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As images of emerged of Carlos Alcaraz’s pre-season training emerged, another piece of the jigsaw behind his split from his long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero may have been revealed. 

So much of Alcaraz’s career to this point has been linked to the former French Open champion, with his academy base that bears Ferrero’s name in the Spanish outpost of Villena a base for young Carlos to hone his skills.

When he was emerging through the ranks of the game, working alongside a superstar of Spanish tennis at a training base that had the doors thrown open to him was a privilege that aided his development.

Yet as Alcaraz became a tennis superstar and won six Grand Slam titles in double quick time at the start of his career, the money he had in the bank and the doors open to him made the Ferrero Academy less of a draw.

He has practiced at various locations in Spain over the last couple of years and has even played on courts alongside tourists and amateur tennis players at the La Manga Club near his Murcia homeland in recent months.

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So the attachment to the Ferrero Academy was loosening before what the outside world saw as the shock announcement that Alcaraz was parting ways with the coach who has been his mentor throughout his career.

It may be that the reliance on Ferrero has waned as Alcaraz has become his own man and wants to make more of his own decisions about his career, but another reason for this change could be based the images we have seen around him on most of his recent training videos.

Big adverts for the Carlos Alcaraz Academy have been promoted around pre-season training sessions for the world No 1, with the eagerness to promote his own academy set-up a possible conflict of interests with the Ferrero masterplan.

Former world No 1 and 22-time Grand Slam-winning legend Rafael Nadal made tens of millions of euros when he sold a stakes in his Academy in Mallorca for €95 million to a private investment firm named GPF in February 2025.

The value of a successful Academy was highlighted by that mega deal and a player of Alcaraz’s global fame and popularity could build his own version that would be worth tens of millions to potential investors in double quick time.

Alcaraz’s Academy is run by his father Carlos Alcaraz Gonzalez and reports in Spain suggest he may have played a role in the decision for his son to split with Ferrero.

If Alcaraz Snr and Ferrero are duelling to have the best tennis academy in the area around Alicante in Spain, the presence of the world’s most famous tennis player of the day on a court promising your set-up would be very useful.

Carlos Alcaraz Academy camps for kids and adults are now popping up in America, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia as they look to expand their reach on a global stage.

The star name attached to those coaching programmes might not want to be associated with another academy and that could be one of many reasons why he is no longer employing Ferrero as his coach.

READ NEXT: Why Carlos Alcaraz’s split with Juan Carlos Ferrero can never be repaired

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Great Britain’s United Cup captain Tim Henman has revealed the injury Emma Raducanu is dealing with after she pulled out of her first match at the team event.

Raducanu was set to face former world No 1 Naomi Osaka in Great Britain’s opening Group E tie against Japan, but she withdrew on the day of the match, raising concerns about her fitness.

The British No 1 was replaced by world No 276 Katie Swan, who fell 6-7(4), 1-6 to four-time major champion and world No 16 Osaka.

Great Britain defeated Japan 2-1, though, as Billy Harris won his singles rubber against Shintaro Mochizuki, and Olivia Nicholls and Neal Skupski triumphed in the decisive doubles match.

Raducanu’s participation for the remainder of the United Cup is in doubt, with Great Britain up against Greece in their second group stage tie on Monday. The 23-year-old is scheduled to play Greek No 1 Maria Sakkari.

In the team press conference after Great Britain’s win against Japan, Henman gave an update on Raducanu and addressed whether the world No 29 could feature against Greece.

“Yeah, she struggled with her foot for the end of last year,” said the former world No 4. “The improvement that she’s made has been fantastic.

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“She’s been practising in London, really only doing static drills, to be out on the practice court and moving and playing games. She is very close.

“In terms of tomorrow, it’s still a little bit up in the air. We’re kind of forced to put Emma on the list because if we didn’t do that, then that only gives us one option. When we get back tonight, we’ll discuss it as a team.”

On Katie Swan’s performance against Osaka, Henman added: “I think Katie did such a good job today.

“You think about her journey over the last 12, 18 months, to be out there against a Grand Slam champion on a big stage like that in a huge event representing her country, I thought her performance was brilliant.”

Raducanu’s last match was her defeat to Lin Zhu in the opening round of the Ningbo Open on October 14 — a match during which she struggled with a back injury.

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READ NEXT: WTA Brisbane International Draw: Sabalenka’s tough pathway, Rybakina and Anisimova star

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Marion Bartoli has revealed she was left in “shock” after Jannik Sinner approached her for a warm conversation after his French Open heartbreak.

After winning his first three Grand Slam finals, Sinner tasted defeat in a major final for the first time at Roland Garros last June, falling in five sets to leading rival Carlos Alcaraz.

At five hours and 29 minutes long, the match became the longest French Open final of the Open Era, and proved particularly brutal for Sinner.

The Italian had led Alcaraz by two sets to love and a break and ultimately missed three championship point chances in the fourth set, becoming just the third man in the Open Era to lose a Grand Slam final after holding match point.

Sinner was magnanimous and gracious in defeat during his on-court speech, and former Wimbledon champion Bartoli has now revealed another classy moment from the world No 2 post-match.

Having retired from the sport shortly after her 2013 Wimbledon win, Bartoli is now one of the most respected broadcasters in the game, and regularly interviewed Sinner during the tournament.

During a recent appearance on BBC 5 Live, the former world No 7 revealed that Sinner approached her for a conversation after the final.

She said: “He made the effort to stood [sic] up, came towards me, and I was like: ‘Is he really coming towards me?’

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“[He] came towards me and obviously I stood up in front of him. He was like: ‘Oh, man, it was really nice for your interview during 15 days. I can’t wait to see you at Wimbledon.’

“And I was in a state of shock, that after almost six hours of play on the court, he still remembers who I am, and make the effort to stand up and come on the court.

“I would have broke everything it’s possible to break in the locker room if I would have lost a Grand Slam final after having three match points — and I would have definitely not made the effort to go around and wave goodbye to someone working at broadcasting.”

Just 35 days after his heartbreaking loss in Paris, Sinner bounced back by beating Alcaraz in four sets in the Wimbledon final, lifting the title at SW19 for the first time.

Many noted the 24-year-old’s astonishing response to what was probably the most painful defeat of his career, and Bartoli was among the latest to praise the Italian.

She added: “He is someone made of something else and I think that’s because of that he was able to recover for Wimbledon.

“The level of integrity, of respect, of dignity, those two [Sinner and Alcaraz] are capable of showing in the toughest moments, is something, for me, absolutely extraordinary, and I’m absolutely not — and I was not — at their level, and they’re a true example, even for myself nowadays.”

Sinner’s 2026 campaign will not officially get underway until the Australian Open, which begins on Sunday, January 18.

The Italian is the two-time defending champion in Melbourne, and will look to follow in Novak Djokovic’s footsteps as just the second man in the Open Era to win the title in three consecutive years.

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Read Next: Exclusive – ‘Alcaraz & Sinner’s rivalry is very similar to Federer, Nadal, Djokovic – but something is missing’

The post Why Jannik Sinner’s reaction to French Open heartbreak left Marion Bartoli in ‘shock’ appeared first on Tennis365.

Daniil Medvedev has revealed he thinks his fellow players would agree with his call for Australian Open night matches to start earlier.

On Friday, Medvedev argued that the first match of the night session at the Melbourne Grand Slam should start an hour earlier.

“I’m not against playing at night, don’t get me wrong, but starting the first match at 7pm is just asking for trouble,” said the 2021 US Open champion.

“When you have one match of five sets, and both of them went for five for me, it is a bit too late to start at 7pm. They should be starting at 6pm.”

The former world No 1, who is currently ranked 13th, will begin his 2026 season at the Brisbane International, where he is the top seed.

In his pre-tournament press conference in Brisbane, Medvedev was asked if he had received any response from players about his comments on the Australian Open schedule.

“No, between players, at least that’s my feeling, we don’t really talk too much about what other players said in the press,” said the 29-year-old.

“But I do think that if you ask other players, I don’t think anyone would be, like, No, let’s start at 8:00. Probably everyone would be happy to start at 6:00.

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“I know that then it can be a problem for the day matches, but I’m pretty sure that it’s better to put it at 6:00, and if we need to start at 7:00 because of the day match, okay, but then there is a chance you can still start at 6:00 which would be better to not finish at 3:00 in the morning.

“But I always said that even by saying this: I prefer to play at night. So whenever. 7:00, 6:00, second, I’m happy to play at night.”

Medvedev will face world No 55 Marton Fucsovics in the first round at the ATP 250 event.

Daniil Medvedev’s experience of late Australian Open five-set matches

Medvedev has a history of extremely late finishes at the Australian Open, with his marathon five-set defeat to Learner Tien in the second round of last year’s tournament concluding at 2:54am.

That is not even the Russian’s latest finish time in Melbourne, though, as his five-set second round win over Emil Ruusuvuori at the 2024 Australian Open finished at 3:40am.

Medvedev’s loss to Rafael Nadal in an epic five-set 2022 Australian Open final lasting five hours and 24 minutes — the third-longest Grand Slam final ever — ended at 11am.

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READ NEXT: ‘Alcaraz & Sinner’s rivalry is very similar to Federer, Nadal, Djokovic – but something is missing’

The post Daniil Medvedev suggests players agree with his ‘asking for trouble’ Australian Open comments appeared first on Tennis365.

Former world No 5 Anna Chakvetadze has spoken to Tennis365 about Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s rivalry and identified the one thing that is “missing.”

Alcaraz and Sinner, who are ranked first and second and have each won four of the last eight Grand Slam titles between them, have established themselves as the leading stars of their generation.

The duo’s rivalry reached new heights in 2025 as they met in the finals at five consecutive tournaments where they both competed between May and September: Rome, French Open, Wimbledon, Cincinnati and US Open.

They are the only players in the Open Era to face off in three successive Grand Slam finals in the same season, and the first pair to meet in three major finals in a row since Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal (2011-2012).

In a stratospheric Roland Garros final, Alcaraz prevailed in five sets after five hours and 29 minutes having saved three Sinner championship points in the fourth set. The contest has been lauded by many observers as one of the greatest matches in tennis history.

Alcaraz also defeated the Italian in Rome, Cincinnati and at the US Open last year, while Sinner overcame the Spaniard at Wimbledon and at the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin.

The overall head-to-head sits at 10-6 in Alcaraz’s favour heading into the 2026 season, with the Spaniard holding a 4-2 edge in Grand Slam encounters.

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What did Anna Chakvetadze say about Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s rivalry?

In an exclusive interview, Chakvetadze compared Alcaraz and Sinner’s rivalry to the legendary rivalries between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic

“I think everyone can see how determined both Alcaraz and Sinner are,” said the Russian, who played from 2003 to 2013.

“Right now, they clearly have a real rivalry, very similar in feeling to what we once saw between Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.”

The eight-time WTA Tour title winner continued: “At the moment, it almost feels like something is missing — a strong third player in that battle.

“Maybe a third contender will emerge next season, but for now, in terms of level and consistency, Alcaraz and Sinner are clearly ahead of the rest.”

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READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic’s ex-rival makes ‘given up’ claim about the Serb challenging Alcaraz & Sinner

The post ‘Alcaraz & Sinner’s rivalry is very similar to Federer, Nadal, Djokovic – but something is missing’ appeared first on Tennis365.

Defending Brisbane International champion Aryna Sabalenka could have to beat three fellow Grand Slam champions if she wants to reign supreme once again at the WTA 500 event.

World No 1 Sabalenka defeated surprise finalist Polina Kudermetova to lift the Brisbane title in 2025, and has reached the final at the event for the past two years.

However, the four-time Grand Slam singles champion could have to navigate an incredibly challenging pathway if she wants to make it back-to-back titles at the famed event.

Like all 16 seeds in the draw, top seed Sabalenka receives a bye in round one, and will start her campaign in round two against either Anna Bondar or Cristina Bucsa.

But, she could then face 14th seed and former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the third round, a rematch of the Stuttgart Open that Ostapenko won emphatically last April.

Sabalenka is then projected to face fifth seed Madison Keys in the quarter-final — a rematch of the Australian Open final won by the American almost twelve months ago.

Should the Belarusian battle her way through to the semi-final, she is projected to face third seed Elena Rybakina in the last four.

Rybakina memorably beat Sabalenka to win the WTA Finals last November, but also thrashed the world No 1 in the Brisbane final back in 2024, dropping just three games.

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The Kazakh will begin her campaign versus Ashlyn Krueger or Zhang Shuai, before a projected round three encounter versus 15th seed Paula Badosa.

She is then projected to face either seventh seed Ekaterina Alexandrova — the world No 10 — or 11th seed Karolina Muchova in the last eight.

The bottom half of the draw is headlined by second seed Amanda Anisimova, who is projected to face Sabalenka in the final.

After a stunning 2025 season, Anisimova’s 2026 campaign will begin with a second round clash against either home favourite Kimberly Birrell or Rebecca Sramkova.

The American is then projected to take on 16th seed Marta Kostyuk in round three, before a potential quarter-final versus sixth seed Mirra Andreeva or ninth seed Linda Noskova.

Fourth seed and world No 6 Jessica Pegula is also in the bottom half of the draw, and is projected to take on compatriot Anisimova in the semi-final.

Pegula is set to face Tereza Valentova or Anna Kalinskaya to start her campaign in Brisbane, before a potential third round clash versus 13th seed Leylah Fernandez.

She is then projected to face eighth seed Clara Tauson in the last eight, with 10th seed Liudmila Samsonova also a potential quarter-final opponent in this section.

Main draw action in Brisbane will begin on Sunday, January 4, and the final will take place on Sunday, January 11.

(WTA 500) Brisbane International Projected Q/F

(1) Aryna Sabalenka vs (5) Madison Keys
(3) Elena Rybakina vs (7) Ekaterina Alexandrova
(8) Clara Tauson vs (4) Jessica Pegula
(6) Mirra Andreeva vs (2) Amanda Anisimova

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Read Next: Predicting every Grand Slam singles champion of 2026: Sinner & Alcaraz dominant, Sabalenka & Swiatek success

The post WTA Brisbane International Draw: Sabalenka’s tough pathway, Rybakina and Anisimova star appeared first on Tennis365.

Italian tennis great Adriano Panatta believes Jannik Sinner is “seriously considering” pushing for the accomplishment of a calendar Grand Slam in 2026.

Sinner has secured four Grand Slam titles: the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025; the US Open in 2024; Wimbledon in 2025.

The Italian featured in all four Grand Slam finals in 2025, losing to Carlos Alcaraz at the French Open and the US Open.

Rod Laver is the only male player to achieve a calendar Grand Slam (winning all four majors in one season) in the Open Era, having pulled off the staggering feat in 1969.

Novak Djokovic came within one win of a calendar Slam in 2021, having won the first three majors before falling in the US Open final.

During an appearance on Sky Sport Italy, Panatta claimed that Sinner’s decision to continue working with esteemed coach Darren Cahill proves he is determined to win the calendar Grand Slam.

“In my opinion, Jannik has a hidden agenda: to achieve the calendar Grand Slam,” said the former world No 4 (translated from Italian).

“His decision to continue with Cahill until 2026 shows that he’s seriously considering it.

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“There’s a reason they (Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic) didn’t manage it. There were many competitors, including [Andy] Murray. Today there are two of them, and this, in effect, doubles the chance.

“As a type of player, Sinner is better equipped than Alcaraz to win a Grand Slam because he’s more consistent and solid.

“Carlos, however, has moments when he becomes unplayable. Obviously, these are considerations that are made without considering injuries and health problems.

“Let’s not forget that Sinner has played about three months less this year. Next year he will have four more Masters 1000s: scheduling is almost as important as training.”

Sinner ended the 2025 season as the world No 2 behind Alcaraz, having finished his campaign by defending the ATP Finals title in Turin.

The 24-year-old will face six-time major champion Alcaraz in an exhibition match in Incheon, South Korea, on January 10 — eight days before main draw action at the Australian Open gets underway.

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READ NEXT: ‘He plays better than Sinner and Alcaraz’ – Rising star tipped to challenge the top 2

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Iga Swiatek revealed she did not watch the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios and declared that “there doesn’t need to be any competition” between women and men in tennis.

Kyrgios defeated Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 in an exhibition match played with special rules in Dubai on December 28. Both players were limited to using one serve, while Sabalenka’s side of the court was 9% smaller than Kyrgios’.

It was the the fourth match in tennis history labelled a ‘Battle of the Sexes’, with two of them having featured former American player Bobby Riggs in 1973.

Riggs, a Wimbledon and US Open champion, was 55 when he played two legends of women’s tennis: Margaret Court and Billie Jean King.

He crushed a 30-year-old Court 6-2, 6-1 in May 1973 before losing 4-6, 3-6, 3-6 to a 29-year-old King four months later in what was by far the most famous ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match.

In 1992, 40-year-old Jimmy Connors defeated a 35-year-old Martina Navratilova 7-5, 6-2 in a third ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match played under hybrid rules.

What did Iga Swiatek say about the latest ‘Battle of the Sexes’?

During a Team Poland press conference at the United Cup, Swiatek was asked if she had watched Sabalenka and Kyrgios’ contest and whether she had any thoughts on it.

“No, I haven’t watched, because I don’t watch stuff like that. I think for sure it attracted, like, a lot of attention,” said the world No 2.

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“It was an entertainment, but I wouldn’t say that had anything to do with, like, social change or any important topics. I think the name was just the same as the one from the Billie Jean King match in ’73. That’s it.

“There were no more similarities because I feel like women’s tennis stands on its own right now. We have so many great athletes and great stories to present, we don’t necessarily need to, like, compare to men’s tennis. It’s a totally different story.

“I think, honestly, yeah, there doesn’t need to be any competition. I think actually events like this one, United Cup, brings tennis all together, and WTA fans and ATP fans can watch this event with so much excitement.

“Seeing also singles players that usually don’t have space to play mixed doubles together, playing these kind of matches, I think this is actually what makes our sport much more interesting and better.

“So yeah, I haven’t watched the match. I only know about how it looked like. But I think, yeah, it was for sure nice entertainment and an exho match between these two.”

Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, will begin her 2026 season at the United Cup.

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READ NEXT: Hate flowing Aryna Sabalenka’s way is not justified as attention seekers cash in

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Daniil Medvedev has requested Australian Open matches start an hour earlier in order to avoid extremely late finishes.

Medvedev was one of the early casualties last year when he was defeated by Learner Tien in a match that did not end until 2:54am.

That was not unusual occurrence either with Medvedev playing until 3:40am in 2024 and the record late finish was 4:34am between Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis in 2004.

Now, with the tournament a few weeks away from beginning, Medvedev has requested the opening match be brought forward an hour to start at 6pm in order to cut down on the late finishes.

“I’m not against playing at night, don’t get me wrong, but starting the first match at 7pm is just asking for trouble,” Medvedev said on Friday.

“When you have one match of five sets, and both of them went for five for me, it is a bit too late to start at 7pm. They should be starting at 6pm.”

Despite never winning it, the Australian Open is a favourite of Medvedev who has reached the final on three occasions – 2021, 2022 and 2024.

Having been eliminated in the second round last year, Medvedev has backed himself to beat anyone at the venue provided he plays his ‘best tennis.’

“I like playing in the Australian Open, I feel like I can play good tennis there,” he said.

“I’ve played some great matches. I know when I play my best tennis I am able to beat anyone.

“I like generally to play on hard courts. The courts are pretty fast, so it suits me well.”

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Medvedev also arrives in Melbourne with a new coach having hired Thomas Johansson in September.

Johansson’s playing career was his surprise triumph at the 2002 Australian Open, making him the last Swedish player to win a Grand Slam singles title.

The 16th seed in Melbourne, Johansson battled past 26th seed Jiri Novak in the last four before a four-set victory over former world No 1 Marat Safin in the championship match.

The Swede reached a career-high of world No 7 in June 2002 and was a semi-finalist at Wimbledon in 2005, alongside reaching two US Open quarter-finals.

Medvedev meanwhile is looking to bounce back from a difficult 2025 that saw him end the year ranked 13th.

His preparation for Melbourne begins with the Brisbane International, a tournament he reached the final of in 2019.

“Great memories from Brisbane. I like the city. I’m happy to be back,” he said.

“Last time I played here I made the final, so I am going to try and do better.”

Read next: Emma Raducanu names 2026 goal ahead of first major tournament

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