Three minutes a day, knowing about tennis in the world. Hello fans and friends, today is Thursday, February 20, 2025, and welcome to listen to the afternoon newsletter brought to you by "Home of Tennis".

This morning, Beijing time, the ATP 500 Doha Open ended the second round of singles, and the quarterfinals were all produced. In a match that was in the spotlight of fans, Spanish star Alcaraz overcame a slump in the second half of the second set to bounce back in the deciding set to beat Italian rising star Naldi 6-1 4-6 6-3 to advance to the quarter-finals.

Russia's Dmitry Medvedev was in hot form, sweeping past Belgian Boggs 6-2 6-1; Another Russian, Rublev, beat Portugal's Burges 6-4 6-3 to advance to the quarter-finals. Italian Berrettini, Czech rising star Leheka, Australian hare De Minaur and British rising star Draper all won and advanced to the quarterfinals.

Quarter-finals: Alcaraz vs. Leheka, Berrettini vs. Draper, Aliassime vs. Medvedev, Rublev vs. Deminar.

In the Men's Doubles quarter-finals, the veteran duo of Verdasco and Novak Djokovic lost 5-7 4-6 to second seeds Helievara/Patten and missed out on the semi-finals. The 41-year-old Spanish star Verdasco also officially retired, ending his 23-year career.

ATP 500 Rio: In the second round of singles, Argentine Komesana narrowly defeated Chilean Jarry 7-6(4) 6-7(1) 7-6(6) to reach the quarterfinals of his career for the first time on tour. In the other Argentine derby, fifth seed Báez beat compatriot Navone 6-4 1-6 6-3 to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

Women's Field. This morning, Beijing time, the WTA1000 Dubai station ended the third round of singles competition, and the top eight were all produced. China's Zheng Qinwen was sluggish in her debut and was beaten 6-3 4-6 4-6 by rising star Stearns, both in the Middle East.

After the game, Xiao Zheng revealed that in the third set, her fingers and calves were cramped, but she lost because she didn't play well, "The most difficult point in the game is that she can't find her rhythm." I want to see how well I can play, and the opponent played well today, but losing is still my problem. I didn't make the right decision on the key point, and maybe I was broken too early in the deciding set. ”

Others: Top seed Aryna Sabalenka was swept out 6-3 6-2 by Danish rising star Towson. Second seed Swiatek continued her streak with a 7-5 6-0 win over Ukrainian Yastremska to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament for the third year in a row. She will next face twelfth seed and rising Russian star Milla Andreeva, who defeated Stearns 6-1 6-1.

Sixth seed Rybakina of Kazakhstan saved six match points in the second and third sets to defeat ninth seed and Spain's Badosa 4-6 7-6(8) 7-6(2). Defending champion and fourth seed Paulini lost 4-6 0-6 to former Australian Open champion Kenin in the third round.

The quarter-finals will be played against: Towsen vs. Noskova, Mukhova vs. Kostya, Rybakina vs. Kenin, Mira Andreeva vs. Swiatek.

Doubles: Zhang Shuai/Mladenovic received a retirement gift from Kessler/Tauson before the match and advanced to the quarterfinals without a fight. Xu Yifan/Yang Zhaoxuan swept past Mikhalikova/Nichols 6-3 6-1 to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

Finally, let's guess and recognize. Here's a picture of a player taking a break after training on clay. Can you recognize who she is without prompting?

In the last guess, the golfer gave the correct answer. That's right, the person in the picture is the handsome Bulgarian guy Dimitrov.

(Source: Tennis Home Author: Maverick)