Alejandro Davidovich Fokina triumphs in Shanghai; Maja Chwalinska scores a Wuhan breakthrough; Zheng Qinwen makes history in Beijing; plus a viral courtside treatment and more BELOW.
Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina capped a remarkable comeback by rallying past compatriot Rafael Jodar 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 to win the Shanghai Masters, his first ATP 1000 title and third trophy of the year, lifting him to a career-high No. 13. Along the way, he saved a match point against Frances Tiafoe and came from a set down to defeat Hubert Hurkacz and Alexander Zverev.
But his most revealing moment came earlier in the tournament, when an unusually intimate courtside treatment for his back went viral after a physiotherapist pulled down Foki's shorts to apply cream -- which apparently caused a nasty skin reaction that required another medical timeout during his match against Tiafoe.
In doubles, Austria's Lucas Miedler and Neil Oberleitner made history, defeating Portugal's Francisco Cabral and American JJ Tracy 6-3, 6-4 to become the first all-Austrian duo to win an ATP Masters 1000 doubles title. Playing just their second ATP Tour tournament together, the pair didn't drop a single set all week, giving both men their first Masters 1000 crown.
Portugal's Francisco Cabral and American JJ Tracy were looking good and looking to add to their recent Hangzhou title -- which Cabral won last year with none other than Miedler!
Poland's Maja Chwalinska, 25, rallied from a set and a break down to defeat Britain's Sonay Kartal 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in Wuhan, capturing her first WTA title after upsetting compatriot Iga Swiatek in the semifinals. Along the way, she also knocked out Marie Bouzkova, rising American star Iva Jovic and former world No. 3 Maria Sakkari. The victory caps a breakthrough season that also saw her reach the French Open final and is expected to lift her to a career-high No. 11.
China's Zheng Qinwen made history by becoming the first Chinese woman to win the China Open, defeating Russia's Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-4 in Beijing for her first WTA 1000 title. The Olympic gold medalist also knocked out Elina Svitolina, Elise Mertens and Marie Bouzkova en route to her biggest title yet -- a remarkable comeback after elbow surgery sent her ranking tumbling to No. 160 earlier this year.
The victory propelled Zheng 31 places to No. 23, while 19-year-old Andreeva climbed to a career-high No. 3, becoming the youngest woman to crack the top three since Maria Sharapova in 2005.
Elsewhere around the net ...
I should probably feel sheepish about envying a toddler, but come on
Monaco's Romain Arneodo, who made history by winning the 2025 Monte-Carlo Masters doubles crown, added another trophy to his collection Sunday, teaming with Germany's Hendrik Jebens to defeat Britain's David Stevenson and Marcus Willis 6-4, 6-4 at the Roanne Challenger.
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Andrea Pellegrino and Matteo Berrettini are proof that Italians do it better
Italian heartthrob Francesco Passaro is on a roll, winning back-to-back Challenger titles in Palermo and Maia -- the latter with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Hungary's Zsombor Piros ...
While also turning up the heat off the court with a sexy new Dove Men+Care ad campaign.
He also dedicated his Palermo Challenger trophy to his late father, calling it his first title in two years and his first without his dad by his side: "Dad, I know you were cheering for me from up there. This victory is all yours."
Ignacio Buse's perfect pose
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Matteo Berrettini knows who's No. 1
Openly gay Swiss player Mika Brunold, 22, captured his second Challenger title in just over a month, rallying to defeat France's Matteo Martineau 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-1 in Sunday's Roanne final, adding to his breakthrough victory in Tulln, Austria, in September -- and earning his first appearance in the ATP top 200, at No. 195.
Bosnia's Damir Dzumhur, 34, captured his 15th career Challenger title on Sunday, defeating Britain's top-seeded Jacob Fearnley 7-6(4), 6-3 in the Olbia final in Sardinia, a victory that will return the former world No. 23 to the ATP top 100 at No. 83.
Argentina's Mariano Kestelboim, 30, won another Challenger doubles title this weekend, teaming with Ecuador's Diego Hidalgo to defeat Brazilians Luis Felipe Miguel and Eduardo Ribeiro 1-6, 6-4, 10-8 in the Santa Cruz final in Bolivia.
It was his third Challenger doubles crown in four weeks, following victories in Buenos Aires and Curitiba, each with a different partner.
Felix Mischer is water-resistant
Former tennis pro Maxence Brovillé is making the rounds as Mister France 2026, attending regional pageants ahead of handing over his national crown in January.
Adam Jones claims to like women, but the boys sure like him
... and who can blame us?
France's Dan Added, 27, and Thomas Faurel, 20, captured the ITF M25 Luanda doubles title in Angola on Saturday, defeating Portugal's Martim Bernardo and Daniel Domingos 6-2, 6-2 in the final. Yes, that's an ITF level event, but I can't not include two men who look like this(!)
Czech Andrew Paulson, 24, teamed with Slovakia's Miloš Karol to win the Maia Open Challenger doubles title in Portugal on Saturday, rallying to defeat Portugal's Tiago Pereira and Spain's Benjamín Winter López 4-6, 6-1, 11-9 after saving a match point in the deciding tiebreak.
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Doggy style
Stan's got a future in photography
Matteo Vavassori, Andrea's ITF player brother, reached the doubles final at the M25 Santa Margherita di Pula on October 10 with Alessandro Spadola, losing 7-6(7), 6-3 to Gabriele Crivellaro and Giovanni Oradini.
Andrea wishes his younger brother a happy 22nd birthday
Australian Tristan Schoolkate, 25, is returning to the Guangzhou Nansha Challenger in China, where he won the singles title in 2024, defeating compatriot Adam Walton 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, and finished runner-up to France's Terence Atmane in 2025.
Birthdays are different in Italy
Arthur Gea seems to be my latest perennially injured favorite
In winnier times ...
If only Carlos Alcaraz's year were g(r)oing as well as his facial hair -- the Spaniard suffered another setback with a loss to Belgium's Zizou Bergs in Shanghai.
I hope this slightly dated photo is as real as it is hot
Juan Martin del Potro is serving up something new off the court: The retired Argentine tennis star has launched his own line of Mendoza wines, including a Malbec appropriately named "Resiliencia" in honor of his injury-plagued career.
When you're 6-foot-3 with a short complex
Retired French tennis pro Enzo Couacaud looking fetching recovering from an apparent hospital stay.
Furry fox Christian Harrison
Jaime Faris and Pedro Alves Liborio enjoy a little "good old days" reunion with friends at Clube Ténis CAD.
Matteo Berrettini hits the courts in Monte Carlo with Andrea Pellegrino and Alessandro Bega, jokingly captioning the photo "Two torn apart and one robbed."
Andrea Vavassori enjoys a night out with friends Fabio Di Chio and Mauro Santandrea in Rivoli, Italy.
I didn't know Tommy had this beard in him 🔥🔥🔥
I never said Stefanos Tsitsipas wasn't sexy
100% pure sex: Tomas Etcheverry
Jakub Mensik's got legs ...
"Nothing Major" podcast host "showing our support for Mr Alcaraz and his sweet new tash" 🥸
I don't listen to podcasts, but I definitely enjoy the IG highlights!
Carlos Alcaraz tries his hand at Chinese calligraphy for the first time, writing his nickname "阿卡" (A-Ka) before adding a stamp bearing his full name in Chinese.
Justine Henin is just as relentless at "red clay" table tennis
Shelby Rogers and Jan-Michael Gambill reunite at CoCo Vandeweghe's wedding to Daniel Levin in New York City.
Dani Vallejo chills out in an ice bath at the Shanghai Masters -- and heats things up in the process.
Chris Heyman shows off his physique in a form-fitting polo shirt.
Luckily for the umpire, it was over quickly!
I wonder if she's asking Miomir Kecmanovic about his JO video
Has fame gone to Neal Skupski's pretty head?
Holger Rune comeback kit
Marton Fucsovics wraps up his year early
If this is a "broken" body, what is mine?
Frenchman Kyrian Jacquet trades his racket for a putter for a little miniature golf.
Italian Andrea Picchione gets his hair styled -- not that he needs much help in the looks department.
Lovely Luca Nardi in Monte Carlo
Arthur Rinderknech: real hunk in fake Alps
Argentina's Fran Cerundolo is all smiles -- as am I
Italy's Andrea Vavassori gets a laugh out of Britain's Lloyd Glasspool after a friendly wager involving push-ups apparently backfired
France's Fabien Reboul shares an update on his injured leg
Czech heartthrob Jiri Lehecka strikes a pose for the 2027 AAA AUTO & Mototechna calendar, which benefits children who have lost one or both parents in traffic accidents.
Arthur Fery gives the fans what they want
Austria's Sebastian Ofner reports that his surgery went well and hopes to be back on court in four to six weeks following rehab.
Robert Cardenas shows off his Under Armour
Follow Louis John for some excellent snaps ...
Fede Gomez
Christian Harrison
Thiago Tirante
Nothing's lost in translation here
Is anyone else wondering if there's more to this Jannik Sinner story?
Remember Peng Shuai? Her disappearance from public view after accusing a former top Chinese official of sexual assault was once tennis's biggest controversy, prompting the WTA to suspend tournaments in China. Now the tours are back, the issue has largely faded from view and Sports Illustrated's Jon Wertheim is asking what happened to her.
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