Pinnington Jones Wins & Djokovic Withdraws: Tennis Updates – Wimbledon, Qatar & More

DALLAS, TX – Jack Pinnington Jones has delivered the biggest win of his young career, upsetting world number 20 Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-2 at the ATP Dallas Open on February 11, 2026. The victory marks a significant step forward for the 22-year-old Brit, who navigated the qualifying rounds to reach the main draw of an ATP 500 event for the first time.

The match itself was a remarkably swift affair, completed in just 54 minutes. Pinnington Jones, currently ranked 181st in the world, demonstrated a level of play that clearly unsettled the Italian, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist last year. This win is particularly noteworthy given that Cobolli defeated Pinnington Jones in the second round at Wimbledon in 2025, making this a satisfying reversal of fortunes for the young Brit.

Pinnington Jones’s path to professional tennis wasn’t entirely conventional. A close friend of British number one Jack Draper, he completed his junior season at Texas Christian University in May but made the deliberate decision to forego his final year of collegiate eligibility to pursue a full-time career on the professional tour. That decision appears to be paying dividends, as evidenced by his performance in Dallas.

He will now face either Australia’s James Duckworth or American wildcard Eliot Spizzirri in the next round, continuing his unexpected run at the tournament. His previous Grand Slam match win came at Wimbledon last year against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, showcasing his growing comfort on the biggest stages.

Elsewhere in the tennis world, the landscape of the men’s game continues to evolve. Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the upcoming Qatar Open in Doha, citing fatigue. This decision comes after his runner-up finish to Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open last month. The 38-year-old Serb will now focus his attention on the North American hard court swing, aiming to add to his already impressive collection of 24 Grand Slam titles.

Djokovic’s withdrawal underscores the physical demands of the professional tour, even for a player of his legendary endurance. With Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal now retired, Djokovic remains the last of the “Big Three” actively competing, carrying the weight of expectation and the responsibility of maintaining their dominance in a rapidly changing sport.

The women’s tour also saw notable results. Elena Rybakina, fresh off her Australian Open triumph, secured a 6-2, 6-4 victory over China’s Wang Xinyu in Qatar. World number two Iga Swiatek also enjoyed a comfortable win, breezing past Janice Tjen 6-0, 6-3. However, there was an upset as American Coco Gauff, ranked fifth in the world, fell to Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-4, 6-2. Cocciaretto’s victory propelled her to the last 16 of a WTA 1000 event for the first time, marking a career milestone.

The news wasn’t all positive for the British contingent. Cameron Norrie, the nation’s number two, was defeated 7-6 (11-9), 6-4 by Australian qualifier Christopher O’Connell in the second round of the Rotterdam Open, despite having won his opening match against Roberto Bautista Agut. Emma Raducanu was forced to retire from her first-round match against Camila Osorio earlier in the week, adding to a challenging start to the season for the 2021 US Open champion.

Pinnington Jones’s breakthrough performance in Dallas offers a bright spot for British tennis, demonstrating the depth of talent emerging within the nation’s ranks. While the road to the top is long and arduous, his victory over a seasoned player like Cobolli signals a promising future for the young Brit. His ability to translate his collegiate experience into success on the professional tour will be closely watched as he continues his ascent in the world of men’s tennis.