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Emma Raducanu’s 2025 season is over — and the past 11 months should ultimately go down as a huge positive for the 22-year-old.

Having started the year outside the top 50, Raducanu looks set to end the year inside the top 35 at the very least, with key improvements made and a greater consistency found despite some rocky moments.

Despite what was ultimately a solid campaign, further improvements will likely be required if she wants to rise back towards the very top in 2026 — here, we predict what tournaments are likely to feature on her 2026 schedule.

(WTA 250) Auckland Open — January 5-11

Raducanu started her 2023 and 2024 seasons in Auckland and was also set to compete in 2025, though she withdrew due to injury.

The Brit has reached the second round in both her previous appearances.

(Grand Slam) Australian Open — January 18 – February 1st

The first Grand Slam tournament of 2026 will get underway just three weeks into the new season, with Raducanu set to be among the biggest stars in Australian Open action next January.

It will be her fifth appearance in the main draw of the event, having reached the third round for the first time in 2025.

(WTA 500) Abu Dhabi Open — February 2-8

After action Down Under, Raducanu could well start her Middle East swing with action at the WTA 500 event in Abu Dhabi.

The Brit has played the event the past two seasons, losing to Ons Jabuer in the second round in 2024, and to Marketa Vondrousova in round one this year.

(WTA 1000) Qatar Open — February 9-15

The first WTA 1000 event of the 2026 season, is this the year that the 22-year-old begins to make her mark in Doha?

Raducanu has played the WTA 1000 event twice, in 2024 and 2025, though she has lost in round one on both occasions.

(WTA 1000) Dubai Tennis Championships — February 16-22

The second of two back-to-back WTA 1000 events in the Middle East, Raducanu will likely return to Dubai after making her debut in 2025.

She reached the second round this winter, falling to Karolina Muchova.

(WTA 1000) Indian Wells Open — March 2-15

One of the most prestigious events on the WTA Tour, Raducanu has been a regular in Indian Wells since her stunning 2021 breakthrough.

She made her tournament debut that year and has not missed the event since, reaching the fourth round back in 2023.

(WTA 1000) Miami Open — March 16-29

Raducanu turned her difficult start to the 2025 season around with an impressive run to the Miami Open quarter-finals back in March, and will hope to at least match that run in 2026.

The Brit will likely make her fourth appearance at the tournament, which is held directly after Indian Wells.

BJK Cup Qualifiers — April 6-12

Raducanu did not compete in the Billie Jean King Cup in 2025, but could she return to action in 2026?

The former US Open champion — and BJK Cup semi-finalist — could be part of Great Britain’s qualifying squad next April.

(WTA 500) Stuttgart Open — April 13-19

Having skipped one of her most-played events in 2025, Raducanu could well return to Stuttgart in 2026 — especially considering the event is sponsored by Porsche.

The Brit has played the event three times, reaching the quarter-final as a wildcard in 2024.

(WTA 1000) Madrid Open — April 20 – May 3

The first huge event of the clay court season, the Madrid Open has proven a mixed event for the Brit over the years.

She reached the third round on her 2022 debut but has failed to make it past round two since then, and will look to make her fourth event appearance in 2026.

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(WTA 1000) Italian Open — May 4-17

Raducanu embarked on a strong run in Rome last spring, and will hope to recapture some of that magic once again inside the Foro Italico.

Having retired injured on her event debut in 2022, she returned after a three-year absence to reach the fourth round back in May.

(Grand Slam) French Open — May 24 – June 7

The key event of the clay-court swing, Raducanu will surely look to break new ground at Roland Garros in 2026.

This is now the only Grand Slam event where she has not reached the third round, reaching round two on her two appearances in 2022 and 2025.

(WTA 500) Queen’s Club Championships — June 8-14

One of the first WTA tournaments of the grass-court swing, Raducanu reached the quarterfinals of the Queen’s Club in 2024, as the tournament returned after a 52-year gap since the women’s event last took place.

The Brit will likely look to shine in front of her home crowd.

(WTA 250) Eastbourne Open – June 22-27

Having played in Eastbourne the last two years, Raducanu looks set to head back to the south coast once again in 2026.

She was beaten in round two in 2025 but reached the quarter-finals back in 2024, picking up her first-ever top-10 win versus Jessica Pegula.

(Grand Slam) Wimbledon — June 29 – July 12

The third Grand Slam event of 2025 and perhaps Raducanu’s key event on the WTA calendar, all eyes will be on how she fares at her home Grand Slam.

The Brit has done relatively well in recent years, reaching the fourth round in 2021 and 2024, and round three in 2025.

(WTA 500) Citi D.C Open — July 27 – August 2

Another event Raducanu has performed consistently well at in recent years, the Brit will likely look to kickstart her hard-court summer in Washington.

The Brit was a quarter-finalist at the event in 2024, and reached the last four of the WTA 500 event this summer — beating Naomi Osaka during her campaign.

(WTA 1000) Canadian Open — August 2-13

Next year’s Canadian Open will be a significant event for Raducanu, with action heading towards the city of her birth: Toronto.

She has played the Canadian Open twice and reached round three in 2025.

(WTA 1000) Cincinnati Open — August 12-23

The second of two WTA 1000 events during the hard-court summer, Raducanu has reached the third round on both her previous appearances in Cincinnati.

Raducanu famously beat Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka during her event debut in 2022, and pushed Aryna Sabalenka to the brink in round three this summer.

(Grand Slam) US Open — August 30 – September 13

The home of Raducanu’s standout career moment, 2025 saw the Brit win a US Open match for the first time since her historic 2021 victory.

Having reached round three in 2025, the 22-year-old will want to push on further next summer.

Billie Jean King Cup Finals — September 22-27

If Great Britain do qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, Raducanu could be key to their chances.

The Brit was set to play the Finals in 2025, but pulled out to prioritise the Korea Open in Seoul — another event she could once again consider for 2026.

(WTA 1000) China Open — September 28 – October 11

Raducanu finally made her China Open debut in 2025, reaching the third round before a gutwrenching defeat to Pegula, spurning three match points.

The Brit will hope to improve on that result in 2026, in what is arguably the biggest event of the Asian swing.

(WTA 1000) Wuhan Open — October 12-18

The final WTA 1000 event of the season, Raducanu will also hope for a more positive Wuhan experience in 2026.

The star’s 2025 debut saw her retire in her opening match versus Ann Li.

(WTA 500) Ningbo Open — 19-25 October

Raducanu’s 2025 season came to an end at the Ningbo Open this year, with the star falling in three sets to home favourite Zhu Lin.

It will likely factor into her 2026 schedule as well, particularly with big ranking points available after her early exit this month.

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The post Predicting Emma Raducanu’s schedule for 2026 WTA Tour season appeared first on Tennis365.

The ATP Finals prize money pool has once again increased and an undefeated champion can earn the biggest prize cheque at an official ATP event, surpassing the recent record amount that Carlos Alcaraz won at the US Open.

Jannik Sinner won the 2024 edition of the season-ending tournament as he won all five of his matches (three round-robin clashes, his semi-final and the final) without dropping a set, and he walked away with a cheque of $4,881,100.

The prize money for an undefeated champion will pass the $5m mark this year as there has been an increase of just under four per cent, coming to a grand total of $5,071,000.

Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka won the biggest cheques at official tournaments at the US Open as the men’s and women’s singles champions each received $5,000,000.

Of course, Sinner has won more at the Six Kings Slam as he earned $6m (a $1.5m participation fee and a $4.5m first prize) after beating Carlos Alcaraz in the final earlier in October. He also won that same amount last year after also beating Alcaraz at the inaugural exhibition tournament in Riyadh.

But in terms of official ATP events, the $5,071m will be the biggest.

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According to the ATP Finals website, the eight players who compete at the ATP Finals will each earn a $331,000 participation fee if they play in all three round-robin matches. If you play only one match, you earn $165,500 and two matches will give you $248,250

Each round-robin victory will be worth $396,500 while those who win their semi-finals will receive an additional $1,183,500 and the winner will get $2,367,000. In fact, it’s only the semi-final ($1,123,400) and final ($2,237,200) prize money that changed from 2024.

An undefeated champion will thus earn $331,000 (playing three matches), $1,189,500 (three round-robin wins), $1,183,500 (semi-final win) and $2,367,000 (title win).

Full ATP Finals Prize Money Breakdown
Alternate – $155,000
Participation Fee – $331,000 (playing three matches)
Round-robin match win – $396,500
Semi-final match win – $1,183,500
Final win – $2,367,00
Undefeated champion – $5,071,000

So far, Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and seven-time champion Novak Djokovic are the only players to have qualified for the eight-player tournament with Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz set to join them soon.

Ben Shelton Alex de Minaur and Lorenzo Musetti currently occupy the final three qualification spots, but Felix Auger-Aliassime, Casper Ruud and Daniil Medvedev are still in the running.

Sinner and Alcaraz qualified on the back of winning two Grand Slams each while Djokovic reached the semi-finals of all four majors this year.

The post Bumper 2025 ATP Finals prize money confirmed: How much could Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz earn? appeared first on Tennis365.

The ATP Tour indoor swing is firmly underway, and the race to one of the biggest events on the tour calendar is beginning to attract huge attention.

The ATP Finals returns to Turin for the fifth straight year in 2025 and, with less than one month to go until action gets underway at the year-end showpiece, the battle to secure a spot is intensifying.

With key ATP 500 events taking place in Vienna and Basel this week, we look at how the race is currently shaping up.

Who has qualified?

Three men have so far qualified for the year-end championships, with no prizes for guessing who that leading trio are.

Comfortably out in front in the race is world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who has amassed a staggering 11,040 points this season, with world No 2 Jannik Sinner sitting on 8,500 points ahead of the Vienna Open.

Though distant from Alcaraz and Sinner, Novak Djokovic’s points haul of 4,580 has also been enough for him to seal qualification.

However, questions remain about whether the Serbian will play the event, having missed the event in 2024 despite qualification.

Should Djokovic withdraw, the ninth-placed qualifier would seal their place.

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Who is in contention?

Though only three players have so far officially qualified, a handful of players also look on the verge of securing their place.

Despite what has been a difficult year by his own high standards, Alexander Zverev sits fourth in the race on 4,280 points, and it is highly unlikely that the two-time ATP Finals champion won’t qualify.

Zverev is the only other player above the 4,000-point mark as things stand, though fifth-placed Taylor Fritz is on 3,835 points, and sixth-placed Ben Shelton is on 3,720 points.

All three are in action this week — Zverev in Vienna, Fritz and Shelton in Basel — and will hope to boost their chances and potentially confirm qualification.

However, Fritz and Shelton have little breathing room over Alex de Minaur and Lorenzo Musetti, who are currently seventh and eighth in the race.

Already through to round two in Vienna, de Minaur holds 3,595 points as things stand, with Musetti on 3,485 points ahead of his campaign in the Austrian capital.

However, other contenders will be eyeing up a place in the top eight.

Who else can threaten?

Ninth spot may be enough if Djokovic — or anyone else — ultimately withdraws from the ATP Finals, though reaching the top eight would make life a lot more comfortable.

With tenth-placed Jack Draper and twelfth-placed Holger Rune out of contention due to injury issues, this makes life a lot simpler for the likes of de Minaur and, in particular, Musetti.

However, there are a few key contenders to watch out for.

After a strong start to 2025, Felix Auger Aliassime appeared to drop out of contention, though a run to the US Open semi-final and now his third title of the year in Brussels puts him well in the hunt.

The Canadian sits in ninth place on 3,145 points ahead of his Basel campaign, with the 25-year-old famously very strong on indoor courts.

Auger Aliassime will undoubtedly be a huge qualification threat and is perhaps the most likely figure to disrupt the current top eight, as he looks for a third Basel title this week.

Having won his second title of 2025 in Stockholm this weekend, eleventh-placed Casper Ruud could also be in contention.

In action in Basel this week, the Norwegian holds 2,735 points as things stand — meaning he would need a strong end to 2025 to qualify.

Live ATP Rankings Race to Turin (as of October 21, 2025)

1) Carlos Alcaraz, 11,040 – Q
2) Jannik Sinner, 8,500 – Q
3) Novak Djokovic, 4,580 – Q
4) Alexander Zverev, 4,280
5) Taylor Fritz, 3,835
6) Ben Shelton, 3,720
7) Alex de Minaur, 3,595
8) Lorenzo Musetti, 3,485
Cutoff
9) Felix Auger Aliassime, 3,145
10) Jack Draper, 2,990 [OUT]
11) Casper Ruud, 2,735
12) Holger Rune, 2,590 [OUT]
13) Daniil Medvedev, 2,560

Read Next: Elena Rybakina vs Mirra Andreeva: Kazakh’s ‘tough’ pathway to WTA Finals qualification revealed

The post ATP Rankings Race to Turin: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic qualified as race for top 8 intensifies appeared first on Tennis365.

Elena Rybakina ended her Asian swing struggles with an impressive run to the title in Ningbo, and the Kazakh now has her sights firmly set on returning to the WTA Finals.

Having beaten Ekaterina Alexandrova to pick up the 10th title of her career — and second of 2025 — at the Ningbo Open, world No 7 Rybakina boosted her chances of a third appearance at the year-end championships, having previously qualified in 2023 and 2024.

However, while Kazakh has her fate in her own hands, she still needs to overtake Mirra Andreeva in the WTA Race to Riyadh, and that may be easier said than done, with Rybakina handed a tough draw at the Pan Pacific Open.

As it stands

Seven of the eight spots at the WTA Finals in Riyadh have now been secured, with Jasmine Paolini qualifying last week to join Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Jessica Pegula, and Madison Keys in the field.

That means it is a straight shootout between Rybakina and Andreeva for the final spot, with no other player in contention for the eighth and final position.

Champion at WTA 1000 events in Dubai and Indian Wells this season, teen star Andreeva holds 4,319 points for the season, with her chances of qualifying faltering during what was a difficult hard-court summer and Asian swing.

Meanwhile, having won WTA 500 titles in Strasbourg and Ningbo this year, Rybakina holds 4,305 points after a topsy-turvy season for the former world No 3 — just 14 points behind Andreeva.

This is the final week that contributes to WTA Finals qualification, and, with her rival not in action, Rybakina has the chance to stamp her authority and secure her place in Tokyo this week.

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What Rybakina needs to do

With Paolini having withdrawn from the WTA 500 event in Tokyo, presumably due to her own WTA Finals qualification, Rybakina is now the top seed at the Pan Pacific Open.

You would assume that makes life straightforward for her in terms of qualifying for the year-end championships in Riyadh, and that is the case from a points perspective.

The Kazakh receives a round-one bye at the tournament and, while 100 points for reaching the quarter-final would not factor into her race standings, her points from reaching the semi-final would.

Should Rybakina reach the last four, she would earn 200 ranking points — and secure her WTA Finals qualification.

However, she will have to beat two players she has lost to in 2025 to do just that, with her draw in Tokyo an incredibly tough one.

Rybakina will start her campaign with a round-two match against Leylah Fernandez, who also comes into this event off the back of a title — having triumphed in Osaka this weekend.

The Canadian beat Maria Sakkari in round one of Tokyo and has won two of her three meetings against Rybakina, including a Citi D.C Open semi-final win back in July.

If Rybakina were to beat Fernandez, she would then face either Victoria Mboko or Eva Lys in the quarter-finals, two players she has both tasted defeat two in recent months.

The former Wimbledon champion was stunned by Mboko in the Canadian Open semi-finals this summer, with the teen star having won her first match since Montreal in the opening round of Tokyo.

Meanwhile, the much-improved Lys shocked Rybakina in the third round of the China Open just a few weeks back.

WTA Finals Race (as of October 21, 2025)

1) Aryna Sabalenka, 9,990 – Q
2) Iga Swiatek, 8,303 – Q
3) Coco Gauff, 6,573 – Q
4) Amanda Anisimova, 5,897 – Q
5) Jessica Pegula, 5,183 – Q
6) Madison Keys, 4,395 – Q
7) Jasmine Paolini, 4,325 – Q
8) Mirra Andreeva, 4,319
Cutoff
9) Elena Rybakina, 4,305

Read Next: WTA Rankings: Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff, Anisimova, Keys punishment confirmed for breaking rule

The post Elena Rybakina vs Mirra Andreeva: Kazakh’s ‘tough’ pathway to WTA Finals qualification revealed appeared first on Tennis365.

Jannik Sinner’s decision not to be part of Italy’s Davis Cup team has been described as a “slap in the face,” despite the world No 2 explaining the reasons for his absence.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Sinner has been a key part of the Italian team in recent years, guiding Italy to the title in 2023 — their first success since 1976 — before helping his nation successfully defend their title in 2024.

This year’s Davis Cup Finals are set to be held in Bologna next month, with many having expected the former world No 1 to lead his nation once again in front of a raucous home crowd, as the nation looks to become the first since 1971 to win three straight titles in the men’s team event.

However, Monday’s Davis Cup Finals team announcements revealed that Sinner was not part of captain Filippo Volandri’s squad, with Lorenzo Musetti and Flavio Cobolli set to lead Italy’s charge.

Having won the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Riyadh this past weekend, the 24-year-old returns to official ATP action at the Vienna Open this week.

And, quizzed about his surprise decision, Sinner revealed that his focus was on a strong start to 2026.

He commented: “I’m a two-time Davis Cup winner.

“My team and I made this decision because the season is very long at the end of the year and I need an extra week of rest to start my preparation earlier. The goal is to get off to a good start in Australia.

“In the last two years, I haven’t reached my best level because I lacked time, that’s why we made this decision. We’ll see.”

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Though Sinner’s choice may be understandable from a scheduling perspective, it has attracted criticism from some quarters.

And, among those leading the criticism of Sinner is Italian tennis great and Davis Cup icon Nicola Pietrangeli.

No man has played as many or won as many Davis Cup rubbers for any nation as Pietrangeli, who won 120 of 164 matches across both singles and doubles for his country from 1954-72.

Twice a Davis Cup runner-up in 1960 and 1961, and captain of Italy’s successful 1976 campaign, the two-time Roland Garros champion has revealed he does not “understand” Sinner’s decision.

“It’s a real slap in the face for Italian sport,” said Pietrangeli.

“I don’t understand when he says it was a difficult choice. We’re talking about playing tennis, not going to war. When it comes to the Davis Cup, it’s the pinnacle; the goal of every athlete is to wear the blue jersey.

“Unfortunately, I know I’m talking about another era. I see that today’s world is driven by money and that the heart is put aside.”

The Davis Cup Finals in Bologna take place from November 18-23, with Italy facing Austria to start their title defence.

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The post Jannik Sinner slammed by Italian tennis icon as world No 2 explains Davis Cup decision appeared first on Tennis365.

Carlos Alcaraz has made his feelings clear on the prospect of becoming the fourth player to win 20 Grand Grand Slam titles after Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

The Spanish superstar, who turned 22 in May, has already won six Grand Slams, with his most recent triumph coming at the US Open last month.

Alcaraz has won the US Open, Wimbledon and the French Open twice each. Tennis icon Bjorn Borg is the only other man to secure six majors at the age of 22 in the Open Era.

The world No 1 can become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam if he wins either of the next two editions of the Australian Open. Nadal is currently the youngest man to win each of the four majors, having won the 2010 US Open to complete the set at the age of 24.

Nadal won five Grand Slams before turning 23, while Federer and Djokovic each won one. Djokovic holds the all-time Grand Slam singles title record with 24, while Nadal and Federer are second and third on the men’s list with 22 and 20.

In an interview with Marca, Alcaraz was asked if he is aiming to finish his career with more than 20 Grand Slams given he has won more majors than any of the Big Three had managed when they were his age.

“If we look at the next 10 years, it’s a bit of a stretch… to be honest, yes (that is the goal),” said Alcaraz (translated from Spanish).

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“I don’t take anything for granted because every year is different. Players advance, new players emerge, and it’s more complicated.

“I hope it continues at this pace, but in tennis, you have to give your best every season, and that’s the most difficult part.”

Alcaraz also responded to the suggestion that the key to him overtaking Jannik Sinner to return to world No 1 was not thinking about it.

“I think so,” he said. “In the end, up until the US Open, I didn’t really think I was going to regain the number one spot. It was a goal, but it felt very far away. I wasn’t killing myself or eager to achieve it.

“Week after week, I was doing my part to keep moving forward and closing in on Jannik’s points. At the US Open, I realised that returning to number one depended on me.

“I didn’t try to put that pressure on myself. I played my good tennis until I finally got there. It’s something that has come with daily and weekly work, without having that desire.”

READ NEXT: Jannik Sinner uses a bleak word to describe his battle with Carlos Alcaraz for No 1 ranking

The post What Carlos Alcaraz said about matching Djokovic, Nadal & Federer’s Grand Slam totals appeared first on Tennis365.

Jack Draper and Taylor Fritz have both spoken out and expressed their concerns about the host of injuries suffered by players on the men’s tour in recent weeks.

Holger Rune has confirmed his Achilles is “fully broken” after being brought to tears having been forced to retire in his Stockholm Open semi-final against Ugo Humbert on Saturday.

Novak Djokovic retired due to injury after losing a marathon opening set in his third place playoff match with Fritz at the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Riyadh later that day.

Injuries and players struggling physically have been major themes on the ATP Tour since the Asian swing. Seven players were forced to retire mid-match at the Shanghai Masters earlier this month, while world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz was one 13 players to pull out before the event.

Draper, the current world No 9, cut his 2025 season short due to a bruised humerus injury that forced him to pull out of the US Open in late August.

In a post on X after Rune and Djokovic’s retirements, Draper called for changes to be made to the tour as he warned that young players will struggle to have long careers with the current calendar.

Injuries are going to happen… we are pushing our bodies to do things they aren’t supposed to in elite sport. We have so many incredible younger guys on the tour right now and I’m proud to be apart of that, however, the tour and the calendar have to adapt if any of us are gonna…

— jack draper (@jackdraper0) October 18, 2025

“Injuries are going to happen… we are pushing our bodies to do things they aren’t supposed to in elite sport,” said the 23-year-old Brit.

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“We have so many incredible younger guys on the tour right now and I’m proud to be a part of that, however, the tour and the calendar have to adapt if any of us are gonna achieve some sort of longevity.”

Fritz, the world No 4, agreed with Draper and went on to argue that conditions are contributing to the increase in injuries.

“Facts, also seeing more injuries and burnout now than ever before because balls, courts, conditions have slowed down a lot making the weekly grind even more physically demanding and tough on the body,” the 27-year-old American said in reply to Draper.

Alcaraz is one of many players who has criticised the tennis schedule in recent months.

“I think that the schedule is really tight,” said the six-time Grand Slam champion during the Japan Open last month.

“They have to do something with the schedule. I think there are too many mandatory tournaments, too many in a row.”

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The post Jack Draper & Taylor Fritz warn tennis chiefs and call for change after Holger Rune horror injury appeared first on Tennis365.

Jannik Sinner has made a major 2025 schedule decision as he will not compete at the 2025 Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, Italy’s captain Filippo Volandri has confirmed.

The four-time Grand Slam champion had already cast doubt over his participation with comments he made when asked about the team competition at the China Open last month.

“The truth is that I haven’t decided whether or not to play the Davis Cup, I’ll make a choice later. I can’t give an answer right now. I’m only focused on the next tournaments I’ll be taking part in,” the 24-year-old told reporters.

Volandri has now revealed that Sinner has chosen not to compete at the Davis Cup Finals this year as he confirmed Italy’s squad for the event.

“Sinner has not given his availability for 2025,” the former ATP player said.

“The Davis Cup is, and will always remain, his home and I am sure that Jannik will soon return to be part of the team.”

This year’s Davis Cup Final 8 stage, which will run from November 18-23, will be the first edition of the competition held in Bologna, Italy.

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Italy’s five man squad features Lorenzo Musetti, Matteo Berrettini, Flavio Cobolli, Andrea Vavassori and Simone Bolelli.

Angelo Binaghi, the president of the Italian Tennis Federation, said: “We understand and respect Jannik’s decision, which is very painful for us.

“[It] comes at the end of a long and intense season, in which he once again demonstrated that he is an extraordinary point of reference for the entire Italian tennis movement.”

Sinner led Italy to win the previous two editions of the Davis Cup Finals, which were held in Malaga.

The world No 2 is in action at the ATP 500 tournament in Vienna this week, where he will face 51st-ranked Daniel Altmaier in his opening match.

He is then due to feature at the Paris Masters before ending his campaign at the ATP Finals in Turin. The Davis Cup Finals will take place the week after the ATP Finals.

Sinner defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz to win the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia last week, with his triumph earning him a staggering $6million.

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Jannik Sinner has “made a lot of progress” following his recent struggles against Carlos Alcaraz, but the world No 1 has been told that his victory over the Spaniard at the Six Kings Slam is “worthless” by an Italian great.

Alcaraz has taken a dominant 10-5 lead in his head-to-head with his Italian rival as he has won seven of their last eight meetings – including this year’s French Open and US Open finals – with Sinner’s lone win coming at the showpiece match at Wimbledon.

After losing the season-ending Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows against the Spaniard, Sinner admitted that his game had become predictable, but vowed to get out of his comfort zone in order to find a winning formula against the 22-year-old.

In their first meeting since the US Open final, the two faced each other in the final of the Six Kings Slam and Sinner dominated as he won 6-2, 6-4 and earned a $6m payday as the winner received a cheque of $4.5m on top of an appearance fee of $1.5m.

The manner of the win will no doubt give the 24-year-old confidence ahead of future meetings with Alcaraz, but 1976 French Open winner Adriano Panatta says it is important not to read too much into the exhibition match.

Speaking on Domenica Sportiva, the Italian said: “I don’t want to be a contrarian, but these exhibitions have limited value, both technically and emotionally, because I’ve never seen Sinner smile so many times during a match.

“I’ve played plenty of performances like this when I was playing — and we’re talking about the last century — and I know how little they’re worth. Sinner, however, had an excellent match against Alcaraz; he served and played very well, much better than the Spaniard.”

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The former world No 4, though, was impressed with Sinner’s serve and also feels the four-time Grand Slam winner is “scary” when he hits top form.

“As for his serve, you can see he’s worked hard and made a lot of progress, but, I repeat, these matches are worthless. It’s a good sign to see Jannik so calm and in excellent health,” the 75-year-old said.

“I’ve seen him very solid, and it’s true that against him it feels like a ping-pong match; it’s scary when he plays like that. I would never have been able to play like he does. Jannik is a solid champion; he has a solidity I’ve never seen from anyone in the last 20 years.”

But Panatta feels Sinner will only know how much progress he has made when he meets Alcaraz in an official match.

He added: “Now I want to watch the matches against Alcaraz in Paris (indoors), if they go ahead, and especially at the ATP Finals: those will be real matches.”

The post Jannik Sinner told latest win over Carlos Alcaraz ‘has limited value’ appeared first on Tennis365.

Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have for the second consecutive year failed to play the minimum number of mandatory WTA 500 events and now they have been punished.

Last year, the top two players in women’s tennis broke the rule that requires all players to enter at least six WTA 500-level tournaments and it had a major impact on the WTA Rankings as Sabalenka replaced Swiatek at No 1 after their zero pointers were added.

And now both have again been docked points, but this time it didn’t affect their rankings with Sabalenka staying at No 1 and Swiatek keeping her second place.

Both players have entered only three WTA 500 tournaments so far this year and the zero pointers have been implemented for the October 20 rankings update.

Zero pointers come into effect when players fail to enter the mandatory number of tournaments, as they earn zero points for a WTA 500 event with points from another tournament removed, which is usually a higher-level event.

Sabalenka has been docked 10 points while Swiatek lost 65 points, but they keep first and second place in the rankings.

WTA Year-End No 1 Battle

The Belarusian remains the world No 1 as she now sits on 10,390 points with Swiatek on 8,703.

Sabalenka now leads the six-time Grand Slam winner by 1,687 points and for now she is assured of being the year-end No 1 for a second year in a row with only the WTA Finals still to come.

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A maximum of 1,500 points are available for an undefeated champion so even if Swiatek goes on to win the tournament without losing a match Sabalenka would stay ahead of her in the rankings.

However, both are still likely to be hit by another zero pointer next week, but it is once again unlikely to have too big an impact on the rankings with Sabalenka set to keep her big points lead.

Gauff And Co’s Punishment

But they were not the only top WTA stars who were handed zero pointers as world No 3 Coco Gauff (-10), No 4 Amanda Anisimova (-10) and No 8 Madison Keys (-54) have also been punished, but none of them lost out in the rankings due to the rule.

Gauff is well adrift of Swiatek in the Race To Riyadh, which is a key indicator for the year-end rankings, while she is only 676 points ahead of Anisimova in the battle to finish the year as the American No 1.

Keys dropped one place from No 7, but she was always going to move down a spot on the back of Elena Rybakina’s title run at the Ningbo Open.

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