Category: Articles

  • Why Emma Raducanu could make a big rankings jump during the clay season

    Emma Raducanu is yet to compete on clay this year, but she will have the chance to continue her climb up the rankings when she returns to action.

    The 22-year-old has not played since her impressive run to the quarter-finals of the Miami Open last month, where she earned four straight wins at a WTA event for the first time since her shock 2021 US Open triumph.

    Raducanu is up to 47th in the world after her exploits in Miami, having started the WTA 1000 event ranked 60th.

    After Miami, Raducanu opted to delay the start of her clay-court campaign as she withdrew from Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifying ties in the Netherlands and the WTA 250 tournament in Rouen.

    The Brit has not confirmed her first event of the season on clay, but it is likely to be the Madrid Open, a WTA 1000 which will run from April 22 to May 4.

    Raducanu’s 2024 clay-court results

    Raducanu played only six matches on clay in 2024, amassing a 4-2 record.

    In April last year, Raducanu defeated both Diane Parry and Caroline Garcia on clay in Great Britain’s BJK Cup win against France in Le Portel.

    The former world No 10 next competed at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, a WTA 500 tournament in Stuttgart staged on indoor clay.

    She overcame Angelique Kerber and Linda Noskova to reach the quarter-finals, where she was beaten by Iga Swiatek.

    Raducanu then played her second clay-court WTA Tour event of 2024 at the Madrid Open, and she lost to Maria Lourdes Carle in the opening round.

    The 2021 US Open winner did not play any clay tournaments after Madrid as she chose to take a break and return for the grass season.

    Emma Raducanu News

    Emma Raducanu may have lost some sponsors – but why are her critics so happy about it?

    Who is Mark Petchey? Emma Raducanu’s rumoured new coach

    The Brit is, therefore, defending just 118 points during this year’s clay season — 108 from her Stuttgart quarter-final and 10 from her first round Madrid exit.

    The world No 47 will lose the 108 points from Stuttgart when the WTA Rankings update following the conclusion of the 2025 edition of the tournament, which is currently ongoing.

    Raducanu will, though, have a good opportunity to gain points if she plays the WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, and the French Open — having skipped the latter two events last year.

    The 22-year-old may also consider adding the WTA 500 in Strasbourg or the WTA 250 in Rabat — both of which are held in the week before Roland Garros — to her schedule.

    READ NEXT: Emma Raducanu’s ‘crazy’ decisions questioned by former world No 1 as coaching appointment looms

    The post Why Emma Raducanu could make a big rankings jump during the clay season appeared first on Tennis365.

  • ‘Jannik Sinner has a very important card up his sleeve to win Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open’

    Jannik Sinner’s former coach Riccardo Piatti has predicted that the world No 1 will turn the “very unpleasant” situation of his doping ban into “something positive.”

    Piatti played an integral role in Sinner’s development as a player, having coached the Italian from the age of 13 until 20. Sinner chose to end the collaboration in February 2022.

    Sinner has been unable to play since defending his Australian Open title in January due to a three-month doping suspension that started on February 9 and runs until May 4.

    The Italian tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol twice in March 2024 — during and after the Indian Wells Masters.

    The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) revealed in August that Sinner would not serve a ban after an independent tribunal ruled he carried “no fault or negligence.”

    Sinner explained that the substance had entered his body when receiving a massage from his former physio, Giacomo Naldi, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat a cut on his own finger.

    However, WADA appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the verdict in September as they initially sought to impose a ban of between one and two years on the world No 1.

    Jannik Sinner News

    Italian Davis Cup captain gives insight on Jannik Sinner’s mindset: ‘Extremely motivated’

    The 5 men with most weeks in first spell as world No 1: Sinner close to eclipsing Nadal & Djokovic

    The appeal was set to be heard at CAS in April, but WADA announced in February it had reached an agreement with Sinner’s legal team for him to serve a three-month ban.

    The 23-year-old has missed tournaments in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, while he will also be unable to play the upcoming Madrid Open.

    The Italian is set to make his comeback on home soil at the Masters 1000 tournament in Rome, which will begin on May 7. Sinner has also added the ATP 500 in Hamburg to his schedule prior to the French Open.

    Speaking to SuperTennis TV, Piatti suggested Sinner has a plan to complete a historic Calendar Grand Slam by winning the remaining three majors in 2025.

    “This whole situation has been very unpleasant for Sinner, but I’m sure he’ll turn it into something positive,” said Piatti.

    “I think Jannik has a very important card up his sleeve in the coming months to win Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open.”

    The Italian added: “I’m sure that during these months of hiatus, Jannik hasn’t stopped.

    “During the pandemic, for example, it was one of the most important moments of growth for him. He trained physically three times a week and played tennis every day.”

    READ NEXT: Carlos Alcaraz makes feelings clear on ATP’s controversial extended Masters 1000 format

    The post ‘Jannik Sinner has a very important card up his sleeve to win Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open’ appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Joao Fonseca turned down a ‘mega money offer’ before becoming a tennis professional

    Brazilian teenage sensation Joao Fonseca turned down a ‘mega-money offer’ when he decided to become a professional tennis player earlier this year, Tennis365 has been informed.

    Fonseca has been talked about as one of the rising stars of tennis over the last few years, with the teenager’s huge reputation ensuring he would be a big draw if he agreed to play on the US college circuit rather than becoming a professional player.

    With US colleges keen to get the best players onto their teams, players of Fonseca’s reputation and potential are now being offered big financial pay-outs to agree to delay their move into the pro ranks and commit to time developing their skills in the US system.

    Top junior players have long been offered a chance to attend top class US colleges for free, but now they are being given even more incentive to make the move with tempting big-money offers on the table.

    With all college fees covered and competitive tennis guaranteed in a thriving league system that is producing top-quality junior players, the temptation to delay the start of a pro career is now being complicated by the prospect of a big money ‘signing on’ fee.

    More Tennis News

    Patrick Mouratoglou reveals who has ‘greatest potential’ out of Fonseca, Draper, Fils & Mensik

    What Carlos Alcaraz had to say about Jakub Mensik, Joao Fonseca and Arthur Fils

    This is similar to what we see in other major sports, but it is a relatively new development in US college tennis.

    Fonseca has not spoken about the money he was offered to play US college tennis, but he has admitted he faced a tough choice after an offer to continue his development at the University of Virginia.

    “It was an incredibly tough decision for me and my family as I have been dreaming about living a college life in Charlottesville, playing the sport that l love with a wonderful team and coach, but, in the last months, professional tennis called me in a way that I simply couldn’t say ‘no’,” said Fonseca in a statement on his Instagram.

    “Although I will not be attending school, I think it is an extremely valuable and viable path for young tennis players [on] their way to professional careers.

    “I was never pressured about making a decision towards college tennis. You gave me just the space for this. I can’t thank UVA and coach Andres Pedroso enough for this.”

    Fonseca has already made his mark on the professional tennis tour, which suggests he made the right decision over his move to jump straight into the pro game.

    He won his first ATP Tour title in Buenos Aires in February and served up some memorable performances in the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in the Miami Open, but college tennis is also proving to be a successful route for some players.

    Scotland’s Jacob Fearnley made a big impact on the US college circuit before turning professional last year, with his development period in America helping him to make a quick break into the top 100 of the ATP Rankings.

    “I don’t think that college tennis is in any way a step back,” said Fearnley. “It’s actually a step forward. You get to work on your fitness, be part of a team and improve on your fitness.

    “So when you come out of college, there is no doubt what you want to be as a professional tennis player. If you use your four years wisely in college, you can set yourself up brilliantly to do some damage on the tour. A lot of the guys are going down the college route now.

    “I owe a lot to college tennis. I think all of the experiences I had in those five years, playing against amazing tennis players, different conditions, different atmospheres, different courts, different environments, it all helped me kind of mould my game, and it’s the same on the tour.

    “It has been encouraging for me to see I can compete against the best players in the world and I’m learning a lot about my game and what I need to do to get better.”

    Tennis365 understands that a host of top junior players are now being offered big money to move to US colleges, with their thriving and competitive league structure overseen by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

    While a move to accept the college path delays a move into the professional ranks, it is now a hugely attractive route for aspiring tennis players to take as they have a chance to get a great education as well as furthering their tennis development.

    READ NEXT: The Emma Raducanu Instagram record broken by Joao Fonseca in 2025

    The post Joao Fonseca turned down a ‘mega money offer’ before becoming a tennis professional appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Carlos Alcaraz makes feelings clear on ATP’s controversial extended Masters 1000 format

    Carlos Alcaraz has asserted that the one-week Masters 1000 tournaments are “better for tennis” as he questioned the ATP’s move away from the original format.

    In 2023, the ATP Tour extended the Masters 1000 events in Madrid, Rome and Shanghai to two weeks (12 days) and increased the number of players in the singles draws to 96.

    Last year, the same expansion was applied to tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami and Shanghai, while it will also be introduced at the 2025 editions of the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open.

    Prior to the changes, seven of the nine Masters tournaments were played over a week and featured 56-player singles draws, with Indian Wells and Miami each lasting 10 days.

    The Masters events in Monte Carlo and Paris are the only two tournaments in this category that will retain the single-week format.

    Alcaraz won the title in Monte Carlo last week to conclude what was arguably the most entertaining event on the ATP Tour so far this year.

    Some felt that the tournament was a reminder that the one-week Masters format provides a superior spectacle, with higher-quality matches contested from the opening round. There was a similar sentiment expressed during the 2024 Paris Masters.

    Conversely, many players and fans have been critical of the new Masters 1000 schedule, with Alcaraz the latest to weigh in.

    Carlos Alcaraz News

    Carlos Alcaraz asked if emulating Rafael Nadal’s 14 French Open titles is ‘impossible’

    Who is Carlos Alcaraz’s latest coach? Samuel Lopez working alongside Juan Carlos Ferrero

    Speaking in his press conference after reaching the Barcelona Open quarter-finals, Alcaraz was asked about the debate over the different Masters formats.

    “The one week ones are better. Some will think that in two weeks there are days of rest, but that is not the case,” the four-time major winner said.

    “You train, you have to mentally prepare for the game, prepare for it… you’re not resting, really. It’s two full weeks. That’s why I prefer the one-week Masters 1000. For me, it’s better for tennis.”

    Stefanos Tsitsipas has been the most outspoken critic of the two-week Masters 1000 format.

    In a post on X after the Paris Masters last year, the Greek wrote: “The two-week Masters 1000s have turned into a drag. The quality has definitely dropped.

    “Players aren’t getting the recovery or training time they need, with constant matches and no space for the intense work off the court.

    “It’s ironic that the @atptour committed to this format without knowing if it could actually improve the schedule, but the quality likewise. Paris got it right, done in a week. Exciting and easy to follow. Just how it’s supposed to be.

    “If the goal was to ease the calendar, extending every 1000 to two weeks is a backwards move. Sometimes, it feels like they’re fixing what wasn’t broken.”

    READ NEXT: Carlos Alcaraz makes shock confession about wanting to ‘stop for several months’

    The post Carlos Alcaraz makes feelings clear on ATP’s controversial extended Masters 1000 format appeared first on Tennis365.

  • ‘Novak Djokovic arrived with a very average game – it’s incredible he surpassed Federer & Nadal’

    Leading tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou has declared that Novak Djokovic has proven that mentality is the “most important thing” in tennis as he labelled the Serb “the strongest” of the Big Three.

    Djokovic has collected most of the most significant records in men’s tennis during his remarkable career.

    The 37-year-old has won a men’s record 24 Grand Slam titles, having surpassed his great rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer — who rank second and third with 22 and 20 majors respectively.

    Speaking to Eurosport France, Mouratoglou claimed Djokovic initially had a “very average game” and argued this makes his ascension to the very top all the more incredible.

    “When you look at the three greatest, whether it pleases you or not, there is one of the three who is the greatest of all,” assessed the Frenchman. “He was world number one the longest, he won the most Grand Slams, the most Masters 1000, he beats them everywhere. It’s Novak.

    “When you look at the three, there are two who occupied the position when Novak arrived. Everyone said they were unbeatable. Novak arrived with a very average game.

    “Even today, at the end of his career, when you look at Rafa’s game, Roger’s game, Novak’s game, it’s incredible that Novak is the strongest of the three, the one who broke all the records.

    “It shows that the most important thing is not in the tennis, in the racket. Obviously you need tennis, but the most important thing, what really makes the difference, is the state of mind, the mentality.

    Tennis News

    The 5 men with most weeks in first spell as world No 1: Sinner close to eclipsing Nadal & Djokovic

    The 5 men with the most Barcelona Open match wins: Rafael Nadal with 67

    “I know it bothers some people to say that, but it’s the most important thing, by far.”

    Mouratoglou also addressed the suggestion that statistics are not the only factor in the GOAT debate.

    “I completely agree with the idea that numbers aren’t everything, of course,” he continued. “Maybe in 50 years, people will say that Federer left an infinitely greater mark than Novak.

    “However, when we have to designate the best player of all time, we have to base it on achievements. If we base it on another criterion, it’s completely subjective, it no longer means anything. The very idea of ​​the top level is ‘who is the best?’

    “Players compete against each other; at the end of each week, there’s a best of the week; at the end of each year, there’s a best of the year. So, it’s a false debate. If the question is: who is the best? Then it’s Novak.”

    Mouratoglou currently coaches Naomi Osaka, while he has previously worked with Serena Williams, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune.

    READ NEXT: Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek break silence on sending letter to Grand Slams about prize money

    The post ‘Novak Djokovic arrived with a very average game – it’s incredible he surpassed Federer & Nadal’ appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Explained: Why Aryna Sabalenka is yet to play at the WTA Stuttgart Open

    Aryna Sabalenka is once again back at the WTA Stuttgart Open in 2025 – and is determined to finally win her first title at the event.

    The world No 1’s experience playing at the famed WTA 500 tournament has so far been bittersweet, reaching three finals but ultimately tasting defeat on all three occasions.

    Sabalenka was beaten by then-world No 1 Ashleigh Barty in the 2021 final, before consecutive losses to Iga Swiatek – also ranked as the No 1 – in 2022 and 2023.

    After a surprise quarter-final defeat to Marketa Vondrousova in 2024, the three-time Grand Slam champion is determined to triumph in 2025 – and win the tournament’s iconic prize.

    “I want to finally win the Porsche this year,” said Sabalenka.

    “I lost three finals here against No 1s, so I was, like: ‘Okay, I have to do it. I have to come back here as the world No 1.”

    However, her campaign in Stuttgart is off to a rather bizarre start, with the Belarusian now not set to play until Saturday.

    Here, we look at the weird set of circumstances that have delayed Sabalenka from stepping onto the court.

    Why will Aryna Sabalenka not play until Saturday?

    A 28-player draw in Stuttgart means that, while the majority of players have to play a round-one match – and potentially five matches to win the title – the top four seeds get a bye into the second round.

    That includes Sabalenka, who, as the world No 1, is the top seed in the Stuttgart draw.

    Second seed Swiatek began her campaign with a confident 6-2, 6-2 second-round win over Jana Fett on Wednesday, while third seed Jessica Pegula and fourth seed Coco Gauff start on Thursday.

    Tennis News

    Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek break silence on sending letter to Grand Slams about prize money

    Elena Rybakina hires new team member after key recent departure and coaching saga

    After receiving a round-one bye, Sabalenka was then meant to face Anastasia Potapova in the second round to start her campaign.

    World No 38 Potapova impressed with a battling victory over Clara Tauson earlier in the week, saving a match point to beat the Dane 2-6, 7-6(8), 6-3.

    However, the Russian was then forced to pull out of the tournament due to injury.

    Though a lucky loser would be brought in to replace Potapova if this were an opening-round match, WTA rules prevent this from round two onwards – even if a player received a round-one bye.

    That means that, having already received a pass into the second round, Sabalenka was then handed a walkover straight into the quarter-finals.

    And, that means that – in unique circumstances for this year – she faces a wait until Saturday to finally play.

    State rules in Baden-Wurttemberg, of which Stuttgart is the capital and largest city, prevent sporting events from taking place on certain bank holidays.

    With Friday (April 18) being Good Friday, the action inside the Porsche Arena will be paused for one day, with the tournament resuming on Saturday.

    The first day back will see all four quarter-finals take place, before the semi-finals on Sunday, and the final on Monday.

    That means that, having not played from Monday to Friday, Sabalenka will have to play and win three matches in the space of three days if she wants to lift the title.

    “It’s a bit awkward,” conceded Sabalenka. “But I messaged her [Potapova] to find out if everything is okay.

    “We have adjusted the practice schedule a little, and there’s gym time for me.”

    Sabalenka will face former doubles partner Elise Mertens when she finally takes to the court.

    Mertens impressed with a 6-2, 7-6(5) victory over eighth seed Diana Shnaider in her second-round match, having beaten Aliaksandra Sasnovich in round one.

    Read NextExplained: Why leading Stuttgart contenders face a Monday final at WTA 500 event

    The post Explained: Why Aryna Sabalenka is yet to play at the WTA Stuttgart Open appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Rafael Nadal French Open ceremony confirmed as two other stars set to be celebrated 

    Rafael Nadal will be honoured with a retirement tribute at this year’s French Open, tournament director Amelie Mauresmo has confirmed.

    The Spanish legend triumphed at Roland Garros on a staggering 14 occasions — the all-time record for the most titles won at a single tennis tournament.

    Nadal secured the first of his 22 Grand Slam titles at the 2005 edition of Roland Garros on his debut at the Paris major.

    The ‘King of Clay’ amassed a mind-blowing 112-4 (96.6%) record across his 19 French Open campaigns.

    The 38-year-old made his final appearance at the tournament last year, falling to Alexander Zverev in the opening round.

    In November 2024, Nadal brought down the curtain on his incredible career at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga after playing his last-ever match in Spain’s quarter-final loss to the Netherlands.

    In a press conference ahead of the 2025 French Open, Mauresmo revealed a ceremony will be held to celebrate Nadal on the opening day of the event — Sunday, May 25.

    “RAFAEL NADAL TO BE HONOURED,” said the official Roland Garros account in a post on X.

    “A ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 25 on Court Philippe-Chatrier, after the three matches of the day session.”

    Mauresmo did not share any further details about the Nadal tribute, but French Tennis President Gilles Moretton has already revealed it will be “very big.”

    “There will, necessarily, be something for Rafael Nadal, a very big tribute,” Moretton told Europe 1 radio in February.

    “A real tribute, very important. We are attached to it. The [Davis Cup] tribute was not really the one that we had to pay him [respect]. We were ready last year and he wasn’t ready, he was still a player.

    Rafael Nadal News

    Rafael Nadal’s 5 most successful clay court events: Roland Garros No 1, 12 Barcelona Open titles

    Bjorn Borg predicts whether Carlos Alcaraz will match or surpass Rafael Nadal’s achievements

    “We went to see him at home, at the beginning of December, with Amelie Mauresmo to talk to him about this tribute that we will organise for him, and talked to him about the future.”

    Mauresmo, a former world No 1 and two-time major champion, has confirmed that French tennis icons Mary Pierce and Richard Gasquet will also be celebrated at this year’s tournament.

    “Pierce: Celebration of the 25th anniversary of her Roland-Garros titles, as well as her induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame,” the tournament wrote.

    “Gasquet: He will play the final tournament of his career at Roland-Garros and will receive a tribute following his last match.”

    Pierce was the last French player to win a Roland Garros singles title, having triumphed in 2000. She remains the only French women’s singles champion in the Open Era.

    Richard Gasquet, a former world No 7, will retire after playing this year’s French Open.

    READ NEXT: The 11 men to win multiple Barcelona Open titles: Rafael Nadal unrivalled, Carlos Alcaraz on 2

    The post Rafael Nadal French Open ceremony confirmed as two other stars set to be celebrated  appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Who is Carlos Alcaraz’s latest coach? Samuel Lopez working alongside Juan Carlos Ferrero

    Carlos Alcaraz has stormed towards the top of the tennis pantheon in what has been a short yet hugely successful career, winning four Grand Slam titles and reaching world No 1 all before the age of 22.

    A large chunk of Alcaraz’s success has been down to the impact of Juan Carlos Ferrero, himself a world No 1 and Grand Slam winner, who has coached his compatriot since he was a teenager.

    However, while Ferrero remains a crucial part of Alcaraz’s set up, the 21-year-old is also now supported by coach Samuel Lopez, who joined the Spaniard’s entourage in December 2024.

    It is fair to say that Lopez has brought a wealth of experience that has already worked to Alcaraz’s benefit, and could prove crucial ahead of a busy summer.

    Coaching experience

    Lopez briefly pursued a short playing career, but quickly turned to coaching, with Ferrero among the first players he worked with.

    The 54-year-old assisted Ferrero’s long-time coach Antonio Martínez Cascales, though would later form his own path as a lead coach.

    Lopez worked with the likes of Guillermo Garcia Lopez, Santiago Ventura, and Mariusz Fyrstenberg, though he is probably best known for his successful partnership with Pablo Carreno Busta.

    Starting in November 2015, Lopez coached his compatriot for nine years, helping Carreno Busta reach the greatest heights of his career.

    Under Lopez’s guidance, Carreno Busta won seven ATP Tour titles – including the 2022 Canadian Open title – and reached the 2017 and 2020 US Open semi-finals, alongside two French Open quarter-finals.

    Carreno Busta reached a career-high of world No 10 during their partnership, and also won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.

    The pair parted ways in December 2024, when it was announced that Lopez would be joining the Alcaraz entourage.

    Alcaraz connection

    Through his relationship with Ferrero, Lopez already had a connection with Alcaraz before their official launch of their new partnership at the end of 2024.

    And, Lopez already had experience guiding the four-time Grand Slam champion to big titles.

    Lopez was part of Alcaraz’s team at the 2022 Miami Open, when an 18-year-old Alcaraz claimed the first of his six Masters 1000 titles to date.

    He was also part of Alcaraz’s team during the Spaniard’s run to the Queen’s Club title back in 2023, and coached him during the 2024 Australian Open while Ferrero was recovering from knee surgery.

    Carlos Alcaraz News

    Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek break silence on sending letter to Grand Slams about prize money

    Carlos Alcaraz makes shock confession about wanting to ‘stop for several months’

    New partnership

    Alcaraz has been the subject of sustained criticism throughout points in 2025, which may seem unfair considering he is (as of this current week) No 1 in the ATP Race to Turin.

    However, while there have been bumps in the road for him at points through the early stages of this season, there has been obvious success.

    The Spaniard won the first indoor title of his career at the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam back in February, before claiming his first Monte Carlo Masters title last week – his sixth Masters title, and first since March 2024.

    Lopez was Alcaraz’s lead coach in Monte Carlo, with Ferrero absent, and also took the reins in for the world No 2’s triumph in Rotterdam.

    Speaking to Eurosport after Alcaraz’s triumph in Rotterdam, Lopez revealed how he, Ferrero, and the rest of the set-up were encouraging their charge to continue finding his own identity on court.

    He said: “We have put a lot of emphasis on him being himself. Being very clear about what he has to do, his routines, his attitude, being above all else.

    “Worrying a lot about that and not so much about tennis, and then building Carlos Alcaraz. He is achieving this.

    “It is one of the objectives we set ourselves in the preseason. Things are not easy, but we have taken another step this week.

    “We have to continue along this line. He is not at an advanced age, because he is very young, but he does have some tennis experiences in which he has to get to know himself more and more.”

    All eyes will be on how Lopez’s influence continues to help Alcaraz ahead of a busy few months.

    Alcaraz faces a big clay court swing with few ranking points to defend until the defence of his French Open title, while he will search for a third straight Wimbledon crown later this summer.

    Read NextFirst player born in each year to win ATP match: Featuring Sinner, Alcaraz, Fonseca, Dedura-Palomero

    The post Who is Carlos Alcaraz’s latest coach? Samuel Lopez working alongside Juan Carlos Ferrero appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek break silence on sending letter to Grand Slams about prize money

    Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek have addressed the letter that they and other top tennis players sent to the Grand Slams about prize money.

    Earlier this month, L’Equipe reported that several prominent top 20 players on both the ATP and WTA tours “co-signed and sent a letter to the four Grand Slam tournaments, demanding a substantial increase in their prize money”.

    “In essence, this letter calls for a greater distribution of profits generated by the four pillars of the tour to benefit the main stakeholders: the players, without whom the show would not take place,” the report explained.

    On the WTA side, Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Jasmine Paolini, Mirra Andreeva, Zheng Qinwen, Paula Badosa and Emma Navarro all signed the letter, with Elena Rybakina the only current top 10 player missing.

    ATP stars who signed the letter include Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Jack Draper, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alex de Minaur and Daniil Medvedev.

    The letter was reportedly given the green light by both the WTA and ATP Players’ Boards.

    Swiatek was asked about her decision to sign the letter during a press conference at this week’s Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

    “Well, I think, like, there’s some data available on the internet about the comparison between tennis and other sports,” the five-time major winner said. “For sure, we’ve been discussing with Grand Slams about many topics.

    Tennis News

    Carlos Alcaraz makes shock confession about wanting to ‘stop for several months’

    The 10 women to beat Iga Swiatek on clay before 2025: ft. Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina

    “Yeah, I mean, it could be better, but I’m not going to say a lot because, first of all, we need to figure it out kind of internally. For sure, there’s some time needed to do that. Yeah, I don’t want to speak out right now about that.”

    In an interview with Marca, Alcaraz joined Swiatek in speaking about the topic for the first time.

    “Tennis is a well-paid sport, but it can always be improved because there is a percentage that can be increased for the circuit and the players. Tennis is a well-paid sport, but the percentages have to be fair,” the four-time Grand Slam titlist explained.

    “If we put on a show so the fans can enjoy it and pay to see us, then the percentage has to be close to what we deserve. And that’s why we’ve come together.”

    Alcaraz is in action at the ATP 500 tournament in Barcelona this week.

    READ NEXT: PTPA’s Vasek Pospisil ‘surprised’ by Novak Djokovic comments about lawsuit

    The post Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek break silence on sending letter to Grand Slams about prize money appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Emma Raducanu may have lost some sponsors – but why are her critics so happy about it?

    Not for the first time in her career, Emma Raducanu has been the target of nasty social media snipes in recent days.

    From the moment she broke through by winning the 2021 US Open, Raducanu was thrust into a spotlight that was always likely to result in a blinding glare of publicity.

    Her rapid rise to the top inspired A-list sponsors to jump on board the Raducanu train, with the money flowing in for a young star who was being cast as the new face of the women’s game.

    Such inflated levels of expectation were always likely to backfire and that was the story that played out, with Raducanu struggling physically, mentally and technically to adapt to life on the WTA Tour.

    The stuttering start to her career after the miracle of her US Open win was inevitable, yet the social media abuse that has flowed in her direction was not necessary.

    Some accounts on X have been set up with the sole intention of goading this inspirational 22-year-old, with her each and every defeat celebrated by many on social media who seem eager for her to fail.

    More Tennis News

    Emma Raducanu ‘made the right decision’ after making a big schedule change

    Emma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek decisions spark significant concern for historic competition

    Now, amid suggestions that some of the sponsorship deals that were signed when she was at the peak of her commercial powers have not been renewed, those same online trolls are delighting in her failure.

    Some of the negative comments directed at Raducanu on social media platforms like X in recent days, after a report claimed she had lost her deal with mobile phone Vodafone were bizarre, but this is nothing new.

    Critics have been eager to take Raducanu down since she became a superstar athlete and their obsession with criticising her seems to be addictive.

    Raducanu has confirmed she no longer looks at social media, with the deactivation of her Instagram account a few weeks back a sign of the disdain she has for the platforms that give critics a platform to fire negative messages at her.

    Jealousy can be the only reason why anyone would celebrate the end of a sponsorship deal, with many critics forming a negative opinion of a young lady who has been forced to take a crash course in the spotlight that few would have relished.

    Raducanu might actually be unburdened by the end of some sponsorship deals, as it will ensure she is not under pressure to hit on court targets that may be part of the deals with companies like Porsche and Vodafone.

    Yet as she proved with her run to the Mimai Open quarter-finals last month, a fit and focused Raducanu is a threat for any rival in tennis, as she turned on the style with five impressive performances in the WTA 1000 tournament.

    Despite her defeat against Jessica Pegula, there were hugely positive signs for Raducanu in Miami, so it was somewhat surprising that she opted to take a break from tennis after her best run since the 2021 US Open win.

    Former world No 1 Andy Roddick is among those who have expressed their surprise at her decision to take a step back from the game, as he suggested she should have continued to play in the early weeks of the clay court season to continue to build momentum.

    In the latest episode of his always-entertaining Served podcast, Roddick expressed his surprise at Raducanu’s move to take a step back from the game, as he clearly feels she should have tried to build on the momentum she had built up in Miami.

    “She just found her form… why is she recalibrating? What does that mean?” asked Roddick. “She looked great. She looked like a top 10 player in Miami. Why stop now?

    “I get so frustrated. I’m such a fan of hers. I like listening to her reasoning on things, but you get to the quarter-finals, you are finally getting momentum and then you stop.

    “Why put a speed bump in the middle of your season? It just happens over and over.

    “You got to the quarters, let’s build. Let’s keep it rolling. I don’t think clay is going to be her best surface, but she is really good on grass. Let’s hope she sticks to the strategy this time.”

    Raducanu is reported to be in talks to hire Andy Murray’s former coach Mark Petchey as her new coach following her decision to sack Vladimir Platenik after working with him for just one match in Indian Wells.

    Petchey’s arrival would be welcome, as Roddick went on to suggest Raducanu’s constant changes of coach will see many steer clear of working with her.

    “Petchey is a great fit. I love Mark Petchey. He has a great tennis game and he is endlessly curious about the game,” he added.

    “But based on the churn, she hires people for two days at a time, three weeks at a time. She needs Petchey now. It’s tough to enter into a new agreement and give up whatever else you have going on in life knowing this could be a two-week situation.

    “You are narrowing the pool of coaching talent based on you having this quick trigger on firing people. That’s rational right?

    “I don’t think you can get any feedback [on a new coach] on an eight-day trial. I don’t even know what you are doing. It’s the craziest thing I’ve heard since the [Denver] Nuggets sacked Mike Malone.

    “I hope it all works with Petchey. I hope she gives a coaching relationship a chance to sink in. She is just so good for the game and she is so good at tennis.

    “The last thing we want is in four years time having the same conversation that we’ve had for the last three and a half years.

    “I think the world of Petch and I think the world of Emma. I think she is phenomenal. I just hope there is a tolerance for something being uncomfortable and not just this knee-jerk reaction to change.”

    From the moment she broke onto the tennis scene in such unprecidented fashion, Raducanu has divided opinion, but she has a chance to silence her critics by breakring back into the top 32 of the WTA Rankings and securing a seeding for Grand Slam tournaments with some positive performances on clay courts over the next few weeks.

    READ NEXT: Emma Raducanu’s ‘crazy’ decisions questioned by former world No 1 as coaching appointment looms

    The post Emma Raducanu may have lost some sponsors – but why are her critics so happy about it? appeared first on Tennis365.