ATP BNP Paribas Open Masters
McEnroe on Federer’s Hall of Fame induction, Pegula’s run and tennis analytics
McEnroe on Hall of Fame voting, Pegula’s surge, data in coaching and Riske on analytics. Season 2026
Episode 8 of The Big T podcast is out, with a rotating host joining familiar voices and two guests stopping by for focused conversations. The show opens with the much-anticipated news of Roger Federer’s upcoming induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, an event that sold out rapidly. Mary Carillo will be inducted in the Contributor category this August in Newport, one of three induction tracks alongside Player and Wheelchair.
On the question of expanding categories, Patrick McEnroe, President of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, said, “We’ve had some people on our committees mention the idea,” said Patrick McEnroe, President of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. “These are the things we look at on a fairly regular basis, because it’s a pretty big responsibility to have.”
Hall of Fame voting has been in the headlines across sports this year. McEnroe referred to another high-profile exclusion as “pretty bizarre,” and added, “We’re trying to, at the Tennis Hall of Fame, avoid those types of controversies—and do the right thing.” Listen at the 13:55 mark.
The episode turns to form and data. At the WTA 1000 in Dubai, Jessica Pegula reached her seventh straight semifinal and captured a title, continuing a remarkable 18-month period. Since August 2024, Pegula is 83-29, with five titles (including two WTA 1000s) and six runner-up finishes (including three WTA 1000s and one Grand Slam). Alison Riske, joining Brad Gilbert on the show, said, “I don’t know how to unpack the story of Jess Pegula.”
Gilbert observed, “She’s the type of player that all other players can look at and say, ‘Look where she was, at 25 years old, and look what’s possible,’” said Gilbert.
Analytics take center stage with Ben Depoorter of Golden Set Analytics. “One match actually is about 26 million data points, believe it or not,” says Depoorter, whose team has worked with Grand Slam champions. Riske described how she used analytics earlier in her career: “The things that we looked for a lot were my opponents’ serve placement, and where I should be serving second serves. I remember in particular, a match against [Kristina] Mladenovic at Wimbledon, a big flag was, ‘Hey, you need to be serving the majority of your second serves to her forehand.’ And I’ll tell you what, I probably won 80 percent.
“You guys won a lot of matches for me.” Listen at the 40:30 mark.
Other segments examine viewer interest, playing styles and court surfaces. Listen at the 3:00, 28:30 and 38:00 marks for specific segments. To submit questions by phone, call 844-678-BIGT.
ATP ATP 500 BMW Open
Shelton vs João Fonseca: BMW Open Quarterfinals Take Shape in Chilly Munich Play
Ben Shelton to face João Fonseca in BMW Open quarterfinal; Fonseca, Cobolli and Marozsan move on now
Cool weather continued to be a factor at the BMW Open by Bitpanda, but results on court moved the tournament steadily forward with a high-profile quarterfinal pairing now set. Ben Shelton advanced to the last eight with a straight-sets win, and João Fonseca produced a commanding performance to join him.
Shelton beat Belgian wild card Alexander Blockx 6-4, 7-6(8) in the second round, firing four aces and winning 71 per cent of his second-service points in a match that lasted one hour and 46 minutes. It is his fifth quarterfinal of the season. “Finding ways to win points without just serving or hitting through him was key today,” Shelton said after reaching his fifth quarterfinal of the season.
Shelton and Fonseca will meet in a first tour-level encounter on Friday. “He is a very complete player for his age. We have never played on the tour, but I hit with him in Mallorca. He has a great forehand, moves well and plays well on the backhand, too. I am definitely looking to mix things up and use everything I have.” Shelton also joked about local football, saying, “I hope Bayern wins,” Shelton answered with a smile.
Fonseca opened Center Court with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over No. 7 seed Arthur Rinderknech, saving all nine break points he faced and converting three of seven opportunities in a one hour and 21 minute match. The 19-year-old became the second teenager this decade to reach the Munich quarterfinals after Holger Rune in 2022 and 2023 and will be the first Brazilian in the Munich last eight since Thomaz Bellucci in 2014. “Saving the break points was key today,” Fonseca said after reaching his sixth ATP Tour quarterfinal of the season, his third at ATP 500 level. “I was super focused on today’s match, as I knew it was becoming difficult. Arthur is a player full of weapons, using serve and volley as well as drop shots.
“I like to play aggressively, to attack and dominate the points. I was trying to do that when I was serving and returning. He was returning most of the time from the baseline, putting a lot of pressure on me. Overall, it was a tight match, and I am happy to be performing well during the important points.”
Elsewhere, No. 4 seed Flavio Cobolli beat Zizou Bergs 6-2, 6-3 and will face Vit Kopriva next; Cobolli said, “When you win the first round but didn’t play well, you have the opportunity to do it better in the next one. That’s what I did today. I am happy about it because it wasn’t easy.” Fabian Marozsan also advanced with a three-set victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas, reflecting on the change of conditions and his focus: “It was tough to refocus on a second day,” Marozsan said. “Yesterday, I managed to come back after losing the opening set. Conditions were different today, and Stefanos is a great player. The courts were a little soft with the bounces, but I just tried to focus on myself, and I am really happy to beat him in my second attempt.”
ATP Davis Cup Grand Slam
Jamie Murray retires after 36 years, closing the ‘Murray era’ in doubles
Jamie Murray retires after 36 years, ending a career that included a doubles world No. 1 peak today.
Jamie Murray confirmed his retirement on social media Wednesday, announcing that his long run in professional tennis is over. The former doubles world No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion posted images spanning his career and wrote that “[his] tennis journey [is coming] to an end after 36 years.”
In the message, Murray acknowledged the role his family played in his career. He thanked his mother Judy and his brother Andy for their support, saying their backing helped him “achieve everything I could in the game.” He added: “I feel very fortunate and privileged for all the amazing experiences this great sport has given me,” the 40-year-old wrote in the Instagram post.
Murray finishes his career with 34 tour-level titles, two of those won alongside his younger brother. The Murray pairing was central to Great Britain’s 2015 Davis Cup triumph, the country’s first Davis Cup victory in 79 years, with the brothers taking crucial doubles matches in the quarterfinal, semifinal and final rounds.
In 2016 Jamie reached a milestone for British doubles players by becoming the first British man to attain the world No. 1 ranking in doubles; he held that position for nine weeks. He also joined Andy as his doubles partner for Andy’s final Wimbledon tournament in 2024.
The social post offered a reflective ending to a career that spanned more than two decades and encompassed Grand Slam titles, a stint at the top of the doubles rankings and a key role in a historic national team victory. Murray’s announcement marks the close of a defining presence in doubles competition and a notable chapter in recent British tennis history.
ATP Grand Slam
Becker’s 1989 US Open trophy sells for more than $357,000 at auction
Becker’s 1989 US Open trophy brought more than $357,000, becoming the priciest trophy sale on sale.
Nearly 40 years after he lifted it, Boris Becker’s 1989 US Open Men’s Singles trophy sold at auction for more than $357,000. The lot is now the most expensive tennis trophy ever sold and the second-most expensive piece of tennis memorabilia ever to reach the market, behind only Novak Djokovic’s racquet, which sold for $450,000 in February.
Prestige Memorabilia noted the rarity of the sale: “Such trophies virtually never leave the possession of the player who won them. To the best of our knowledge, this example represents the only known US Open Men’s Singles champion trophy from the Open Era ever to reach the public market.”
Becker received the sterling silver trophy after defeating Ivan Lendl in the 1989 final, a victory that represented his fourth Grand Slam title and his only US Open championship. Crafted by Tiffany & Co., the trophy had been on loan to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island before appearing at auction.
The trophy’s appearance on the market traces back to Becker’s bankruptcy proceedings. He was declared bankrupt in 2017 and, beginning in 2019, sold trophies and personal memorabilia to raise funds for creditors. Items reported as sold included the 1989 US Open trophy, a 1985 Wimbledon replica trophy, a 1988 Davis Cup trophy, and a Hall of Fame ring. The bankruptcy case led to criminal proceedings; Becker was convicted on four charges under the Insolvency Act, served a fast-tracked sentence in 2022, and was released in December 2022. During the London court proceedings he reportedly owed creditors $62.5 million and said a majority of his career trophies had been sold, gifted, or “lost,” leaving him unable to produce them for creditors.
According to the auction lot description, the trophy stands 14 inches tall, is made of sterling silver, and bears the inscription: “United States Tennis Association / United States Open Tennis Championship / Men’s Singles / Boris Becker / 1989.”
© 2026 David Benito
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