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  • Iga Swiatek’s coach reveals Pole’s ‘super smart’ approach during biggest tournaments

    Iga Swiatek’s coach has revealed how he has learnt to adapt to the six-time Grand Slam champion’s “super smart” approach of disconnecting during majors and longer WTA 1000 events.

    Acclaimed coach Wim Fissette and former world No 1 Swiatek began working together towards the end of 2024, and have already achieved huge success during their time together.

    The Pole lifted her sixth Grand Slam title at Wimbledon earlier this summer and was also an Australian Open and French Open semi-finalist, with further titles at the Cincinnati Open and Korea Open to her name.

    Swiatek is far from the first notable name that Fissette has guided to huge success, with the Belgian working with the likes of Kim Clijsters and Naomi Osaka over the past two decades.

    And, after a successful twelve months together, he has now offered invaluable insight into what he has himself learnt from the 24-year-old during their time together.

    Speaking on The Inside-In Tennis Podcast, the Belgian revealed that he had really learnt how to embrace “full relaxation mode” during tournaments from Swiatek, especially amid longer events.

    He said: “The intensity that she brings on the practice courts is exactly the same that you see in matches, but I kind of saw that because I was watching some of her practices also in the past years.

    “What I really learnt, and what I think is super smart, is kind of how she deals with, let’s say, the days between matches at Grand Slams or a two-week event, where you have the day off.

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    “We all know Iga, how focused she is and completely in her zone, but the next day she really goes to the opposite, like in full relaxation mode, where she kind of recharges, to go from the full focus to the full relaxation.

    “That’s also I guess why she’s able to do it, like every match or every week, because she has this ‘up’ focus, and then she goes down again.

    “I really like it, how she kind of switches off, goes to the park, goes to the beach, doesn’t think about tennis. That’s something I will definitely advise in the future [to] other players that I will work with.”

    Swiatek and Fissette may have their eyes on further success together in 2026, though they still have one event left of 2025: the WTA Finals in Riyadh.

    The Pole has qualified for the year-end championships for the fifth straight season, first qualifying in 2021, and is No 2 in the Race to Riyadh, only trailing Aryna Sabalenka.

    Swiatek was knocked out in the round-robin stage back in 2024 despite winning two of her three matches, though she was the champion in Cancun back in 2023.

    Read Next: WTA Finals: Complete Field, Key Dates, Prize Money, Ranking Points – Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff star

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  • What did Elena Rybakina say after Tokyo withdrawal? And what points and prize money did she earn?

    Elena Rybakina withdrew from the 2025 Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo ahead of her semi-final match citing a back injury after her quarter-final victory sealed her qualification for the WTA Finals.

    The world No 7 was due to face 17th-ranked Linda Noskova in the first of the semi-final encounters at the WTA 500 tournament on Saturday.

    However, Rybakina decided not to take to the court shortly before what would have been her fourth meeting with the 20-year-old Czech, against whom she holds a 3-0 record.

    Elena Rybakina’s withdrawal from Tokyo

    • Elena Rybakina’s run at the Pan Pacific Open saw her overtake Mirra Andreeva to secure the final qualification spot for the WTA Finals in Riyadh
    • The Kazakh apologised to fans after withdrawing from Tokyo ahead of her semi-final as she explained she could not play at 100% due to a back issue
    • Despite her withdrawal, Rybakina will climb to world No 6 when the WTA Rankings update next week

    At the start of this week, Rybakina knew her WTA Finals qualification fate was in her own hands after she crucially won the WTA 500 tournament in Ningbo last week.

    The 25-year-old needed to reach the semi-finals in Tokyo to overtake Mirra Andreeva — who did not play this week — in the Race to Riyadh.

    Rybakina achieved this by seeing off world No 22 Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 in her opening match and world No 23 Victoria Mboko 6-3, 7-6(4) in the last eight at the Pan Pacific Open on Friday.

    The win against Mboko lifted Rybakina above Andreeva into the eighth and final qualification place for the WTA Finals, confirming her presence in Riyadh as this is the last qualifying week for the year-end championships.

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    What did Rybakina say after her withdrawal?

    After pulling out before her Pan Pacific Open semi-final match with Noskova, Rybakina explained her decision in a statement.

    “I’m very sorry I can’t play today,” said Rybakina

    “I have been having problems with my back this week and can’t play 100%. I am disappointed that my fans will not see me today but I hope to see you next year.”

    The nature of the injury cited raises some concern as Rybakina has been troubled by back issues before, including at this year’s Australian Open.

    With the WTA Finals set to begin on November 1, though, it is likely Rybakina took the decision to withdraw from Tokyo as a precaution after already sealing her qualification for the year-end showpiece.

    While it was certainly a blow for Rybakina’s fans in Tokyo, it is understandable that she did not want to take any risks so close to such a big event after what she invested in the last two weeks.

    What prize money and points did Rybakina earn in Tokyo?

    Rybakina collected $59,000 in prize money for reaching the semi-finals at the Pan Pacific Open.

    The 2022 Wimbledon champion’s run has seen her earn 195 WTA Ranking points, which boosts her points total to 4,550.

    This has lifted Rybakina 25 points above Jasmine Paolini in the Live WTA Rankings, which means she will replace the Italian as the world No 6 next week.

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  • Paris Masters tournament director reacts to Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal

    Paris Masters tournament director Cedric Pioline has revealed his “hope” that Novak Djokovic will one day return to the event, describing the tennis icon as a “huge champion”.

    No man in Paris Masters history has won as many titles at the event as Djokovic, who is a seven-time champion — with two further runner-up finishes to his name.

    The Serbian sealed his record-extending seventh title in 2023, defeating Grigor Dimitrov in the final, though he withdrew from his title defence in 2024 and has again decided to skip the event in 2025.

    Aged 38, Djokovic has contested a limited schedule in recent seasons, with the 24-time Grand Slam singles champion looking to maintain peak fitness in his quest to win a 25th major.

    The Serbian last played on tour at the Shanghai Masters earlier this month, falling to surprise champion Valentin Vacherot in straight sets in the semi-final.

    He has already committed to playing at the Hellenic Championships in Athens, which take place the week after the action in Paris, with no decision yet announced on his participation in the ATP Finals.

    Though Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are both in Paris action, Djokovic’s withdrawal for the second straight year is undoubtedly a blow, with the former world No 1 remaining one of the biggest stars in the sport.

    And, with the Serbian turning 39 in May, it is possible that he may not compete at the Masters 1000 event again, as he looks to prioritise the four Grand Slam tournaments and fully rest in between them.

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    That scenario was directly put to Paris tournament director Pioline, a former world No 5 and two-time major finalist, ahead of this year’s event.

    In a pre-tournament press conference, Pioline was asked: “Two questions in one. We saw how Novak Djokovic left the court in May at Roland Garros. He is not present again this year for the second year in a row. Are you afraid that tennis fans in Paris will never see Novak Djokovic in their city again?”

    Pioline joked that the question was “horrible” in his response, and revealed his “hope” that Djokovic would one day return despite withdrawing for the second straight season.

    He said: “What a horrible question! What a horrible question!

    “I hope we’ll see Djokovic again, that the fans will see him again. He’s a huge champion, he’s the record holder for Rolex Paris Masters titles. I hope we’ll have the opportunity to see him again.

    “It’s true that time goes by for everyone, and for him, 38 is old… He’s said it himself in recent days, that his body is 15 years older. Being competitive like he is, because he plays very little, a dozen tournaments this year…

    “He’s performing well, he’s been a semi-finalist in all the Grand Slams, a semi-finalist again in Shanghai, but we saw that it was difficult. Plus, this year, they had terrible humidity there.”

    Despite playing a limited schedule in 2025, Djokovic is third in the race to the ATP Finals in Turin — only behind Alcaraz and Sinner — and has already qualified for the year-end championships, with all eyes on whether he competes.

    Djokovic lifted the ATP Finals in 2023 but, much like with his Paris title defence, did not play the tournament in 2024.

    The 38-year-old is currently set to be the top seed at the new ATP 250 event held in Athens next week, the city where the Serbian now lives alongside his wife, Jelena, and children Stefan and Tara.

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  • Hong Kong Open Draw: Bencic, Fernandez, Mboko & Eala learn their fate at WTA 250 event

    The Hong Kong Tennis Open is one of the final stops on the WTA Tour in the 2025 season, and the draw is out, with Belinda Bencic and Leylah Fernandez among the players set to feature.

    Main draw action at the WTA 250 tournament, which is staged on outdoor hard courts at Victoria Park in Hong Kong, will take place from October 27 to November 2.

    The singles draw in Hong Kong features 32 players and eight seeds, and it is played over five rounds with no opening round byes.

    Belinda Bencic and Leylah Fernandez headline Hong Kong Open draw

    • Belinda Bencic and Leylah Fernandez are seeded first and second respectively in Hong Kong, and they will each face players ranked outside the top 100 in their first matches
    • Victoria Mboko, Sofia Kenin, Maya Joint, Anna Kalinskaya, Sorana Cirstea and Emiliana Arango are the other seeded players
    • Rising star Alex Eala, who is unseeded, faces an intriguing opening round encounter with Great Britain’s Katie Boulter, and she could meet Mboko in the second round

    The eight seeded players are all in the top 50 of the WTA Rankings, with the top four seeds all ranked inside the top 25.

    Diana Shnaider won the tournament in 2024, but she chose not to return to defend her title this year.

    Five players on the entry list withdrew ahead of the tournament: Naomi Osaka, Clara Tauson, Daria Kasatkina, Emma Raducanu and Priscilla Hon.

    Hong Kong Open projected quarter-finals (based on seeding)

    Belinda Bencic (1) vs Emiliana Arango (8)

    Sofia Kenin (4) vs Maya Joint (5)

    Victoria Mboko (3) vs Anna Kalinskaya (6)

    Leylah Fernandez (2) vs Sorana Cirstea (7)

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    Who will the seeded players face?

    Top seed Bencic, the world No 13, accepted a wildcard to compete having not initially entered the event, and she will start her campaign against 108th-ranked Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

    Emiliana Arango, the world No 48 and eighth seed in Hong Kong, will meet 81st-ranked Moyuka Uchijima in her first match. The Colombian is projected to meet Bencic in the quarter-finals.

    Sofia Kenin, the world No 25 and fourth seed, will take on a qualifier in her opening match. No 5 seed Maya Joint, who is ranked 32nd, will start against world No 208 Anastasija Sevastova, who is using a protected ranking.

    Kenin and Joint are projected to meet in the last eight, and both could face Bencic in the semi-finals.

    Fernandez, Victoria Mboko, Anna Kalinskaya and Sorana Cirstea are all in the bottom half of the draw.

    Mboko, a 19-year-old Canadian star who won the WTA 1000 event in Montreal in August, is seeded third. The world No 23 will play 130th-ranked Talia Gibson in her first match.

    Sixth seed Anna Kalinskaya, who is ranked 38th, will play world No 103 and fellow Russian Kamilla Rakhimova in her opener. Kalinskaya could face Mboko in the quarter-finals.

    Fernandez, the world No 23 and second seed, will take on 163rd-ranked Wang Xiyu in the opening round.

    Sorana Cirstea, the seventh seed and world No 45, received a wildcard to play in Hong Kong. The Romanian will begin her tournament against world No 93 Dalma Galfi.

    Fernandez and Cirstea are on course to play in the last eight, and the winner of that potential matchup could meet Mboko or Kalinskaya in the semi-finals.

    Alex Eala’s draw

    Alex Eala made her WTA Tour breakthrough with a stunning run to the semi-finals of the Miami Open as a wildcard in March.

    The 20-year-old Filipino, who is at a career-high ranking of 53rd, will play Katie Boulter in a tough opening round match. Boulter, the current world No 63, has been ranked as high as 23rd.

    The winner could play Mboko in the second round.

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  • Alexander Zverev blasts critics of new Saudi Arabia Masters 1000: ‘I’m not a politician’

    Alexander Zverev has hit back at critics of the newly-announced Saudi Arabia Masters 1000 tournament, stating that the country is ‘trying to change’ in recent years.

    On Thursday, the ATP announced that the country would host a historic 10th Masters 1000 tournament starting in 2028.

    The move is the first addition to the nine already established events since the series inception in 1990.

    However, the timing has come at a somewhat awkward time, with various top players criticising the busy annual schedule, which increases fatigue and injury frequency.

    Zverev, who is currently ranked as the world No 3, has backed the bold move and believes that the addition will likely be positive for the players.

    “If they promise us that, with the money from the 10th Masters 1000, they will get back tournaments and weeks and thus shorten the season, it would be great for us, the players,” stated the three-time Grand Slam finalist.

    “If the season is shortened by three or four weeks and we don’t have to play until the end of November or early December, but only until mid-November, it would be a great idea.

    “If they don’t do anything with that money and just add a tournament, it would be a nice story, but it wouldn’t make much sense for the top 10 and top 20.

    “I hope we are on the right track.

    “Regarding Saudi Arabia, I liked it, I enjoyed being there a lot.

    “It is a country that is doing a lot in sports, and it’s good to see, but I also want the ATP to take the next steps.

    “Maybe buy back some of the year-end 250 tournaments or reorganise them, to have a season that is three or four weeks shorter and a preseason that is not only four weeks but maybe eight.

    “It would be beneficial for all the top players. Having three more weeks of preseason would be fantastic.”

    However, there has been much discussion over the ethical implications of adding a Masters 1000 tournament held in a country which has come under concerns over its regard for human rights, specifically relating to women and the LGBTQ+ community.

    Zverev participated in the recent Six Kings Slam exhibition held in Riyadh – the country’s capital – which promised a six-million-dollar prize for the winner.

    Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Taylor Fritz also took part, with the Italian claiming the exhibition title.

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    The German, when pressed on the ethical and moral concerns of the new Masters 1000 tournament, made clear that he is – first and foremost – a tennis player, not willing to be drawn on other issues.

    “On political matters, the context is not always the best, but they are trying to change,” he argued.

    “Three years ago, I wasn’t there, but this year it felt like a new country to me. I’m not a politician. If there is a Masters 1000 there, I play it.

    “They have been played in Dubai or Doha for 30 years, and I don’t think there have been any problems. I can speak for what I know, which is tennis.

    “The ATP should start using that money to give something back to the players.”

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  • Stan Wawrinka makes ‘passion’ admission as he reveals his motivation to compete

    Stan Wawrinka has revealed that his “passion” for tennis remains as high as ever after being asked about his long-term future in tennis at the Swiss Indoors in Basel.

    Wawrinka, who celebrated his 40th birthday back in March, is one of the leading tennis stars of the past two decades, reaching a career-high of world No 3 and winning Australian Open, French Open, and US Open titles during his acclaimed career.

    Currently ranked 158th in the world, the three-time Grand Slam champion received a wildcard into his home event in Basel this week and produced two impressive main-draw performances.

    Wawrinka defeated Miomir Kecmanovic — a player 106 spots above him in the ATP Rankings, and 14 years younger than him — 6-1, 7-6(3) in round one, before pushing fourth seed Casper Ruud in round two.

    The 40-year-old was unable to defeat world No 11 and recent Stockholm Open champion Ruud, though still impressed in a 6-4, 7-6(5) defeat to the three-time major runner-up.

    Having entered his fifth decade and falling down the rankings in recent years, with many of his contemporaries already retired, questions around Wawrinka’s long-term future in the sport have lingered for some time.

    However, in quotes reported by Le Matin from Basel after his match against Ruud, the Swiss revealed that he wanted to keep giving himself “the chance” to compete at the highest level.

    “You never know if it’s the last one or not,” said Wawrinka.

    “I’m happy to have been able to show a good level. If I continue, it’s to feel capable of beating many more players. From the outside, you see 40 years old, 150th in the world, you judge me by what I’ve done in the past.

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    “I managed to win Grand Slams, and people wonder why I’m still here, why I’m fighting in Challengers. But passion has no age. When you can still experience these emotions, you give yourself the chance.”

    Wawrinka’s appearance at the Swiss Indoors was his 18th at the ATP 500 tournament, a total that only compatriot Roger Federer (19) can top in the Open Era.

    Asked whether this was his last appearance at the tournament, the Swiss — who made his event debut back in 2003 — revealed his hope that he would return in 2026, an appearance that would see him match Federer’s record.

    He added: “For my part, there’s a little hope. But you’ll have to ask the tournament boss [Roger Brennwald].

    “If my ranking doesn’t improve, it’s going to be difficult to get into the draw. A year is a long time, especially at my age. It will depend on my body and where I’m at.

    “In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy the tournaments I have left.”

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  • Jannik Sinner’s shock Davis Cup decision ‘should be respected’, claims top coach

    Patrick Mouratoglou has urged Jannik Sinner’s critics that the Italian’s decision to miss the Davis Cup Finals should be “respected” amid ongoing criticism.

    World No 2 Sinner was a key part of Italy’s back-to-back Davis Cup triumphs in 2023 and 2024, with the nation looking to become the first since 1971 to win three straight titles at the men’s team event.

    However, the four-time Grand Slam champion will not be in action in this year’s Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, held from November 18-23, with the likes of Lorenzo Musetti and Flavio Cobolli set to spearhead the home nation’s quest.

    Sinner was not included in captain Filippo Volandri’s squad when the team was announced earlier this week, and has since revealed that his decision is designed to give him more time to prepare for 2026 and his title defence at the Australian Open next January.

    The 24-year-old’s defence has sparked a mixed reaction; while former Italian stars Adriano Panatta and Paolo Bertolucci defended his decision, Italian icon Nicola Pietrangeli described it as a “slap in the face” for Italian sport.

    However, reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Sinner has now found another high-profile backer in the form of Mouratoglou.

    Taking to his LinkedIn page on Friday, the Frenchman claimed it was “a good thing” that players had freedom to make such choices amid the crowded tennis calendar.

    He wrote: “Leave Jannik Sinner alone.

    “That’s what I’ve been telling people since he announced he would skip the Davis Cup, at home.

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    “I’ve read that he might even skip Paris to focus on the ATP Finals even if that no longer seems to be relevant today, based on his latest quote in Vienna. And yes, to some people, that sounds shocking, especially when you see him play an exhibition but not a Masters 1000 or the Davis Cup.

    “But let’s take a step back.

    “I actually think it’s a good thing. Not that he skips Davis Cup specifically, but that top players today finally have the freedom to make their own choices.

    “For too long, tennis players have been living under a mandatory schedule. But players aren’t machines. They know their bodies. They know when to push, when to rest, and when it’s time to protect their future.”

    The Davis Cup Finals will take place at the end of the 2025 season, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals all held within the space of six days.

    The format of the Finals has continued to attract criticism, as the event continues to move away from the traditional ‘home and away’ format that was previously used across all stages of the event, including the final; it is now reserved solely for the qualifying stage.

    And, Mouratoglou suggested that the “prestige” of the event had changed in recent years, with the timing of the event also not conducive to Sinner’s participation.

    He added: “Davis Cup is a beautiful event, but it’s not what it used to be. It’s changed a lot, it’s lost some of its prestige, and it comes at the very end of an exhausting season.

    “Physically and emotionally, it’s one of the hardest events in the sport, especially when you’re your country’s No 1, and the pressure of victory sits on your shoulders.

    “So yes, I understand the disappointment of Italian fans. But I also understand Jannik’s decision. He’s earned the right to choose what’s best for him, and that should be respected.”

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  • WTA Finals: Complete Field, Key Dates, Prize Money, Ranking Points – Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff star

    The 2025 WTA Tour season is slowly coming to a close, with just one big event left to play this season.

    That is, of course, the WTA Finals, which will be held in Riyadh for the second straight year after hosting the year-end championships for the first time in 2024.

    The field for the 2025 WTA Finals is now set, and action in the Saudi capital gets underway in just over a week, with plenty at stake in one of the biggest events on the calendar. Here, we take you through all you need to know ahead of the tournament.

    Who is in action?

    With Elena Rybakina having beaten Victoria Mboko in the Pan Pacific Open quarter-finals on Friday, the field is now set.

    The Kazakh took the final spot in the ‘Elite 8’ ahead of Mirra Andreeva thanks to her run, becoming the final qualifier for the year-end showpiece.

    Leading the WTA Race to Riyadh is world No 1 and US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, followed by No 2 and Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek.

    A quartet of US women then follows, with No 3 qualifier being French Open champion Coco Gauff, followed by No 4 Amanda Anisimova, No 5 Jessica Pegula, and No 6 Madison Keys — the Australian Open champion

    Rybakina is currently the No 7 qualifier, though she will move above Keys if she reaches the Tokyo final, with Jasmine Paolini the No 8 qualifier, having been knocked down one place by the Kazakh on Friday.

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    1) Aryna Sabalenka, 9,990
    2) Iga Swiatek, 8,303
    3) Coco Gauff 6,573
    4) Amanda Anisimova, 5,897
    5) Jessica Pegula, 5,183
    6) Madison Keys, 4,395
    7) Elena Rybakina, 4,350
    8) Jasmine Paolini, 4,325

    Who are the reserves?

    Traditionally, two reserves are in place in case one or more players pull out mid-event due to injury or illness.

    This proved to be the case in 2024, when Daria Kasatkina took the place of Jessica Pegula after the American withdrew from her final round-robin match due to injury.

    Having qualified for the doubles event, No 9 Andreeva will be in Riyadh and will likely take the first reserve spot, with No 10 Ekaterina Alexandrova likely to take the second reserve position.

    What is the format?

    The ‘Elite 8’ will be split into two groups of four, with the groups split based on respective ranking positions.

    The No 1 and No 2 players will be drawn into differing groups, as will the No 3 and No 4, No 5 and No 6, and No 7 and No 8 players, ensuring the groups are as fair and balanced as possible.

    Every player will then play three round-robin matches, earning three points per win, with the two top players after all three rounds of matches will then progress to the semi-finals.

    Should players be tied on points, the winner of the match between those two players will progress; if it is a three-way tie, it will boil down to matches played, then sets won, then games won.

    In the semi-finals, both group winners will play the respective runners-up from the opposing group, with the winner of each semi-final then meeting in the championship match.

    What ranking points are on offer?

    A total of 1,500 ranking points are on offer for any player who completes the tournament unbeaten, winning all three group matches and then the title overall.

    A round-robin win is worth 200 points, meaning a player will earn 200 points if they win one match, 400 points if they win two matches, and 600 points if they win all three group matches.

    A further 400 points are handed to the two victorious semi-finalists, with a further 500 points handed to the woman who wins the final and takes home the title.

    In 2024, champion Gauff took home 1,300 points, lifting the title after a 2-1 group stage record.

    What prize money is on offer?

    As of yet, a full prize money breakdown is not yet on offer for the tournament.

    However, there is a prize money commitment of $15,500,000, up slightly from the $15,250,000 on offer in 2024.

    Each of the eight singles players will receive a base appearance fee — in 2024, this was $335,000 — and will then add to their prize money per round-robin win.

    There is no additional prize money for reaching the semi-final, but the champion and runner-up will receive additional winnings for reaching the final.

    Last year, an unbeaten champion would have earned themselves a staggering $5,155,000.

    Key dates

    Action takes place in Riyadh between November 1-8, with the draw likely to take place on October 30th.

    November 1-6 will see the round-robin action take place, with the two groups competing across alternate days from Saturday to Thursday.

    The two semi-finals will then take place on Friday, November 7th, with the final on Saturday, November 8th.

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  • Serena Williams predicts whether Carlos Alcaraz can break Novak Djokovic’s Grand Slam record

    Serena Williams has revealed she is a “huge” Carlos Alcaraz fan as she discussed the Spaniard’s chances of breaking Novak Djokovic’s Grand Slam record.

    World No 1 Alcaraz has made an astonishing start to his tennis career, with the 22-year-old having won six Grand Slam titles across the space of three years.

    The Spaniard triumphed at the US Open in 2022 and 2025, the French Open in 2024 and 2025, and at Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024, with the chance to complete the Career Grand Slam at the Australian Open next January.

    Should Alcaraz triumph at the Australian Open in 2026 or 2027, he would become the youngest man in the Open Era to have won all four majors, breaking the record set by Rafael Nadal at the 2010 US Open.

    Alcaraz has been regularly compared to compatriot Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam singles champion, across his career.

    The older Spaniard, who retired at the end of 2024, was a contemporary of Williams, who herself holds an Open Era record of 23 Grand Slam women’s singles titles.

    US icon Williams is in Spain this week for the prestigious Princess of Asturias Awards, where she will receive recognition for her sporting achievements.

    And, when asked about Spanish tennis during a press conference this week, she was quick to praise current star Alcaraz.

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    “Of course I know it [Spanish tennis] well — the Spanish have been at the top for a long time,” said Williams. “There’s Rafa [Nadal], of course, but there are many other wonderful tennis players.

    “Alcaraz is doing incredible things. I’m a huge fan of Alcaraz. I always cheer him on.”

    With Alcaraz having already achieved so much in his career at such a young age, many have pondered if he could one day hold more Grand Slam titles than any other man.

    That record is currently held by Djokovic, who has won a staggering 24 Grand Slam singles titles, narrowly ahead of Nadal on 22, and Roger Federer on 20.

    The ‘Big Three’ are well ahead of any other men in tennis history, with Pete Sampras’s haul of 14 Grand Slam singles titles ranking him in fourth.

    Only Margaret Court (24) has won more Grand Slam women’s singles titles in tennis history than Williams, who famously broke Steffi Graf’s Open Era record of 22 majors at the 2017 Australian Open.

    And, when asked about Alcaraz’s chances of moving ahead of the ‘Big Three’, the American refused to discount the possibility.

    She added: “When Federer started, no one thought he could surpass [Pete] Sampras, and he did.

    “Then Rafa did the same, and then Djokovic. Carlos is very young, he has great rivals, but of course it’s possible.

    “Records are there to be broken.”

    Read Next: Prize money earned by Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic, Zverev & Fritz in 2025

    The post Serena Williams predicts whether Carlos Alcaraz can break Novak Djokovic’s Grand Slam record appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Saudi Arabia ATP Masters 1000 key information: Format, start date, and where it fits into the calendar

    A new Masters 1000 tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia as early as 2028, with the ATP Tour agreeing a deal with SURJ Sports Investment, the sports investment division of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

    The Saudi Arabian ATP 1000 will add to the nine existing Masters tournaments, meaning there will be 10 events in this elite category for the first time since it was introduced in 1990.

    The tournament will not be mandatory, and it will feature a 56-player singles main draw and be played over a single week, the ATP and PIF have confirmed.

    New ATP Masters 1000 event: The key details

    • The exact calendar spot, prize money and venue for the tournament are yet to be revealed, although it is expected to take place in February to fit with the current ATP events held in the Middle East
    • Andrea Gaudenzi, the chairman of the ATP Tour, described the announcement as a “proud moment” and declared that players and fans will be “amazed by what’s coming”
    • The event will add to the significant investment Saudi Arabia has made in tennis in recent years

    The new event will join the current ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Toronto/Montreal, Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris. It will be the first Masters tournament introduced since the Shanghai Masters in 2009.

    The Masters 1000 series is the highest category of event in men’s tennis outside the four Grand Slam tournaments (excluding the season-ending ATP Finals).

    Where will the tournament fit into the calendar? And where will it be held?

    The press release explained that “details on the tournament venue and dates will be announced in due course.”

    According to The Athletic, the new event is most likely to take place in February, as ATP 500 events in Doha (Qatar) and Dubai (United Arab Emirates) are already held in this month of the calendar.

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    How much prize money will be on offer?

    The potential prize money for the Saudi Arabian Masters is yet to be revealed, although the pot is likely to be significant given the lucrative rewards offered at current Saudi tennis events, such as the WTA Finals and the Six Kings Slam exhibition.

    The ATP Tour sets a minimum prize money amount for all Masters 1000 tournaments.

    What have the ATP and PIF/SURJ said?

    Andrea Gaudenzi, chairman of the ATP Tour: “This is a proud moment for us and the result of a journey that’s been years in the making. Saudi Arabia has shown a genuine commitment to tennis – not just at the professional level, but also in growing the game more broadly at all levels.

    “PIF’s ambition for the sport is clear, and we believe fans and players alike will be amazed by what’s coming. Strengthening our premium events is driving record growth and transformation across the Tour, and we’re grateful to our partners at PIF and SURJ for helping deliver that growth and sharing in this vision.”

    Bander Bin Mogren, chairman of SURJ Sports Investment: “Bringing an ATP Masters 1000 event to Saudi Arabia is a major step forward for tennis in the region and a reflection of our shared commitment with ATP to the growth of the game around the world.

    “This announcement underscores Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a major destination for world-class sport and strengthens our ambition to support athletes, fans, and the wider tennis community for years to come.

    “We are proud to be leading this effort with our partners, and we are committed to delivering a tournament that leaves a lasting legacy for the sport.”

    What previous investments has Saudi Arabia made in tennis?

    In February 2024, Saudi chiefs agreed a deal with the ATP Tour that saw PIF become partners at ATP events in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing, as well as the Nitto ATP Finals. PIF also became the official naming partner of the ATP Rankings as part of the partnership.

    The Next Gen ATP Finals has been held in a Saudi Arabian city, Jeddah, since 2023, and it will remain there until at least 2027.

    The Six Kings Slam, an exhibition event, has been held in Riyadh in October in each of the last two years. The six participants earn a $1.5million participation fee, with the winner securing an additional $4.5million.

    Saudi Arabia has also invested heavily in women’s tennis, with the WTA Finals held in Riyadh, the nation’s capital, for the first time in 2024. It will remain the host until at least 2026.

    READ NEXT: What Novak Djokovic and pundits have said about the Serb’s ATP Finals participation

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