Tiafoe Saves Match Points
Frances Tiafoe saved two match points to defeat Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 3-6, 7-9-6-7 in a thrilling third-set tiebreak, with fans praising his return winner and volley on key points. Ajla Tomljanovic knocked out Venus Williams in the WTA Austin opener.
The all-American clash took place in the second round of the Mexican Open in Acapulco, an ATP 500 event. This was the fourth meeting between Frances Tiafoe and Aleksandar Kovacevic, with Tiafoe now holding a 4-0 record, though all of their matches have gone to three sets. Currently ranked 28th as of February 23, 2026, Tiafoe is fighting to regain the form that saw him reach a career-high of World No. 10 in June 2023. After the match, Tiafoe admitted to not playing his best and even going against his coach's advice on one of the saved match points. He acknowledged a bit of luck in the thrilling victory and emphasized his focus on competing hard to build confidence. Tiafoe's next opponent in the quarterfinals is Italy's Mattia Bellucci. The victory for Ajla Tomljanovic came in the opening round of the ATX Open in Austin, Texas. Her win marks a significant milestone, as she is now one of only a few players to hold an undefeated record against both Venus and Serena Williams. Tomljanovic famously defeated Serena in what was the final match of her professional career at the 2022 US Open. For the 45-year-old Venus Williams, the loss extends a difficult start to the 2026 season. The seven-time major champion is now 0-4 this year and is on a seven-match losing streak dating back to the summer of 2025. Tomljanovic followed up her win against Williams by defeating the tournament's No. 2 seed, Iva Jovic, in a three-set second-round match. She will now face fellow Australian Kimberly Birrell in the quarterfinals.
