Game Week 3 Roundup

 

🎾 WTA 1000 Doha – Muchova Returns, Mboko Arrives, and Iga Wobbles

Doha delivered the most intriguing storyline of the week: a final that nobody predicted but everyone enjoyed. Karolína Muchová, finally healthy enough to string matches together, reminded the tour what she looks like at full flow. Her path wasn’t soft either — wins over Anisimova and Kalinskaya set the tone, but the real statement came in the semifinal where she clawed back from a set down to beat Maria Sakkari, who had just produced the shock of the week by knocking out top seed Iga Świątek. That result alone will have fantasy managers wondering whether Iga’s aura of inevitability is flickering a little in early 2026.

On the other side of the draw, Victoria Mboko continued her astonishing rise. The Canadian teenager survived a match point against Mirra Andreeva, then outlasted Elena Rybakina in a bruising quarterfinal before dispatching the eternal chaos merchant Jelena Ostapenko in the semis. Mboko’s run was a showcase of grit, nerve, and a refusal to be intimidated by bigger names. But the final belonged to Muchová, whose variety and poise were simply too much. If she stays healthy — a perennial “if” — she’s a genuine threat at every major event this season.

🎾 ATP 500 Rotterdam – De Minaur’s Steel, Felix’s Revival, and Botic’s Almost

Rotterdam was a week for the purists: clean indoor tennis, crisp ball‑striking, and a final that pitted the top two seeds against each other. Alex de Minaur, the No. 1 seed, dropped just one set all week — and that came in a near‑disaster against home favourite Botic van de Zandschulp, who pushed him to the brink in front of a raucous Dutch crowd. Survive that, though, and the rest of the week looked almost serene. De Minaur handled Ugo Humbert in the semis with trademark efficiency and then produced a confident, composed performance to beat Felix Auger‑Aliassime in the final.

Felix, for his part, looked more like the player who once threatened to break into the very top tier. His run to the final was a welcome reminder of his ceiling, and fantasy managers who gambled on him were rewarded handsomely. But Rotterdam ultimately belonged to De Minaur — a player who seems to be entering the “I win the matches I’m supposed to win” phase of his career, which is exactly what top seeds are meant to do.

🎾 ATP 250 Dallas – Shelton’s Boom, Fritz’s Consistency, and a Pair of Comebacks

Dallas served up an all‑American final between Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz, with the No. 2 seed Shelton powering his way to the title. His lefty serve was its usual menace, but what stood out this week was his composure in tight moments — especially in the semifinal against Denis Shapovalov, a three‑set thriller where Shapo showed flashes of his old brilliance before Shelton slammed the door shut.

The other semifinal featured a welcome sight: Marin Čilić, the veteran and former major champion, pushing Fritz hard in two tight sets. Fritz, the top seed, did everything expected of him — steady, disciplined, and clinical — but Shelton’s explosiveness in the final proved decisive. For fantasy managers, Dallas was a straightforward week: pick the seeds, reap the points, and enjoy the fireworks.

🎾 ATP 250 Buenos Aires – Cerúndolo’s Homecoming, Darderi’s Breakthrough, and a Bucket‑List Moment

Buenos Aires was the most emotional stop of the week, headlined by Francisco Cerúndolo fulfilling a dream he had openly spoken about. In a video chat with Casper Ruud, he’d said that winning his home tournament was on his bucket list for 2026 — and whether Ruud was a lucky charm or simply a good listener, Cerúndolo made it happen. The No. 1 seed played with purpose all week and capped it off by beating No. 2 seed Luciano Darderi in the final.

Darderi’s run was a breakout moment in its own right, confirming that his surge up the rankings is no fluke. But this tournament belonged to Cerúndolo, who fed off the Buenos Aires crowd and delivered the kind of clay‑court tennis that makes him so dangerous in South America. For fantasy managers, this was the most predictable event of the week — the top two seeds marched to the final without much fuss — but it was also the most satisfying, a homegrown champion lifting a trophy he’s long coveted.

Here is the global league table for the game week. 

Congrats to Anuar Zhumabay and his team State of Serve who finished top of the standings for this game week. 

Anuar had Dallas winner Ben Shelton and Rotterdam runner up FAA as KPs.  He had both Doha finalists in Muchova and Mboko as well as an excellent DH choice in the shape of Jelena Ostapenko.  Altogether an outstanding week.

Sitting at 2nd and 3rd in the standings are Sindre (Team Le Tourneau) and Shane (CooCoo 4 Coco Gauffs) and it was these two teams who battled it out for Level 2 honours.

Congrats to Sindre who edged out the game week by 10 points.  Here is the head to head between the two sides.

Remarkably Shane had all 4 Champions in his team but if he's looking for scapegoat that stopped him getting top spot - look no further than Daniil Medvedev!