Back in the day when tennis was all about big serves and colorful characters, Andre Agassi really stood out, both for his talent and his intriguing personality. He shot to fame not only because of his talent but also for his rebellious vibe—the denim shorts, the long hair, and the catchphrase “Image is Everything.” And recently, some of the standout names in the tennis world, such as Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson, shared their views on Agassi and another tennis star.
Their experiences and insights come from years of competing on tour at the highest level. On their popular show, ‘Nothing Major’, they share untold stories and have some fun chatting with fellow American pros. Recently, they focused on one of sports’ most intriguing themes: the haunting question of ‘what if’.
Steve Johnson thought about a legendary player whose career had its fair share of tough times and amazing comebacks. And yes, Johnson brought up Andre Agassi as a huge ‘what if’, really thinking about how the champion’s well-known break from the sport might have changed things. “Agassi is kind of a what if, if he didn’t go for that mental break… maybe not a mental break, but it was for like four years,” Johnson wondered.
“How many more majors could he have had, you know what I mean?” Agassi had a pretty rough patch in the late 1990s when his ranking dropped below the top 100, and he really started to wonder about his future in tennis. So, when he made a comeback and snagged five of his eight major titles after turning 29, it turned into one of the sport’s most inspiring comeback tales.
On the flip side, when it comes to Sam Querrey, the biggest ‘what if’ isn’t about a global superstar. Instead, it’s about a brief talent who looked like they were on the brink of greatness but then just vanished. Querrey pointed out that Hyeon Chung from South Korea is the biggest mystery in the sport right now.
“I think Chung [Hyeon] is like the biggest one. Just because he made the semifinals of the Australian Open, got that crazy blister on his foot and then like vanished off the face of the earth, and he was like 22 years old,” Querrey said. Chung had an amazing run at the 2018 Australian Open! He scored wins against big names like Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, and even pulled off a straight-sets upset against Novak Djokovic.
Unfortunately, a foot injury cut his journey short in the semifinals against Roger Federer. Querrey shared a feeling that a lot of people in the tennis community felt back then, saying, “I think everyone had him pencilled in as a guy who was gonna be like top 10 for a while and then, like, where is the dude? I don’t know what happened to him.”
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Chung’s battle with injuries really took a toll, causing his ranking to drop from a peak of 19th all the way down to outside the top 350. It definitely makes you think about what could have been in his tennis journey. However, Agassi did mention his resurgence in tennis.
Andre Agassi once opened up about his comeback in the sport
For Andre Agassi, his incredible comeback from being ranked outside the top 100 to reaching world No. 1 wasn’t just about chasing glory; it was really about reconnecting with the core of who he is. This transformative time really changed how he sees things, and he even said, “When I was number one, I was probably the worst version of myself. When I was 140, I was the best—people just hadn’t seen it yet.”
This deep thought shows that his return wasn’t just about getting a title back; it was really about growing a stronger character from a place of true humility. It all started with one simple question he asked himself every day to help with his recovery: “Can I be better than I am today?” He adopted the view that “Success is how we choose to live in the moments that make us better,” focusing on controllable effort rather than uncontrollable outcomes.
His trainer, Brad Gilbert, summed it up nicely: “There’s a lot of good waiting for you on the other side of tired.” His disciplined, inward-focused approach helped him handle the huge pressure of his return, realizing that “Pressure is really a perspective.”
He decided to concentrate on the present moment instead of getting stuck in the past or worrying about what’s ahead. This choice led to one of the most incredible comebacks in sports history, showing that his true greatness came not from winning, but from the brave decision to start over.

When Anastasia Potapova revealed she would represent Austria starting in 2026, it caught the tennis world’s attention immediately. However, it was not only the announcement that was making noise; it was the reaction of Daria Kasatkina that took the stage.
We saw, Potapova shared the news on Instagram, writing, “I am delighted to let you all know that my application for citizenship has been accepted by the Austrian Government. Austria is a place I love, is incredibly welcoming and a place where I feel totally at home. I love being in Wien and look forward to making my second home there…” And within no time, fans realized that something was wrong.
The phrasing of Potapova’s announcement was also very similar to that of a message Daria Kasatkina posted earlier this year when she announced her nationality change. The only difference was that ‘Australia’ was replaced with ‘Austria.’
One fan even commented on the post, “Not she copying Dasha’s words but only replaced Australia with Austria,” leaving everyone wondering how Kasatkina would respond.
Social media exploded with comments, memes, and jokes after Kasatkina responded to the similar phrasing with a single skull emoji. But she didn’t stop there.
Daria Kasatkina further added, “And no, we are not from same agency😂,” she added with a laughing emoji.
The laughing emoji made it clear she found the situation funny and dismissed any idea that the same PR team had written both posts. But it raises the bigger question: why did they decide to switch their sporting nationality in the first place?
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Why did Anastasia Potapova and Daria Kasatkina switch their nationalities?
For Daria Kasatkina, the decision to start representing Australia in March 2025 was a major step in her career and life. The 28-year-old has been a vocal critic of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and has openly cited safety concerns as a gay woman for leaving the country. She hasn’t returned to Russia since February 2022 and has been living in Dubai in the years leading up to her permanent residency.
Changing her sporting nationality allowed her to continue competing at the highest level while securing her personal safety and freedom. Her action is typical of a larger trend of Russian and Belarusian athletes as well, who have also been banned from participating under their national flags since 2022. Others have sought to acquire new nationalities to preserve their careers.’.
In a similar move, 24-year-old Anastasia Potapova declared that she will compete in Austria beginning in 2026. This move was done by Potapova, who has three singles titles and a career-best ranking of No. 21, almost two years after her ex-husband, Alexander Shevchenko, changed his nationality to Kazakhstan in January 2024.
When Potapova makes the switch, she will be the highest-ranked female tennis player in Austria and will play on the Austrian flag in the 2026 season, becoming part of the list of Russian athletes transforming the tennis landscape by changing nationality.

Carlos Alcaraz made his frustration with the ATP schedule clear last year when he warned, “They’re going to kill us in some way.” His concerns were echoed by many players such as Iga Swiatek and Taylor Fritz. Still, it looks like Tommy Paul’s coach sees things from an entirely different angle.
Brad Stine isn’t buying the idea that players are victims of the calendar. In fact, he’s putting the onus back on the players. “I think the ATP circuit players forget that this is not a team sport,” he stated recently. The 67-year-old further explained that “We are not in a league like the NBA, we are independent entrepreneurs. And it’s a free market… No one threatens them with a weapon to force them to play. They can take all the weeks off they want. Are there any consequences? Of course. And it’s normal.”
Even after his loss at the ATP Finals, Carlos Alcaraz (who had just skipped Spain’s Davis Cup run due to a right hamstring edema) still chose to face two-time US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe in Newark on December 7, then hopped on a flight to Miami to take on rising Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca the very next day, a decision that some question considering his earlier remarks on the scheduling.
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Alcaraz explained that exhibitions simply aren’t the same as tournaments. He said “the biggest difference is that in a tournament you have to stay focused and it is expensive both from a physical and mental point of view. A performance is only one day.”
In other words, exhibitions don’t drain him the way a long tournament week does, which is why he feels comfortable playing them even during a busy stretch.
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Still, the bigger debate remains. Many players argue the schedule is becoming too much, with nonstop travel, quick surface changes, and barely any time to recover. They feel the sport demands more than the calendar allows, leaving little space for proper training or avoiding injuries, while trying not to incur points penalties for skipping mandatory tournaments.
That’s why some believe the system is pushing players into a constant cycle of fatigue and burnout.
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Lower-ranked players benefit from having more events, but top players often feel pressured to compete every week to maintain their ranking and honor commitments. This leads many to question whether the tour is more focused on business than on the athletes’ health. So when Brad Stine says it’s ultimately on players to choose whether or not to play, his point hits hard for a lot of fans and insiders who see both sides of the issue.
But Stine doesn’t stop there. Tommy Paul’s coach also calls for real change to the tennis calendar, arguing that the current setup gives an “advantage for top players.” So what exactly did he say?
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Brad Stine’s bold call to scrap Masters byes
The debate over the ATP and WTA schedules is still raging, and now another issue has joined the conversation. Brad Stine believes that a major change is needed at Masters 1000 events, one that would directly impact the tour’s biggest stars. With growing frustration over the new extended formats at tournaments like Cincinnati and Shanghai, he thinks the system needs to be rebalanced.
Brad Stine’s main point is simple: he wants Masters 1000 tournaments to get rid of byes. Right now, top players automatically skip the first round, something many fans and players see as an unfair advantage. Speaking to The Slice, Stine admitted, “I’m not a fan to be honest with you of the byes in the Masters 1000’s, or in the 250’s. I think that we should fill the draw. Why don’t we?” He believes tournaments should start with a full field so every player begins on equal footing.
He further explained that what bothers him most is the built-in edge that higher-ranked players enjoy. As Stine put it, “I don’t like the idea that any player, regardless of their status, has a slight advantage. I only have to win four matches instead of five matches or whatever it may be in the Masters 1000s.” To him, skipping a match and arriving later in the week gives top players a head start that doesn’t really fit the spirit of competition.
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And in the end, Stine summed up his view, saying, “I personally don’t like that. I think that the draw should be filled and there should not be byes in any draws during the year.” Currently, the top eight seeds receive byes at Masters events, players like Alcaraz, Sinner, Taylor Fritz, and Novak Djokovic. But if Stine had it his way, every player would step onto the court from day one.

Nick Kyrgios reckons Alex de Minaur need do nothing more to be regarded as a modern-day great of Australian tennis.
After another stellar season, de Minaur will land a fourth Newcombe Medal at Australian tennis’s night of nights in Melbourne on Monday.
Only retired legend Ash Barty, with five gongs, has been crowned Australia’s player of the year more times, with de Minaur set to eclipse Samantha Stosur’s three straight medals from 2010-12.
Alex de Minaur and Ash Barty were named joint winners of the 2018 Newcombe Medal. (David Crosling/AAP PHOTOS)
The 26-year-old joined his mentor Lleyton Hewitt and John Newcombe himself as only the third Australian to make the semi-finals of the prestigious season-ending ATP championship.
After matching his career-high ranking of No.6 in the world in October, de Minaur also remains the only Australian man since Hewitt 20 years ago to crack the top 10.
Even Kyrgios only peaked at No.13 after reaching the 2022 Wimbledon final.
Kyrgios says it is too early to anoint de Minaur as a future grand slam champion, but he places his countryman in the batch of stars ready to pounce – even at next month’s Australian Open – if tennis titans Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner somehow slip up.
Alex de Minaur couldn’t stop Jannik Sinner’s run to the 2025 Australian Open championship. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
Alcaraz and two-time defending AO champion Sinner have won the past eight grand slam titles.
“Demon’s doing an amazing job, to be honest. He’s a genuine contender, I think,” Kyrgios told AAP.
“Maybe not at a grand slam over best of five with the way Alcaraz and Sinner are playing right now.
“But if one of those guys go down early, I would say that Demon’s one of the other three or four people that genuinely has a chance to do it.
Nick Kyrgios believes compatriot Alex de Minaur has what it takes to win a major championship. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)
“We all know how hard he works. I’ve been around him and his competitiveness and work ethic is literally probably second to none.
“But look, regardless, he may not ever win a grand slam, or he may not ever win a Masters event or whatever it is, but I like what he’s doing now.
“It is still incredible. He’s been top 10 now for years and he’s already done things that are incredible.
“He’s done amazing for Australia, regardless of what happens.”
Hoping to make a comeback from career-threatening knee and wrist injuries that have limited him to six tour matches in more than three years, Kyrgios is urging de Minaur to embrace the pressure and expectation that comes with being Australia’s top summer hope.
The gifted Nick Kyrgios hopes to make a comeback after a string of career-threatening injuries. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
The mercurial talent also advised de Minaur to savour every moment in the spotlight.
“That’s the one thing I tell athletes now, and not even just tennis, you can’t really take it for granted, being right there,” he said.
“It just goes so quick. Like, one second you have it all figured out and then an injury can happen and your whole career flashes before your eyes.
“We’ve seen these injuries like Holger Rune snapping an achilles. These injuries can happen so acutely and it’s a scary feeling.”
Teenage sensation Maya Joint, who is poised to claim a first-time grand slam seeding at her home major in Melbourne, along with Kim Birrell, Priscilla Hon and Adam Walton are this year’s other Newcombe Medal nominees.
De Minaur, though, is a shoo-in.

This year’s tennis season has been about so much more than just the champions. It’s been filled with amazing stories, incredible rallies, and some heartfelt moments. When you look past the year-end rankings and trophies, the real essence of a season lies in those unforgettable moments that go beyond the score: a display of sheer determination, a heartfelt nod between past rivals, or a fresh outfit that symbolizes a personal transformation.
The EssentiallySports In-House Awards are all about recognizing those amazing stories, that make tennis such a fascinating sport.
Best Match of the Year – the cousins’ showdown between Valentin Vacherot vs. Arthur Rinderknech
In a season filled with incredible stories, nothing grabbed the attention and passion of tennis fans quite like the 2025 Shanghai Rolex Masters final, where cousins Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech faced off in a memorable showdown.
The whole situation felt like something out of a movie: two unseeded players, with Vacherot, ranked 204th, coming up from the qualifying rounds, and Rinderknech, who was thinking about retirement just a few months ago, taking down some big names like Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev en route to the final. It was quite the match on the court, with Vacherot coming out on top, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The emotions that came after went beyond just the game. With tears in his eyes, Rinderknech referred to Vacherot as his “beloved cousin, my brother,” and said, “Two cousins are stronger than one.”
He reflected on the match, saying, “Such a thing will never happen again, never in history.” The Shanghai final takes the cake for delivering an unforgettable family fairytale, some serious drama, and a moment of pure sporting togetherness.
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Best Moment of the Year – Serena Williams’ tribute to Maria Sharapova during Hall of Fame Induction
One of the defining moments of this tennis year occurred not on a match court, but on a stage in Newport, Rhode Island, when Serena Williams stepped forward to deliver the Hall of Fame induction speech for her storied rival, Maria Sharapova.
Williams referred to Sharapova as her “former rival, former fan and forever friend,” recognizing their intense competitive history, where they were each other’s “biggest obstacle” for more than ten years.
She appreciated how Sharapova’s challenge pushed her to “practice harder” and commended her rival for transforming “how women not only approached tennis, but sports and opportunity.”
In a personal reflection, Williams even mentioned, “She actually reminds me a lot of Venus… the more I get to know her the more I think the things we share… If I didn’t know her better, I think she could have been my sister.”
The moment really captured a journey from being “miles and miles apart” to building mutual respect and friendship. Sharapova even described it as “a gift to find someone who motivates you to reach those heights.”
Best Grand Slam Finale of the Year – Roland Garros: Jannik Sinner vs. Carlos Alcaraz
The 2025 Roland Garros final featuring Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz was an unforgettable match that is the clear winner for the year’s best Grand Slam finale. In an incredible showdown, the world’s top two players, both with perfect records in major finals, put on a thrilling display of strength and skill for five hours and twenty-nine minutes.
This epic match, the longest French Open final ever, wrapped up with a score of 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2), going to Alcaraz. The match was full of twists and turns: Sinner took charge in the first two sets and even had three championship points at love-40 in the fourth, but Alcaraz pulled off an incredible comeback to stay in the match and push it to a final fifth set.
His clutch performance under immense pressure really showed what he thinks a champion is all about: “I think the real champions are made in that situations when you deal with that pressure with that situations in the best way possible. I mean, that’s what the real champions have done in their whole careers.”
Even in a tough loss, Sinner recognized the significance of the moment: “Now I find myself here, playing the longest match in history of Roland Garros in a final. It hurts, yes, but in other way you cannot keep going crying… So, it happens.”
Best Photograph of the Year – Jasmine Paolini
Captured by veteran photographer Ray Giubilo, this viral image shows Italian star Jasmine Paolini with her face perfectly aligned with the strings of her racket, creating an optical illusion that resembles a Halloween mask or jack-o’-lantern. This sports photo was truly one-of-a-kind because of the perfect mix of luck, skill, and timing. The photo was taken during Paolini’s first-round US Open match against Destanee Aiava,
Giubilo pointed out that the shot happened just because Paolini was a bit off-balance and swung her racket in a unique way, with the colors of her Yonex frame creating that amazing illusion. Paolini jumped right into the moment, saying, “Maybe the picture of the year!” She even made an effort to track down Giubilo on the court to give him a shout-out, saying, “Grande photo!”
Best Comeback of the Year – Naomi Osaka
After a long stretch of uneven form following her time away from the sport due to maternity leave, Naomi Osaka made an impressive comeback to the top tier of women’s tennis in 2025. Her journey back wasn’t straightforward at all. It had its ups and downs, like that emotional first-round exit at the French Open, where she openly talked about the weight of her own expectations.
She reflected on her experiences, saying that the time away made her realize, “I love tennis way more than I thought I did, and I learned that I actually really love challenges.”
A key moment happened at the Canadian Open when saving two match points led to a big mental breakthrough. “Ever since then I’ve started thinking anything’s possible,” Osaka said. That mindset really fueled her standout win of the season—a solid 6-3, 6-2 victory against world No. 3 and reigning French Open champ Coco Gauff at the US Open.
On her favorite court, an emotional Osaka shared her thoughts on the full-circle moment, recalling how she watched from the stands as a new mother just two years ago: “This is my favorite court in the world, and it means so much to me to be back here.”
Best Rally of the Year – Alexander Zverev vs. Adam Walton 52 shot rally at the National Bank Open
The 52-shot rally between Alexander Zverev and Adam Walton in the second round of the 2025 National Bank Open was something else to watch. At a crucial 5-5 moment in the first-set tiebreak, both players really pushed each other to the max. Zverev brought some serious power from the baseline, while Walton showed incredible determination with his scrambling defense.
The German ended up winning the tough rally, grabbing a key set point that changed the whole vibe of the match, which he took in straight sets. Zverev really emphasized how crucial it was, saying it was a “very important moment, very important point for me,” and he credited it as the key to his win.
Best Rivalry of the Year – Jannik Sinner Sinner vs. Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek vs. Amanda Anisimova
Well, we’ve got a tie for Best Rivalry of the Year, and it’s all about two thrilling matchups that really stood out in 2025. First up, we have the faces of the ATP, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, going head-to-head. Then, on the WTA side, we can’t forget the fierce and unpredictable clashes between Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova.
The rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz has really hit a high point, with both stars under 25 swapping the world No. 1 ranking and sharing all four Grand Slam titles this year. Their French Open final was quite the marathon—five hours and twenty-nine minutes of intense action, with Alcaraz saving three match points – a possible all-time classic.
Then, in the Wimbledon final that followed, Sinner got immediate revenge. ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi pointed out, “These two guys are really incredible for our sport,” highlighting their different styles. Soon after, Alcaraz reigned supreme once again at the US Open.
On the other hand, the rivalry between Swiatek and Anisimova has been quite the rollercoaster, especially when you look at their two Grand Slam matches. Swiatek completely dominated in the Wimbledon final with a jaw-dropping 6-0, 6-0 win, but then just two months later, Anisimova pulled off an incredible comeback in the US Open quarterfinals.
Anisimova wrapped up their season series by taking down Swiatek at the WTA Finals, which put an end to the Pole’s tournament run. Swiatek, reflecting on the unexpected turn after her Finals loss, said, “I don’t know, maybe I won too much in last year and this is karma.”
Best Partnership of the Year – Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori at the US Open Mixed Doubles Finals
The Best Partnership of the Year award belongs to the Italian duo of Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, whose title defense at the 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles Finals was a masterclass in doubles synergy and a powerful statement for their discipline. The reigning champions, being the only real doubles specialists in a 16-team lineup filled with big-name singles players, found themselves up against a tournament that had been revamped to keep players like them out.
They showed up at the event as wild cards, ready to stand for “all the doubles players who cannot compete here.” Even though their singles rankings were much lower—Errani sitting at world No. 291 and Vavassori at No. 306—their chemistry on the court was clear as day. The big moment happened in the final match featuring singles stars Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud.
Vavassori, giving a shoutout to his partner, said to the crowd, “Thanks for the energy, it’s unbelievable for me to play with you. We’ve shown today that doubles is a great product.” After clinching an exciting 6-3, 5-7, [10-6] win to share the $1 million champion’s prize, Errani shared her thoughts on what the victory meant: “I think this one is also for all the doubles players that couldn’t play this tournament.”
Tribute of The Year – Rafael Nadal’s ceremony at Roland Garros
The heartfelt farewell ceremony for Rafael Nadal at the 2025 Roland Garros was a beautiful tribute to a legend, capturing the essence of his incredible 20-year journey. On the 20th anniversary of his debut, a full Court Philippe-Chatrier, filled with “Merci Rafa” shirts, gave the “King of Clay” a warm welcome that had him in tears before he even said a word.
The ceremony really shone with its personal touch and meaningful symbolism: they unveiled a permanent plaque with his footprint and the number 14 right next to the net, which truly touched Nadal’s heart.
“Knowing that it’s going to be there forever is a present I can’t describe in words,” he reflected. The emotional peak came when his three biggest rivals, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray, showed up unexpectedly, sending a strong message about respect and friendship.
“To have my three biggest rivals there in the court with me meant a lot, no? And at the same time it’s a great message for the world, I think, that best rivals, toughest rivalries probably in the history of our sport, are able to be good colleagues, to respect each other. You don’t need to hate the opponent to try to beat him with all your forces,” Nadal said.
It wasn’t just a goodbye; it was the perfect way to wrap up the greatest story ever told at Roland Garros.
Best Outfit of the Year – Taylor Townsend’s Phoenix dress worn at the US Open this year
Taylor Townsend rocked a phoenix-inspired kit that symbolized her amazing personal and professional comeback during her impressive run at the 2025 US Open. It’s not just any tennis dress; this black outfit with those cool flame details on the sleeves and skirt was actually designed by Townsend herself.
She created it under her “TT” apparel line, which she started after having a tough time finding a traditional clothing sponsor, even with her impressive doubles status.
Townsend shared her thoughts on the kit’s deep significance: “One of the reasons why I did the Phoenix kit for myself. A phoenix is a made-up creature, but the premise is that you have to burn or lose your old self in order to emerge as something new. And I feel like that’s indicative of my career, me as a person, me as a woman, me as a player.”
When it comes to turning a fashion statement into a powerful story of empowerment, Townsend’s phoenix dress really takes the crown.

Tennis is experiencing a resurgence, with almost 26 million people playing in the U.S. alone. That number has been on an upward trajectory five years in a row. While the sport’s renewed cultural relevance can be attributed to multiple factors, brands across fashion, entertainment, and even sports leagues like Major League Baseball are capitalizing on the trend through unconventional opportunities.
On December 8, LoanDepot Park, home of baseball’s Miami Marlins, will undergo a temporary redesign to host the Unified Events Miami Invitational, a one-night, first-of-its-kind exhibition featuring top tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz, João Fonseca, Amanda Anisimova, and Jessica Pegula in a city with a strong appetite for elite tennis.
“While they have the Miami Open, there is such a fervor for tennis in the Miami market, especially for those players,” says Molly Pendleton, SVP of MLS, Touring, and Unified Events.
To tap into the market’s enthusiasm, Pendleton and her team originally planned to host the event in a traditional arena, a common choice for these exhibition matches. However, due to scheduling conflicts and the time needed to set up the courts, Unified Events decided not to take that route. Since both United Events and the Marlins work with sports and culture company IMG, the partners explored creative ways to bring tennis to a baseball stadium. They selected LoanDepot Park because it offered optimal sigh tlines and a high-quality fan experience.
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“I was skeptical until I saw the renderings of what it could look like and what the fan experience would be, says Pendleton. [I] got on board with the idea [that] this could be a really unique experience for fans and the players.”
Anthony Favata, Vice President of Operations & Events for the Marlins, and his team created CAD renderings to visualize the transformation, which sealed the deal.
“We have an extremely versatile building,” says Favata. “Tennis was always on the road map.”
A Stadium Built for Adaptation
Historically, LoanDepot Park, formerly known as Marlins Park, was built to accommodate a variety of events. After opening in 2012, it hosted an international soccer game, and over the years, expanded to other entertainment, including concerts. Now, with recent investments in its infrastructure, the organization is reimagining the stadium’s design to expand its non-baseball slate.
For the Marlins’ operations team, months of site visits, engineering assessments, and software modeling informed how they will compress the stadium’s 130,000-square-foot footprint with 37,442 seats into an 8,700-square-foot environment with 12,000 seats for a quality viewing experience.
“It’s very important that you have that intimacy and the premium feel of being as close to the court as you can get,” Favata explained. “One thing that [was] created for us is the need to remove the pitcher’s mound.”
Design Challenges and Transformations
Unlike a tennis court, the typical dimensions of a baseball field is not rectangular but rather a “snow-coned” shape. To achieve the level of intimacy spectators want during a tennis match, the Marlins will place the court in front of home plate. Based on their CAD visualization, the team decided that the court will run diagonally from first base to third base.
One of the most complex design challenges in creating an intimate environment is the full removal of the pitcher’s mound, an undertaking requiring roughly eight hours by a dedicated five-person crew.
“We’ll remove [the] clay, and we’ll make sure it’s flat so that our flooring can come on top of that mound and then we can come on top of it with the cork,” explains Favata. This step ensures the installed court sits at the ideal distance from spectator seats so fans have up close and clear views of play.
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Previously, LoanDepot Park featured a natural grass field. However, the stadium later transitioned to a turf surface. Leveraging the stadium’s in-house flooring system has proven beneficial, allowing adaptability of its turf surface for various events. A team of up to 20 people will lay down a thick, plastic event decking or protective flooring called Terraplas directly on top of the clay comprising the pitcher’s mound. To further avoid impacting the clay underneath, the team will place a cork-rubber blend called Regupol Aktiv atop the Terraplas, followed by another layer of wood. Finally, additional workers will lay down the professional hard court, which will be transported overnight from the Charlotte Invitational happening just before the exhibition match in Miami.
The Marlins’ operations team will get a head start on the mound removal for another event occurring two days prior to the match. However, the majority of the conversion will happen overnight, involving about 37 people across multiple vendors working from roughly 10 p.m. on December 7 into the morning hours of December 8.
Enhancing the intimacy created by removing the pitcher’s mound will be the addition of roughly 600 temporary seats. The team will also recline the foul ball netting. While the main event will occur infield, the Marlins plan to restrict access to the outfield.
As Favata’s team reconfigures the field into a tennis court, ensuring player safety is critical.
“Although it’s an exhibition, we want to make sure that the court is at the highest level of play,” Favata said. “Some of the best in the world are going to be performing. We want to make sure it’s safe for them.”
Creating a Premium Tennis Environment
Beyond the technical build, the team will deliver a complete tennis environment with premium courtside seating, hospitality, and signature cocktails (Miami Ace and Sunset Invitational) inspired by the U.S. Open’s Honey Deuce. Partner brand activations include Segafredo’s specialty desserts and coffee, Geico’s tennis bracelet activation, and Penguin Tennis Apparel’s pop-up retail shop to create an immersive experience.
Depending on its success, Unified Events anticipates this invitational being an annual event in Miami. It’s already nearing capacity with about 9,500 seats sold, with tickets starting at $40.
In the meantime, the Miami Marlins are preparing for other events in the new year, like the Winter Classic in partnership with the National Hockey League.
“We’re very much involved in trying to continue to put this venue at the forefront of the concert and live entertainment business [with] some of those sports that you don’t typically consider in a baseball diamond that are cool, that are splashy, that are global,” Favata said. “[We want to] draw an attendee base to the facility that may not already be familiar with the venue in hopes that we give them a great experience and they return for Marlins baseball.”

Agnieszka Radwanska had an incredible career in Polish tennis, winning twenty WTA Tour singles titles over her thirteen years as a pro. She really changed the game for her country in the sport. She really made history by becoming the first Polish player to win a WTA singles title back in 2007. Then, in 2012, she hit a career-high ranking of world No. 2 and wrapped up that amazing season by finishing as the runner-up at Wimbledon.
She was the first Pole in the Open Era to make it to a Grand Slam singles final! After dealing with injuries, she decided to retire in 2018, leaving a legacy of excellence that set the Polish standard until Iga Swiatek came onto the scene.
In a surprising and heartwarming turn of events, the thirty-six-year-old Radwanska is gearing up to make her comeback to the professional tour. But she won’t be using a racket in any competitions. Instead, she’s taking on a coaching and mentoring role for her longtime friend and peer, Magda Linette.
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Andy Murray officially retired, marking the end of an incredible journey in one of the most resilient and celebrated careers in British sports history. So, after going pro in 2005, Murray really made a name for himself and joined the legendary ‘Big Four’ in men’s tennis. He picked up three Grand Slam singles titles along the way—first the US Open in 2012, then Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016.
His career highlights really show his relentless drive: he hit the world No. 1 ranking in 2016 and made history as the only player, male or female, to snag two Olympic singles gold medals in 2012 and 2016. He made his last professional appearance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he decided to represent Team GB one final time before hanging up his boots for good.
Now that he’s been retired for months, Andy Murray has shared an honest and uplifting view on what life is like after tennis. As reported by journalist Scott Barclay on X, shared a surprising sentiment about his life after retirement, stating, “I don’t play tennis now for enjoyment, and I’m really happy about that.” This statement shows a deep and calm change in who he is.
He said, “I feel like my purpose has changed. I was very focused on my tennis career, and now all of that attention goes into my family and my children.” Murray has taken that same relentless drive that helped him win Grand Slam titles and shifted it to things like the school run, family birthdays, and everyday life at home.
He shows he’s content by saying, “So I don’t have any urge to go on the tennis court right now; I don’t miss it. And I think that’s a really positive thing.” He’s found a new purpose in the everyday, sometimes humbling, routines of being a full-time father. Murray, married to Kim Sears and a dad to four little ones, is now the one doing the daily school drop-offs and pick-ups. He’s recognized that this big change in life needed some time to adjust, especially for his oldest daughter, Sophia, who felt a bit embarrassed at first by having her famous dad around all the time at school.
Murray really values this deep connection with family life. Well, Murray’s life after retirement shows us an athlete who’s really found happiness not by trying to relive his glory days, but by enjoying a calm and down-to-earth present. And recently, the Brit shared a memory from his career.
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Andy Murray on his battles with Roger Federer
When Andy Murray thinks about his career, there are definitely some matches that stick in his mind. One memorable match is his five-set showdown with Roger Federer at the 2013 Australian Open semifinal. “Yeah, so I watched him like loads when I was growing up,” Murray said about the Swiss tennis legend.
“I used to took notes from watching matches on watch matches of him on Sky. I had an injury when I was uh 15… I didn’t play for, like, six months, and you know, I really enjoyed watching him (Federer). Like, I loved watching him play, but I also, like, felt like I knew again. This is where it’s, like, from a strategical point of view, I felt like I knew how to play against him.”
He really pulled off one of his biggest wins in that semi-final, going through a tough five-set match: 6‑4, 6‑7 (5), 6‑3, 6‑7 (2), 6‑2. That victory not only took him to the final of the tournament but also marked his first-ever Grand Slam win against Federer. Murray shared his thoughts on the mental aspect of going up against Federer.
“I would feel going into those matches and the pressure that I would feel. Obviously, he would have felt that too… on the court, whereas you know he had this aura about him, and you know was always sort of described as you know he’s the best tennis player of all time that to overcome him,” the Brit said. Absolutely, that mindset really played a big role in shaping his tennis career.

On Saturday at the Atlanta Cup, Nick Kyrgios made his much-anticipated comeback to the court, going up against American sensation Ben Shelton. After months away from the game due to ongoing wrist and knee issues, the Australian, currently ranked outside the top 600, stepped onto the court for his first match. He saw this high-profile exhibition as a chance to gauge his physical condition for a possible comeback in 2026.
In the end, it was Shelton’s consistent performance that clinched the friendly match, as the American took home a 7-6, 6-3 win. Even though the outcome wasn’t in his favor, the highlight of the night for Kyrgios wasn’t a great shot or an ace; it was actually a funny, awkward fall at the net. He hopped on his Instagram story and shared a quick, two-word response to Shelton about the viral clip: “Hahaha thanks.”
This fun back-and-forth highlights the special and changing relationship between Kyrgios and the younger Shelton. Before the Atlanta exhibition, Kyrgios shared his thoughts about the American player, saying he sees “a lot of myself in his tennis, his risk-taking, and the way he interacts with the crowd.”
He referred to Shelton as an “incredible player,” saying that his explosive energy takes him back to his own younger days. Kyrgios’ social media comment after the net incident really highlights this bond, seeing Shelton not just as a rival but as someone he can share a laugh with.
For Kyrgios, who’s working his way back from some tough injuries, these exhibitions mean a lot more than just tennis. It’s a great opportunity to get back to the excitement of competition and the friendship that comes with being on tour. But you know, the Aussie’s mindset is definitely worth looking into before he makes his full return to the sport.
Nick Kyrgios keeps his mind balanced
Nick Kyrgios’ mindset in professional tennis is shaped by a mix of complex and sometimes conflicting psychological factors. Kyrgios really opened up during a rare moment of vulnerability, saying, “I think when things get tough, I’m just a little bit soft… I don’t love the sport. But, you know, I don’t really know what else to do without it.”
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But this mindset isn’t fixed; he’s shown he can turn criticism into motivation and even respect his competitors. A good example of this was after his tough Wimbledon match against Novak Djokovic in 2022.
The Serb took the match with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6, and the Aussie commented, “Yeah, yeah, he’s a bit of a god, I’m not going to lie. I thought I played well, but yeah, first of all, I want to congratulate Novak and your team, of course. You’ve won this championship, I don’t even know how many times anymore.”
In the end, his way of thinking shows that there’s a constant mental struggle involved, and it takes discipline to really make the most of it at the top level. And 2026 might be an exciting year for the Aussie, owing to his proper comeback to tennis.

The 2025 Formula 1 season really ramped up to an exciting finish, ending with one of the tightest finales we’ve seen in the sport’s history. Prior to the final race in Abu Dhabi, McLaren’s Lando Norris was clinging to a slim 12-point lead over the ever-persistent Max Verstappen from Red Bull. Plus, his teammate Oscar Piastri was still in the mix, making things even more interesting!
In a nail-biting, strategic showdown, Verstappen pulled off a perfect drive to snag the win. However, Norris was really feeling the heat, having to navigate through traffic and deal with a tough defensive play from Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, and also an early battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who was also chasing him down with his new tire compounds. But he totally stepped up and pulled off an incredible performance to grab that all-important third place.
When he crossed the finish line, just 16.5 seconds behind Verstappen, Norris clinched the title of Formula 1’s new world champion by a super close margin of only two points in the final standings, putting an end to Verstappen’s four-year reign. This incredible match, decided by the tiniest of margins, really caught the attention of sports fans everywhere, featuring two of tennis’ biggest names: Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.
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Djokovic, knowing how important legacy is and feeling the sting of a close loss, shared a touching tribute on his Instagram story. He kicked things off by congratulating the new champion, saying, “Congratulations Lando. What a season! You are a World Champion.” His message also paid tribute to the dethroned king, recognizing Verstappen’s fierce determination: “What an amazing finish Max had. Very close to clinch it all again. Champion mentality.”
In a similar vein, the young Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz, who is part of the exciting modern tennis rivalries with Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, had a straightforward yet heartfelt response. Alcaraz shared on his Instagram story, “Many congrats,” giving a shoutout to Norris for his first win. So, the title was pretty spot on.
Before the race, Verstappen secured pole position, and even though Norris was right beside him on the grid, if he dropped to P4, the championship was really his to lose. Norris actually dropped to P2 behind his teammate Piastri right at the start, but he pulled it together and held onto P3, snagging that first WDC he’s been chasing.
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Djokovic and Alcaraz’s reactions really give us an interesting look at what elite athletes think and feel, no matter the sport. So, recently, another tennis star was seen hanging around the F1 paddock.
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Jannik Sinner was also interested in the title fight between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen
Lando Norris said, “Simply lovely, huh,” right after he clinched victory at the 2024 Dutch GP. And you definitely don’t mess around on Max Verstappen’s turf. Even though the Brit couldn’t get anywhere near Verstappen in 2024, this year was a different story. Red Bull didn’t really give the Dutchman a shot at the championship until the first race after the summer break due to the car not being fast enough.
This title fight really caught the attention of tennis stars like Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and even Jannik Sinner. The Italian who had an amazing tennis season in 2025, was spotted in Abu Dhabi enjoying a fun night out with his girlfriend, Laila Hasanovic. But you know what?
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The exclusive Billionaire Dubai dinner show had some F1 superstars in attendance as well. The Italian snapped a photo with two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso and Alpine F1 team principal Flavio Briatore. “A star-studded evening at Billionaire Dubai last night with champions Fernando Alonso and Jannik Sinner,” Briatore shared.
Later, Sinner was spotted taking a hot lap with Mercedes’ rookie, Kimi Antonelli. Well, Sinner opted to skip the Davis Cup Finals and focus on a lengthier pre-season in order to be in peak condition for his title defense at the Australian Open. This gave him the proper amount of time to spend his time around the F1 paddock.

The crowd at the Charlotte Invitational had barely settled after the final point when Frances Tiafoe threw his head back, a victorious grin spreading across his face. It had been a chaotic, nerve-shredding match – the kind only he and Taylor Fritz seem capable of producing when they’re on opposite sides of the net. Tiafoe’s 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 comeback win wasn’t just another addition to their long rivalry; it was another chapter in a story that began many years before stadium lights and TV cameras.
As he walked toward the net, sweat running down his face, Tiafoe wrapped Fritz in the kind of hug that only comes from years of shared battles. They exchanged a quick laugh, a shrug. Almost like two brothers who’d just fought in the backyard for the hundredth time. Minutes later, standing with a mic in hand and emotions still raw, Tiafoe let the world in on their unfiltered dynamic. “I mean, it’s been amazing… to be honest, I can’t stand him. But truly, it’s been amazing. We’ve played against each other since we were 15. We’re both 30 in a few years. It’s incredible to see the matches we have played against each other from juniors to now.”
But Frances Tifoe didn’t stop there. He dove into their story, one that began long before ATP points and big-stage pressure. “From being great juniors to now being great pros. We’re enjoying our tennis and the year we’ve lot of stories to tell and a lot of memories, all the battles over the years. Yeah, I’m super proud of him and happy to be along the journey for sure.”
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On the ATP Tour, together they’ve faced each other eight times, and guess what? Fritz has gotten the better of Tiafoe 7 times. If we go back a dozen years, a couple of 14-year-old boys arrived in Boca Raton, Fla. They were there for the USTA camp as promising youngsters. One was a Black kid from suburban Washington, D.C, son of refugees from Sierra Leone, while the other was a White kid from Southern California, whose parents were former tennis pros. Two different backgrounds, but still their bond grew stronger with every year.
Even during the press conference, Frances Tiafoe spoke about how respectful they have been with each other’s journey despite a bit of trash talk and fun. On this night, ‘Big Foe’ walked away with the win. But what truly stole the show was the honesty – and the affection -behind his playful admission.
But this wasn’t the first time that we’ve seen him speaking about Taylor Fritz. In September 2024, ahead of their US Open semifinal showdown, Tiafoe recalled a few moments of their incredible friendship.
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“When I first met him (Fritz), Taylor was an odd cat, a different cat. I definitely wasn’t thinking he was going to do what he’s done. He’s changed his body, like, unbelievable. He’s really talented. He was like a part-time player. He played a couple of times a week, and of course, he’ll tell you, he went to a normal high school. He was a normal kid. Then he started putting more time into it.”
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Frances Tiafoe also highlighted the difference in their personalities. “He (Fritz) is like a video gamer, never leaves the room. He’s a goofball. And I’m like, loud, obnoxious at times, but he’s also very funny. He’s got that dry humor, smartass, but at the same time, that’s why we like each other, because we’re so different. That’s why we get along so well. And then, as competitors, we’re very alike. Hate to lose. And we battle hard,”
Their rivalry may have delivered another dramatic finish in Charlotte, but what lingered after the match was the relationship behind it: two American stars who grew up chasing the same future and somehow carved it out side by side. What did Taylor Fritz say about their friendship after the match, though?
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Taylor Fritz reflects on his close bond with Frances Tiafoe
While Frances Tiafoe’s thoughts about their friendship made the headlines, Taylor Fritz’s similar response afterward was more subtle but equally meaningful. The American number one has often spoken about the shared experiences that shaped them – Laver Cup locker rooms, national team pressure, exhibition runs, endless training blocks. Their careers have run parallel, pushing each other to raise the ceiling of American tennis. What did he say about their incredible bond after his recent defeat to Tiafoe at the 2025 Charlotte Invitational?
“I mean, Frances (Tiafoe) is one of my closest friends. We’ve known each other for… well over 10 years, as he said. We’ve got a lot of good times, a lot of memories, and yeah, I don’t know, we always kind of get along the way we can both… joke with each other.”
Now, if we shift our focus back to tennis. Frances Tiafoe didn’t have a great outing in 2025. Currently ranked 30th in the world, Tiafoe failed to win even a single title this season. He had a win-loss record of 26-23. So, the 27-year-old tennis star will be keen to bounce back strongly in 2026. Guess what? He has already signed up for the Kooyong Classic exhibition, which will be held a week prior to the 2026 AO.
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On the other side, the world number 6, Taylor Fritz, had a win-loss record of 53-23, and he won 2 titles in 2025. Fritz will be seen in action alongside Coco Gauff at the United Cup. Both these players will be keen to gain some momentum before heading to the Australian Open. In Melbourne, they could possibly face each other once again; who knows…
As the 2026 season draws near, one thing feels certain – whether they’re facing each other across the net or standing side by side, Tiafoe and Fritz are writing one of American tennis’s most compelling stories.

VIENNA (AP) — Russian-born Anastasia Potapova has switched allegiance to Austria, clearing a path for the 51st-ranked player to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup.
Potapova will become Austria’s highest-ranked women’s player, ahead of No. 94 Julia Grabher, with the nationality switch, which she announced on social media.
“Welcome to the team,” the Austrian tennis federation said in a statement that also confirmed her move.
The 24-year-old Potapova played at the Billie Jean King Cup in 2018 and 2019, but Russia has been banned from team competitions since the invasion of Ukraine.
“Austria is a place I love, is incredibly welcoming and a place where I feel totally at home,” Potapova wrote on Instagram on Thursday. “I love being in Wien and look forward to making my second home there. As part of this, I am proud to announce that starting from 2026 I will be representing my new homeland Austria in my professional tennis career from this point onwards.”
Potapova’s highest ranking was No. 21 in June 2023. Her best Grand Slam result is reaching the fourth round at the 2024 French Open. She has won three singles titles.
As a youth player, she was the 2016 girls champion at Wimbledon.
Potapova was criticized in 2023 for wearing a Spartak Moscow soccer club T-shirt during a warmup at Indian Wells.
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VIENNA — Russian-born Anastasia Potapova has switched allegiance to Austria, clearing a path for the 51st-ranked player to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup.
Potapova will become Austria’s highest-ranked women’s player, ahead of No. 94 Julia Grabher, with the nationality switch, which she announced on social media.

There seems to be conflicting messages.
On one hand, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp argues that the middle class matters. “You cannot build a lifelong sport that outlives your stars if you don’t build a system that works beyond your stars,” Rolapp said last month during a CNBC leadership forum.
On the other, Rolapp and Tiger Woods, head of the PGA Tour’s new Future Competition Committee, preach the need for scarcity in the league’s competitive model, along with simplicity and parity, the latter of which, Rolapp says, the PGA Tour already has in abundance.
But for how long? How does parity coexist with scarcity? How does the PGA Tour, which just trimmed its number of fully exempt members, scale back and simplify its season without also further reducing the number of playing opportunities?
The answers could be found on the tennis court.
This is by no means an endorsement of the Association of Tennis Professionals. I watch four tournaments per year, the Grand Slam events, and maybe the ATP Finals – and I’m surely not alone. Still, I can’t help but find the ATP’s competitive model intriguing when applying it to the PGA Tour.
Here’s the idea I’m serving up:
One tour, six levels of tournaments
The ATP has four levels of tournaments, six if you count the Challenger and Futures events. The Grand Slam events award 2,000 ranking points to the winner, followed by the Masters 1,000 events, 500 events and 250 events. The Challenger and Futures events vary in points, between 50 and 175 for Challenger and 15 to 25 for Futures.
The PGA Tour example would shake out something like this:
Majors and The Players (5 events) – 2,000 points to winner
PGA Tour signature events (10) and playoff events (3) – 1,000
PGA Tour open events (~15) – 500
PGA Tour alternate events (~10) – 250
Korn Ferry events (~25) – 125-175
Americas events (~15) – 50-100
In tennis, there are usually several events per week across all levels, even multiple of the same level, though an emphasis is placed on showcasing the Grand Slam and Masters 1,000 events. Grand Slam and eight of nine Masters 1,000 events are mandatory for top players who qualify. For the PGA Tour, its signature events would be spaced out to about two per month for a total of 10, and there would be a requirement for top players to compete in at least nine of them. This creates a model of scarcity in which there are 18 tournaments that matter most – four majors, The Players, 10 signature events and then three playoff events.
All other events are considered pathways to the levels above.
Seven-month calendar
All tournaments would be played between early February, after the Super Bowl, and early September, before the start of the NFL season. Theoretically, some lower-level tournaments could start earlier, and the fall would feature a playoff series for the lower levels along with Q-School.
There could be scenarios, too, where there are multiple tournaments of the same level in the same week, even as high as the 500-point events. In that scenario, fields would likely split up the exempt membership, but if the PGA Tour truly believes that the gap between the 100th best player in the world and the 300th best player in the world is razor thin, then these fields shouldn’t be too different from what we’d normally see at events such as the Cognizant Classic and CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
More on the fall and Q-School later.
Varied field sizes
Like tennis, field sizes for most of these tournaments can vary. For the signature events, however, fields will be 90 players with a cut. The playoff fields would keep existing structure of 70-50-30.
Rolling ranking that factors only top performances
A new PGA Tour ranking would determine status and would resemble the ATP’s 52-week rolling ranking where players are ranked based on a cumulative point total that factors in only a certain number of top performances. On the ATP, a player’s ranking includes his best 19 performances, 20 if that player qualified for the ATP Finals, the ATP’s playoffs. All mandatory events must be included in the ranking. The PGA Tour’s number could be slightly higher; I’ll go with the best 18 performances plus three playoff starts for a potential total of 21.
Here’s what could factor into a PGA Tour player’s ranking, assuming that player is qualified for all events:
Four majors and The Players (5)
Nine mandatory signature events (9)
Playoff events (3)
Best four other performances (4)
For players who don’t qualify for all the mandatory events, they will count additional performances from other events to reach their 18-event threshold. But if a player skips a mandatory event without reason, like on the ATP, they will have zero points applied to their ranking; for someone like Rory McIlroy, it may matter very little.
Like the ATP, players who miss a cut will still receive points for qualifying for that tournament. For example, any player who qualifies for the main draw of a Grand Slam event receives 30 points automatically. These qualifying points are scaled down by level.
The reason this ranking works is because you can’t game it based on playing too much or too little, like a true cumulative ranking or average-points ranking.
Constant promotion and relegation
One way to think of this new PGA Tour ranking is a form of universal points that can effectively rank players across all PGA Tour levels. Players would earn exempt status for each level based on their end-of-postseason ranking (after the Tour Championship) though unlike the current points races, the ranking will not reset to zero between seasons.
This is a quick thought of who would be exempt for each level for the following season via the ranking, though this could be tweaked upon closer examination:
Majors – existing criteria, though the new PGA Tour ranking could potentially be included
The Players – playoff qualifiers (top 70)
Signature events – top 50
Open events – top 100
Alternate events – top 135
Korn Ferry events – top 200
Americas events – top 300
The rest of the fields will be filled via the current ranking, qualifiers and sponsor exemptions, which creates a system of constant promotion and relegation that will reward players who play well, regardless of what level they’re at. With this model, Johnny Keefer would not have been stuck playing on the Korn Ferry Tour all year; he would’ve likely earned his way into the signature tournaments by the end of the season and the playoffs. This creates parity unlike anything the PGA Tour has seen.
Here’s how a signature event field could be constructed:
Exempt players (50)
Sponsor exemptions (2)
Top available players in rankings (38)
Rankings determine alternate list
Players would be able to play down level at any time should they need the points. I could see the open events getting a handful of top players competing, much like the non-signature events now. But with the ranking only taking your best 18-21 finishes, there won’t be many top-100 players playing a ton of KFT and lower events.
For Year 1, previous season’s performance will determine exempt status and initial ranking.
One more thing: Using a universal ranking to fill out fields could be complicated with players constantly moving up and down, but there is technology to handle the logistics of it. Players can be locked into fields a week in advance should they fall out of eligibility right before a start, while players who play their way into a higher-level event on a Sunday will have the option to change plans and play up right away. With most of these events in the U.S., travel shouldn’t be a hindrance. Players will adapt for the chance to climb the rankings.
Filling out fields is confusing, but it’s not the fans’ jobs to do that – and this still might be easier to comprehend than the current priority lists. Simplicity can be found, however, in the ranking. The better the play, the better the ranking.
Fall schedule and Q-School keep identities, with a twist
Even with football going on, there will still be a demand for golf tournaments in the fall. The PGA Tour season will technically end with the Tour Championship in late August or early September, but there will be a fall slate that includes a lower-level playoff and Q-School.
The lower-level playoff would be series of events each that offer players chances to improve their ranking for the following season. Point values for these events would be 250 winner’s points each. Remember, fields at all levels are filled based on the ranking, and with signature events including a handful of non-exempt players via the ranking, the best performers in these events could play themselves into signature territory in the ranking. Unlike the current fall, this series would be closed to players who are already exempt into the signature events for the next year, so Nos. 51 and beyond in the rankings after the main playoffs are eligible to compete.
Q-School would be unranked and would function as is, offering exempt spots in the 250 events and lower for those who make it to final stage. Once exempt, these players would build their ranking during their rookie season.
DP Word Tour involvement? Potentially
There could still be a pathway from the DP World Tour to exempt status in the 500 events or lower, while co-sanctioned tournaments could still offer ranking points.
Confused yet? Hopefully not.
Moving to this model might not be as simple a concept as Rolapp and Co. would like, but it would not only likely satisfy the goals and desires of much of the membership, but it would allow for an easy transition for existing sponsors and partners. Truncating the schedule within the existing structures would mean some tournaments would be squeezed out. Having essentially one tour with varying levels of tournaments would allow for flexibility with scheduling. And the cumulative ranking will not only accommodate more events, but it will help alleviate the extreme advantages created by the current signature model.
There is so much more to think about with this idea, but considering the current outlook, it’s an idea that, at the very least, holds serve.

Marian Central senior Jenna Remke and sophomore Julia Lukey united to win the Chicagoland Christian Conference and Class 1A sectional doubles championships before capping off their standout season with a top-eight finish at state.
Remke (30-5) and Lukey (31-4) were each named to the All-State second team for their efforts this season. The Hurricane doubles duo opened the 1A state tournament with three wins in a row. After a win and a loss on the second day, the two bowed out with a loss in the consolation semifinals to earn a top-eight finish.
As a result of Remke and Lukey’s efforts, along with strong play from sophomore Jordan Cheng at singles, Marian Central took 10th out of 57 1A schools at the state tournament. Both Remke and Lukey were named to the Northwest Herald All-Area first team last year, with Remke also earning All-Area consideration as a sophomore.
For their performance, Remke and Lukey were selected as the 2025 Northwest Herald Girls Tennis Players of the Year from the sports staff, with input from area coaches. Huntley’s Ainura and Gulnura Baidylaeva, Crystal Lake Central’s Evie Johnson, Hampshire’s Isabella Kowalak and Huntley’s Ella Doughty also were considered for the honor.
Remke and Lukey spoke with Northwest Herald sports writer Russ Hodges about their season, favorite moments and more.
Where have you improved the most as doubles teammates from last season to this season?
Remke: As doubles teammates, Julia and I improved the most in our communication and court awareness, allowing us to play more confidently knowing we had each other’s backs in each and every point.
Lukey: Learning how to play with each other. Jenna’s a super good net player, so she can be really good at the net. I was definitely nervous coming into my freshman year, and it was a little scary playing doubles with someone I hadn’t met. We were able to find out connection, and it panned out really well.
How do your skills complement each other on the court?
Remke: Everyone watching us always said I was able to get to nearly any ball, and Jules was able to close out rallies with ease. This dynamic gave us many opportunities to win points and stay in control of the match.
Lukey: She’s a really good net and volley player and she knows when to be aggressive. I’m a pretty good baseline player, so with her being good at the net, it works out because I’m good at rallying it out and she’ll be really good at finishing at the net.
How are the two of you able to maintain good chemistry?
Remke: We are able to maintain good chemistry throughout the season by talking and giving high fives after every point and lifting each other up even in tough matches.
Lukey: Pumping each other up is the main thing. It’s super hard when you’re slowly starting to lose, but when you have a good partner and you know you can play well, we know that we can do it. We pump each other up and stay positive the entire time.
What were your favorite moments from this season?
Remke: My singular favorite moment from the season was saying a Hail Mary with Julia in the middle of our match tiebreaker in the quarterfinals. We always found time to thank the Lord for giving up the opportunity to compete.
Lukey: State. We had so many good matches against so many good girls and we really stepped it up, which was really fun.
What did it mean to be named to the All-State team this year?
Remke: It definitely meant so much to be named to the All-State Team. It was truly a reflection of all the hard work me and Julia put in throughout the season and the support of all of our coaches and family.
Lukey: I didn’t even know if I was going to go to high school or be homeschooled, so to be doing this well in high school tennis means so much to me, especially since I’ve played for so long. Being seen for an accomplishment like that feels unreal.
What’s your favorite thing to eat or drink before a match?
Remke: My favorite thing to eat or drink before a match was an iced coffee. Not super nourishing, but it became a part of my routine before early morning matches.
Lukey: Either Mott’s gummies or Goldfish and some sort of Liquid IV or water.
What kind of music pumps you up before a match?
Remke: On the bus on the way to matches, we would always sing to music as a team, whether it was our favorite country songs or just music to get us excited to play.
Lukey: I’m into all sorts of rock, so people like Deftones and Pink Floyd. I really like Gorillaz. On the more chill side, I really like Amy Winehouse.
Who is your favorite athlete and why?
Remke: My favorite athlete is Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone because she dominates the 200 and 400 (meter) races in track and field, winning gold medals at the Olympics and World Championships, and does it all while praising the Lord.
Lukey: Jannik Sinner. I love watching him and I love looking up to him. He’s so amazing and he’s so fun to watch him play. I was in Italy once and I didn’t get to see him play, but I got to watch him practice his serves and it was unreal for me.
What’s an interesting fact people may not know about you?
Remke: An interesting fact people may not know about me is I am chasing the outdoor 400-meter all-time record at my school, following in the footsteps of my sister, who has the 300-meter hurdle record.

Tennis may look like a solo sport, but it often carries the pride of an entire nation. Yet, sometimes players take a different path and switch nationalities, and that trend has taken hold this season. Four Russian players have already made that move, sparking plenty of debate and curiosity around the sport.
The latest is Anastasia Potapova, who revealed the change on December 4 through her Instagram. With that announcement, she became the fourth Russian star to do so this year, following Daria Kasatkina, Maria Timofeeva, and Kamilla Rakhimova.
“I am thrilled to announce that my naturalization request has been accepted by the Austrian government,” she wrote. “Austria is a place I love, is incredibly welcoming and a place where I feel totally at home. I love being in Wien and look forward to making my second home there. As part of this I am proud to announce that starting from 2026 I will be representing my new homeland Austria in my professional tennis career from this point onwards.”
Potapova’s statement gives a glimpse into her personal reasons, but it also opens the door to a bigger question. What’s driving Russian players to change their sporting nationality? Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began, athletes from Russia have competed without the right to represent their country. That’s a situation that continues to affect many. But is that truly the whole story, or is there more beneath the surface? Let’s dive in.
Daria Kasatkina makes a bold choice to change her nationality
Kasatkina, the World No.37 and former World No.8, made headlines earlier this year when she became the first player to switch from Russia to Australia. She officially began representing her new country in late March 2025, making a bold and emotional move that marked a fresh chapter in her journey both on and off the court. Later, in a candid chat with Sky Sports on April 22, just before the Madrid Open, Kasatkina opened up about the life-changing move. When asked what the experience felt like, she didn’t sugarcoat it.
“Well, that was a bit stressful, I’m not gonna lie,” she admitted. But the real reason behind the switch, she explained, came down to freedom. “Well, I mean, in my situation, I mean I end up in a situation where I had to make certain choices and if I want to live openly and freely as I want to, I had to make this tough, but I think important and the right, decision for my future and Australia, it goes well with my philosophy. The way I see the life, the way I want to live.”
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For Kasatkina, this decision was years in the making. Back in July 2022, she publicly came out in an interview with Russian blogger Vitya Kravchenko. She spoke about identifying as non-binary and confirmed her relationship with Russian-Estonian figure skater Natalia Zabiiako. The reaction to that openness was complicated, highlighting the immense pressure of “living in the closet” in a country where LGBTQ+ rights remain a tense issue.
That struggle slowly pushed her away from Russia, and for a while, Kasatkina found herself in a kind of limbo—a tennis player without a flag. But in Australia, she finally felt a sense of belonging. “So Australia, it’s an amazing country. I have been there like couple of times already and it’s a very welcome country where everyone is just, you know, just living all along together and it feels great and I’m really happy to be very welcome there,” she shared with a smile.
For Kasatkina, the change isn’t just about a new flag or a new passport. It’s about finding peace and starting over somewhere that reflects who she truly is. And as she continues her journey in tennis as an Aussie, it’s clear this move is about much more than sport, it’s about finally being free to live the life she’s always wanted. But this isn’t the only reason for the rest!
Family connections play a role for Maria Timofeeva
After Daria Kasatkina’s big leap earlier this year, another player has followed suit! In October, 21-year-old Maria Timofeeva officially changed her sporting nationality and will now compete for Uzbekistan. The Moscow-born player’s switch turned heads across the tennis world, marking another sign of shifting tides in Russian tennis.
“Yes, Maria Timofeeva has officially changed her nationality and is now competing under Uzbekistan’s flag. Her entire family – her mother and father – have been living in Tashkent for over six months. She personally came to the federation and obtained both her foreign passport and ID card,” confirmed Irina Tulyaganova, Vice President of the Uzbekistan Tennis Federation.
Currently ranked No.146 in the WTA standings, Timofeeva reached her career-high of No.93 earlier. Just a day before the news broke, on October 19, she claimed the ITF W75 title in Portugal, sealing the win right before unveiling her new chapter. With the change, she instantly became Uzbekistan’s top female player, overtaking veteran Vlada Ekshibarova, who sits at No.1012.
Maria’s journey has been an interesting one. Trained in Koper, Slovenia, under coach Anež Morel, she burst onto the scene in 2023 with a stunning WTA debut title in Budapest, defeating Ukraine’s Kateryna Baindl in the final. An untimely injury led to a three-month break soon after, but she bounced back strong in 2024, making the fourth round of the Australian Open through qualifying. So far, she’s earned close to $800,000 in prize money.
As for why the move happened, there’s a bigger story beneath the surface. “We have a difficult situation in Russian tennis: no domestic tournaments, no functioning league, and no funding for player development,” Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpishchev told TASS. “Around a thousand of our players are competing abroad, and about 20 may soon start playing for other nations.”
Timofeeva seems to be part of that wave. Having trained abroad for years in Slovenia and Germany, her global exposure made the switch to Uzbekistan a natural step. For the Uzbek Tennis Federation, it’s a huge win, a new star to elevate the country’s growing presence in the sport. Neither Timofeeva nor the federation has made an official statement yet, but the WTA records make it official. And she’s just the latest name joining the list of players finding new homes on the court.
Kamilla Rakhimova eyes Olympics via Uzbek roots
On December 1, the Uzbekistan Tennis Federation confirmed the arrival of a new name under its banner: Kamilla Rakhimova. The 24-year-old, once a Russian representative, has officially switched nationalities and now plays for Uzbekistan. Ranked as high as No.60 in the world, Rakhimova has quietly built an impressive record since making her Tour debut in 2019. Her résumé includes a WTA 125 title in Mexico, two WTA doubles crowns, and third-round appearances in three of the four Grand Slams. Earlier this year, she even stunned Jasmine Paolini at Wimbledon, proving her place among the sport’s rising forces.
Though Rakhimova hasn’t spoken publicly about her decision, her roots tell a clear story. Her mother, Rufina Rakhimova, once played tennis for the Uzbek SSR, while her brother Timur was born in Tashkent. The Uzbek Tennis Federation greeted the switch as a landmark moment.
“The arrival of Kamila Rakhimova to the Uzbekistan national team is an event of historic significance,” said Secretary General Sador Kamilov. “She has already proven herself to be a strong, competitive tennis player capable of playing on equal terms with the world’s top players. We are delighted to welcome Kamila to our team and are confident that she will achieve great victories, go far, and set new records under the Uzbekistan flag.”
Rakhimova has already kicked off her new chapter at the WTA 125 event in Angers, France, where she opened with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 win over Alina Korneeva on Monday. She’s now one of only two top-200 players representing Uzbekistan. Back in Russia, however, the move drew predictable curiosity.
“This isn’t betrayal, but a desire to play. She remains Russian, but is simply changing her sporting citizenship,” Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpischev told TASS. “These moves are happening because of the upcoming Olympics. She (Rakhimova) wouldn’t have made our national team. She might make it for Uzbekistan. But it’s not a given that she’ll make it. To qualify for the Olympics, you have to be in the top 60 or top 70.”
Her switch is part of a wider pattern. Since the war in Ukraine, Russian players have been competing under neutral flags, while Russia remains banned from hosting or entering team events like the Davis Cup. For Rakhimova, the move blends both family pride and professional opportunity. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, gains another solid player to build its growing tennis profile.
And now, with Anastasia joining the list as well, it’s really showing a pattern that these players seem to be making a loud statement through their quiet decisions. What’s your take on it?

It is almost the end of another year, which means it is time for one of our favorite traditions: poring over Sportico’s list of the highest-paid female athletes of 2025.
For the third consecutive year, Coco Gauff remains the top-paid athlete with $31 million. Additionally, tennis players dominated the list. Four of the top five and ten out of the top 15 earners were tennis players.
However, there were major shakeups. Most notably, our wish for Aryna Sabalenka to get paid more has come true. Sabalenka soared from fifth to a close second, making $30 million.
2025 Highest-Paid Female Athletes
Sabalenka leaped over Iga Swiatek and Qinwen Zheng, both of whom made less money in tournament prize money this year. Skiing legend Eileen Gu remains the only non-tennis player in the top five, but slid from second to fourth.
As Sportico pointed out in its reporting, tennis remains the only major professional sport where women’s pay is comparable to that of their male counterparts. While the WTA Tour still trails the ATP at many tournaments, prize money is the same at the Grand Slams and Masters 1000 events.
Additionally, women are doing better with sponsorships. Six women earned at least $10 million off the court, compared to four active men at $10 million-plus.
Changes From 2024 List
There were other notable shakeups in this year’s list. Elena Rybakina and Madison Keys made major gains, while Naomi Osaka tumbled in the rankings. Emma Raducanu and Jasmine Paolini fell off the list altogether.
Of course, Raducanu has lost key sponsorships over the past year. In April, it was reported that Raducanu lost Vodafone as a sponsor after

BRADENTON, Fla. — To Bianca Bush, finding a school where she can continue her tennis career was only part of the equation.
For starters, the Todt Hill resident was adamant about joining a team where she’d fit in nicely. In addition, it was important to find an institution that would support her academic needs.
Enter Emerson College.
“It’s a place that just felt right and I was all in on,’’ Bush said after visiting the Boston school. ”I love the location, I love the team, the coach and there was no doubt it was the right fit for me.’’
Bush recently made her commitment to the Lions’ program official and she’ll be relocating north from her current stay at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, sometime before next fall.
The 17-year-old said an IMG guidance counselor put her in contact with Emerson head coach Burke Paxton and it immediately got things rolling with the Division 3 school.
“My college counselor suggested Emerson and after speaking to (coach Paxton), we got along well right from the start and went from there,’’ explained Bush. ”Again, I just thought it was the right fit immediately.’’
Bush will bring an impressive resume with her to Beantown.
The right-hander, who boasts a strong forehand, qualified for the IMG International Tennis Tournament (16-under, Level 2) and made it to the second round. She competed in the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) Juniors tourney and took part in the J30 Tourney in Brazil.
Paxton hasn’t seen Bush play live yet, but he’s planning to make a trip to Florida soon to see her in person. He did, however, get a good indication of her ability through her Universal Tennis Rating (UTR).
“He recruits by the level and believes I’m good enough to be on the team and top-three on the roster‚’’ said Bush, who has been competing since she was approximately 7-years-old. ”Coach is coming to Florida in a week or so and I’m very excited about showing him what I can do.’’
Bush, who attended Staten Island Academy her freshman year before transferring to IMG, is planning to major in Sports Communication at Emerson.
She also received interest from Occidental College.

The 2025 ATP season really turned out to be all about Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, didn’t it? From the clay of Roland-Garros to the grass of Wimbledon and the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, the story of men’s tennis has been all about the thrilling rivalry between these two young superstars. They shared the four Grand Slam titles, swapped the world No. 1 ranking, and delivered matches filled with high drama that turned every meeting into a must-see event.
This captivated fans around the world and led to record television ratings in important markets like Italy. But this intense celebration of the “Sincaraz” era has really stirred up some strong reactions from people in the sport. Calvin Betton, a well-known coach on the doubles circuit, is the one sharing his thoughts.
According to Swish Tennis on X, Betton expressed his frustration, but it wasn’t aimed at the players. Instead, he took issue with the ATP’s ‘hyper-focus’ on Sinner and Alcaraz, feeling it overshadowed the rest of the tour and especially doubles tennis.
“There is zero marketing for this (doubles). Zero marketing,” Betton stated. “They’re obsessed with, whenever Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner cross each other in a corridor, they’ll stick a camera there and go ‘two legends meet’. This happens every week; there is no reason for you to get it on camera all the time. It’s pathetic.”
The coach’s outburst really brings to light a key tension in today’s sports marketing world.
The ATP sees the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry as a real treasure. Their matchups in 2025, featuring three big finals, created an engaging story for casual fans and highlighted a significant statistical milestone, showcasing one of the youngest rivalries for the No. 1 spot in decades. This approach is clearly all about making money, aiming to grab as much attention and viewership as possible. But Betton argues that this commercial success has its downsides.
Focusing so much on just two players could really overshadow the other hundred-plus singles players and the whole doubles scene. This might end up hurting the sport’s long-term health and diversity.
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But there were also other voices expressing concerns during the 2025 season about the favoritism in the Sincaraz rivalry.
Zverev feels Alcaraz and Sinner given an added edge
Joining the conversation about the tour’s emphasis on Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, world No. 3 Alexander Zverev has openly claimed that tournament directors are tweaking playing conditions to give an edge to the younger players.
After a match at the 2025 Shanghai Masters, Zverev shared his thoughts on the uniformity of court speeds.
“I hate when [court speeds are] the same. And I know that the tournament directors are going towards that direction because obviously they want Jannik and Carlos to do well every tournament.”
But he just couldn’t shake off those memories of how things used to be on the ATP tour.
“We always had different surfaces — you couldn’t play the same tennis the same way on a grass court, a hard court, and a clay court. Nowadays, you can play almost the same way on every surface,” he said.
As we look toward 2026, the sport faces a real challenge in balancing the undeniable charm of its biggest stars with the need to promote the entire competitive field. This will be crucial in deciding whether the tour is creating a lasting legacy or just going after the next viral moment.

In late summer 2025, the tennis scene saw a big shake-up when Daniil Medvedev and Gilles Cervara decided to part ways after an impressive eight years together. After a season that didn’t quite go as planned for Medvedev, with some early exits at Grand Slams and slipping out of the top 10 for the first time in over two years, the decision was made. Cervara, who helped Medvedev reach World No. 1, win the 2021 US Open, and snag six Masters 1000 titles, shared the main reason in a detailed interview.
“That ‘something’ was the energy around Daniil. So we needed to change the people involved,” he said. “I talked to Daniil after the US Open. He himself raised the idea: ‘After eight years, maybe it’s time for something different.’ I said to him: ’Listen, that’s exactly what needs to happen in my opinion, because I don’t think I can continue to make you perform in the energy state we’re in right now. You need something new, something different, to transform.’”
However, the well-known coach has a fresh player to mentor, focusing his skills on one of the most exciting young talents in American tennis. Gilles Cervara has been named the new coach for 20-year-old American Nishesh Basavareddy, according to Quindici Zero on X. This partnership is an exciting new chapter for both, with Cervara bringing his top-level experience to a rising star who’s on the way up.
Basavareddy went pro in December 2024 after having two amazing seasons at Stanford University, and he’s just coming off a fantastic 2025. He made it to his first ATP Tour semifinal in Auckland, hit a career-high ranking of No. 99, and even managed to take a set off Novak Djokovic in an exciting first-round match at the Australian Open. He’s qualified for the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah for the second year in a row!
It’s such a big deal since it’s the year-end tournament for the top players who are 20 and under. It looks like Basavareddy’s team is really aiming high with this move.
By looking for a coach like Cervara, who has been recognized as ATP Coach of the Year, the American is clearly putting his money where his mouth is to speed up his journey from a promising newcomer to a steady presence on the tour. However, recently, Daniil Medvedev has started to share more about the split with his long-time coach.
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Daniil Medvedev still recalls the days they were together
Do you recall when Daniil Medvedev mentioned, “When people disperse, it can’t be just one reason; there must be many.” This comment was made during the Asian swing, following the end of his eight-year partnership with coach Gilles Cervara.
Recently, when the Russian was asked about his coaching changes and if he still speaks with Cervara, he mentioned, “I keep in touch with my former coach a little. But it will never be daily again. It just so happens that I already know who he’ll be coaching, because we’ll most likely be training with that player during the preseason. And we’ll see each other on tour.”
They’ve been a team since 2017, and their big moment came in 2019 when Cervara was recognized as ATP Coach of the Year for helping Daniil Medvedev rise to prominence. During that season, Daniil snagged his first two Masters 1000 titles. He went on to win the Nitto ATP Finals in 2020, snagged his first major at the 2021 US Open, and claimed the World No. 1 ranking in 2022.
They’ve both experienced everything during their time together. From achieving peak performance in the sport to tumbling in tricky, high-pressure situations. Indeed, the split was definitely tough.

Some of the architects of a special season for Corona del Mar High girls’ tennis gathered in uniform one last time Wednesday at Biszantz Family Tennis Center.
Two singles players and two doubles teams had all been knocked out in either the round of 16 or quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Individuals Tournament. Looking at the larger picture, it was impressive that the Sea Kings had six players among the final 48 still in contention across the section.
Coach Jamie Gresh told the players that their season was rare and extremely special.
“I wish I could play another year,” senior Emilie Lew told him, and he smiled.
“We’ll have you another year,” Gresh joked.
There will be no extended eligibility for the senior group, but their legacy is deep after helping CdM earn the CIF Southern Section Division 1 title, the SoCal Regional crown and advance to the CIF State championship match.
Senior twins Polina and Sasha Briggs, Lew and doubles player Isabel Roytman were all four-year varsity players.
“The season has been really, really fun,” Polina Briggs said. “Just having everyone here, I love hanging out with them. I think we’re just a really good team.”
CdM sophomore Julia Cross and freshman partner Sienna Lynn advanced the furthest at CIF Individuals, to the quarterfinals. They beat a team from Harvard-Westlake 6-4, 6-2 in the round of 16 before succumbing to No. 2-seeded Ava Min and Cassie Blakely of Palos Verdes, 6-2, 6-1, in the quarterfinals.
Cross and Lynn, the Sunset League doubles champions, play United States Tennis Assn. tournaments together often and are good friends. Lynn also was part of a strong freshman class at CdM, along with players like her usual doubles partner Addie DiNicola, Brynn Patterson and Olivia Lew. Those players will likely be future leaders.
“I thought it was really nice,” Lynn said. “I play outside of high school a lot with them, and we’re all really good friends. It was nice that we all got to play with each other and cheer each other on, watch each other. I definitely think that we all got a lot better this season, especially at doubles. It’ll be fun to practice more with them outside of high school.”
Both of CdM’s singles entrants lost in the round of 16. Lew, the Sunset League singles champion, fell to Valerie Machikawa of Whitney, 2-6, 6-4 and 11-9 in a match tiebreaker. Polina Briggs beat Michelle Qi of Westlake 6-3, 6-3 in the round of 32 before losing to No. 4-seeded Aashi Patel of Cerritos 7-5, 6-4 in the round of 16.
Briggs grinded against Patel, as the first set was 5-5 and she battled back from a 5-2 deficit in the second set. Serving to stay in the match, luck was a bit unkind to Briggs. Patel had a pair of shots hit the net cord and fall over during that final game.
“I feel like it hasn’t really kicked in yet,” Briggs said of her high school tennis career ending. “I feel like we’re just going to have another match next week. Next week, I’ll probably be more sad when I realize that the season is officially over.”
CdM’s other doubles team, Sasha Briggs and Roytman, lost 7-5, 6-1 to Sahana Chakravarthy and Payton Nguyen of Portola in the round of 16.
Rebecca MacCallum represented for Laguna Beach High at CIF Individuals. MacCallum, a junior who won the Pacific Hills League singles title, beat Adelaide Games of Mater Dei 6-2, 6-1 in the round of 32 before succumbing to No. 2-seeded Sophia Dimitrascu of Yorba Linda, 7-5, 6-3, in the round of 16.
MacCallum battled back from 5-2 to 5-5 in the opening set against the left-hander Dimitrascu. At that point, Dimitrascu called for a line judge. The final two games of the set were close, but the No. 2 seed won them both.
“I’m always happy as long as I compete well,” MacCallum said. “I think that’s very important, and I’m proud of that. I’m proud that I was able to come from being down so far as well, even though I didn’t end up winning the set. Her calling for a line judge, it didn’t really throw me off. It did halt my momentum a little bit, of course, because I had to wait, but we still had two pretty good and close games afterward.”
It was just the second loss of the season for MacCallum, the third of four tennis siblings to compete for the Breakers. Older sisters Sarah and Jessica both now compete at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, while younger brother Jacob is a freshman who will compete for the Laguna boys in the spring.
Rebecca MacCallum said she enjoys the atmosphere that high school tennis provides.
“I think it’s very nice to be able to play to your fullest potential, just because you don’t have so many stressors on you,” she said. “Even this match, I felt like I was really able to go for my serve and hit my shots, because I’m not worried about ratings and stuff. I think [high school tennis] is really fun and it brings back a love for tennis for a lot of people.”

The Gas South event will also include No. 1 women’s player Aryna Sabalenka and Australian men’s player Nick Kyrgios
The new Atlanta Cup exhibition at Gas South Arena will feature popular tennis players Naomi Osaka (left) and Ben Shelton, who was born in Atlanta and competed in the Atlanta Open twice. (AP)
After the ATP Tour killed off the Atlanta Open after 15 years last year, the city known for a thriving tennis culture was bereft of pro tennis.
So Jason Dolan, a former advertising executive, wanted to fill the void.
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Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus is the top women’s tennis player in the world and will be Atlanta on Saturday. (Fatima Shbair/AP)
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FILE – Nick Kyrgios of Australia will play Ben Shelton on Saturday in Atlanta. (Ng Han Guan/AP)
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Sophomore Avyn McGugan of league champion Oak Park High was named the Most Valuable Player for the 2025 Coastal Canyon League girls volleyball season.
Selected to the first team were Andrea Mise and Eileen Dresel of Oak Park; Rhyan Muraoka and Mia Giorgi of Camarillo; Jaidan Alexander and Lauren Lacy of Royal; and Samantha Collins and Payton Holliday of Moorpark.
Selected to the second team were Julianna Galstian and Samantha Liba of Oak Park; Neariah Fasavalu and Sophia Addison of Camarillo; Ella Ragland and Emerson Moss of Royal; Lilliana Busch of Moorpark; and Kira Blakemore of Simi Valley.
Josh Giron of Oak Park was named the Coach of the Year.
FLAG FOOTBALL
Mya Rei Smith of league champion Camarillo was named the Most Valuable Player.
Stella Alessi of Camarillo was named the Offensive Player of the Year and Riley Kavanagh of Camarillo was named the Defensive Player of the Year.
Selected to the first team were Riley Scupine of Oak Park; Payton Fraser and Camilla Rosalez of Moorpark; Mikaela Jones and Laila Gutierrez of Royal; Marlirose Demate of Camarillo; and Monique Ruiz and Alexis Scott of Simi Valley.
Selected to the second team were Chloe Joseph and Kyara McCarthy of Camarillo; Sonali Banerjee and Teagan Blakemore of Simi Valley; Hadiah Haidari and Claire Murray of Oak Park; Samantha Olivas and Zara Phillip of Moorpark; and Natasha Paloian and Annabelle Isaacs of Royal.
Michaeltore Smith of Camarillo was named the Coach of the Year.
BOYS WATER POLO
Reynold Owings of Camarillo and Marco Sanfelippo of league champion Royal were named the co-Most Valuable Players and Brent Sanders of Oak Park was named the Goalie of the Year.
Selected to the first team were Callan Kluck-Hodgins and Luca Bazerkanian of Thousand Oaks; Patrick Shea, Noah Conley and Connor Pagels of Royal; Mac Barlow and James Davis of Camarillo; and Trey Williams of Oak Park.
Named to the second team were Asher Mulford and Jacob Lev of Royal; Theodore Huzinschi and Roman Fox of Oak Park; Eric Shea and Hunter Collins of Thousand Oaks; and Matthew Willard and Christian Minero of Camarillo.
Ramiro Saldain of Royal was named the Coach of the Year.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Kean Castaneda of league champion Oak Park earned Runner of the Year honors.
Earning first-team honors were Ethan Marley, Dimitri Natale and Dhruv Kulkarni of Oak Park; Zackary Hatch of Moorpark; Jack Maynard of Camarillo; and Daniel Azcona of Simi Valley.
Earning second-team honors were Isaac Garcia and Saish Nemani of Moorpark; Ashton Curtis, Jaiden Chan and Ari Kalan of Oak Park; Roberto Loza Mendez of Camarillo; and Jesse Allegro of Royal.
Steve White of Oak Park was named the Coach of the Year.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Kathleen Lambe of league champion Oak Park earned Runner of the Year honors.
Earning first-team honors were Jenna Murray and Caylie Wight of Moorpark; Aine Pitillo and Sophia Perez of Oak Park; and Cecilia Vasquez and Acacia Rojas of Simi Valley.
Earning second-team honors were Michelle Vu, Tabitha Brown and Saoirse Boehm of Oak Park; Angela Busco and Madison Boucher of Royal; and Anabelle Espinoza and Angelica Espinoza of Simi Valley.
Steve White of Oak Park was named the Coach of the Year.
GIRLS GOLF
Nina Xu of league champion Oak Park earned MVP honors after winning the league individual title.
Earning first-team honors were Bianca Magnifico of Oak Park; Mei Li Root and Mason Heite of Camarillo; Ashley Dunbar of Moorpark; and Amanda Rozdial of Simi Valley.
Earning second-team honors were Mylei Chairuttanativech and Alexandra Chen of Oak Park; Brooke Skarie of Moorpark; and Elizabeth Marez and Anjali Suresh of Simi Valley.
GIRLS TENNIS
Niyati Guram of league champion Oak Park earned Singles Player of the Year honors and Reilly Ricasata and Amber Koh of Camarillo earned Doubles Players of the Year honors.
Earning first-team honors were Anya Luo, Melody Tu, Grace Hu, Amilya Chapovsky and Keira Ayivi of Oak Park; and Cookie Young of Moorpark.
Earning second-team honors were Kayleigh Fukumoto, Sofia Beckmann, Holly Herzenach and Nikitha Ashok of Simi Valley; Maddy Ng, Ella Morey and Natalie Ng of Oak Park; Kaci Colby of Camarillo; and Brooke Petritz of Royal.
Adam Nielsen of Oak Park was named the Coach of the Year.

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CLAREMONT — Santa Margarita’s Emily Gao and Grace Kersenbrock united as gritty teammates and best friends to make school history at the CIF-SS girls tennis individual championships Thursday.
Donned in matching uniforms with white visors, the seniors shared encouraging words, high-fives and plenty of shot making to force a third set in the doubles finals against Calabasas at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center.
Gao and Kersenbrock fell 4-6, 7-5, 2-6 against Alena Koltsova and Giana Mucci but celebrated their backstory and the achievement of becoming the first Santa Margarita girls — singles or doubles — to reach the individual finals.
“We go down in history,” Gao said. “It’s nice. We’ve been at this school for four years so it’s good to have a name here and end on a good note.”
“I really hope this is going inspire everyone coming up,” veteran Santa Margarita coach Eric Michaut added. “They played a great match but the other team just played incredible and you have to give them credit. They earned.”
Gao and Kersenbrock, the Trinity League champions in doubles, showed their desire in the second set.
After dropping a close first set, the tandem rallied from a 4-1 deficit to win five consecutive games to take a 5-4 lead against Koltsova and Mucci, who helped Calabasas capture the Division 2 team title.
The run started with Gao and Kersenbrock earning their first break point of the match. The pair captured the set with another break point.
“We started having fun more,” Kersenbrock said of the second set. “We just work really well together. We’ve known each other for a while. We know what each other needs to do and what each other is good at. Good chemistry.”
Early in the third set, Gao was slowed by a cramp in her leg that limited her mobility but the Eagles made no excuses after the left-handed Mucci ripped a forehand down the line for the championship point.
“It was disheartening,” Gao of the cramps. “Movement is a big part of my game … but we played some good points out there. I tried my best.”
In the semifinals, Gao and Kersenbrock defeated Crestview League champions Huiqing Sun and Zhinan Wang of Crean Lutheran 7-6 (3), 6-2.
After the final, Gao and Kersenbrock recalled how they were foes in the 12-and-under divisions on the local USTA junior circuit.
“I didn’t like her when we were like 12 in junior tennis because she kept beating me,” Gao said. “I was like, ‘Oh, gosh, I don’t like this girl.’ “
Kersenbrock’s father Rick even showed the girls a picture Thursday of their girls holding trophies at Anaheim Tennis Center.
“I had the bigger (trophy),” Kersenbrock said as the girls laughed.
The girls plan to stay close in college.
Gao, who maintains a 4.5 grade-point average, is committed to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Kersenbrock, who holds a 4.6 GPA, will attend nearby Pomona Pitzer.
Both will play tennis for the Division III colleges. And they’re both interested in studying science.
The girls are so close, their Instagram accounted are linked.
“We became best friends in high school and we’ve been best friends ever since,” Gao said. “Hopefully in college, as well, we’ll be best friends.”
In singles final, Louisville sophomore Ania Zabost rallied past Anna Shtrikman of Milken Community 1-6, 6-3, 6-0.

Money continues to flow into women’s sports, with athletes in basketball, hockey, soccer, softball, and volleyball all benefiting. But tennis still leads the way, thanks to rising prize money and major endorsement deals that WTA stars consistently attract. In 2025, the trend remains the same as Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and other top tennis players dominate the list of the highest-paid female athletes.
Sportico has released its latest list of the top-earning women’s athletes. Once again, tennis players dominated the rankings. Ten of the top 15 highest-paid female athletes in 2025 came from tennis. Coco Gauff led the field with an impressive total.
Gauff earned $31 million in 2025. Of that amount, $23 million came from endorsements. She added $8 million in prize money from her strong season. Earlier in the year, she launched Coco Gauff Enterprises with talent firm WME. This move marked her shift away from Roger Federer’s Team8 after seven years. WME does not own any part of her new business.
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Her biggest endorsement deal is with New Balance. The company signed her when she was only 14. They renewed the contract in 2022, making it one of the richest in women’s tennis. She now works with more than a dozen partners. Her list includes Baker Tilly, Bose, Head, Rolex, Mercedes-Benz, and Chase Bank. The variety of brands reflects her popularity and market value.
Aryna Sabalenka also had a record-setting season. She lost the Australian Open and French Open finals. But she won the US Open and two WTA 1000 tournaments. Her US Open title alone earned her $5 million, an increase from $3.6 million in 2024.
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Her total prize money for the year reached $15 million. This broke Serena Williams’ 2013 record of $12.4 million. Sabalenka has now earned $45.2 million in career prize money. She is second all-time but still far behind Williams’ $94.8 million.
Iga Świątek also delivered a strong year on the WTA Tour. She finished second in the year-end rankings behind Sabalenka for the second straight season. She is also close behind Sabalenka in total career earnings.
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Świątek collected $10.1 million in prize money and $13 million in endorsements this year. Her total reached $23.1 million, securing her place among the top earners.
Many other tennis stars made the list. Zheng Qinwen ranked fifth with $20.6 million. Madison Keys placed eighth with $13.4 million. Elena Rybakina followed in ninth with $12.6 million. Naomi Osaka ranked tenth with $12.5 million. Amanda Anisimova came in twelfth with $10.8 million. Jessica Pegula took thirteenth with $10.5 million. Venus Williams placed fourteenth with $10.2 million.
Because of these results, even Billie Jean King highlighted this achievement with the message, “10 of the Top 15 are tennis players. 👏”
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Yet, tensions between tennis authorities and players remain. Issues like the massive pay gap continue to spark debate, as Coco Gauff has already spoken publicly about these concerns.
Coco Gauff criticises tennis for its significant pay gap
Coco Gauff recently earned a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. She appeared there as a leading figure in both sport and fashion, and also stands out as the world’s highest-paid female athlete. Her influence now stretches far beyond her results on the court.
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And in a newly released video from Forbes, she speaks openly about the pay gap that still exists between the ATP and WTA at combined events.
“In Grand Slams, we’re obviously there when it comes to the prize money, but on the Tour it’s a very big gap. And I think the start is for sure targeting the ATP and WTA combined events, because for me there’s no reason we’re both playing two out of three sets, playing at the same venue, and sometimes there are female players like me, Aryna [Sabalenka], Iga [Swiatek], Jess [Pegula], who are selling out some of these stadiums more than some of the other guys and they’re getting paid way more.”
While Grand Slams offer equal prize money, most other tournaments do not. Even at events hosted together, men often receive higher payouts. This structure has frustrated players for years. Gauff has chosen to challenge it directly.
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Even after she reached the China Open semi-finals, she spoke again about another issue. She called attention to the ongoing revenue-sharing debate between top players and Grand Slam organisers. She chose not to avoid the topic or soften her message.
“For the long run of our sport and kind of the whole ecosystem, I think that it’s really important.” Her comments point to long-term sustainability and equality.
As one of the WTA’s most influential voices, Gauff’s message is gaining attention. More players have begun to echo her concerns.
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With the 2026 season approaching, many wonder what will happen next. Fans and players alike will watch to see if more tennis stars rise into the sport’s top earnings lists.

Taylor Fritz thought he was in for a calm, cozy night in Tokyo – a simple off-season date with his girlfriend, Morgan Riddle, after a long year on the ATP Tour. The neon-lit streets of Tokyo were buzzing, the air crisp, and Fritz, like any trusting boyfriend, followed Morgan without a hint of suspicion. After all, a bar in Tokyo? Sounds normal enough. But little did he know, Morgan had crafted a plot twist worthy of a travel-comedy series.
As the couple stepped through the doors of what Fritz assumed was an ordinary bar, he froze. Instead of soft music and dim lights, he was greeted by the sight of towering, muscular women flexing proudly, patrons cheering, and an atmosphere that could rival a pro-wrestling weigh-in. This wasn’t just any spot – it was Tokyo’s famous ‘muscle girl‘ bar. Morgan’s face lit up with mischief. Fritz’s face lit up with immediate confusion. She recently shared a video clip on her IG handle with the caption, “(dw they loved it 🫠).” In the video, Fritz looked a bit amused when he was lifted off the ground by a muscular bartender quite effortlessly in her arms.
But the moment the internet can’t get enough came right after. “telling our boyfriends we’re going to a ‘bar‘ in tokyo, but it’s actually the muscle girl bar.” Her playful caption didn’t quite give a hint about what was waiting for her partner, Taylor Fritz. Still holding court in the middle of the bar, the same bartender gently – but theatrically – delivered a playful slap to Fritz’s cheek. Looking at his expression after that, one thing I can say is that it was definitely not a light slap, but a really tight one…
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But Fritz, now fully aware he’d been set up, could only shake his head and laugh along. For a player who has spent the season battling the world’s toughest opponents, it turns out his most unexpected challenge came off the court – courtesy of his girlfriend and a Tokyo bartender built like a superhero. However, talking about challenges, well, Morgan Riddle really got off to a challenging start to this trip. How?
Just a few days ago, “the most famous woman in men’s tennis” shared a screenshot of her search history, and it clearly suggested that she had perhaps suffered from food poisoning that required medical attention. She even added a sarcastic caption to it. “Japan has been great so far.” But this wasn’t the first time she had traveled to the ‘Land of the Rising Sun.‘ Riddle loves traveling with Taylor Fritz during the Tour, and she visited this beautiful country last year, also during the Tokyo Open.
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Looking at their lovely chemistry makes fans perhaps wonder how long she has been with Fritz, though, and how they met each other. Well, we get you covered, but before that, let’s check out some of the reactions that have come in on their recent trip to Japan.
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Tennis world reacts to Taylor Fritz and his girlfriend’s Japan trip
Taylor Fritz thought he was simply signing up for a peaceful off-season getaway in Tokyo with his girlfriend, Morgan Riddle. But somewhere between the bright city lights and Morgan’s mischievous grin, the tennis star unknowingly became the main character of a video that would send the entire tennis world into hysterics.
After seeing Fritz getting playfully slapped, Jessica Pegula commented, “This is incredible lol.” Madison Keys also chimed in. “I’m crying. This is so good. Even Asia Muhammed couldn’t hold her laughter. “Hahahhahah.” Even Desirae Krawczyk commented on that post. For a community used to high-stakes tiebreaks and nail-biting rallies, this unexpected Tokyo adventure was a refreshing, comedic break.
Morgan Riddle even received a special request from Grigor Dimitrov’s girlfriend, Eiza Gonzalez. After seeing a post where Riddle was seen feeding food to deer, she wrote, “Bring me one,” perhaps referring to the beautiful animal.
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However, the most interesting comment about their trip came from renowned tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg. He dropped a very interesting comment on the reel featuring their recent visit to the muscle girl bar. “Hard to overstate how much more enjoyable of an off-season this Fritz Tokyo trip looks like than all those Maldives pilgrims.”
Now, coming to the chemistry between Taylor Fritz and Morgan Riddle, well, they’ve been dating each other since 2020. The couple first met on Raya, a members-only dating app. During a previous interview with People magazine, Riddle spoke about their relationship, which consists of a lot of traveling to different places.
“We travel so well together, which people always ask me, ‘How do you guys spend that much time in a hotel room together without wanting to rip each other’s heads off? But we get along really well, which is why I think we’ve been able to make it work the last couple of years.”
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Even Taylor Fritz has time and again highlighted how Morgan Riddle’s presence has helped him stay focused, be healthier, and push for further excellence in life. What are your thoughts on this beautiful couple?

Injuries are an unavoidable reality in any sport, but in tennis, they cut especially deep, where a relentless “pay-as-you-play” grind forces athletes to stay healthy just to survive. The ATP Tour demands constant presence, yet its physical toll often makes that impossible. And recently, Thanasi Kokkinakis, long battered by the sport’s intensity, has now revealed the ‘risky’ and unprecedented surgery he chose in a desperate bid to extend his career and reclaim his place on tour.
Thanasi Kokkinakis recently spoke openly to the Australian news outlet TODAY about the hardest chapter of his career. He described the major risk he took with his latest surgery. For years, he had struggled with a torn pectoral muscle, an injury that made playing back-to-back matches almost impossible.
“The surgery I did, it’s risky, no tennis player has ever done it. A few surgeons didn’t want to do it, but I had to take a chance and bite the bullet if I wanted to have a crack at the rest of my career. This is my toughest injury I’ve had yet, and it will be my toughest recovery. I’m still optimistic, hopeful that I’ve made the right decision, but yeah, it hasn’t been easy and when you speak to surgeons and tennis players and no one’s seen this injury or had a surgery like this before in tennis, pretty daunting, but I knew I had to have a crack and yeah, why not be the first?”
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Kokkinakis revealed that the surgeons transplanted part of his Achilles tendon into the damaged area. Later, he also stated that without the surgery, his career would likely have ended.
“Yeah, I think so. I could have played one match a week the rest of my career, but in tennis, you can’t do that; you have to be able to string together back-to-back if you want to make any inroads in your career or ranking. So, yeah, for me, it was at a do-or-die point, I was like, I can’t keep going like this. It was mental torture,” he said.
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His last appearance came at the 2025 Australian Open. He battled Jack Draper for five sets in a dramatic match. He lost 6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. After that defeat, he disappeared from the ATP Tour. For fans, there were no updates. But behind the scenes, Kokkinakis was fighting just to save his future in tennis.
Throughout his career, injuries have followed him. Shoulder issues, surgeries, and constant setbacks have tested him repeatedly. But he has not lost his determination. Even now, with another major operation behind him, he remains motivated.
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At 29, he still believes he has more to give. He is counting the days until he can return to the Australian swing. He hopes to compete again in front of his home fans. His comeback journey is far from easy, but he refuses to give up.
And as he prepares for the new season, Kokkinakis has also reflected on the areas he needs to improve.
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Kokkinakis reveals focus on improving his serve before returning
It’s almost ironic that both Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios are sidelined at the same time. Their careers have become closely connected, especially after their incredible Australian Open title run in 2022.
Since that success, the demanding tennis schedule has taken a toll on both players. Kokkinakis only played the Australian Open in 2025, while Kyrgios managed just four singles matches throughout the year.
Kyrgios is now preparing for the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ against Aryna Sabalenka. Meanwhile, Kokkinakis is focusing on rebuilding his game and planning a full comeback.
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He admitted that his serve has required the most work after the difficult surgery he underwent. As he said, “The most complicated part is the serve, that’s what I’m working on the most to recover it, we’ll see. My goal is to return to the circuit in 2026, I’m enjoying this moment, the restart from scratch, playing without pain, something I could almost never do in my career,” during a podcast, as reported by Ubitennis in September.
Despite the challenges, Kokkinakis seems motivated and refreshed. He is enjoying playing without pain for the first time in years.
With a new season coming and renewed energy, it will be exciting to see the Aussie return to the tour and try to make some deep runs again.

The debate had been swirling for weeks – press rooms buzzing, social media sparking, and podcasts dissecting every angle of the ever-growing tennis calendar. But amid the rising noise, British tennis star Emma Raducanu stepped into the conversation with the calm of someone who’d seen both sides of the sport: the spotlight and the shadows.
Talking about hectic tennis schedules, we’ve seen Carlos Alcaraz complaining that the current schedule is pushing players to the brink and that they are probably trying to “kill” them. While Iga Swiatek labelled the tennis schedule as “crazy” and said “we play too much.” Even British star Jack Draper raised his voice on the same. “Injuries are going to happen… we are pushing our bodies to do things they aren’t supposed to in elite sport.” But surprisingly, Raducanu has taken a different stance from these players. She criticized her fellow players for “moaning” about the Tour schedule.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Emma Raducanu offered a reality check that landed like a clean winner down the line. “I think that’s a challenge. I don’t necessarily think it’s something to complain about because it’s what we are given. And we are making a great living as well.” It wasn’t dismissive. It wasn’t careless. It was grounded – and more importantly, honest. Raducanu has lived the highs and lows of the Tour as intensely as anyone: the explosive fame, chronic injuries, surgeries, scrutiny, and the pressure of being the face of British tennis at 23. But still her tone suggested a perspective built from experience, not privilege.
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“I mean, it’s not all glamorous. There are definitely times when it’s very difficult, and we are flagging mentally, physically, and everything hurts. But at the same time, what are we going to do about it? I am sure there are certain people who go to work, and their bosses make them do something, but they have to do it; it’s their job. If we put up a front that isn’t complaining, I think that is a better example to the people watching, trying to get into tennis, the younger people. If they see all the top players moaning about the calendar, I don’t think that’s necessarily inspiring to look up to.”
In a sport where transparency often takes the shape of frustration, Emma Raducanu is offering a different blueprint – one that blends realism with gratitude and toughness with awareness. This year, Raducanu played 50 matches, and guess what? That’s the most she has played in the last five years. She won 28 matches this year. Although she didn’t win any titles this year, Raducanu reached the QFs of the Miami Open, HSBC Championships, and the SF of the Citi Open.
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So, it was more or less a decent season for the Brit, especially considering the challenges she had to go through in terms of physical battles in the last few seasons. But now it’s time to shift our focus to what’s lining up for her in 2026.
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Which tournaments are lined up for Emma Raducanu in the next two months?
Emma Raducanu is not leaving anything to chance in 2026. After a year defined by stop-start momentum, the British number one has pressed reset with a clear mission: build a stronger base level, dictate more matches, and stop worrying about what’s happening to the other side of the net. She had already started her pre-season training with coach Francisco Roig in Barcelona. All she now wants is to see what Roig can add to her game.
“He wants me to focus a lot more on building a better Emma Raducanu and a better base level. It’s something that I don’t think I’ve necessarily done before. I’ve always been more tactical, more just having to exploit their weaknesses if they have any, and trying to be very crafty. And it works. But the ideal is that you don’t have to necessarily think too much about the other players – you can just go and execute your game and know that you can win. He’s trying to build a better quality, not necessarily by changing my physiological capacities, but by using better technique, better timing, and better movement.”
Her goal is now to try dictating the game a lot more. Other than Roig, she has also added Emma Stewart, a physiotherapist, to her team. Emma Raducanu has taken a lot of confidence from being able to play 22 tournaments across 9 months in 2025. Now, with these new additions, she will be keen to find ways to make a good start in 2026.
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If we take a look at what’s coming next for the Brit, well, she has already confirmed her participation at the United Cup, which starts on January 2. Following that, she will be seen in action at the AO and then probably at the Abu Dhabi Open, Qatar Open, and Dubai Tennis Championships in February. Do you think Raducanu can find more successes in 2026?

After an exciting season, these players were selected to the 2025 All-North Jersey girls tennis teams.
The North Jersey Girls Tennis Player of the Year will be announced at the North Jersey High School Sports Awards show in June. All first-team players are nominees for Player of the Year.
FIRST TEAM
Jaime Carlin
Holy Angels junior
Carlin helped the Angels win their second consecutive Bergen County team championship, taking home her second career first-singles title at the tournament. She also reached the semifinals of the inaugural Bergen County Singles Tournament as the No. 4 seed.
The Norwood resident secured a spot on the first team for the third year in a row after advancing to the NJSIAA singles Round of 16 to finish 18-5.
Kylee Hung
Saddle River Day junior
Hung is now a three-time selection, repeating on first team after earning a 2023 second-team nod at Ridgewood. She finished unbeaten in dual matches for the NJIC Patriot champs, including a 6-2, 6-3 victory over fellow first-teamer Sylvie Yao.
Although she did not play in any Bergen County events, Hung earned a 5-8 seed for the NJSIAA singles tournament and made the quarterfinals, where she ran into state runner-up Fiona Hu of Pingry.
Britney Lee
Ridgefield Park senior
The first Bergen County Singles Tournament champion completes her career as a four-time, first-team selection. Lee went unbeaten in dual matches for the Scarlets and topped fellow first-teamers Jaime Carlin and Sylvie Yao on her way to the county singles crown.
One season after being named North Jersey Girls Tennis Player of the Year, she advanced to the NJSIAA singles semifinals to cap a 19-1 campaign.
Sylvie Yao
Dwight-Englewood junior
Yao returns to the first team following her run to the Bergen County Singles Tournament final. Although she played sparingly in the regular season, the Tenafly resident helped the 15-3 Bulldogs defend their NJIC Liberty Division crown.
A 5-8 seed for the NJSIAA singles tournament, Yao emerged as one of three Bergen County players to reach the quarterfinals, where she bowed to three-time state champ Nina Abalos of Montclair Kimberley.
Mia Custodio & Norah Park
Holy Angels seniors (doubles)
For the second time in three years, a North Jersey duo played in the NJSIAA doubles final. Custodio was named to last season’s second team, but after her 2024 partner moved to singles, she joined forces with senior classmate Park to form the state tourney’s top-seeded duo.
Custodio and Park captured the Bergen County first doubles crown, and they went 16-1 in the regular season, scoring a win over the Pingry pairing that needed a marathon 6-4, 4-6, 6-6 (7-5) match to top them in the state final.
SECOND TEAM
Sabrina Chu, Demarest junior
Olivia Lai, Bergen Tech sophomore
Michelle Lee, Ridgefield Park sophomore
Jazmine Natividad, Bergenfield junior
Emily No, Holy Angels freshman
Valerie Sinitsyn, Bergen Tech freshman
THIRD TEAM
Priscilla Chow, Cresskill senior
Lily Cole, Glen Rock junior
Hrystyna Khrupalo, Passaic Tech senior
Faith Schulz, Mahwah junior
Umaiza Shaikh, Emerson sophomore

New Jersey-born tennis star Amanda Anisimova will face Jessica Pegula at the Prudential Center’s first-ever tennis event.
The

Amanda Anisimova left Freehold, N.J. when she was 3 because her family wanted her older sister Maria to pursue a tennis career in Florida.
Maria went on to play college tennis at the University of Pennsylvania, while Amanda eventually eclipsed her big sister on the tennis court. Now Amanda is returning to New Jersey for an exhibition on Sunday at Prudential Center.
Anisimova, ranked No. 4 in the world after reaching the finals of both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2025, will meet fellow American and world No. 6 Jessica Pegula in

Twenty-five years later and Adidas is still going strong with the Barricade tennis shoe franchise. The German-based brand launched the 14th iteration of the franchise, continuing to push the Barricade forward to a new generation of tennis players.
Adidas says the fresh design draws inspiration from the legacy models but comes updated for the style and physical demands of the modern game. And updated it is, with Adidas creating an entirely new last for the model and adding something to the construction that the brand has never done in tennis shoes before.
That updated fit comes thanks to a completely restructured midsole construction that features a new last for the Barricade, designed to improve the fit of the shoe while providing midfoot support and increased toe spring. The new internal chassis was meant to create additional stability so players could withstand heavy impact.
To help with the fresh construction, Adidas brought foam into the forefoot of a tennis shoe for the first time. While foam is common in the forefoot across the sport, Adidas has long focused its foam cushioning elsewhere in tennis shoe design. The introduction of the Adidas Lightstrike Pro foam in the forefoot is meant to improve energy return for a more effective toe-off while on the move. The brand’s Repetitor foam appears in the heel, designed to offer shock absorption.
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An updated outsole technology, which Adidas previously debuted in running shoes and calls Lighttraxion, is expected to improve traction and durability while reducing weight from the previous models.
“Extensively tested in collaboration with our elite athletes, insights gathered revealed demand for a lighter and more comfortable design,” says Annette Steingass, senior director specialist for sports apparel at Adidas. “The latest silhouette reaffirms our drive to provide stability and comfort in one foundational shoe, and we can’t wait to see it on courts all over the world.”
The new construction includes an update cushioned collar to help with creating a snug and protective heel fit and a cushioned tongue adds a level of comfort.
“The Barricade is one of our most popular franchises for players of all levels,” Steingass says. “So when it came to developing the 14th iteration of our pinnacle control model, we wanted to make sure it served our whole tennis community in the best way.”
The December launch design of the new Barricade ($170) features a classic black on white look that will debut as the 2026 season starts and be seen at the Australian Open. Players expecting to don the new model includes Daria Kasatkina, Karolina Muchova, Francisco Cerundolo, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The sporting world lit up again this week as Venus Williams dropped a major personal update that immediately had fans talking. Fresh off her high-profile return to the WTA Tour at 45, the tennis legend surprised everyone with a post that shifted the spotlight off the court.
She’s officially engaged to Italian actor Andrea Preti.
Celebrating this wholesome moment, New England Patriots legend Tom Brady‘s ex-girlfriend Irina Shayk commented on Venus Williams’ post as she wrote, “❤️🔥🔥.” Similarly, the NFL franchise, the Miami Dolphins, also wished the couple, commenting, “Congratulations 🎊,” on the engagement post.
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Looking at the Instagram post shared by Venus Williams, the four-time Olympic gold medalist shared photos of the couple getting cozy, with her dog, Harry, at a scenic tropical locale. The post had a caption that included their engagement, as it said, “Engaged 1/31/25💫.”
Preti even jumped into the comments himself, joking that 18-year-old Harry is “the real boss,” a reminder that this engagement is as much about the little family they’ve built as it is about rings and dresses.
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From Venus Williams and Andrea Preti, let’s shift focus to Irina Shayk and Tom Brady, who were involved in a brief relationship that ended in late 2023. They were first seen together in July 2023 and kept their relationship private, meeting discreetly as they navigated a casual “no strings attached” dynamic.
After their brief 2023 fling, the pair reportedly rekindled things in early 2025 in a low-key, casual way, but with no public confirmation of anything long-term, Brady’s main focus remains his new life in the broadcast booth. He continues to excel as an NFL broadcaster, anchoring FOX’s lead NFL coverage and rolling out a weekly power-rankings segment that fans now treat as must-watch TV.
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Tom Brady names his hottest team in the NFL
In the latest iteration of Tom Brady’s weekly power rankings, the quarterback extraordinaire picked his former team, the New England Patriots, as the best-performing team in the league so far. The rapid rise of the Patriots boils down to second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who has grown into the franchise centerpiece New England hoped for when they drafted him No. 3 overall in 2024.
Maye has proven his worth with his command of the offense, improved accuracy, and ability to perform in clutch moments have drawn comparisons to early-career Brady. The Pats QB1 has recorded league-leading 3,412 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, which have carried a team that won only four games in 2024.
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Those numbers have powered New England to an 11–2 record and a 10-game win streak, turning last year’s 4–13 disappointment into an MVP-level redemption arc that has the rest of the AFC suddenly watching their backs again.
“After a serious drought, the New England Patriots are number one in the power rankings,” Brady said. “New England hasn’t played the league’s hardest schedule – it’s actually been the easiest – but this team passes the eye test and [Mike] Vrabel had them flying around on all three phases on Monday night.”
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Coming from a coach who won three Super Bowls in New England under Bill Belichick, that kind of praise for Mike Vrabel’s physical, all-phases identity says as much about how the Patriots are winning as it does about how often they’re winning.
Brady also highlighted how the Patriots enter their Week 14 bye with the perfect record: “Good timing to avoid a loss.”
Now with New England continuing to dominate, it’s happy times for Tom Brady, who remains an ardent supporter of his former team.

ROME (AP) — Hundreds of people paid their final respects to Nicola Pietrangeli days after the tennis great died aged 92.
A public viewing of Pietrangeli’s body and a brief memorial service were held Wednesday at the tennis court that was named after him. A private funeral was planned later in Rome.
In 2006, the statue-lined Pallacorda court at the Foro Italico — considered one of the most picturesque stadiums on the circuit — was renamed Stadio Pietrangeli.
Two tennis rackets and the Davis Cup won by Italy in 1976 under Pietrangeli’s captaincy were placed next to the coffin, which was decorated in blue and white flowers.
A large screen displayed images of Pietrangeli’s career accompanied by the music of Charles Aznavour, one of his favorite singers.
“My Way,” by Frank Sinatra, played as the coffin was moved from the court — headed to the church where the funeral was to be held.
“Everything just as he wanted, the place and the music,” said his son Marco.
Prominent figures of Italian sport attended, including the former and current president of the Italian national Olympic committee as well as the head of the Italian tennis federation.
Prince Albert II of Monaco, a longtime friend of Pietrangeli, was present at his funeral, at the Chiesa della Gran Madre di Dio in Rome.
“I knew him for many years,” he said. “He was a splendid man. I really wanted to be here also for his family, I am very emotional. He was always there in the most important moments of my life.”
Adriano Panatta and Tonino Zugarelli, who won the Davis Cup with Pietrangeli, were also present as were other former tennis players including Fabio Fognini, who retired earlier this year.
Noticeably absent, however, were current Italian tennis players — especially Jannik Sinner.
Pietrangeli was the first Italian to win a Grand Slam singles trophy, at the French Championships in 1959 and repeated in 1960. He also holds the Davis Cup record for total wins and singles wins from 66 ties from 1954-72. His singles record was 78-32 and his doubles record was 42-12.
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ROME – Hundreds of people paid their final respects to Nicola Pietrangeli days after the tennis great died aged 92.
A public viewing of Pietrangeli’s body and a brief memorial service were held Wednesday at the tennis court that was named after him. A private funeral was planned later in Rome.
In 2006, the statue-lined Pallacorda court at the Foro Italico – considered one of the most picturesque stadiums on the circuit – was renamed Stadio Pietrangeli.
Two tennis rackets and the Davis Cup won by Italy in 1976 under Pietrangeli’s captaincy were placed next to the coffin, which was decorated in blue and white flowers.
A large screen displayed images of Pietrangeli’s career accompanied by the music of Charles Aznavour, one of his favorite singers.

Serena Williams threw cold water on the idea that she might be preparing to return to tennis, writing on social media Tuesday that she is “NOT coming back,” after a spokesman for the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said the 23-time Grand Slam champion had registered with the sport’s drug-testing body.
That is the first step that would be required by a player seeking to come out of retirement.
The 44-year-old Williams, one of the greats of the game, has not competed since bidding farewell at the 2022 U.S. Open. At the time, Williams said she didn’t want to use the word “retiring” and instead declared that she was “evolving” away from tennis.
It was not clear when or where — or even if — Williams actually will play again, and she later posted: “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.”
Her agent did not immediately return a request for comment.
In a statement emailed to The Associated Press, U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Brendan McIntyre said: “We are aware that Serena has filed the necessary paperwork with the International Tennis Integrity Agency to reenter the International Registered Testing Pool. If Serena decides to return and compete at the professional level, together with her fans, we will enthusiastically welcome the return of one of the greatest champions in the history of our sport.”
Williams was one of the biggest stars of any sport, a dominant talent on the court and still someone drawing attention away from it. If she were to end up returning to the tour, it would be a significant story line, of course.
Her decision to place her name back in the testing pool with the ITIA, which oversees anti-doping and anti-corruption efforts, was first reported by Bounces.
“She is on the list and back in the testing pool,” ITIA spokesman Adrian Bassett wrote to the AP on Tuesday.
Athletes returning to testing need to provide information on their whereabouts — details on their location when they are not at an official event and times when they are available to give samples. Someone who retires while they are on the list and later comes back needs to be available for testing for six months before they are allowed to return to competition.
Williams’ older sister, Venus, returned to competition this July at age 45 after nearly 1 1/2 years away from the tour; she never had announced her retirement. At the U.S. Open, Venus became the oldest player to play singles at the American Grand Slam tournament since 1981.
When Venus, a seven-time major singles champion, came back at the DC Open, she spoke about wishing Serena would join her back on tour. They claimed 14 Grand Slam doubles titles as a pair.
“I keep saying to my team: The only thing that would make this better is if she was here. Like, we always did everything together, so of course I miss her,” Venus said at the time when asked about a video on social media that showed Serena swinging a racket. “But if she comes back, I’m sure she’ll let y’all know.”