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Novak Djokovic has adopted a “risky” plan to finish his tennis career in style, especially with his “aura” fading, according to one tennis pundit.

Following his incredible 2023 campaign during which he won three Grand Slams and the ATP Finals to finish the year as the world No 1, Djokovic struggled in 2024 and so far this campaign.

He won only one tournament last year – the coveted singles gold medal at the Paris Olympics to complete his Career Golden Slam – and finished the campaign outside the top 5 in the ATP Rankings.

He has not done much better in the first three months of 2025 as he was forced to retire with injury from his semi-final at the Australian Open and has now lost three matches in a row as he followed up that Melbourne exit with defeats at the Qatar Open and the Indian Wells Open.

He has been stuck on 99 career titles since winning gold in Paris and there is no doubt that his retirement date is edging closer.

With a record 24 Grand Slam titles already in the bag, some have suggested he wants to go out on a high as he will quit after winning a major.

Djokovic, himself, has made it clear that he wants to continue playing, but has admitted his main focus is the majors.

French tennis pundit Benoit Maylin says the former world No 1’s decision to put all his eggs in the Grand Slam basket is fraught with danger, but insists he is using the ATP Tour events as preparation for the majors.

“Yes, Djokovic is suffering. 3rd defeat in a row,” he started off. “His margin is shrinking. His aura is fading. And it wasn’t good against Botic [van der Zandschlup].

“But there’s only one plan, only one objective: to win a Grand Slam. That’s risky.

“But that’s what a legend does. To finish in style. The rest is just preparation.”

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While disappointed with the three-set loss against Van der Zandschlup, Djokovic himself will not be losing any sleep.

The Serbian said: “I’m disappointed that I lost, but I guess, you know, if you put things in that larger perspective, of course I’ve had an incredible career. Being consistent for so many years, obviously you have high expectations of yourself.

“You know, things are different obviously for me the last couple of years. I’ve been struggling to play on the desired level. Every now and then, I have couple good tournaments, but, you know, mostly it’s really a challenge. It’s a struggle for me.

“So it is what it is. You know, I guess nothing can prepare you for that moment, in a sense. You have to experience it and try to deal with it in the best possible way.”

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Emma Raducanu has apparently been causing a stir at Wimbledon as she has upset traditionalists with her “provocative pink kit”.

The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club is well known for its strict dress code as players and members must at all times wear clothes that is almost entirely white when they enter the hallowed grounds.

In case you were wondering, it is strictly white as the Wimbledon regulation states “white does not include off white or cream” (more on the full clothing and equipment directive at the bottom).

But Raducanu has not been sticking to that rule at SW19, much to the dismay of members with the Daily Mail’s Harriet Kean reporting that the 22-year-old “has been ‘outraging members’ at the home of tennis by wearing a provocative pink kit while practising there” as she is wearing “whatever outfit she wants”.

The 2021 US Open winner has been accused of “arrogance” and one member told the paper: “It’s so unfair. Emma rocks up in a pink outfit while everyone else respects the all-white rule.

“Who does she think she is? Just because she’s won the US Open doesn’t mean she can wear whatever she wants.”

Despite her hectic schedule so far in 2025 that saw her start the year in Australia before playing in Singapore, the Middle East and now the United States, Raducanu has made several trips back home to England to practice.

She spent quite a bit of time on the practice courts at home ahead of her Indian Wells Open campaign, but lost in the first round at the WTA 1000 event in California.

The world No 55 will next be in action at the Miami Open before presumable flying back to the United Kingdom where she will most likely again practice at SW19.

Whether she will wear her “provocative pink kit” again remains to be seen.

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There have been calls in recent years on Wimbledon to relax their strict all-white policy, but the All England Club is not interested in changing its policy.

In case you were wondering, here is the complete rule on clothing worn on The Championship courts both for practice and for matches:

1) Competitors must be dressed in suitable tennis attire that is almost entirely white* and this applies from the point at which the player enters the court surround.

2) White does not include off white or cream.

3) There should be no solid mass or panel of colouring*. A single trim of colour around the neckline and around the cuff of the sleeves is acceptable but must be no wider than one centimetre (10mm).

4) Colour contained within patterns will be measured as if it is a solid mass of colour and should be within the one centimetre (10mm) guide. Logos formed by variations of material or patterns are not acceptable.

5) Shorts, skirts and tracksuit bottoms must be completely white except for a single trim of colour down the outside seam no wider than one centimetre (10mm).

6) Caps (including the underbill), headbands, bandanas, wristbands and socks must be completely white except for a single trim of colour no wider than one centimetre (10mm).

7) Shoes must be almost entirely white. Soles and laces must be completely white. Large manufacturers’ logos are not encouraged. The grass court shoes must adhere to the Grand Slam rules. In particular shoes with pimples around the outside of the toes shall not be permitted. The foxing around the toes must be smooth.

8) Any undergarments that either are or can be visible during play (including due to perspiration) must also be completely white except for a single trim of colour no wider than one centimetre (10mm), except female players who are allowed to wear solid, mid/dark-coloured undershorts provided they are no longer than their shorts or skirt.

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As Novak Djokovic tried to find the words to describe his latest setback, it appeared he was running out of excuses.

Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp was the latest outsider to add Djokovic’s name to his list of high profile victims, with Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz among those he has also beaten in recent months.

Yet his win against Djokovic may have a lasting impact as there must be a chance it could hasten the retirement of the most successful male tennis player of all-time.

Djokovic still has his sights set on a 25th Grand Slam win and he is one tournament victory away from a 100th ATP Tour title, but both of those dreams seemed a long way in the distance as Djokovic lost 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 against Van de Zandschulp.

The final set of the match was especially concerning for Djokovic, who sprayed errors throughout the match and appeared to throw in the towel as he lost his serve for a second time in the set.

His press conference appearance confirmed that the images of despondency we all witness on court were also present in the mind of a player who will turn 38 just before the start of the French Open in May.

“I regret the level of tennis I produced, considering how I practice these days,” said a clearly deflated Djokovic.

“To be honest, the difference between the center court and the other courts is immense. The ball is bouncing on the center courts higher than some of the highest clay courts, to be honest. Just struggled a lot with that. Couldn’t find the rhythm.

“When I reflect on this match, obviously I’ll see a little bit more what, you know, I could have done more, but I think he played, I think, some really good points to break my serve. But just, yeah, just putting myself in that position, I shouldn’t allow myself to do that.

“I’m disappointed that I lost, but I guess, you know, if you put things in that larger perspective, of course I’ve had an incredible career. Being consistent for so many years, obviously you have high expectations of yourself.

“You know, things are different obviously for me the last couple of years. I’ve been struggling to play on the desired level. Every now and then, I have a couple good tournaments, but, you know, mostly it’s really a challenge. It’s a struggle for me.

“So it is what it is. You know, I guess nothing can prepare you for that moment, in a sense. You have to experience it and try to deal with it in the best possible way.”

They were honest words from a champion who confirmed time and again in 2024 that his motivation to continue in tennis was waning, but that mindset appeared to have been reset for this season.

His move to hire former rival Andy Murray as his new coach was evidence that he was trying to find a new path to achieve the final goals in his career, with his win against Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open a glimpse of what might be possible.

Since that Alcaraz win in Melbourne, Djokovic has failed to win any of his next four matches and while he has stated his desire to continue his time in America by playing at the Mimai Open, there have to be questions over whether the Serbian will continue with his plan to play in Florida.

If he were to pull out of that event later this month, it would be evidence that he is struggling to find the desire to play in non-Grand Slam tournaments and sustaining a career that essentially involves playing just four tournaments a year may not be viable given the rankings and match practice implications.

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“I am who I am because of this sport. You know, it has consumed most of my life since a very young age,” added Djokovic as he reflected on his career.

“So, you know, I try to be the best I can be in different roles outside of the court, but this is what I know the best in my life [smiling]. Dedicated everything to it.

“Yeah, so it’s the perspective of what this sport brought to me is very clear. Has brought everything that I have experienced and I’m eternally grateful for that.

“But, you know, hard to reflect right now a bit more. I hope you understand.”

Djokovic needs to clear his head after this latest knock-out blow and decide whether he has the fire burning inside him to reach out for more before the full stop is added to his story.

Tennis will miss its greatest champion when he calls time on his career, but he may only be a handful of defeats away from accepting his time is up.

READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic crashes to shock Indian Wells defeat – what went wrong?

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With the last of the ‘Big Three’ Novak Djokovic losing three matches in a row, more and more talk is on when the all-time great will hang up the racket.

Even for a player at the level of Djokovic, time is the opponent that gets us all with the Serbian facing a question that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal faced before him – when to give it up?

Djokovic spoke of making a “plan”after his Indian Wells defeat but how does his record past the age of 35 compare to Nadal’s and Federer’s?

For this comparison, we have started from the year each player turned 35 so while they would have been 34 at the start of the year, by August, all three would have been closer to 40 than 30.

Roger Federer

The oldest of the trio, Federer, began his ATP career in July 1998 at the Swiss Open and would go on to play until the 2022 Laver Cup, an astonishing 24 years at the top of tennis.

While the majority of Federer’s titles came in the first half of his career, he still added plenty of trophies once he passed the age of 35.

After an injury-curtailed 2016, Federer came back in 2017 with seven titles, including two Grand Slams, and ended the year second in the rankings.

The following season, he won his 20th and final Slam at the Australian Open and finished the year as No.3 but struggled with injuries in 2021, retiring after the Wimbledon championships.

Six seasons
15 titles including three Grand Slams
192 of 229 matches won (84%)
Average end of year ranking – No.6

Rafa Nadel

Of the three, Nadal had the shortest career post-35 as persistent injuries kept him from the court.

In 2021, Nadal played just 29 times, ending the year No.6 in the rankings with two titles.

The following year, he won the Australian Open to surpass Feder and Djokovic in the all-time Grand Slams record. Later that same year, Nadal won his 14th and final French Open with victory over Casper Ruud.

But that would prove to be the final success of his glittering career as an injury to the iliopsoas muscle in his hip restricted him to just four matches in 2023.

Nadal fell out of the top 10 for the first time since 2004 and returned in 2024 for the final 20 matches of his career.

The 22-Grand Slam winner made a teary goodbye to tennis at the Davis Cup, ending the year ranked No.154 having been 672 in January.

Four seasons
Six titles including two Grand Slams.
76 wins of 100 matches (76%)
Average end of year ranking – No.207

Novak Djokovic

Up until now, Djokovic has been making the most of his final years in the sport – adding four Slams and an Olympics to his record since turning 35.

He hit that age during the 2022 season, a year where he won Wimbledon to move onto 21 Slams, and he returned to No.1 after three Grand Slams in 2023.

In 2024, Djokovic won just one title – albeit it was his coveted Olympic medal – with zero Slams and ended the year No. 7 in the rankings, his lowest spot since 2017.

The Serbian has begun 2025 in poor fashion, losing all three of his matches so far, raising questions about his future in the sport.

Fourth season in progress
13 titles including four Grand Slams
135 wins of 161 matches (84%)
Average end of year ranking – No.8

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Andy Murray

A bonus entry for all you Andy Murray fans with the Briton playing three seasons at the age of 35 and up.

The first was in 2022 when, three years on from a teary Australian Open press conference hinting he may retire, the half-man, half-metal Murray played 45 times, winning 26 times.

There was no titles that year but the two-time Wimbledon champion finished the season No. 49 in the rankings, his highest position since 2017.

He improved on that record in 2023, moving up to No. 42, but ended the year with more losses than wins.

Murray’s final season came in 2024 with just 18 games as persistent injuries finally forced him into retirement.

Three seasons
0 titles
48 wins of 96 matches (50%)
Average end of year ranking – No.84

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The post Compared: Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic past the age of 35 appeared first on Tennis365.

Coco Gauff admitted she was taking her opening Indian Wells win as a significant “positive” after overcoming serving woes in a scrappy contest.

World No 3 and third seed Gauff was pushed to the brink by world No 52 Moyuka Uchijima on Saturday, with the American ultimately sealing a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4) triumph.

Despite a solid first-serve percentage of 65%, Gauff hit a staggering 21 double faults – compared to just four aces – and hit 74 unforced errors, compared to 37 winners.

However, victory for Gauff came after back-to-back opening-match defeats in Doha and Dubai, and an Australian Open quarter-final exit.

Gauff is not playing anywhere close to the level that saw her claim the China Open and WTA Finals titles towards the end of 2024, and guide USA to the United Cup title back in January.

However, after three straight losses, the 20-year-old revealed it was merely a relief to get back to winning ways.

“I think if I just double-faulted less, it could have probably been a straight-set match,” said Gauff. “Off the ground, I felt like I was dictating more of the rallies.

“But, coming off a tough couple back-to-back losses, I guess it’s just taking it more as a positive maybe than if I had a couple good weeks [in my] last two tournaments.

“The unforced errors, I had to go bigger towards the end of the match, and even in the middle, because I felt like she would dictate. It’s kind of: ‘just take your chances.’ Then doubles [double faults], I’ve been in the practice of trying to fix things on my serve.

“It was just an up-and-down process – it’s tough out there. But, if I’m able to win matches playing D tennis, then it gives me confidence just when I’m able to mesh things together like I did earlier this season.”

Up next for Gauff is 29th seed Maria Sakkari, who defeated the world No 3 in the Indian Wells semi-finals a year ago.

Gauff will head in as a significant favourite following the Greek’s struggles after that run, though will likely need to raise her game.

The 2023 US Open champion conceded that her level had been “frustrating” – but that she was trying not to worry too much about her performance on the whole.

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She added: “I think today is just one of those days you just don’t feel great on the court. So it’s frustrating in that way, because I was having such great practices this week.

“I think sometimes in sports you want to just stay on the high and kind of ride that wave, but especially with this sport, a season as long as tennis, it’s kind of impossible to always be on that high wave.

“There’s going to be some low moments, I think. I’m just trying to stick through those tough moments and get better through them.

“I feel like I’m able to turn it around. It’s happened before. I think it just takes one match or two matches to kind of get that confidence back.”

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Carlos Alcaraz has claimed that he is “not really focusing” on usurping Jannik Sinner and challenging for the world No 1 ranking.

Reigning world No 1 Sinner is currently serving a three-month suspension and is not competing in Indian Wells this year, with the 23-year-old not set to return at the Italian Open in May.

That opens the door for world No 2 Alexander Zverev and world No 3 Alcaraz to potentially challenge for the world No 1 ranking, though Sinner holds a commanding lead.

The Italian is 3,195 points ahead of Zverev in the rankings, a lead that will only increase following the German’s exit to Tallon Griekspoor in his opening Indian Wells match.

He holds a significant 3,820-point lead over Alcaraz, who is defending 1,000 ranking points as the defending Indian Wells champion; Sinner has no points to defend, having been stripped of last year’s points as part of his doping sanction.

Alcaraz will almost certainly need to defend his Indian Wells title to have any chance of returning to world No 1 amid Sinner’s absence, and he started his campaign with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Quentin Halys.

A return to No 1 is in “the mind” of Alcaraz, but the 21-year-old admits that he is not allowing it to be his main focus.

“Well, it’s something that it is in the mind, but I’m not really focusing on it,” said Alcaraz.

“Because in every tournament I just focus on myself, I focus on, okay, I really want to play good tennis, I am focused on how I can be better, [be a] better player.

“You know, if I’m doing the right things in every tournament, the No 1 is going to come after. So if I’m thinking about the No 1, I have to do good results, I have to win tournaments.

“If I’m focusing on it just to recover the No 1, I’m putting extra pressure on myself, which I don’t want. So I just keep going, focus on the things that I have to improve on myself, and we will see.

“But right now, even though Jannik is not here, it’s really difficult to recover the No 1. So let’s see in a couple of weeks.”

Alcaraz’s potential path to No 1 return

Alcaraz has already held the world No 1 ranking for 36 weeks, and his Indian Wells title defence is crucial for his chances of usurping Sinner during the latter’s suspension.

The Spaniard will still be 3,820 points behind Sinner should he retain his crown, and allowing that gap to increase with a potential defeat will surely end his hopes of a quick return.

However, victory in the desert could open the door further.

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World No 1 Sinner will lose 1,000 points due to his inability to defend his Miami Open title, while Alcaraz only has 200 quarter-final points to defend in Florida.

Alcaraz won the Miami Open in 2022, and the ranking points deficit will work to his advantage – with a 1,800-point swing between the two men possible.

After that, the Spaniard will head to the European clay courts – and has few points to defend before Sinner’s return in Rome.

Alcaraz withdrew from the Masters 1000 event in Monte Carlo and the ATP 500 event in Barcelona last season before a quarter-final showing in Madrid.

The world No 3 has rarely played in Monte Carlo but is a two-time champion in both Madrid and Barcelona, and has just 200 points to defend across the three points.

In contrast, Sinner has 400 points in Monte Carlo and 200 points in Madrid, which he will be unable to defend – meaning this part of the season will prove crucial for Alcaraz’s hopes.

Zvcrev will also have an opportunity, though he will need to turn around a recent slump in form.

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Novak Djokovic was making all the right noises ahead of his opening match at the Indian Wells ATP Masters tournament, but he didn’t have any of the answers he needed on court as he slumped to a shock defeat against Botic van de Zandschulp.

The Dutchman who stunned Carlos Alcaraz with a straight sets win at last year’s US Open now has another huge scalp on his record as he beat 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

Van de Zandschulp lost in the second round of qualifying for Indian Wells, but was handed a place in the draw as players dropped out due to injury and he has certainly made the most of his second life in this tournament.

“I kept my cool during the whole match,” said Van de Zandschulp. “The second set was very tough, but I started really well in the third set and broke him to turn it around.

“It’s tough conditions out here and everything is struggling a bit, but I got through. Against the big guys I know I need to stay cool to have a chance.”

There were gasps around Indian Wells as the crowd tried to appreciate what they had just witnessed in the desert, with an out-of-sorts Djokovic suffering another early exit at Indian Wells.

He lost against outsider Luca Nardi at Indian Wells last year and while this defeat against van de Zandschulp was not as big a shock, the manner of it will set alarm bells ringing for Djokovic.

With coach Andy Murray urging him on from the sidelines, Djokovic’s first set display was alarming as he looked less than interested in the battle in a performance that offered flashbacks to the form he showed for long periods of 2024.

The fire was ignited inside Djokovic as he produced a battling display in the second set, but he faded badly after being broken early in the decider and ended up winning just one game in the third set.

His 37 unforced errors were evidence of his wayward performance as he backed that up with just 16 winners before a red-faced Djokovic made a swift exit from the court to ponder what went wrong and what might come next.

Djokovic has stated his intention to play at the Miami Open this year, but a defeat like this could force him to change his plans and he may now consider taking a break until the clay court season gets underway in Monte Carlo next month.

The wider picture must also be a concern for Djokovic and as he approaches his 38th birthday a few weeks from now, questions over his future in the sport will inevitably be raised once again.

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“Yeah, hard to appreciate anything now, really. I’m disappointed that I lost, but I guess, you know, if you put things in that larger perspective, of course l’ve had an incredible career,” said a downbeat Djokovic.

“Being consistent for so many years, obviously you have high expectations of yourself.

“You know, things are different obviously for me the last couple of years. I’ve been struggling to play on the desired level.

“Every now and then, I have couple good tournaments, but, you know, mostly it’s really a challenge. It’s a struggle for me. So it is what it is.

“You know, I guess nothing can prepare you for that moment, in a sense. You have to experience it and try to deal with it in the best possible way.”

While Van de Zandschulp played some good tennis in this match, Djokovic appeared to be battling against himself for large parts of this match.

He also continually stretched out his shoulder and he will need to regroup and consider where his desire and ambition are taking him as he decides when to play next.

Djokovic came into 2025 with renewed ambitions to finish his career with a flourish, but setbacks like this will test his resolve to fight on against what may be increasingly long odds at this stage of his career.

The version of Djokovic who beat Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open in January would be a threat to win the game’s biggest tournaments, but he is getting more and more defeats like this against Van de Zandschulp in the final chapters of his career and there may come a point where he concludes his winning days are over.

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The post Novak Djokovic crashes to shock Indian Wells defeat – what went wrong? appeared first on Tennis365.

Carlos Alcaraz got his Indian Wells title defence off to a flying start with a 6-4, 6-2 win against France’s Quentin Halys.

Alcaraz has won the last two editions of the Indian Wells tournament, but he expressed his surprise that a new surface had been laid for this year’s event.

Despite those doubts, Alcaraz showed no signs of nerves or uncertainty as he blasted his way through to the third round and backed up his status as the favourite to win once again in the Californian desert.

“I feel at home,” he said after his 13th straight win in Indian Wells.

“I feel really calm off court. That’s important to show good tennis on the court. The conditions and the court are good for me. I love it here. The fans have always been good to me. I appreciate that love and support.

“I was really nervous, it wasn’t easy to control the emotions. I had to be focused to calm down, to take control of the nerves and try and play good tennis. I think it did pretty well. I’m really happy to get through and start the title defence.”

When asked whether the conditions this year are different than they were a year ago, he added: “It’s slow. It bounces a lot. Off the court is also really important for me.”

With top seed Alexander Zverev crashing out in his first match at Indian Wells on Friday, the chance is there for Alcaraz to claim another Indian Wells title and this performance was a statement of intent as he set up a third round clash against a resurgent Denis Shapovalov.

Alcaraz saved the only break point he faced against Halys, who arrived in Indian Wells on the back of the best performance of his career as he reached the semi-finals of the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai last week.

Yet Halys has no answer to Alcaraz’s pace and power and the win ensured he notched his 30th win in the ‘Sunshine Double’ tournaments that are staged in Indian Wells and Miami each March.

Since 1990, Alcaraz at 21 years and 309 days is now the second-youngest player to claim 30 singles match wins in Indian Wells and Miami, with only compatriot Rafael Nadal at 21 years and 304 days bettering his record.

Alcaraz continues to set records and another Indian Wells title would push him closer to the world No 2 ranking currently held by Zverev and he will be keen to claim that position ahead of the French Open.

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With four Grand Slam titles already in his collection, it is hard to find too many holes in his game, but former USA Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe has told Tennis365 that Alcaraz could have even more success if he adds a layer of consistency to his game.

“Alcaraz is electric and he is electrifying when he gets on a court and the only issue would be that he has, at times, hit his way out of a match by going for too much,” McEnroe told Tennis365 in an exclusive interview.

“He is so fun to watch because he can hit every shot, but that talent can hurt him when he is not having his best day.

“We have seen it a few times and last year’s US Open comes to mind as being a moment when he didn’t have answers when he was not hitting the winners he expects.

“That was the case against Djokovic at the Australian Open as well. He was clearly unnerved by Djokovic appearing to be injured and then getting back up and playing at such a high level again by the end.

“So he may need to reel it in sometimes because we can all see what he is capable of and he has shown that by winning four Grand Slams at the age of 21.

“If he does reel it in, then he might become more effective and consistent, but he may not be as much fun to watch. We all like to watch him and let’s not forget what he has already achieved.

“He has won four majors on all the different surfaces in tennis so I would not want to nitpick his game too much.”

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The post Carlos Alcaraz matches Rafael Nadal milestone after thrilling Indian Wells win appeared first on Tennis365.

As the 1980s dawned, the notoriously intrusive British media were getting very excited about a bright young star who captured plenty of headlines.

Teenager Annabel Croft was the darling of the tabloid press as she emerged through the junior ranks impressively and started a rapid rise up the WTA Rankings.

The hype machine started to roll around her and by the time she struck her first balls as a professional, expectations were already at a lofty level.

Croft may have had the talent to go all the way and win Grand Slam titles, but life on the tennis tour proved to be a challenge she did not want to embrace and at the age of 21, she retired as a professional player.

“I just woke up one day and decided ‘I don’t want to do this anymore.’ It was as simple as that,” said Croft in an interview with Tennis365.

“Tennis had been my life since I was really young and the only thing I’d ever done was wake up and get into a tracksuit. I needed to put on normal clothes in the mornings and not worry about my tennis.

“I was really unhappy. I wasn’t enjoying tennis at all. I remember my mum saying to me: ‘Your heart’s not in this anymore, is it?’ That was a relief.”

Croft remains a prominent voice in tennis almost 30 years since she called time on her career as a player, with her passion for the sport and excellence as a broadcaster shining through in her numerous TV and radio roles.

Yet she would be the first to confirm that loving tennis and loving being a tennis player are two very different stories.

Life on the road involves long hours in hotel rooms alone, enduring battles with injury problems and the constant pressure to live up to your billing and deliver to an audience that doesn’t care about the problems you may be going through.

Roll the clock forward three decades and Croft’s story has so many similarities to that of Emma Raducanu.

While Raducanu’s breakthrough in tennis was so much more dramatic as she won the 2021 US Open to announce her arrival to the world, the tale since has been laced with negativity and anguish.

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Raducanu has been forced to deal with stalkers threatening her safety, online trolls constantly battering her and a negativity that some of her critics seem to enjoy delivering whenever her name is mentioned.

With plenty of money in her bank account after her instant tennis success story, life away from tennis may be a whole lot easier for Raducanu, but respected tennis broadcaster Marcus Buckland hopes that is not the end game of this brief and enchanting sporting story.

“I think it’s really tough for her and I hope she doesn’t come to the conclusion that she doesn’t need tennis,” Buckland told Tennis365.

“Of course, if she gave up tennis tomorrow, she has earned enough from the sport not to worry about money and she could pursue other areas she is interested in. She has mentioned a banking career.

“One of my best friends in tennis is Annabel Croft and she retired from tennis at an even younger age than Raducanu at 21. She had a wonderful junior career, she got into the top 20 on the main tour and she decided the lifestyle just did not suit her.

“She said to me that playing tennis felt like having a very public argument in the office every day and she has never regretted walking away from the sport.

“So it’s perfectly possible that Raducanu could do the same, but you are retired for a very long time.”

Raducanu is currently sitting just outside the top 50 of the WTA Rankings and you wonder whether he appetite to push for more Grand Slam glory will wane if it becomes evident over the course of 2025 that either her body or her desire is not at the level required to compete at the top, she may decide her previously mentioned desire to study at Cambridge University offers her a more enjoyable life.

Buckland suggests an early retirement could be avoided for Raducanu if her enduring search for a long-term coach finally ends at some point this year.

Nick Cavaday was the latest coach to part ways with Raducanu after the Australian Open in January and her next coaching appointment may be something of a ‘make or break’ decision as she needs to find a winning formula quickly.

“What Raducanu needs to do is find a coach she can have a meaningful relationship with for an extended period of time, at least a couple of years,” added Buckland.

“She needs to find that consistency on court and build some momentum. I think the key for her is to establish a strong team off the court to give her the strength to deal with everything else that comes her way.

“There is a lot of mental scarring from everything that has happened to her since she won the US Open.

“It’s been such a roller-coaster ride, but she has a wonderful game.  She can mix it with the best, but does she really believe that?

“Until she starts getting some big wins against the top players, those doubts are going to persist and that’s why she might start to ask why she is putting herself through this.”

Tennis needs shining stars like Raducanu to promote the message of the WTA Tour and the sport needs to hope she retains the desire to stay in the game for long enough to realise all of her potential.

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Patrick McEnroe has hailed Carlos Alcaraz as the shining star of men’s tennis, but he believes he has a wild side to his game that may need to be tamed.

McEnroe, who reached a career high ranking of No 28 and is the younger brother of Grand Slam legend John McEnroe, believes four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz may learn to dilute the fiery side of his game that occasionally costs him in the heat of battle on court.

At the age of 21, Alcaraz has already won two Wimbledon titles, as well as lifting the French Open and US Open titles, but he had a rawness to his game that is natural for a player of his tender years.

His defeat against Botic van de Zandschulp at last year’s US Open and his loss against Novak Djokovic a the Australian Open in January were examples of Alcaraz’s frustration getting the better of him, with McEnroe assessing how the youngster could improve his game as he spoke to Tennis365 in his role as joint-President of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

“Alcaraz is electric and he is electrifying when he gets on a court and the only issue would be that he has, at times, hit his way out of a match by going for too much,” McEnroe told Tennis365 in an exclusive interview.

“He is so fun to watch because he can hit every shot, but that talent can hurt him when he is not having his best day.

“We have seen it a few times and last year’s US Open comes to mind as being a moment when he didn’t have answers when he was not hitting the winners he expects.

“That was the case against Djokovic at the Australian Open as well. He was clearly unnerved by Djokovic appearing to be injured and then getting back up and playing at such a high level again by the end.

“So he may need to reel it in sometimes because we can all see what he is capable of and he has shown that by winning four Grand Slams at the age of 21.

“If he does reel it in, then he might become more effective and consistent, but he may not be as much fun to watch. We all like to watch him and let’s not forget what he has already achieved.

“He has won four majors on all the different surfaces in tennis so I would not want to nitpick his game too much.”

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McEnroe went on to suggest Alcaraz is in a league of his own in the popularity stakes among tennis fans, as he continues to steal the headlines away from world No 1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam king Djokovic.

“He’s the most popular player in tennis right now. He’s not the world No 1, but he is an attraction and people want to see him,” he added.

“The way he plays the game, people look at him and say ‘wow’, I didn’t even know that shot was possible. People love to watch Alcaraz and we are lucky to have him in our sport.”

The International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) officially opened its Letters to Greatness booth at an event hosted by ITHF Presidents, Patrick McEnroe and Kim Clijsters.

McEnroe and Clijsters were joined by ITHF CEO, Dan Faber and upcoming 2025 Inductees, Bob and Mike Bryan, to kick off the event by recording their own Letters to Greatness – congratulatory messages to Maria Sharapova and the Bryan Brothers ahead of their formal induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame later this summer.

The Letters to Greatness booth will remain open throughout the remainder of the BNP Paribas Open, where tennis fans will have the chance to record or pen their own personal messages to the Class of 2025.

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