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Lorenzo Musetti has opened up about his relationship with fellow Italian star Jannik Sinner, claiming he would never consider the four-time Grand Slam champion an “enemy” on tour.

World No 2 Sinner has become one of the leading tennis players of his era and perhaps the greatest in the history of Italian tennis, with the 24-year-old having previously spent 66 weeks atop the ATP Rankings.

Over the past two seasons, the Italian has won back-to-back Australian Open titles alongside the 2024 US Open and 2025 Wimbledon titles, with further runner-up finishes at the US Open and French Open in 2025.

Sinner is undoubtedly the leading Italian player of his generation, but there has been a boom within the nation’s tennis scene as a whole, of which Musetti is a key part.

Musetti joined Sinner in ending 2025 inside the top 10 of the ATP Rankings, finishing the year ranked eighth after reaching a career high of world No 6 back in June.

The overall strength of Italian men’s tennis was highlighted by the nation’s third consecutive triumph in the Davis Cup last week.

Neither national No 1 Sinner nor No 2 Musetti were in action, but both Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Berrettini won all their rubbers across the quarter-final, semi-final, and final.

With the likes of Luciano Darderi and Lorenzo Sonego also on tour and currently ranked inside the top 50, the strength and depth within the Italian men’s game has rarely been greater.

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And, speaking in a new interview with La Repubblica, Musetti revealed that he and his compatriots remained “friends” despite often battling against each other on tour.

He said (translated from Italian): “When you face a partner you may even play doubles with, it’s always a tricky match.

“You’ve shared so many moments, you look at it differently. That’s why it’s important to focus on the game, but no, I don’t mind fratricidal matches; I’m capable of managing them.

“That doesn’t mean I always come out on top, but we remain friends anyway.”

It would be easy to paint Musetti as someone unlucky to be around in the same era as Sinner, who became the first Italian man to win a Grand Slam singles title in 47 years at the 2024 Australian Open.

The pair have faced off three times on the ATP Tour, and Musetti is yet to win a set; the 23-year-old most recently losing 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in the quarter-finals of the US Open to his compatriot.

However, opening up about his relationship with the world No 2, Musetti revealed that he would never consider it a “disadvantage” to compete at the same time as Sinner.

“Luckily, I have Sinner; I’ll never say ‘unfortunately.’ There’s no rivalry like that; exacerbating tensions in sport, which has so many, is pointless,” added Musetti.

“And then I have Jannik by my side. He’s not an enemy who takes my breath away, he’s a champion who shows the way. A role model.

“Different from me? Sure. More powerful, solid, consistent. But I don’t consider it a disadvantage to have been around the same time as him.

“Would I like to have some of his qualities? Yes, while fully respecting our differences. We’re on different yet parallel paths; we each mature at our own pace.

“We’ve both had to endure pressure, and there have always been high expectations of us.”

Read Next: Jannik Sinner 2026 tennis schedule: Italian eyes further Grand Slam success after dominant seasons

The post Lorenzo Musetti reveals why ‘role model’ Jannik Sinner could never be his ‘enemy’ appeared first on Tennis365.

Marcos Baghdatis has revealed he is enjoying his retirement from tennis as he also looked back at the memories from his career that stick with him.

The Cypriot turned professional in 2003 and brought down the curtain on his illustrious career at the 2019 Wimbledon Championships, losing to Matteo Berrettini in his last-ever match. He was a runner-up at the 2006 Australian Open, won four ATP singles titles and reached a career-high ranking of world No 8.

In July 2012, Baghdatis married Karolina Sprem, a Croatian former tennis star who peaked at 17th in the WTA Rankings. Baghdatis and his wife have two daughters, Zahara and India, and a son named Zeus.

Since retiring, Baghdatis has appeared at exhibitions, including the Wimbledon invitational event and the Hurlingham exhibition.

Baghdatis, who is a sporting icon in his home country, opened the Marcos Baghdatis Tennis Academy in Limassol, Cyprus last year.

In an exclusive interview, Tennis365 asked Baghdatis what his life has looked like since retiring from tennis and whether he is enjoying it.

“I enjoy [being retired] a lot,” Baghdatis began.

“I miss it also at the same time, but I enjoy it because I have a family, three beautiful children, healthy children and there is a lot of day-to-day stuff that we do with them, to see them grow, to see them being happy; that’s a nice life.

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“That’s just a normal, simple, not hectic life like we used to have when we were travelling from place to place. Not so stressful… it is stressful, but in a different way (laughs). But yeah, it’s just lovely to be back home and to enjoy a simple life with not so much travelling.

“And not only thinking about myself like I used to as an athlete, because when you’re an athlete, you only think about yourself, and it’s only about you.

“Now, it’s not about us, it’s about the kids. And yeah, it’s just a bit different, but I really enjoy it.”

Asked about the memories that now stand out when he looks back on his career, Baghdatis referenced some of his Grand Slam runs as well as what he learned from playing the sport.

“It’s tough to say. You kind of, not forget it, but you don’t think about it as much,” Baghdatis said.

“But, I would say my run at the Australian Open [in 2006], my few runs at Wimbledon: quarter-finals, semi-finals, fourth round. And also in Australian Open, couple of times the fourth round.

“I mean there’s so many things, but I cannot choose one or two important memories. I think the memories are what you learn throughout these years in life, ups and downs.

“And I have feeling that my life is filled in that department, or that page of my story. I am filled with everything.”

At the 2006 Australian Open, Baghdatis — who was unseeded — upset top 10 stars Andy Roddick, Ivan Ljubicic and David Nalbandian in a stunning run to the final. He was beaten in four sets by Roger Federer in the title match.

READ NEXT: The defining ATP Tour rivalries of 2025 – ft. Alcaraz, Sinner, Medvedev, Zverev

The post Former world No 8 Marcos Baghdatis reveals if he is enjoying his retirement from tennis appeared first on Tennis365.

The ATP Tour threw up several convincing storylines in 2025, with plenty of interesting narratives building ahead of the 2026 season.

It was a year in which two players continued their dominance in the men’s games and swept all four Grand Slams, with few able to rival them.

Here, we look back at the rivals that helped define the 2025 ATP Tour season.

Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner

2025 H2H: Alcaraz 4-2 Sinner

The rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner is already looking like one for the ages, and 2025 saw the two reach new heights together on court.

World No 1 Alcaraz and world No 2 Sinner made history this year by becoming the first men in the Open Era to contest three Grand Slam finals in the same era, meeting at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open.

Their French Open clash was undoubtedly the pick of the bunch, with Alcaraz rallying from two sets down — and saving three championship points — to edge an instant classic in Paris, prevailing 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2).

However, just weeks later, Sinner turned the tables with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory at Wimbledon, winning the title for the first time, ending Alcaraz’s hopes of a third straight SW19 title, and snapping a five-match losing streak to the Spaniard.

Following that, though, it was the world No 1’s turn to respond, Alcaraz producing a sublime performance to beat reigning champion Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the final of the US Open.

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Alcaraz also defeated Sinner 7-6(5), 6-1 in the Italian Open final in May, and was 5-0 up when the Italian retired injured in the final of the Cincinnati Open.

However, Sinner would then end the year with victory over his toughest rival at the ATP Finals, a 7-6(4), 7-5 triumph against Alcaraz, sealing back-to-back titles in Turin for the Italian.

That win left their head-to-head 4-2 in Alcaraz’s favour for the year, and 10-6 in his favour overall, and all eyes are now on how this rivalry develops across 2026 and beyond.

Daniil Medvedev vs Learner Tien

2025 H2H: Medvedev 1-2 Tien

A difficult season for Medvedev and a major breakout year for Tien saw the former world No 1 and rising star clash on three separate — and memorable — occasions.

Their first and arguably greatest meeting came back at the Australian Open in January, a second-round meeting that would ultimately come to represent the trajectories of both men this year.

A qualifier in the draw, Tien looked set to pull off a seismic upset after moving two sets to love up, though Medvedev edged a tight third set, and looked primed for victory after a dominant fourth set.

Battling late into the night, the Russian appeared to finally crack his younger opponent by breaking serve in the 11th game of the decider — only for Tien to break back, and seal an extraordinary 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-7(8), 1-6, 7-6(7) victory.

As Medvedev began to slowly slip down the rankings, Tien rose significantly, and he again saw the better of his rival when they renewed their rivalry at the China Open in September.

Similar to Melbourne, the former US Open champion served for the match against the American but was unable to close it out, with Tien sealing a 5-7, 7-5, 4-0 ret. victory as his opponent faded physically.

Days after retiring in Beijing, Medvedev would finally get his first win over Tien, but it was another epic battle, the Russian sealing a dramatic 7-6(6), 6-7(1), 6-4 triumph at the Shanghai Masters.

They produced three of the best matches of the year, and further meetings between the two in 2026 would be more than welcome.

Carlos Alcaraz vs Taylor Fritz

2025 H2H: Alcaraz 3-1 Fritz

Outside of Sinner, world No 6 Fritz was one of the few players able to consistently challenge year-end No 1 Alcaraz across 2025.

The first of the pair’s four meetings in 2025 came at Wimbledon, where the pair contested a thrilling — and high-quality — semi-final.

Fritz certainly had his opportunities inside Centre Court, but, as is often the case, Alcaraz proved too strong on the day, saving two set points in set four to claim a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(6) victory.

However, the American responded in kind with a landmark victory over the Spaniard at the Laver Cup, stunning Alcaraz 6-3, 6-2 on his way to helping Team World lift the title in San Francisco.

The world No 1 quickly exacted revenge on the American less than two weeks later in the final of the Japan Open, prevailing 6-4, 6-4, though their final meeting of the year proved much more competitive.

Alcaraz and Fritz did battle for close to three hours at the ATP Finals, and, similar to their Wimbledon showdown, it was the Spaniard who was strongest in the closing stages.

The six-time Grand Slam champion rallied to claim a 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-3 round-robin in Turin, though it was by far and away his toughest match before defeat to Sinner in the final.

Alcaraz clearly still has the edge in this match-up, though Fritz is capable of pushing the world No 1 more than most.

Jannik Sinner vs Alexander Zverev

2025 H2H: Sinner 4-0 Zverev

Prior to 2025, Zverev had a 4-2 head-to-head lead over Sinner, though the massive momentum swing this year was representative of the gap that Sinner — alongside Alcaraz — has over the rest of the field.

Sinner and Zverev first did battle in the final of the Australian Open, and while the Italian was the pre-match favourite, the manner of his convincing 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory came as a slight surprise.

The two did not meet for another nine months after that, and their next meeting was much more competitive.

Clashing the final of the Vienna Open, Zverev was a set up and had openings to potentially triumph, though Sinner broke his resistance to claim a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 win at the ATP 500 event.

That was quickly followed by a dominant 6-0, 6-1 win over a hampered Zverev in the last four of the Paris Masters, before Sinner again prevailed at the ATP Finals, beating the German 6-4, 6-3 in the round-robin phase.

World No 2 Sinner and world No 3 Zverev are next to each other in the ATP Rankings, but a 6,340-point gap sits between the two men.

It was by no means a bad year for Zverev, but perhaps no rivalry in 2025 highlighted the sheer gap the ‘New Two’ have over the rest of the field.

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The post The defining ATP Tour rivalries of 2025 – ft. Alcaraz, Sinner, Medvedev, Zverev appeared first on Tennis365.

The 2025 WTA Tour season proved to be one of the best of recent years, with several incredible storylines emerging across the year.

Though different champions were crowned at all four majors, it was a year of impressive consistency across the women’s game, with key rivalries developing and emerging over the past eleven months.

Here, we look back at five of the best rivalries that helped define the women’s game in 2025 — and may well leave fans wanting more in 2026 and beyond.

Aryna Sabalenka vs Amanda Anisimova

2025 H2H: Sabalenka 3-1 Anisimova

Meeting in three straight Grand Slams and then the WTA Finals, Sabalenka versus Anisimova was perhaps the leading WTA rivalry of the season.

The emergence of Anisimova as a huge force in the women’s game was one of the biggest stories of the year, and she remained a challenging foe for Sabalenka — though the world No 1 did close the gap in their head-to-head.

Trailing 5-2 before the year, the Belarusian pulled one win back with a hard-fought 7-5, 6-3 victory over the American in the fourth round of the French Open.

However, Anisimova then picked arguably her biggest-ever win against Sabalenka in the semi-final of Wimbledon, prevailing in a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 thriller to reach her first major final.

A semi-final was updated to a final clash when the two met for a third straight major at the US Open, though on this occasion, it was Sabalenka who prevailed.

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After tough Grand Slam defeats across the year, the world No 1 defended her US Open crown with a 6-3, 7-6(3) over Anisimova, a match that suggested her greater experience had become a minor advantage in their rivalry.

Their rivalry ended with Sabalenka prevailing in another thriller against Anisimova in Riyadh, claiming a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 semi-final win.

But, while she undoubtedly has momentum, the American’s narrow 6-5 overall head-to-head lead suggests this will remain a tight rivalry across 2026 and beyond.

Iga Swiatek vs Elena Rybakina

2025 H2H: Swiatek 4-1 Rybakina

2025 was the year that six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek wrestled control of her rivalry versus Rybakina, though the Kazakh’s late victory at the WTA Finals places both in an intriguing position for next year.

Swiatek was 2-4 down in their head-to-head heading into the season, though beat Rybakina 7-6(5), 6-4 with an impressive performance at the United Cup, right at the start of the year.

That was swiftly followed by a 6-2, 7-5 victory in the Qatar Open quarter-finals in February, and then followed by one of Swiatek’s most important wins of 2025 at Roland Garros.

Rybakina held a 6-1, 2-0 lead in their fourth-round clash, though the Pole battled back to seal a crucial 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory inside Court Philippe Chatrier.

That match in particular was representative of both women’s seasons across most of the year, with Swiatek fighting back into strong form after a tough few months — while Rybakina often struggled to get over the line in big matches.

That again proved to be the case when they met in the last four of the Cincinnati Open, with Swiatek prevailing 7-5, 6-3 in their semi-final showdown, on her way to lifting the title.

However, after four straight losses for the year, Rybakina impressively swept aside the Pole when they met at the WTA Finals, claiming a 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 round-robin win.

The Kazakh went on to triumph in Riyadh, and her next match versus Swiatek promises to be fascinating.

Aryna Sabalenka vs Jessica Pegula

2025 H2H: Sabalenka 3-1 Pegula

Matches between Sabalenka and Pegula have traditionally delivered, and while the head-to-head remains firmly in the world No 1’s favour, there were no comfortable matches between the two in 2025.

Sabalenka and Pegula first met this year in the final of the Miami Open — their first clash since their 2024 US Open final — and it proved to be a similar story.

The pair slugged it out across two sets, but ultimately it was Sabalenka who had the edge, battling her way to a 7-5, 6-2 victory and lifting the Miami Open title for the first time.

Five months later, they clashed for the second time this season, this time in the semi-final of the US Open — and it proved to be one of the best matches of the year.

Pegula rallied from an early deficit to take the first set, only for her rival to battle back, with a superb final set seeing Sabalenka prevail 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the final, and ultimately defend her title.

But, just weeks later, a similar match saw Pegula exact revenge in dramatic fashion at the Wuhan Open.

The American was 5-2 down in the final set of their thrilling semi-final, though managed to snap a four-match losing streak versus the Belarusian — the three-time defending champion — with a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) triumph.

Meeting in Riyadh, they again pushed each other to the brink, with Sabalenka getting back to winning ways with a battling 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 round-robin victory, another high-quality affair between the two.

Belinda Bencic vs Coco Gauff

2025 H2H: Gauff 3-1 Bencic

Though their rivalry may not have attracted as much attention as others on this list, the four clashes between Gauff and Bencic all had interesting narratives connected to them.

The pair first met this year in the fourth round of the Australian Open, with Bencic thriving in her first Grand Slam event back from motherhood.

After a tight start, third seed Gauff battled her way to a 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 victory in Melbourne, though it was a sign of the form that would power Bencic back to a year-end ranking of 11th.

And she would exact revenge against the American when they next met in the fourth round of Indian Wells in March, rallying to claim a memorable 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph.

Gauff’s struggles on serve and with her forehand were evident during that match, but the 21-year-old proved to be in much better form in their remaining two clashes of 2025.

The clay swing was the strongest part of Gauff’s season — culminating in her triumph at Roland Garros — and she was also a Madrid Open finalist during the swing.

The American’s campaign in Madrid saw her do battle with Bencic for the third time in the space of five months, and a confident 6-4, 6-2 win signalled a return to form.

A tense 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 win for Gauff when the two met for the final time this season in Beijing swung the head-to-head in her favour, though both she and Bencic will look back at this year with positivity.

Iga Swiatek vs Amanda Anisimova

2025 H2H: Swiatek 1-2 Anisimova

Having never previously met at tour level prior to 2025, the three clashes between Anisimova and Swiatek proved to be among the most-discussed of the year.

Few can forget the astonishing Wimbledon final the two played, where a rampant Swiatek picked up her sixth major title.

The Pole became just the third woman in history to win a Grand Slam final 6-0, 6-0, with Anisimova evidently paralysed by the occasion inside Centre Court.

But, while some players never would have moved on from such a loss, the resilient American fought back to claim two major wins over the Pole.

Anisimova and Swiatek met for the second straight Grand Slam event at the US Open, and it was the American turning the tables, picking up a 6-4, 6-3 quarter-final win — ultimately reaching the final.

Their head-to-head for 2025 was ultimately decided in a ‘winner takes all’ clash at the WTA Finals, with the victor securing progression, and the defeated player heading home.

In Riyadh, it was Anisimova’s heavy ballstriking that won the day in a 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2 triumph, leaving Swiatek with questions to answer in this match-up for next year.

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The post The 5 defining WTA Tour rivalries of 2025 – ft. Sabalenka, Swiatek, Anisimova, Gauff appeared first on Tennis365.

The 2025 season was another successful one for Elena Rybakina, but it was also a campaign marred by various injury setbacks.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion finished the year at No 5 in the WTA Rankings with her rise coming on the back of her brilliant end to the season as she was the last player to secure her place at the WTA Finals with qualification coming on the back of her title run at the Ningbo Open.

She went on to dominate the season-ending event in Saudi Arabia as she won the title without losing a match, defeating world No 2 Iga Swiatek in the group phase and world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final.

Rybakina pocketed a record $5.235m in prize money – to finish the year with $8,456,632 – and also earned a maximum of 1,500 ranking points.

The Kazakh’s other highlight of the year came in May with her title run at the Internationaux de Strasbourg, but there were also several lows as she failed to reach the business end of the four Grand Slams.

She lost in the fourth round of the Australian Open against Madison Keys, but her campaign was hampered by a back injury, which was far from her most serious injury this year.

In an interview with Sportilinet.kz, Rybakina revealed: “My back hurt at the beginning of the season. It was unfortunate that it started in Australia, but we were able to fix everything quickly and do exercises.

“The most concerning issues are with my legs, which are sometimes better and sometimes worse. In addition to training, we do various recovery procedures. It’s not something that can be resolved quickly.”

The 26-year-old also struggled with a shoulder problem during the latter stages of the year, but that was down to wear and tear.

She added: “As for my shoulder, it happened at the last tournament, but it didn’t require any manipulation or medical assistance. I rested and it went away. My shoulder hurt because I played a lot of tournaments in a row and served a lot.

“Overall, it was under control. With the team, we manage to avoid serious injuries and surgery.”

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Barely three weeks after her 2025 season ended, Rybakina is already back on the practice court as she has started her pre-season training.

She was initially due to return to action at the exhibition World Tennis League in mid-December, but has decided she needs more time after a hectic year.

“I withdrew from the World Tennis League pre-season tournament in India. It’s been a long season, and if I’d played there, I’d have to start matches in India on the 17th. It’s completely rushed,” she explained.

“Now I’ll be preparing in Dubai for four weeks, then an exhibition tournament in China, which is convenient for my trip to Australia. Then there’s Brisbane and the Australian Open.”

The post Elena Rybakina reveals ‘most concerning issues’ that ‘can’t be resolved quickly’ as she gives calendar update appeared first on Tennis365.

Speaking exclusively to Tennis365, Marcos Baghdatis has revealed why Novak Djokovic was the toughest opponent he faced in his career as he recalled a match in which he had no answer to the tennis icon’s level.

Baghdatis amassed a 349-274 record on the ATP Tour during a distinguished professional career spanning from 2003 to 2019.

During his time in the sport, Baghdatis competed with Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who are widely considered to be the three greatest players in tennis history.

The Cypriot, who won four singles titles, peaked at No 8 in the rankings in August 2006 after reaching the Australian Open final and Wimbledon semi-finals that year.

Baghdatis fell in four sets to Federer in the Australian Open title match and lost to Nadal in straight sets in the last four at Wimbledon.

He holds a 1-7 record against Federer and a 1-9 record against Nadal, having beaten both of the legendary duo in 2010; Federer in Indian Wells and Nadal in Cincinnati.

Baghdatis lost all eight of the matches he played against Djokovic, which were spread between 2007 and 2015. He won at least a set in five of the eight matches he played against Djokovic, including in all three of the pair’s Grand Slam encounters.

The best match Baghdatis and Djokovic contested was a five-set quarter-final thriller at the 2007 Wimbledon Championships.

What Marcos Baghdatis said about his toughest opponent

In an interview with Tennis365, Baghdatis named Djokovic as his most difficult opponent and spoke about the strength of the era in which he played.

“I would pick Novak Djokovic, just because of the reason that I never beat him. But it’s very hard to pick,” said the Cypriot.

“And I’m saying that, not that they (the Big Three), were the only toughest opponents, but there were so many others.

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“That generation of Andy Murray, Rafa, Roger, Novak — of course those were the top four that were dominating the sport for many years that I was playing.

“But behind them, you had the likes of [Juan] del Potro, [Stan] Wawrinka, [Marin] Cilic, [David] Ferrer, you had [Jo-Wilfried] Tsonga, you had [Tomas] Berdych, you had so many players, I think, that were at a very high level.”

What Marcos Baghdatis said about Novak Djokovic’s highest level

Asked to name the period in which Djokovic was performing at his peak level, Baghdatis highlighted the last match he played against the Serb — which he lost 1-6, 3-6 in the second round of the 2015 Indian Wells Masters.

“I think, whenever I played Novak, [they were] pretty close matches. That’s my thinking. Maybe I’m wrong, but what’s what I remember,” Baghdatis assessed.

“But I think I once got a nice beating out of him, and it was in Indian Wells. It was a 6-1, 6-2 (6-1, 6-3), I came off the court and I felt the guy gave me a lesson.

“And I never felt like that with another player. I never felt like that with Roger or with Rafa, even when I was younger and I played Roger, I always felt like, ‘Next time I can beat him’. I always felt that. But with Novak it was… I didn’t have that feeling, especially after that match.”

Djokovic compiled a staggering 82-6 record in 2015, winning 11 titles, including three Grand Slams, the ATP Finals and six Masters 1000 events.

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The post Marcos Baghdatis picks between Djokovic, Nadal & Federer as he reveals his toughest opponent appeared first on Tennis365.

Rafael Nadal has revealed he is proud that he, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have proven to younger generations of players that “you can be a fierce competitor without hating your rival.”

The rivalries between Nadal, Federer and Djokovic are universally considered to be three of the greatest rivalries in the history of tennis.

Nadal finished with a 24-16 record from his 40 matches with Federer and a 29-31 record from his 60 matches with Djokovic. The head-to-head series between Djokovic and Federer finished 27-23 in favour of the Serbian.

The ‘Big Three’ rivalries are the three most prolific matchups by number of matches contested in the Open Era of men’s tennis.

Nadal, a former world No 1 and 22-time Grand Slam champion, called time on his glittering 23-year career at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.

During an appearance on the Universo Valdano programme on Spanish TV network Movistar+, Nadal discussed his relationship with Federer and Djokovic.

“You go through phases. When you’re younger, you experience everything more intensely. As the years go by, things soften,” said the 39-year-old.

“The positive thing about our time is that we’ve finished our careers and can go out to dinner together without any problem. This is something to be proud of. We’ve competed for the most important things, but we haven’t taken it to extremes.

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“The rivalry has stayed on the track, and personal relationships have always been based on respect, admiration, and even a certain friendship with our rivals.”

The legendary Spaniard went on to point out how his respectful relationships with his biggest rivals have left a legacy that Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have learned from in their own rivalry.

“I’m happy to have been a part of this story. Without taking anything away from Sinner and Alcaraz, who want to do things right, I think we (the Big Three) have helped new generations understand that you can be a fierce competitor without hating your rival.

“You can have an optimal relationship, not necessarily a friendship. It’s a good legacy we’ve left behind.”

Nadal also spoke about his renowned mental toughness and never-say-die attitude.

“People think I was losing and still believing, but no. What I didn’t do was give up. I knew I was losing and I thought I was going to lose, but that didn’t stop me from trying,” Nadal explained.

“I tried to find permanent solutions. It comes from understanding what sport is. Sport is about trying to give your best even if you know you’re going to lose.

“What obsessed me most in my career, or what would have always bothered me the most and what I couldn’t tolerate, was if after playing a tournament I went home with the feeling that I hadn’t done everything in my power to make things go well.

“I was trying to find solutions rather than dwell on the outcome. I was thinking about what I could do to try and change the dynamic. Most of the time when you’re losing, you can try things, and the ones that work are always worthwhile.

“Sometimes, from those moments of mental effort, you achieve small victories that, over the course of a year, can turn things around.”

READ NEXT: Boris Becker names four players who could break Carlos Alcaraz & Jannik Sinner’s Grand Slam duopoly

The post Why Rafael Nadal is ‘proud’ of Djokovic, Federer relationships as he makes Alcaraz, Sinner comment appeared first on Tennis365.

After a landmark 2024 campaign, Jannik Sinner remained at the forefront of the men’s game during a 2025 in which he again tasted a staggering amount of success.

Despite serving a three-month suspension early in the season, the Italian was still the winner of two Grand Slam titles and six overall titles in 2025, comfortably finishing the year ranked second.

As he looks to continue to reach new heights and make further tennis history in 2026, we look at Sinner’s expected tennis schedule for the next twelve months.

Australian Open — Jan 18 – Feb 1st

Sinner has traditionally opted against playing a pre-Australian Open warm-up event in recent years, a decision that has paid dividends.

Champion in Melbourne in 2024 and 2025, the world No 2 will look to become just the second man in the Open Era — after Novak Djokovic — to win three straight Australian Open titles.

Qatar Open — Februay 16-21

The Italian was all set to play at the Qatar Open in 2025, though his three-month suspension ultimately came into effect just days before the ATP 500 event.

Sinner will likely want an ATP event on his calendar in between the Australian Open and the ‘Sunshine Double’, and this ATP 500 tournament is a probable option for him.

Indian Wells — March 4-15

The first half of the ‘Sunshine Double’, Indian Wells is the first Masters 1000 event of the season — and one of the biggest titles up for grabs outside of the Grand Slams.

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Sinner missed the event in 2025 due to his ban, though had previously reached consecutive semi-finals at the tournament in 2023 and 2024.

Miami Open — March 18-29

The second half of the ‘Sunshine Double’ sees the ATP’s leading stars head to Florida for the Masters 1000 Miami Open, an event the Italian has found success at in the past.

He lifted the title at the tournament in 2024, after previous final defeats in 2021 and 2023 — though he was unable to defend his crown last year due to his suspension.

Monte Carlo Masters — April 5-12

The first of three clay-court Masters 1000 events across the spring, this was another event that Sinner found himself unable to play due to suspension in 2025.

Prior to that, the Italian had reached consecutive Monte Carlo semi-finals in 2023 and 2024.

Madrid Open — Apr 22 – May 3

The Madrid Open has now technically become Sinner’s weakest Masters 1000 event, reaching just one quarter-final in three previous appearances.

He reached the last eight in 2024 before withdrawing due to injury, and was unable to return in 2025 due to his ban.

Italian Open — May 6-17

One of the biggest events of his season, home expectations will be high on Sinner when he takes to court at the Italian Open — the third and final Masters event of the clay swing.

The 24-year-old made his return from suspension at the event in 2025 and reached the final for the first time, falling to Carlos Alcaraz.

French Open — May 24 – Jun 7

Sinner was agonisingly close to lifting the French Open title in 2025, holding a two-set lead — and three championship points — in the final before tasting defeat to Alcaraz.

An Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open champion, the four-time Grand Slam champion will look to complete the Career Grand Slam at Roland Garros next year.

Halle Open — June 15-21

The Halle Open has become a regular event for Sinner in recent years, with the Italian playing at the grass-court ATP 500 event every year since 2023.

The world No 2 lifted the title at the tournament in 2024, though suffered a shock round-two defeat to eventual champion Alexander Bublik in 2025.

Wimbledon — Jun 29 – Jul 12

Sinner made history at Wimbledon in 2025, ending Alcaraz’s reign to become the first Italian player ever to lift the men’s singles title.

Twelve months on, the world No 2 will be eyeing up a successful title defence when he returns to the All England Club.

Canadian Open — August 1-13

After winning Wimbledon, Sinner chose to skip the Canadian Open in 2025 — though the three-week gap in 2026 should be more beneficial for his hopes of playing.

The 24-year-old lifted the first Masters 1000 title in Toronto in 2023, and was a quarter-finalist when he last played the event back in 2024.

Cincinnati Open — August 13-23

The second of two Masters 1000 events during the hard-court summer, Sinner will be eyeing up a third straight Cincinnati Open final in 2026.

He was forced to retire against Alcaraz in the final this year, though he defeated Frances Tiafoe to lift the title for the first time in 2024.

US Open — Aug 30 – Sep 13

The last Grand Slam event of the season, Sinner will be looking to regain his US Open title in 2026.

He defeated Taylor Fritz to triumph at the event for the first time in 2024, though he was beaten by leading rival Alcaraz in the final this year.

China Open — Sep 30 – Oct 6

In recent years, Sinner’s first post-US Open event has been the ATP 500 China Open, a tournament he has found huge success at in recent years.

The world No 2 has reached three straight finals in Beijing, lifting the title in both 2023 and 2025.

Shanghai Masters — October 7-18

The penultimate Masters 1000 event of the season, Sinner lifted the Shanghai Masters title for the first time back in 2024 — beating Novak Djokovic in the final.

After retiring in the third round of his title defence this year, the four-time Grand Slam champion will look to bounce back next October.

Vienna Open — Oct 26 – Nov 1

Sinner made his Vienna Open debut in 2019 and has only missed the event once since then, suggesting he will likely return to the Austrian capital once again in 2026.

The world No 2 defeated Alexander Zverev to lift the title in 2025, having also lifted the title back in 2023.

Paris Masters — November 2-8

Sinner lifted the Paris Masters title for the first time in 2025, beating Felix Auger-Aliassime to triumph inside the La Defense Arena.

The final Masters 1000 event of the season, the Italian will likely be among the leading contenders to lift the title once again next November.

ATP Finals — November 15-22

Assuming he qualifies, Sinner will likely be eyeing up more success at the ATP Finals in Turin towards the end of the 2026 season.

The world No 2 is riding a 10-match win streak at the tournament, winning the title unbeaten in 2024 and 2025, and will hope to become just the fourth man to win the event in three consecutive years.

Davis Cup Finals — November

Sinner did not compete at the Davis Cup Finals in 2025, though he was part of the Italy team that lifted the title in 2023 and 2024.

If he does decide to compete at the Finals next year, Italy’s hopes of a fourth straight title will be greatly boosted.

Read Next: Ranking the 10 best ATP Tour matches of 2025 – ft. Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic, Tien

The post Jannik Sinner 2026 tennis schedule: Italian eyes further Grand Slam success after dominant seasons appeared first on Tennis365.

A thrilling ATP Tour season has come to a close, with several intriguing storylines and key narratives emerging throughout the year.

It was a season of dominance from two players but plenty of opportunities elsewhere, with some classic matches contested over the past eleven months.

Here, factoring in the occasion, overall quality, and significance — among other factors — we rank our ten best men’s tennis matches of 2025.

10) Casper Ruud def Jack Draper 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, Madrid Open F

Ruud’s long wait for his first Masters 1000 title ended in style inside the Caja Magica back in May, the Norwegian battling past Draper in a thrilling final to triumph at the Madrid Open.

After rallying from an early deficit to take the opening set, Ruud was under pressure after his rival roared back in set two, though the former world No 2 held his nerve in a nailbiting decider to seal one of the best wins of his career.

9) Alexander Bublik def Tommy Paul 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1, US Open R3

The resurgence of Bublik was one of the biggest talking points of the season, and his US Open clash against home favourite Paul was one of several standout moments for the Kazakh.

Bublik and Paul entertained the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd late into the night in New York — producing exceptional tennis — with a flawless serving display for the Kazakh ultimately powering him to victory.

8) Novak Djokovic def Flavio Cobolli 6-7(8), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4, Wimbledon QF

Djokovic was a semi-finalist at all four Grand Slam tournaments in 2025, and one of his most thrilling matches came against rising star Cobolli inside Wimbledon’s iconic Centre Court.

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On the best Grand Slam run of his career, an in-form Cobolli produced a sensational performance throughout the match — only for the Serbian to battle back from a set down, using all his experience to reach the last four.

7) Ben Shelton def Karen Khachanov 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(3), Canadian Open F

Shelton won multiple three-set matches on his way to a first Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open this year, and his thrilling final against Khachanov may have been the pick of all those contests.

Khachanov was in strong form all summer and edged his way to a one-set lead in Toronto, but — in a match of superb serving — his American opponent held his nerve and produced an exceptional final tiebreak to triumph.

6) Lorenzo Musetti def Alex de Minaur 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, ATP Finals RR

Musetti and de Minaur produced not only the best match of the ATP Finals, but one of the best matches of the whole season in an extraordinary battle in Turin.

Home favourite Musetti battled his way to the opening set before de Minaur rallied to force a decider and seemingly close in on victory, before a late swing saw the Italian rally from 3-5 down in an extraordinary deciding set.

5) Jack Draper def Gael Monfils 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, Roland Garros R2

A generational battle proved to be one of the best matches of Roland Garros and one of the best of the whole season, with rising star Draper fending off veteran Monfils inside a raucous Court Philippe Chatrier.

The high-quality encounter saw momentum swing between the Brit and the Frenchman, before Draper rallied from a fourth-set deficit to close out the match and deny Monfils a grandstand finish.

It was a truly memorable match, and now comes with added poignancy after 39-year-old Monfils confirmed that the upcoming season would be his last on tour.

4) Daniil Medvedev def Arthur Fils 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(7), Indian Wells QF

2025 was a rough season for Medvedev, though his run to the semi-final of Indian Wells was one of the few highlights — capped off by a thrilling quarter-final win.

The former world No 1 started strongly against Fils, but the Frenchman, competing in his first Masters 1000 quarter-final, battled back with an impressive second set in Tennis Paradise.

There was little to separate the two in a nailbiting decider, and it was ultimately Medvedev who prevailed in a thrilling final-set tiebreak, his exuberant celebrations highlighting how tense the match had been.

3) Novak Djokovic def Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, Australian Open QF

Alcaraz may have beaten Djokovic convincingly in the US Open semi-finals, but earlier in the year, the 24-time Grand Slam champion had rolled back the years to stun the Spaniard in a high-quality Australian Open quarter-final.

Looking to complete the Career Grand Slam, Alcaraz looked to be in the driver’s seat up a set, only for his rival to force his way back into the match and ultimately take charge.

Superb second, third, and fourth sets saw Djokovic pick up his best win of the season in a sublime display, and the later revelations regarding his fitness across the match and tournament made this performance all the more extraordinary.

2) Learner Tien def Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-7(8) 1-6, 7-6(7), Australian Open R2

One of the biggest upsets of the year was also one of the best matches of the year, with rising star Tien downing three-time Australian Open finalist Medvedev in a five-set classic Down Under.

A qualifier in the main draw, Tien stunned his Russian opponent on his way to a two-set lead in Melbourne, though his chances looked to be slipping away as Medvedev fought back.

After edging a tight third set and dominating the fourth set, the former world No 1 appeared to pounce at the death — though failed to serve out the match at 6-5 up in the decider, with Tien roaring back to seal a memorable win.

1) Carlos Alcaraz def Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2), Roland Garros F

Could any other match have topped this countdown?

Expectations were high for the first Grand Slam final between rivals Alcaraz and Sinner, and they were more than met in a truly unforgettable five-hour showdown in Paris.

It looked as if Sinner was well on his way to victory after edging two tight opening sets, then holding three championship points at 5-3 up in set four.

However, Alcaraz had other ideas, saving all three championship points, breaking back the very next game, and ultimately rallying from two sets down to force a decider.

The Spaniard himself failed to serve out the match in the fifth set, though a masterful tiebreak saw him defend his title — and prevail in a modern classic.

Honourable mentions

Carlos Alcaraz def Arthur Fils 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, Monte Carlo Masters QF

Jannik Sinner def Alexander Zverev 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, Vienna Open F

Novak Djokovic def Lorenzo Musetti 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, Hellenic Championship F

Carlos Alcaraz def Taylor Fritz 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-3, ATP Finals RR

Flavio Cobolli def Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-6(15), Davis Cup Finals

Read Next: The 10 greatest Grand Slam men’s singles finals of the Open Era – ranked!

The post Ranking the 10 best ATP Tour matches of 2025 – ft. Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic, Tien appeared first on Tennis365.

Caroline Wozniacki believes there is a clear winner in the debate over Emma Raducanu’s US Open fairytale and Valentin Vacherot’s Shanghai Masters title.

On the back of Vacherot’s astonishing title run at this year’s ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai, John Isner argued that the Monegasque’s journey was more impressive than that of Raducanu at Flushing Meadows in 2021.

Ranked No 204 at the start of the Shanghai tournament, Vacherot didn’t even make the cut for the qualifying tournament and only managed to get into the draw as a last-minute alternate.

He then beat 10th seed Nishesh Basavareddy and 14th seed Liam Draxl in the qualy tournament to reach the main draw of the Masters event. It was the first time outside of his home event, the Monte Carlo Masters, that he had featured in the main event of a 1000 tournament.

Vacherot then defeated Laslo Djere, 14th seed Alexander Bublik, 20th seed Tomas Machac, who retired, and 27th seed Tallon Griekspoor to reach the quarter-final of not only his first Masters event, but his first ATP tournament.

He continued to slay the big-name players as 10th seed Holger Rune was beaten in the last eight before he stunned 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic in the semi-final to secure an unlikely place in the final against his cousin Arthur Rinderknech.

Vacherot was the last man standing as he won 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and he secured a couple of milestones in the process as he was the first player from Monaco to win an ATP Tour singles title, the first unseeded Shanghai champion and the lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 champion.

Emma Raducanu’s 2021 Run

Four years before Vacherot’s heroics, Raducanu pulled off her own mindblowing feat at the US Open as she came through qualifying to win the season-ending Grand Slam.

The then 18-year-old had made her way up to No 150 in the WTA Rankings ahead of 2021 event in New York and was ranked No 31 in the qualifying tournament.

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Raducanu beat Bibiane Schoofs, Mariam Bolkvadze and fourth seed Mayar Sherif without dropping a set to reach the main draw and found herself in Section 1 in the top half.

The teenager secured wins over Stefanie Voegele, Zhang Shuai, Sara Sorribes Tormo and Shelby Rogers – who had upset top seed Ashleigh Barty – to reach the quarter-finals. The Brit then beat 11th seed Belinda Bencic and 17th seed Maria Sakkari to reach her maiden top-level final.

She was up against fellow unseeded player Leylah Fernandez and came away with a 6-4, 6-3 win to become the first qualifier – man or woman – to win a Grand Slam. And she did so without dropping a set during her 10 matches in New York.

Raducanu v Vacherot

On the Nothing Major podcast, Isner previously stated he felt Vacherot’s run was more impressive because of the fact that he was only an alternate in qualifying at the start of the Shanghai event.

When asked by former world No 1 Wozniacki if he really thinks Vacherot’s result was better than Raducanu winning the US Open, he doubled down and stated: “I stand by that. I think it is. What this guy did, being 26-years-old, one match won the ATP Tour in his whole life, coming from qualies and winning a 1000…?”

The Dane then hit back saying: “That is an incredible result, but Emma went from qualies, we’d never really heard of her before.”

When it was pointed out that Raducanu reached the fourth round at Wimbledon that year, she replied: “But nobody really knew her, she was playing qualies, she didn’t lose a set, but she still won the US Open.

“No matter how you slice and dice it, that’s better than winning a 1000…” she argued.

Caroline Wozniacki confronts John Isner over him stating Vacherot’s Shanghai win was more impressive than Raducanu’s USO win. pic.twitter.com/TUQvVbphzF

— (@RamoFootball) November 18, 2025

Wozniacki, though, did admit she didn’t read the article, just looked at the headline with Isner saying he didn’t exactly say it was a better result.

“It’s a bigger story because it’s the US Open, I think this is more improbable than what she did,” the American stated.

The 2018 Australian Open champion added: “I think we can agree on you would choose the US Open over Shanghai, winning it, so we all agree on that. We all agree that Vacherot’s draw was much more improbable for him to go through that, because of the past results, him being an alternate, so we can agree on that.

“But when you just talk about the result, the end result, I think winning the US Open is better than winning a 1000 [in] Shanghai.”

The post Emma Raducanu’s US Open title more iconic than Valentin Vacherot Shanghai title, says former world No 1 appeared first on Tennis365.