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  • ATP Washington Open withdrawal list: Felix Auger-Aliassime & Arthur Fery among 7 stars to pull out

    After a quiet couple of weeks following the culmination of Wimbledon, the tennis calendar is set to kick back into gear with the Washington Open.

    The American tournament is the first ATP 500 event on the North American hardcourt swing, and many players use it to prepare for a trio of huge tournaments to come.

    Two Masters events – at the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open – as well as the US Open will take place over the next six weeks, so players often flock to the Washington Open in preparation.

    However, this year will see only two of the top 10 compete, with Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz representing the very best of the ATP Tour in the US capital.

    That is because both Felix Auger-Aliassime and Daniil Medvedev have withdrawn from the event, just three days before the ATP 500 event is set to begin.

    Washington Open withdrawals

    • Felix Auger-Aliassime
    • Daniil Medvedev
    • Mattia Bellucci (qualifying)
    • Arthur Fery (qualifying)
    • Luca Van Assche (qualifying)
    • Adam Walton (qualifying)
    • Eliot Spizzirri (qualifying)

    The top 10 duo are the only players to withdraw from the main draw so far, although several high-profile players have dropped out of qualifying.

    Mattia Bellucci, Arthur Fery, Luca Van Assche, Adam Walton, and Eliot Spizzirri have all been confirmed to be missing the hardcourt tournament.

    Fery is perhaps the most surprising player to drop out, following his memorable run to the Wimbledon semi finals at his home Grand Slam.

    However, the British star did not outline the Washington Open as one of his key tournaments when he teased his schedule following his Wimbledon run.

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    “Cincinnati, Winston-Salem and the US Open, they’re pretty much locked in,” said the British star when asked which tournaments he would be playing on the North American hardcourt swing.

    Fery also hopes to be seeded for the US Open, but that will not be dictated by his results as the entry list for the Grand Slam has already been confirmed.

    “I might already be in there [the top 32] if I’m lucky, a few withdrawals,” he said. “I don’t think I will be able to contribute to the ranking anymore before the list comes out for the US Open, because it’s going to come out soon.

    “Being seeded obviously protects you a little bit from the top guys, but it’s my first main draw that I qualify for directly with my ranking so just going to take it as it goes.”

    At the Washington Open, though, there is a potential chance for another breakout tournament from an unsung player with so few top-ranked players at the event.

    Washington Open entry list

    • Alex de Minaur
    • Taylor Fritz
    • Lorenzo Musetti
    • Learner Tien
    • Jakub Mensik
    • Frances Tiafoe
    • Arthur Fils
    • Tommy Paul
    • Rafael Jodar
    • Arthur Rinderknech
    • Ugo Humbert
    • Brandon Nakashima
    • Tomas Etcheverry
    • Alejandro Tabilo
    • Matteo Arnaldi
    • Zizou Bergs
    • Adrian Mannarino
    • Kamil Majchrzak
    • Alex Michelsen
    • Tallon Griekspoor
    • Ethan Quinn
    • Terence Atmane
    • Ben Shelton (WC)
    • Jack Draper (WC)
    • Stefanos Tsitsipas (WC)
    • Kei Nishikori (WC)

    Rafael Jodar is looking to win his first hardcourt event, while Jack Draper is looking to prove to the US Open that he is worthy of a wildcard.

    Elsewhere, the likes of Arthur Fils, Tommy Paul, and Learner Tien will be looking to continue their fine form shown throughout the 2026 season.

    The post ATP Washington Open withdrawal list: Felix Auger-Aliassime & Arthur Fery among 7 stars to pull out appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Kim Clijsters left confused by what Carlos Alcaraz has done ahead of tennis return

    The tennis world is waiting in anticipation for Carlos Alcaraz’s return to the sport, following a lengthy five-month absence.

    Alcaraz suffered a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open in April, which derailed much of his season. The Spaniard was forced out of Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

    That caused him to lose his World No 2 status to Alexander Zverev, but there have been some positive signs the seven-time Grand Slam champion could return to action soon.

    Alcaraz is on the entry lists for both the Cincinnati Open and the US Open, so fans could see the star finally playing tennis again in a matter of weeks.

    However, there is still some uncertainty about Alcaraz’s injury and Clijsters has been left confused by the Spaniard’s communucation in recent weeks.

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    Asked if she knows anything about his wrist injury on her podcast Love All, having suffered several herself during her playing career, Clijsters replied: “I don’t. I hope that we’ll maybe hear a little bit more about it once he starts coming back, where he explains it a little bit more.

    “But I feel like he’s been very kind of like he has been secretive, but he hasn’t. Like we’ve seen him with a brace or a cast and you know at the start and then I think you know he posts some clips here and there where he’s actually hitting and doing some drills but I haven’t seen anything of him like playing full out yet either. So, I’m just very curious to see.”

    Alcaraz has reportedly returned to ‘light’ training, which could be a major worry for the star’s status at the Cincinnati Open and the US Open.

    The Cincinnati Open is set to begin on the 11th August, so Alcaraz does not have much time to get up to speed with the hustle and bustle of the ATP Tour.

    Should he miss that event, he would have to play the US Open without a single warm-up tournament. Alcaraz is also under threat of losing more ground on Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev in the ATP Tour rankings.

    If Alcaraz does not play the Cincinnati Open, he will lose the 1000 ranking points he earned for winning the Masters tournament last year.

    That would leave him at 7160 points while Zverev is only defending semi final points from last year’s event. Should Zverev reach the final, which he would be expected to on current form, there could be any even bigger divide between the World No 2 and the World No 3.

    The post Kim Clijsters left confused by what Carlos Alcaraz has done ahead of tennis return appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Can Emma Raducanu contend for Grand Slams again? Legendary coach makes strong statement

    Legendary coach Rick Macci has told Tennis365 he has “no doubt” that Emma Raducanu has the game to contend for more Grand Slam titles.

    An 18-year-old Raducanu stunned the tennis world by winning the 2021 US Open title as a 150th-ranked qualifier in what was just her second main draw Grand Slam appearance after that year’s Wimbledon Championships.

    Raducanu, who did not lose a set in her 10 matches across qualifying and the main draw in New York, remains the only player in tennis history to win a major as a qualifier.

    The Brit’s next-best result at a Grand Slam is reaching the fourth round, which she achieved at Wimbledon in 2021 and 2024, while her overall record across her 16 appearances at majors is 26-15.

    The 23-year-old’s staggering triumph at Flushing Meadows remains the only tour-level title she has secured in her career to date.

    Raducanu’s two other runs to WTA finals have both been in 2026, with the former world No 10 losing to Sorana Cirstea at the Transylvania Open in February and Donna Vekic at the Queen’s Club Championships in June.

    Injuries have been a persistent problem for Raducanu since her US Open win, and she has not played since that defeat to Vekic last month due to a stress fracture in her right leg.

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    Rick Macci has coached five players who went on to become world No 1: Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Maria Sharapova and Andy Roddick.

    Speaking in an exclusive interview with Tennis365, Macci declared that Raducanu is “definitely a top 10 player.”

    “I’ve always been a big fan of Emma,” said the American.

    “Listen, when you have that amount of talent, and you do what she did at the US Open by never dropping a set, and qualifying and winning a Slam, the talent doesn’t go away.

    “What goes away is the confidence, and maybe a little bit of the fitness. So, she still has the talent and the ability. Now, mentally, is it the most important thing [for Raducanu], ’til your last breath? I don’t know because I’m not in that circle.

    “But she has the talent, and when she plays on grass, she kind of reacts and is a little more authoritative. At the end of the day, I think it’s great what she did, getting to the finals [at Queen’s Club].

    “She’s definitely a top 10 player, there’s no doubt about it, if you go talent-wise. But talent doesn’t get you into the top 10. It’s how you compete every match — that’s the key.

    “She’s just been a little bit too up and down. But it’s only over when you quit, and hopefully she’s going to keep on grinding.”

    Asked if Raducanu could challenge for a Grand Slam title again, Macci’s response was definitive.

    “Absolutely. Women’s tennis nowadays, it’s so fluid. Anybody can beat anybody,” Macci said.

    “She has the game, that’s the first thing — you’ve gotta have the game. She has enough firepower, and she can defend pretty good at times. It’s just the competitiveness to die for every point.

    “But absolutely, she can be back in the top 10 and she can contend for Grand Slams. I have no doubt. But that’s between her and her. I’m sure she’s trying her best.”

    READ NEXT: Exclusive: Emma Raducanu decision that ‘made no sense’ questioned by Serena Williams’ former coach

    The post Can Emma Raducanu contend for Grand Slams again? Legendary coach makes strong statement appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Holger Rune comeback fears grow as racket switch raises ‘dangerous game’ warning

    Concerns have been raised about Holger Rune’s racket switch from Babolat to Wilson ahead of his return from injury.

    The 23-year-old has not played on the ATP Tour since tearing his Achilles tendon at the 2025 Stockholm Open last October. The Dane has repeatedly delayed his comeback, with the former world No 4 since dropping to 81st in the rankings – his lowest since early 2022.

    Rune is on the entry list for the Cincinnati Masters in mid-August, but hopes that he may hit the ground running are being tempered. According to tennis content creator Gill Gross, the right-hander will have to be patient before he can play his best tennis again.

    The commentator believes it could be at least six months before that is the case, something that was similar for Alexander Zverev after returning from the ankle injury he sustained at the 2022 French Open.

    Gross said on his YouTube channel, “I think the expectation should be really low. If you’ve seen how arduous this recovery process has been, this is a real break where you’re going to have some serious rust: mentally, technically, physically.

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    “This will probably be a pretty slow build for Holger. [Rafael] Nadal and [Jack] Draper are examples of players who tend to come back, and it doesn’t take them very long to get going, but Zverev did take a while to come back from his ankle injury at Roland Garros.

    “When he came back, he was okay for about six months but he didn’t move like he usually moves and his confidence was pretty low overall on big points. There were a lot of issues when Zverev came back, and that lasted about six to eight months, and I would expect a similar timeline with Holger.”

    During his time away from the game, Rune has switched from the Babolat Pure Aero 98 to the Wilson Defyer racket.

    In early July, he said on the decision, “I was instantly drawn to this racket when I first started playtesting with Wilson. They have been supportive of my recovery, and I can’t wait to compete with Defyer when I hit the court.”

    Gross then referenced reports that Rune had made the change for “business reasons”, before going on to say that that was a “dangerous” game to play.

    He cited how Andre Agassi was one such famous example, with the American signing a lucrative contract to play with a Donnay racket before having a lot more success with Head.

    Gross said, “It will be interesting to see Holger coming back with a reworked forehand technique and also with a different racquet. He is now with Wilson instead of Babolat.

    “Which is interesting, right? Who switches off of the Pure Aero, everyone switches to the Pure Aero. It is very rare you see it the other way but this is Wilson’s new spin-orientated frame that was designed to rival the Pure Aero.”

    Gross added that if this switch was made for financial reasons, that made him a “little queasy”, before continuing, “I am sure Holger will get accustomed to his new frame and it will probably be fine but there are some horror stories out there where players are making those decisions based on contractual stuff and monetary things… Andre Agassi had a famous one for example.

    “It is a dangerous game to play so hopefully that was handled correctly for Holger.”

    Incidentally, Rune has developed an intriguing rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz, who is also out injured. The pair have played against each other for well over a decade and have a 2-2 head to head.

    Rune won their last meeting, with the Danish star triumphing in the final of the 2025 Barcelona Open in straight sets. Many tennis fans will be eagerly awaiting their return at Cincinnati next month.

    WHAT NEXT? Carlos Alcaraz, Emma Raducanu withdrawals spark tennis injury theory from ex-star

    The post Holger Rune comeback fears grow as racket switch raises ‘dangerous game’ warning appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Carlos Alcaraz injury concern grows as he’s still training at ‘very low intensity’ ahead of US Open

    Carlos Alcaraz’s injury recovery is progressing but his training is at a ‘very low intensity’, according to reports in his native Spain.

    The seven-time major winner began the year in unstoppable form. He completed the career Grand Slam at the tender age of 22 after winning the Australian Open, before romping to the Qatar Open title in irresistible fashion.

    But after failing to win any of the year’s first three Masters (Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte Carlo), his season was turned upside down when a wrist injury forced him to pull out of the Barcelona Open in mid-April.

    The 23-year-old missed the French Open and Wimbledon, prompting fears he could be out for the rest of 2026. Indeed, training footage of him playing with an unstrung, broken racket, while still wearing a wrist brace, led former British No 1 Greg Rusedski to say he was “deeply concerned”.

    On the flip side, Serena Williams’ old coach, Rick Macci, stated Alcaraz’s wrist is at 100%, has played “many matches with other pros” and has turned this negative into a positive.

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    However, according to Clay Tenis, this is not the case.

    In an article titled ‘Carlos Alcaraz‘s strangest and freest summer’, writer Nacho Encabo outlines the contrast between the lows of being out injured and the highs of being inside MetLife Stadium to watch his beloved Spain beat Argentina 1-0 and win the 2026 World Cup.

    The piece says Alcaraz has played no sets, no matches, ‘nothing of the sort’. His recovery is ‘on track’ but the Spaniard is not going to rush and risk jeopardising the rest of the season.

    Alcaraz is scheduled to return at the Cincinnati Masters, which runs from 13-23 August, but question marks remain over his participation.

    Clay claim that the defending US Open champion has not been able to hit a ball with complete freedom, not even in the privacy of a training session, since getting injured.

    Sources close to Alcaraz allegedly say, “Carlos is training, but still at a very low intensity.”

    And while Alcaraz’s image is being used to promote Cincinnati, Clay add that does not mean the former world No 1 will play it at 100% but he does intend to head to Ohio and compete.

    Tennis fans will be watching the player’s social media pages like hawks as he steps up his recovery. While there are rival factions in the sport, the vast majority of tennis followers want to see Alcaraz fit and ready for the US Open.

    But that is far from certain.

    READ MORE: Carlos Alcaraz set to miss the US Open? Rumours are swirling

    The post Carlos Alcaraz injury concern grows as he’s still training at ‘very low intensity’ ahead of US Open appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Alex Eala’s sends message to her army of fans as Coco Gauff leads praise for rising WTA star

    Alex Eala is turning heads on and off the court.

    On it, she is coming off her first breakthrough Grand Slam run after reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon, where she beat defending champion Iga Swiatek in straight sets along the way.

    Off it, she recently enjoyed a whistle-stop tour to Manila in her native Philippines. There, an army of fans follows every single one of her matches.

    Indeed, during her run at the grass court major, thousands of fans packed out stadiums for watch-along parties. The 21-year-old has a huge following back home, but that is also becoming Asia-wide.

    Incidentally, ahead of playing in the Mubadala DC Open in Washington next week, the Filipino wrote in an Instagram story on Monday, “That’s a wrap on Manila.

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    “Maraming salamat sa pagtanggap sa akin mga kababayan (Thank you for giving me a warm welcome, fellow Filipinos)! Each and every one of your stories has touched me on a profound level.

    “I leave with a refreshed memory of what I carry when I’m out there playing tennis. And wow is it a privilege to be part of something bigger than myself. Never been prouder to represent home.”

    Since touching down in the United States, it has emerged that Eala has teamed up with Metro Magazine as part of a glamourous photo shoot.

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Metro Magazine (@metromagph)

    An extract in their article talks about how Eala treats her fans even when she is tired and does not feel particularly sociable. While she can go through those moments, the youngster made it clear how much her supporters mean to her.

    The text reads, ‘One question we asked her was what the longest time she had ever spent signing autographs and tennis balls after a match was. And we acknowledged that after a match, she could be tired, spent, and wanting nothing more than to head to the locker room.

    ‘But Alex smiled, did not mention a specific period of time, but spoke about how she’s very aware that her fans have spent hours traveling to her match, lining up for tickets and then for seats, bringing customized placards and banners, cheering her on during the match, and waiting afterward to capture a moment with her.

    ‘So for her, it doesn’t matter how tired she may be – she’s more than ready to give her utmost back to these supporters.’

    Aside from the interview, Eala’s various outfits with Metro drew praise from the likes of two-time major winner Coco Gauff, among others.

    On the Instagram post, Gauff commented, “Gorgeous”, while former world No 39 Eva Lys wrote, “Just died”. It was also liked by the likes of former ATP top 50 player Chris Eubanks and Canadian Open champion Victoria Mboko.

    Eala, who is at a career-high ranking of 28, will hope for more success when her Washington campaign gets underway in the coming days. And every serve, groundstroke and volley will be watched by her army of adoring fans back home.

    GO DEEPER: Andy Roddick calls out the ‘b****** around Alexandra Eala’s rise after Wimbledon run

    The post Alex Eala’s sends message to her army of fans as Coco Gauff leads praise for rising WTA star appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Canadian Open withdrawal list: 8 stars out as another Grand Slam finalist joins Carlos Alcaraz, Emma Raducanu

    The 2026 Canadian Open has been dealt another couple of blows as two more players have joined the ever-increasing withdrawal list.

    The joint-ATP-WTA 1000 event – the first of the second half of the tennis season – runs from 1 August until 13 August with the men’s competition being staged in Montreal and the women’s tournament taking place in Toronto.

    It is also the first leg of the North American triple header along with the Cincinnati Open and US Open also taking place in August, which means players need to pace themselves and take care of niggles if they are to peak at the final Grand Slam of the year in New York.

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    Last year, Ben Shelton won the men’s event and local hero Victoria Mboko lifted the women’s crown on her debut at the tournament, but Canadian fans have already been dealt a blow as Mboko won’t defend her title due to injury.

    The 19-year-old suffered a serious knee injury during the Queen’s Club Championship and was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon and her home event in Quebec.

    WTA Canadian withdrawal list

    2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu joined the list last week as she is out with a stress fracture in her right leg with her return date unclear as she will also not compete at the Cincinnati Open.

    Two Grand Slam finalists have now also joined the list with Karolina Muchova, who finished runner-up at Wimbledon just over a week ago, recovering after undergoing a “small surgery”.

    “I had to undergo a small surgery that will keep me off the court for a few weeks. Everything went well, and I’m already working on my recovery,” the world No 6 wrote on social media.

    And former French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini is the latest to be forced to withdraw as she has a foot injury.

    “Unfortunately, I’ve decided to withdraw from Washington and Toronto so I can give my foot extra time to rest,” the Italian, who reached the quarter-final at Wimbledon earlier in July, said.

    • Karolina Muchova (world No 6) replaced by Daria Snigur
    • Victoria Mboko (world No 12) replaced by Karolina Pliskova
    • Jasmine Paolini (world No 15) replaced by Tamara Korpatsch
    • Hailey Baptiste (world No 34) replaced by Anna Bondar
    • Emma Raducanu (world No 37) replaced by Eva Lys
    • Dayana Yastremska (world No 88) replaced by Renata Zarazua

    Muchova, Mboko, Paolini and Baptiste were all set to be seeded in Canada.

    ATP Canadian Open withdrawal list

    Carlos Alcaraz remains the biggest name missing from the ATP entry list with the seven-time Grand Slam still recovering from the wrist injury he sustained during the Barcelona Open in July.

    However, there is good news as he is expected to make his return at the second leg of the North American triple header, the Cincinnati Open, which gets underway on 13 August in Mason in the United States.

    • Carlos Alcaraz (world No 3) replaced by Valentin Royer
    • Jesper de Jong (world No 105) replaced by Jan-Lennard Struff

    There are still doubts over the participation of tennis great Novak Djokovic as the former world No 1 – a four-time winner of the Canadian Open – last competed at the ATP Masters 1000 event in 2018.

    The post Canadian Open withdrawal list: 8 stars out as another Grand Slam finalist joins Carlos Alcaraz, Emma Raducanu appeared first on Tennis365.

  • ‘The tennis world needs Carlos Alcaraz back – but his injury is complicated’, says Grand Slam finalist

    Mark Philippoussis declared that “the tennis world needs” Carlos Alcaraz as he spoke to Tennis365 about the Spaniard’s “complicated” injury.

    Last week, Spanish publication La Verdad reported that Alcaraz is aiming to make his long-awaited comeback at the Cincinnati Open, which will begin on 13 August.

    “Alcaraz’s team has chosen to focus all their efforts on arriving in the best possible condition for Cincinnati, a tournament that begins in mid-August,” stated the report.

    “The wrist is healthy, completely healed and they are gradually increasing the training load.”

    Alcaraz has not played since he sustained a right wrist injury in his opening round win at the Barcelona Open over three months ago.

    The seven-time Grand Slam champion missed the clay-court Masters 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, as well as the French Open and Wimbledon.

    The world No 3 will not compete at the next Masters tournament on the calendar — the Canadian Open in Montreal, which will get underway on 1 August.

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    In an exclusive interview at Wimbledon, Tennis365 asked Philippoussis about Alcaraz’s injury and the 23-year-old star’s importance to the sport.

    “Look, I hope he comes back healthy. The tennis world needs him,” said the two-time Grand Slam finalist, who won 11 ATP Tour titles.

    “I love watching him, he’s incredible for the game. A Grand Slam champion, he’s been No 1 in the world.

    “And I just hope he can get healthy. Of course, he’s going to be someone that’s not going to rush the process.

    “But also, when it’s to do with the wrist, it’s complicated. So, I’m sure he’s doing everything he can, and hopefully he can be back soon.”

    Speaking to Tennis365, 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek recently backed Alcaraz to return to his “full form” after his injury.

    “It takes a bit of time, but he’s young, and I think he’s got good healing power,” said the former world No 4.

    “I’m not concerned that he will play, and I’m not concerned that he’s going to return to his full form.

    “But it’s a question of when. Is it gonna be for the hard courts [in North America]? Is it gonna be for the indoors? But still, I think it’s going to be this year.”

    READ NEXT: ‘Tennis isn’t an open contest without Carlos Alcaraz – Jannik Sinner is simply too strong’

    The post ‘The tennis world needs Carlos Alcaraz back – but his injury is complicated’, says Grand Slam finalist appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Kyle Edmund speaks out about injuries after Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Emma Raducanu complained

    Former British No 1 Kyle Edmund has spoken to Tennis365 about some of the possible factors behind the high number of injuries in the sport.

    Tennis stars missing big tournaments has been an unfortunate and persistent theme on both the ATP and WTA tours in 2026.

    There were 18 players who withdrew from Wimbledon across both the men’s and women’s main draw entry lists before main draw play began.

    Big names like Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper, Emma Raducanu, Victoria Mboko and Lorenzo Musetti have all spent significant spells out due to injury in recent months.

    Edmund was just 30 when he retired from tennis in August 2025 having suffered with a host of serious injury issues in the latter stages of his career.

    In an exclusive interview with Tennis365, Edmund highlighted the increased physicality of modern tennis and the demands of the schedule.

    “I think there’s no doubt the game is more physical, certainly being on the tour and speaking to ex-players… the demands, the way people are moving is physical,” said Edmund, who achieved a career-high ranking of world No 14

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    “There’s chat about the calendar, more days at the tournaments, the extended Masters events. [There’s] probably less downtime between the tournaments, so you don’t have time to do physical blocks to build your body up throughout the year. You’re very much maintaining.

    “So apart from the off-season, you’re just maintaining throughout the year, and to maintain and do training where you’re just, not trying to increase your fitness, but just cope with the demands for 11 months of the year, can be a challenge.”

    Edmund, who reached the semi-finals at the 2018 Australian Open, also suggested that the tennis balls used on the circuit could be a reason for an increase in arm and wrist injuries.

    “There’s another thing: the balls. I don’t have stats with the balls, but the arm injuries, the wrist injuries… I had a wrist injury at the back end of my career. I never had any wrist injuries before… I don’t what that was,” said the two-time ATP Tour title winner.

    “I was obviously coming back from a knee injury, so it might’ve just been I wasn’t ready for the demands of playing match after match.”

    Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Alcaraz and Raducanu are among the players who have complained about the balls used on the tours in recent years.

    Tennis legend Djokovic said: “That’s probably the biggest difference I can notice, compared to maybe 10, 15 years ago. It’s the balls.”

    In February 2025, seven-time major champion Alcaraz said: “I think last year there were many injuries, many players with elbow or shoulder issues. It needs to change. I know they will change it.

    “Every week, practically every week, we have different balls, different conditions, so it’s complicated to adapt to them.”

    READ NEXT: Canadian Open withdrawal list: 6 stars out as Carlos Alcaraz, Emma Raducanu joined by Wimbledon finalist

    The post Kyle Edmund speaks out about injuries after Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Emma Raducanu complained appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Inside story on the tennis champion helping to save lives of young children around the world

    When Andrey Rublev’s legacy as a tennis player is assessed, it may not be measured by the weight of trophies in his collection.

    After lifting his 18th ATP Tour title with a win at the Swedish Open on Sunday, Rublev confirmed he still has so much to offer on court as he reaches his prime years at the age of 28.

    Yet when Rublev looks back on his story when his tennis career comes to an end, the trophy lifts and the moments of glory on court may not be his proudest achievement.

    Instead, it is the Andrey Rublev Foundation that is likely to fill him with most pride, as the charity he set up continues to save and change lives of children all around the world.

    Founded in 2024, the Foundation is dedicated to supporting children worldwide who are facing critical medical challenges and when we asked Andrey about his charity work, it was clear that his passion for the cause is unflinching.

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    “I meet some of the kids that we help. I went to the hospital to visit them, to meet their parents and some of them were in a tough situation,” Rublev told Tennis365.

    “Then later they show me photographs of the kids and some of them have made amazing progress with the help we can give them. Some make a big recovery and that is just amazing to see. They are healthy and everything is perfect.

    “It looks like two different people when you see how sick they are and then what can happen if we can help them. I don’t do this for me, it is not about making myself happy. I am just happy for the kids and the families that we can help them.

    “Whether it is me, the doctors, whoever can help them to get healthy, it doesn’t matter. We can all play a part, but it is amazing when you see them looking healthy after we have helped.”

    This year, the Foundation partnered with Sant Joan de Deu Children’s Hospital in Barcelona to provide financial assistance for international patients seeking specialised treatment. Additionally, through their collaboration with CURE Uganda, they are funding pediatric surgeries for children in need.

    Looking ahead, they are expanding our efforts with initiatives such as donations, exclusive events, and co-branded product launches with their partners.

    Lisa Hernandez works with Rublev on his Foundation projects and she told Tennis365 that Rublev shies away from taking credit for the impact his Foundation is making, as he prefers to ensure the spotlight is focused on the doctors and children at the heart of this story.

    “We’ve partnered with the leading paediatric hospitals, mainly in Europe,” explains Lisa, in an exclusive Tennis365 interview.

    “These hospitals get around 1,500, 2,000 requests from international patients a year. So these are patients who are in their home country and need surgery or treatment from specialists, but these are specialists that are abroad. And once they leave their country, essentially, the health insurance doesn’t pay for it. 
Okay.

    “So they need somebody to pay for these surgeries or treatments, and that’s kind of where we step in.

    “We work directly with the hospitals, we work with the families, we typically go to meet, or I typically go to meet the families, and just review case by case and try to help.

    “Andrey offers his support, but he never likes to take credit for what we are doing. That is not his motivation, but there have been some amazing stories.

    “We had one girl from Buenos Aires, who had an inoperable brain tumour. She was receiving treatment in Buenos Aires and then she had to go abroad because they said there’s nothing else they can do, but there is a specialist in Barcelona, the Children’s Hospital there. The hospital then reached out to us.

    “Andrey met with the family. He met with a little girl as well, and she is now fully recovered and in remission, and back in Buenos Aires, and doing really well. Amazing.”

    Stories like that confirm that Rublev is leaving a bigger mark on the world than any win on a tennis court could achieve, with this champion one and off the court one of the true heroes of tennis.

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