This Week in Tennis: Anisimova Breaks Through…

Welcome to This Week in Tennis, where we catch up on all the latest and biggest stories from the ATP and WTA Tours.

Anisimova wins first 1000-level title

Amanda Anisimova defeated Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 in the Qatar Open final to claim her first WTA1000 title and third overall in her career.

With the win, the 23-year-old will move into the Top 20 for the first time in her career. The American continues to rise in the ranks after taking an eight-month break from tennis due to burnout in 2023.

Canadians Leylah Annie Fernandez and Gabriela Dabrowski fell early in Doha, with Fernandez dropping her third-round match to Anisimova 6-3, 6-0. Dabrowski and partner Erin Routliffe, the tournament's top seeds, lost to Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-1 in the second round.

Elsewhere in the WTA, Emiliana Arango defeated Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine 6-2, 6-1 to win the WTA 125 Cancun Open.

Branstine, who was born in California but represents Canada on the international stage, beat sixth-seeded Ena Shibahara, and the No. 3 seed Maya Joint en route to the final. Despite the loss, it was still a career-best finish for Branstine as it was her first WTA 125 final.

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Sinner accepts three-month suspension

Jannik Sinner accepted a three-month suspension in a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), ending a case that began after the world No. 1 had two positive doping tests nearly a year ago.

Sinner will be eligible to return on May 4, in time for the next Grand Slam on the calendar, Roland-Garros, which is set to begin on May 25. It’s possible the 23-year-old could make his return at the Italian Open in Rome, his home tournament, on May 7.

"This case had been hanging over me now for nearly a year and the process still had a long time to run with a decision maybe only at the end of the year,” Sinner, the reigning Australian Open champion, said in a statement. “I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realize WADA’s strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love. On that basis, I have accepted WADA’s offer to resolve these proceedings on the basis of a three-month sanction.”

WADA had previously wanted Sinner suspended for one year and had challenged the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s decision not to suspend Sinner for what was judged to be accidental contamination by a banned anabolic steroid last March.

Humbert goes back-to-back in Marseille

Ugo Humbert defeated Hamad Medjedovic 7-6 (4), 6-4 to win the Open 13 Provence in Marseille for the second straight year. The 26-year-old becomes the first Frenchman to ever go back-to-back in Marseille.

Humbert improved to 18-1 in his past 19 indoor matches in France, including the title in Metz in 2023, back-to-back titles in Marseille and a run to the ATP 1000 final in Paris last year.

Elsewhere on the ATP tour, Miomir Kecmanovic swept the Delray Beach Open, defeating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to claim the singles title while also winning the doubles championship alongside Brandon Nakashima.

All winners from last week:

WTA 1000 Doha

Women’s Singles: Amanda Anisimova (1/3)* d. Jelena Ostapenko
Women’s Doubles: Jasmine Paolini/Sera Errani

ATP 250 Marseille

Men’s Singles: Ugo Humbert (1/7)* d. Hamad Medjedovic
Men’s Doubles: Pierre-Hughes Herbert/Benjamin Bonzi

ATP 250 Delray

Men’s Singles: Miomir Kecmanovic (1/2)* d. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Men’s Doubles: Miomir Kecmanovic/Brandon Nakashima

ATP 250 Buenos Aires

Men’s Singles: Joao Fonseca (1/1)* d. Francisco Cerundolo
Men’s Doubles: Guido Andreozzi/Theo Arribage

WTA 125 Cancun

Women’s Singles: Emiliana Arango (1/1)* d. Carson Branstine
Women’s Doubles: Maya Joint/Taylah Preston

* (Titles in 2025/Career Titles)

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Feature Photo: USTA