Report Card: Grading the Pros on February

And you said February is a slow tennis month? Here’s a roundup of the best and worst of an eventful 29 days:

Head of the Class

Roger Federer was great in February, Victoria Azarenka followed her Australian Open title with another win, but John Isner deserves top honors. The hard-serving American scored the upset of the month when he beat Federer on clay in Switzerland to lead the United States to a Davis Cup rout.

A is for…Andy

Though Andy Murray lost in the Dubai final, he clobbered Novak Djokovic and showed no signs of having another of his spring swoons. Andy Roddick hardly had a great month (he’s now 4-4 on the year) but he looked more like his old self against Federer at Madison Square Garden Monday night. Can the good times carry over to Indian Wells? (PS: Fantastic impersonation of Nadal—and can those signature jumps possibly be good for you?)

…and Agnieszka Radwanska, whose victory in Dubai made her seem like a real Slam contender for the first time. She’s now ranked No. 5.

…and also for Arvidsson, Sofia, who won in Memphis.

Skip a Grade

Congrats to Kei Nishikori, whose ranking is at 17 and climbing.

B+ is for…Blue

You know the blue court a lot of people were nervous about, the new one in Madrid? Have to say, I like it. Now we just have to see how it plays.

D is for…Diversity

In a world where Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Federer, and Murray suck up most of the oxygen, it’s nice for regular guys like Marinko Matosevic to get some attention now and again. The 26-year-old reached the Delray Beach final, where he lost to Kevin Anderson.

…and Del Potro

Nice to see Juan Martin Del Potro winning lots of matches again. He’s going to cause trouble this year, no doubt. But a question that no one is asking: Maybe he’s as good as he was in 2009, when he won the U.S. Open, but the Big Three-and-Half are playing better? Not fair to say he’s not back yet. I think he is. Now he has to go farther than ever.

F Is for Fail…and Flight

Congrats to Jurgen Melzer, who took the title in Memphis. His reward? An hour-long conversation with American Airlines to change his plane tickets. And yes, you guessed it, Melzer lost that match. Double bagel.

Too Much Love…

Maria Sharapova, you were too kind—not to Caroline Wozniacki, your opponent at MSG Monday, but to her boyfriend, new golf No. 1 Rory McIlroy. I wish Sharapova hadn’t let up on him when McIlroy took the court for a rally. Don’t give that man a point, put him in his place—and back on the golf course.

…Too Little Love

The man not named Federer who won two tournaments this month? David Ferrer, who captured titles on clay in Buenos Aires and Acapulco. Curious way to warm up for two of the biggest hard court tournaments of the season, but hard to knock the man’s endless energy.

(Difficult) Name to Remember?

Congrats to 19-year-old Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino, who won her first singles title in Bogota.

Department of Anagrams

So Daniela Hantuchova, winner in Thailand in February, flies to Beijing and is congratulated with a free meal of delicious cow (not exactly traditional Chinese cuisine, but play along—we’re supposed to be having fun here!). This is what you would call a <strong><em>_</em><em>_</em>_</strong>. Send your answers to me via email and via Twitter, and I’ll give a shout to the winner.

Tom Perrotta is an editor-at-large at TENNIS.