenos Aires.

[ATP APP]

Top seed Musetti, who is at a career-high 18 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, is hoping to end his slow start to the year with a deep run on the Chilean clay. The 20-year-old will face wild card Alejandro Tabilo or Jaume Munar in the first round and is seeded to meet Schwartzman in the final four.

For the first time this season, things were looking truly bleak for Carlos Alcaraz. Qualifier Nicolas Jarry was giving the Spaniard all he could handle in Saturday's Rio Open presented by Claro semi-finals. The Chilean was twice within two games of victory at 4-4 and 5-5 in the second set, with Alcaraz receiving treatment on his upper left leg after holding on both of those occasions.

Watch the Rio de Janeiro final Sunday from 9.30pm CET/3.30pm ET

But just when he seemed at his most vulnerable, not having seen a break point since he stopped Jarry from serving out the opening set at 5-3, the 19-year-old reeled off eight straight games in devastating fashion for a 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-0 victory.

"I'm so proud of myself," Alcaraz said after winning his eighth match in 11 days. "To be in a final again in my second tournament is a really special moment for me... I couldn't ask for a better start of 2023."

[ATP APP]

Novak Djokovic will put his unbeaten record in 2023 on the line this week at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The Serbian, who is 12-0 this season, will be in action this week for the first time since collecting his record-extending 10th Australian Open title. On Saturday, Djokovic practised with Croatian Borna Coric ahead of the ATP 500 event.

The 35-year-old will begin his quest for a sixth Dubai crown against a qualifier before meeting the winner of Tallon Griekspoor and Constant Lestienne. Djokovic could meet eighth seed Hubert Hurkacz or Andy Murray in the quarter-finals.

On Monday, the 22-time major champion will add to the record books. Djokovic, who will enter his 378th week as World No. 1, will surpass Stefanie Graf with the most weeks atop the sport. Following his title in Melbourne, Djokovic reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings and his leap from World No. 5 marked the biggest jump to top spot in history (since 1973).

In 2022, Dubai was Djokovic’s first tournament of the season. He suffered a quarter-final exit to eventual finalist Jiri Vesely. Already a two-time titlist this year (Adelaide, Australian Open), Djokovic aims to continue his sizzling start to the year in the United Arab Emirates.