Category: Articles

  • Novak Djokovic’s unhelpful stance forces ATP Finals organisers to change order of play

    The schedule for the opening two days of the ATP Finals in Turin has been revealed and organisers have been forced to change the format due to what has become a logistical challenge.

    Traditionally, the players in each of the groups will compete on the same day, ensuring all of them have a similar period of rest between matches, but that plan has been thrown into chaos due to a couple of outstanding issues.

    Novak Djokovic’s refusal to confirm whether he will play at the ATP Finals combined with his decision to play in the ATP 250 event in Athens that is owned by members of his family has thrown a huge slice of confusion into the mix ahead of the ATP’s marquee event.

    Djokovic qualified for the ATP Finals comfortably despite playing a limited tournament schedule in 2025, but he pulled out of the event last year, citing an injury concern amid some suggestions that he was no longer motivated to play in a tournament he has won a record seven times.

    The question marks over Djokovic’s participation forced Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti to compete in the Athens event, as he chased the ranking points he needed to reach the ATP Finals.

    More Tennis News

    Novak Djokovic’s ‘selfish’ stance is not fair to those waiting for his big decision

    Aryna Sabalenka reveals she could be helped by Novak Djokovic in ‘Battle of the Sexes’ clash

    Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime has also been in limbo, as he has headed to Turin unsure whether he will play in the tournament, with Musetti trying to beat him to the final qualifying spot.

    That meant the official launch event for the Turin tournament saw only six players present, with defending champion Jannik Sinner joined by Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and Alex de Minaur.

    That was not an ideal scenario for ATP Tour chiefs who build so much of their year around this event and they have already ensured they will have all eight players present in future years by confirming the race to qualify for the ATP Finals will end after the Paris Masters, a full week before the start of the Turin event.

    The challenge for the organisers of the ATP Finals was finding a way to plan their event even though they don’t know who will be playing.

    They also had to ensure Djokovic and Musetti were not playing on Sunday, as they will still be in Greece until late on Saturday evening playing their Athens final.

    So ATP Finals organisers have been forced to tweak their plans, with players from both groups in action on the opening Sunday.

    Alcaraz will play De Minaur in the opening match from the Jimmy Connors Group, before Zverev and Ben Shelton take to the court on Sunday evening in the Bjorn Borg Group.

    Djokovic will play Fritz on Monday afternoon if he chooses to play, with Sinner given the primetime slot on Monday evening against either his compatriot Musetti or Auger-Aliassime.

    This is not an ideal scenario and Djokovic can take much of the blame for the confusion, as Musetti and Auger-Aliassime would have known their fate if the Serbian was more open about his plans to play in Turin.

    The end result is a schedule that may hamper Sinner, as he will need to play on Friday, Saturday and Sunday if he reaches the final.

    Meanwhile, Alcaraz and the other players competing on Sunday are likely to get a day off ahead of the semi-finals on Saturday.

    The total prize money for the 2025 ATP Finals is a stunning $15.5million, with the champion scooping $5.1million if they stay unbeaten, as Sinner did in 2024.

    ORDER OF PLAY – SUNDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 2025

    INALPI ARENA start 11:30 am
    Not Before 2 pm
    [1] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) vs [7] Alex de Minaur (AUS)

    Not Before 8:30 pm
    [3] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs [5] Ben Shelton (USA)

    ORDER OF PLAY – MONDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2025

    INALPI ARENA start 11:30 am
    [4] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs [6] Taylor Fritz (USA)

    Not Before 6 pm
    [2] Jannik Sinner (ITA) vs [8] Felix Auger-Aliassime or Lorenzo Musetti

    The post Novak Djokovic’s unhelpful stance forces ATP Finals organisers to change order of play appeared first on Tennis365.

  • How Aryna Sabalenka broke stunning Serena Williams prize money record in landmark 2025 season

    Aryna Sabalenka has already cemented her place in the tennis history books, with four Grand Slam singles titles and over 60 weeks as world No 1 already to her name.

    However, a stunning 2025 season now sees the Belarusian break a record previously held by tennis icon Serena Williams, with Sabalenka moving ahead of the US great in a stunning prize money statistic.

    Here, we look at how Sabalenka generated the most profitable prize money season in the history of the women’s game.

    Serena Williams’ record

    Williams previously set the record for the most prize money won in an individual season back in 2013, one of the most dominant years of her career.

    That year, the American generated a staggering $12,385,572 in winnings, highlighted by €1,500,000 for winning the French Open, and $2,555,715 for lifting the US Open title.

    It was one of the greatest, if not the greatest, seasons of her career, with 11 titles won and a further two finals reached — with 78 wins and just four defeats.

    Until 2025, the closest anyone had come to breaking the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion’s record was Ashleigh Barty, who earned $11,307,587 in 2019.

    However, Sabalenka has now broken Williams’ 12-year record in 2025, setting a new benchmark for prize money success.

    Tennis News

    WTA Finals prize money & ranking points won by Jessica Pegula & Amanda Anisimova revealed

    WTA Finals prize money & ranking points won by Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini revealed

    Sabalenka’s new milestone

    Sabalenka’s season has not been quite as dominant as Williams’ 2013 campaign, with a major increase in prize money in recent years a factor in why this record has been broken.

    However, there can be no denying that the Belarusian has been the best women’s tennis player of 2025 and has achieved one of the best years of her career.

    The 27-year-old has so far won four titles in 2025, with her US Open success accompanied by triumphs at the Madrid Open, Miami Open, and the Brisbane International.

    Ahead of the WTA Finals, Sabalenka had also reached a further four finals in 2025 — including runner-up finishes at the Australian Open and French Open.

    Prior to the year-end championships in Riyadh, Sabalenka had already earned $12,313,519 in 2025, highlighted by a staggering $5,000,000 paycheck for her US Open win.

    That put her within touching distance of Williams’ 2013 record, and her campaign in Riyadh means that she is now guaranteed to make history, regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s final.

    An unbeaten campaign has so far seen the world No 1 earn $2,695,000 in Riyadh, with three group stage wins, a semi-final win, and a participation fee contributing to her haul.

    That puts Sabalenka just above the $15,000,000 mark for the season and, if she were to win Saturday’s final and capture her fifth title of the year, she would claim a further $2,540,000 — pushing her above $17,000,000 in winnings for 2025.

    Both she and final opponent Elena Rybakina are unbeaten at the WTA Finals, and the winner is guaranteed to earn a total of $5,235,000, which will be a record prize money payout for tennis.

    Read Next: How much prize money and ranking points are Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina playing for in WTA Finals?

    The post How Aryna Sabalenka broke stunning Serena Williams prize money record in landmark 2025 season appeared first on Tennis365.

  • ATP Finals: How do ranking points and prize money work at year-end championships?

    The ATP Finals are set to get underway in Turin this Sunday, with the eight best male tennis players in the world all eyeing one last shot at glory in 2025.

    Though the field is not yet official, we do know that there is big prize money and significant ranking points at stake, with reigning champion Jannik Sinner among those battling it out for supremacy.

    Here, we look at what ranking points and prize money the ATP’s ‘Elite 8’ are competing for at the 2025 year-end championships.

    How do ranking points work in Turin?

    No ranking points are awarded to the eight players merely for qualifying for the ATP Finals, meaning everyone involved will have to win matches if they want to add to their ranking point tally.

    Each round-robin match is worth 200 points per win, with no points awarded to whoever loses each match.

    If a player were to win all three round-robin matches they played, they would earn themselves 600 ranking points before the knockout stage.

    Once the round-robin stage is complete, the two semi-final matches will be worth 400 points each for the two victorious players.

    After the semi-finals, the winner of the final — and ultimately the title — will add a further 500 ranking points to their tournament haul.

    Tennis News

    Carlos Alcaraz asked if he would prefer to win ATP Finals or beat Jannik Sinner to world No 1 ranking

    Novak Djokovic’s ‘selfish’ stance is not fair to those waiting for his big decision

    An unbeaten champion will earn themselves a staggering 1,500 ranking points, just as reigning champion Sinner did in 2024.

    Round robin: 200 points per win
    Semi-final: 400 points
    Final: 500 points
    Unbeaten champion: 1,500

    How does prize money work in Turin?

    Unlike with ranking points, there is a participation fee on offer for all eight players — meaning you can still take home prize money even if you do not win a match.

    Every player is ensured of a participation fee of $331,000 in Turin, assuming they complete all three round-robin matches; if not, their participation fee will decrease.

    An individual round-robin match win is worth $396,500 in Turin this year, meaning a player with a perfect 3-0 group record will have already earned $1,520,500 — three wins plus participation fee — by the end of the round-robin phase.

    No further prize money is automatically awarded by reaching the semi-final, though the two victorious semi-finalists will then pick up a further $1,183,500 in winnings.

    The player who then wins the final and the title will then add a staggering $2,367,000 to their tournament paycheck in Turin.

    Should any player win the title without losing a single match, they would earn $5,071,000 — the biggest paycheck in men’s tennis history.

    It would beat both the $5,000,000 awarded to Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 US Open and the $4,881,100 pocketed by Sinner at the 2024 ATP Finals.

    Participant fee: $331,000 (for three complete matches)
    Alternate fee: $155,000
    Round robin: $396,500 per match win
    Semi-final: $1,183,500
    Final: $2,367,000
    Unbeaten champion: $5,071,000

    Read Next: ATP Finals: Does Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner have the best group-stage draw?

    The post ATP Finals: How do ranking points and prize money work at year-end championships? appeared first on Tennis365.

  • How much prize money and ranking points are Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina playing for in WTA Finals?

    Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will meet in the WTA Finals deciding match on Saturday and the prize money at stake will be the biggest of the tennis year.

    World No 1 Sabalenka prevailed in a high-quality and big-hitting contest against Amanda Anisimova, with the 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win giving the US Open a chance to win her first WTA Finals title.

    “She’s always pushing me to play my best tennis,” said Sabalenka of Anisimova. “Honestly, I wouldn’t care if I lost this match because I think we played an incredible match and both deserved this place in the final.

    “It’s going to be another powerful game. I feel like today was great preparation for Elena. I’m looking forward to leaving everything I have in the last match of the season and fight for this beautiful trophy.”

    Sabalenka’s power-packed battle with Anisimova was instantly hailed as one of the best matches seen on the WTA Tour this year and both players can take so much confidence from the precision and power of their ball striking after a captivating contest.

    More Tennis News

    Aryna Sabalenka reveals she could be helped by Novak Djokovic in ‘Battle of the Sexes’ clash

    Aryna Sabalenka reveals ‘best lesson’ she learned from Novak Djokovic as off-court friendship continues

    Rybakina built her success in a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win against Jessica Pegula behind her monster serve, which has been functioning so well all week and she is heading into the final against Sabalenka in thrilling form.

    “It’s my biggest weapon and I think it worked really well,” said Rybakina, as she commented on her serve. “Some moments, when I needed it the most, it worked — even though she was really playing well and pushing me in the tough situations.”

    Sabalenka and Rybakina have already secured huge cash windfalls after their run to the final in Riyadh, with the prize money on offer in the final ensuring the champion will take home more money than could collect in any of the four Grand Slam events that dominate the tennis year.

    This is a breakdown of the prize money that is on the line at the WTA Finals:

    Participant fee: $340,000
    Round-robin win: $355,000 per win
    Semi-final win: $1,290,000
    Final win: $2,540,000

    With both players winning all four of her matches so far at the WTA Finals, Sabalenka and Rybakina have already pocketed an eye-watering $2,695m.

    Now the winner on Saturday will add another $2,540,000, which will take their total to $5,235,000.

    That is more than the $5million Sabalenka collected for winning the US Open in September and it would take her prize money winnings for 2025 past the $17million mark.

    No other player in women’s tennis this year has broken through the $10million prize money barrier, with Rybakina set to more than double her prize money for this entire year if she wins the final on Saturday.

    Rybakina has won $3,195,162 in what has been a challenging 2025 hampered by injury and illness, but she could end on the ultimate high in the richest tournament in women’s tennis.

    The post How much prize money and ranking points are Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina playing for in WTA Finals? appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Carlos Alcaraz asked if he would prefer to win ATP Finals or beat Jannik Sinner to world No 1 ranking

    Carlos Alcaraz has arrived in Turin ahead of the ATP Finals and he has two huge goals in his sights, with a first win at the end-of-season finals and the battle to beat Jannik Sinner to the world No 1 ranking in his sights.

    Alcaraz appeared to have a clear path to claim the year-end No 1 ranking after he beat Sinner in the US Open final in September, but the Italian has snapped back into contention after winning the titles in Vienna and at the ATP 1000 event in Paris last week.

    Now Alcaraz has one last chance to seal the world No 1 ranking and a run to the latter stages of the ATP Finals in Turin should be enough to secure that ambition.

    In an engaging press conference ahead of his opening match in Turin, Alcaraz has opened up on what his big targets are for the final week of the season and it is clear that he is not only focused on that No 1 ranking.

    “They are two big goals,” he said, referencing the No 1 ranking and the ATP Finals title. “I would love to win the tournament someday, and the No 1 title has been a clear objective throughout the season.

    More Tennis News

    What Jannik Sinner said about ‘slave to tennis’ comment by Carlos Alcaraz’s coach

    Former world No 1 reveals ‘hurdle’ Carlos Alcaraz must overcome at ATP Finals

    “In the end, I think it’s turning out to be a good battle between Jannik and me to see who finishes as No 1.

    “If he finishes first, it’s because he’s earned it and has had a magnificent end to the season. He won in Vienna, he’s coming off a win in Paris, and if he finishes number one, it’s because he would win here and he deserves it.

    “I am going to try to fight to prevent that from happening. If it does happen, it wouldn’t be a disappointment.

    “The season has gone incredibly well. The downside is that it’s not over yet, so it’s difficult to think about next year’s goals with these two important tournaments just around the corner. Before preseason, we’ll sit down and see what we can improve.”

    Alcaraz and Sinner cannot meet in Turin until the semi-finals at the earliest, but they could avoid a meeting until the final if they win their groups.

    When asked whether avoiding a clash with Sinner before the final was a target, Alcaraz insisted he was not thinking about that.

    “It’s a bit early to think about that,” he added. “For me, if you want to win the tournament, you have to beat the best. And if I want to win, I’ll have to beat Jannik in the semifinals or the final, or another top player in the semifinals or the final. So I don’t mind.

    “The important thing here is to advance, and if it’s by one player, all the better. And if it’s by two, we’ll have to assess the situation and give our best against whoever we face in those semifinals.”

    The post Carlos Alcaraz asked if he would prefer to win ATP Finals or beat Jannik Sinner to world No 1 ranking appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Novak Djokovic’s ‘selfish’ stance is not fair to those waiting for his big decision

    Novak Djokovic has confirmed he will make a last gasp decision over whether he will compete at this year’s ATP Finals, with his refusal to confirm if he will be in Turin leaving him open to criticism.

    The legend who has won the ATP Finals on seven occasions qualified for another end-of-season finale with plenty to spare, even though he has only played a limited tournament schedule in 2025.

    With Djokovic confirming he would prefer to spend more time with his young family than play in events that no longer motivate him, the 38-year-old has played what can best be described as a part-time schedule this year.

    Yet his appearance in the semi-finals of all four Grand Slam tournaments and impressive consistency in the events he has played ensured he was certain to get an invite to the ATP Finals.

    His name was included in the draw for the event and he is due to play Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur in what appears to be the tougher of the two groups, even though he has been spared a group stage meeting with Jannik Sinner.

    More Tennis News

    ATP Finals: Does Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner have the best group-stage draw?

    Who will the ATP Finals alternates be if Auger-Aliassime or Musetti replaces Djokovic?

    Yet all the discussions around what may lie in wait for Djokovic have been put on hold after he confirmed he has yet to decide whether he will make the trip to Turin after he finishes playing in this week’s ATP 250 event in Athens.

    After pulling out of the Six Kings Slam exhibition event due to injury last month, Djokovic has looked jaded all of his matches in Greece this week, even though he has produced some impressive tennis to make the latter stages of the competition.

    By refusing to confirm whether he will play in Turin, Djokovic forced Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti to play in the Athens tournaments as he looked to gather the ranking points he would require to overtake Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the ATP Race rankings that decide who will play at the ATP Finals.

    While Djokovic has earned the right to make a late decision on playing in Turin, his indifference could be seen as disrespectful both to the tournament and the players waiting to see whether he will compete.

    If Djokovic has made his intentions clear earlier, Musetti could have had a full week away from competitive action to prepare to play in Turin and Auger-Aliassime would also know whether he will be a player in the draw or an alternate next week.

    With the draw now confirmed, Djokovic’s place will need to be taken by a lower ranked player if he does drop out and it feels like he is enjoying the suspense he is creating by his refusal to show his hand.

    Rumours suggesting he will play have been cancelled out by his comments that he will only decide at the end of the tournament in Athens, but this is not how one of the game’s all-time greats needs to behave.

    Djokovic will now the convention in tennis of pulling out of an event before a draw if he has limited intention of playing, so he will be criticised if news comes through over the next couple of days that he he withdrawing from the ATP Finals.

    The most successful player of all-time would argue he has done enough in the game to follow his own rules, but this looks like a selfish move from a player who appears to be enjoying keeping his fellow players, ATP Tour chiefs and tennis fans on tenterhooks waiting for his big announcement. 

    The post Novak Djokovic’s ‘selfish’ stance is not fair to those waiting for his big decision appeared first on Tennis365.

  • What Tim Henman & Jimmy Connors said about Coco Gauff’s biggest issue after WTA Finals exit

    Coco Gauff exited the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh at the round robin stage, and Jimmy Connors and Tim Henman have weighed in on the American star’s serving struggles.

    Gauff was the reigning WTA Finals champion, but her hopes of defending the title ended with her 6-7(5), 2-6 defeat to world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in her third and final round robin match on Thursday.

    The world No 3 needed to beat Sabalenka in straight sets to progress to the semi-finals after Jessica Pegula’s straight-set win over Jasmine Paolini.

    Jimmy Connors and Tim Henman give their verdict on Coco Gauff

    • Former world No 4 Tim Henman revealed the difference between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka after the pair’s WTA Finals match
    • Tennis great Jimmy Connors urged Gauff not to beat herself amid her serving issues
    • Connors also assessed that it will be easier for Gauff to make changes to her serve in the off-season

    Gauff’s serve has been an ongoing issue, and she has frequently been plagued by high numbers of double faults in her matches this season.

    Ahead of the US Open, Gauff parted ways with her former coach Matt Daly and hired biomechanical expert Gavin MacMillan with the aim of addressing her serving troubles. She has made technical changes to her service motion with MacMillan’s guidance.

    The two-time Grand Slam champion started her campaign in Riyadh with a 3-6, 7-6(2), 2-6 loss to Pegula — during which she hit 17 double faults and won only 28% of her second serve points.

    The 21-year-old then committed only three double faults in her 6-3, 6-2 win over Paolini in her second match, before she hit six against Sabalenka.

    Tennis News

    WTA Finals: How Amanda Anisimova can overtake Coco Gauff as US No 1

    WTA Finals prize money & ranking points won by Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini revealed

    What did Tim Henman say after Coco Gauff’s WTA Finals exit?

    Speaking on Sky Sports after Sabalenka defeated Gauff in Riyadh, Henman highlighted the difference between the two players’ serves.

    The former British No 1 spoke about how Sabalenka previously overcame her own second serve troubles, and pointed to the impact Gauff’s serve has on her overall game.

    “The reality is that she (Sabalenka) has been in these toughest situations in the biggest tournaments and she has come out on top a lot,” said the Brit.

    “I think that winning breeds more confidence and she doesn’t second guess herself.

    “The fact that she had issues with her second serve and she was the one who came up with solutions, I think now when it does get tight she does have the clarity of thought, whereas others can be questioned.

    “That’s the problem with Gauff. She is having to concentrate so hard on her serve that it does reflect into other parts of her game.”

    What did Jimmy Connors say about Coco Gauff’s serving issues?

    Speaking on the latest episode of his Advantage Connors podcast, Connors gave some advice to Gauff as he addressed the American’s attempts to improve her serve.

    The eight-time Grand Slam champion suggested Gauff should not have tried to make technical changes to her serve until the off-season.

    “Make your opponent beat you. Don’t beat yourself,” said the former world No 1.

    “She’s got six or seven weeks to regroup and not continue to try to improve and do things on the fly.

    “That’s hard to do, to go in and be put under the pressure of winning matches, tournaments, beating the best players when you’re trying to make changes.

    “Changes are to be made in the off season, not when you’re trying to win a title.”

    READ NEXT: Aryna Sabalenka reveals she could be helped by Novak Djokovic in ‘Battle of the Sexes’ clash

    The post What Tim Henman & Jimmy Connors said about Coco Gauff’s biggest issue after WTA Finals exit appeared first on Tennis365.

  • What Jannik Sinner said about ‘slave to tennis’ comment by Carlos Alcaraz’s coach

    Jannik Sinner has given his opinion on the tennis philosophy of Juan Carlos Ferrero, the former world No 1 who coaches his chief rival Carlos Alcaraz.

    Sinner and Alcaraz are the top two players on the ATP Tour by a massive margin, and they currently share the biggest rivalry in the sport.

    The pair have faced off five times in 2025, with all of these meetings coming in finals in the last six months, including the last three Grand Slam finals. Alcaraz leads the overall head-to-head 10-5 (including a retirement from Sinner in the Cincinnati final).

    Jannik Sinner weighs in on Juan Carlos Ferrero’s tennis philosophy

    • Jannik Sinner has given his verdict on the “slave to tennis” philosophy shared Carlos Alcaraz’s coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero
    • The Italian revealed he prefers to use the word “passion” to describe his dedication to the sport
    • Sinner explained that tennis taught him he can find himself after playing a lot of sports in his childhood

    Alcaraz has been coached by Ferrero since joining the 2003 French Open champion’s academy in Alicante as a 16-year-old in 2018.

    The Spaniard has won all 24 of his ATP Tour titles to date, including his six Grand Slams, with Ferrero in his team.

    What did Juan Carlos Ferrero say about being “a slave” to tennis?

    In April, the Netflix documentary series, Carlos Alcaraz: My Way, was released, and the Spanish star’s approach to his career was the central theme.

    Alcaraz explained that he wants to achieve his lofty ambitions without compromising his happiness.

    “Right now my biggest fear of all is ending up seeing tennis as an obligation,” Alcaraz said.

    “Sometimes I feel like I am enslaved to tennis and that causes anxiety, frustration, doubts.”

    Ferrero also featured in the series, and he made some revealing comments about Alcaraz’s philosophy being at odds with the way the 22-year-old’s team views the sport.

    “I guess if you want to be the greatest player in history, you have to be a slave to the game,” Ferrero asserted.

    Tennis News

    Jannik Sinner is ‘obsessed’ with Carlos Alcaraz, claims former world No 1

    Former world No 1 reveals ‘hurdle’ Carlos Alcaraz must overcome at ATP Finals

    The former world No 1 added: “His understanding of work and sacrifice is so different from ours.

    “It’s so different that it makes me doubt whether ‘his way’ of doing things will help him become the best in the world.”

    What did Jannik Sinner say about Juan Carlos Ferrero’s comments?

    In an interview with Sky Sport Italy, Sinner was asked if he agreed with Ferrero’s “slave to tennis” view of the game.

    “I would use another term, I would say passion. I have a lot of passion in what I do,” said the four-time Grand Slam champion.

    “I was lucky enough to practise a lot of sports as a kid, I played football, I did ski, I did cycling, running… but tennis taught me I can find myself.

    “Anything can happen outside the court, but on court I feel safe. And especially when things are good, you need to work more because when you feel good the mind learns every tiny detail.

    “When you lose, you’re more negative and it doesn’t make sense to go on court at times.

    “In tennis, you have to make a lot of sacrifices, but for me it will always be the most important thing, until I decide it’s like this.

    “The moment I realise it’s over, that my body doesn’t respond to me anymore, I will stop.”

    READ NEXT: ATP Finals: Does Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner have the best group-stage draw?

    The post What Jannik Sinner said about ‘slave to tennis’ comment by Carlos Alcaraz’s coach appeared first on Tennis365.

  • WTA Finals: How Amanda Anisimova can overtake Coco Gauff as US No 1

    Amanda Anisimova’s rise has been one of the best stories on the WTA Tour in 2025, and the American’s landmark season is not done yet.

    After a disappointing loss against Elena Rybakina to start her maiden WTA Finals campaign, gutsy victories over Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek were enough for Anisimova to progress to the last four in Riyadh.

    Now, the Wimbledon and US Open runner-up has the chance to break new ground over the next two days, and potentially overtake Coco Gauff as the US No 1 — here is how she can do it.

    As it stands

    Of the four Americans who qualified for the WTA Finals this year, Anisimova is one of two left standing ahead of the knockout stage, alongside Jessica Pegula.

    The fourth seed qualified second from Group Serena Williams and will face Group Steffi Graf winner Aryna Sabalenka on Friday, while the other semi-final pits sixth seed Rybakina against fifth seed Pegula.

    However, defending champion Gauff is now out of the tournament, with defeats to both Sabalenka and Pegula meaning she finished third in Group Steffi Graf.

    With 200 ranking points available per round-robin win, Gauff leaves Riyadh with a year-end tally of 6,763 points and currently sits third in the WTA Live Rankings.

    After two group stage wins, Anisimova sits on 6,287 points in the live rankings — though now has the chance to pick up significant points in the knockout rounds.

    Tennis News

    Elena Rybakina issues fitness update ahead of WTA Finals knockout stages

    Iga Swiatek makes interesting confession as she enters uncharted waters with WTA Finals exit

    How can Anisimova replace Gauff as US No 1?

    It is unlikely that Anisimova will be thinking about her ranking mid-event, but she has been handed a gilt-edged chance in Riyadh.

    With Gauff now out and only earning 200 ranking points, Anisimova can now rise to a new career-high ranking of world No 3 if she wins the WTA Finals title.

    A total of 400 ranking points are on offer in Friday’s semi-final encounters, meaning that the fourth seed will move to 6,687 points if she were to beat Sabalenka in the last four.

    Though that would not be enough to overtake Gauff, she could then overtake her compatriot if she won the final, which is worth 500 ranking points for whoever triumphs.

    Should Anisimova triumph in Riyadh over the next two days, she would hold 7,187 points when the WTA Rankings update next Monday — enough to move ahead of Gauff.

    A major opportunity has been presented to her, though her position as the year-end world No 4 is also not yet secure.

    Can Pegula overtake Anisimova?

    After pulling out of last year’s WTA Finals after two round-robin defeats, Riyadh has been much kinder to Pegula in 2025.

    An impressive win over Jasmine Paolini on Thursday was enough for Pegula to seal progression with a 2-1 record in Group Steffi Graf, her only loss coming to world No 1 Sabalenka.

    The runner-up at this tournament in 2023, she will be eyeing up her second final when she faces Rybakina in Friday’s semi-final showdown.

    And, she could in fact overtake Anisimova and move inside the world’s top four by the end of the year.

    Should Anisimova fall to Sabalenka on Friday, she would end the year on her current total of 6,287 points.

    However, if Pegula were to go on to win the title, she would end the year on 6,483 points — enough to move above her compatriot.

    Pegula herself could be overtaken by Rybakina if the Kazakh wins their semi-final and ultimately takes home the title, meaning there is plenty at stake in the WTA Rankings over the next two days.

    Read Next: WTA Finals prize money & ranking points won by Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini revealed

    The post WTA Finals: How Amanda Anisimova can overtake Coco Gauff as US No 1 appeared first on Tennis365.

  • ATP Finals: Does Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner have the best group-stage draw?

    The draw for the ATP Finals is out, with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner leading the ‘Elite 8’ in Turin.

    While there are still a handful of draw variables at the year-end championships, both men will already be preparing for their three round-robin matches — but who will face the tougher time of things?

    Here, we analyse whether Alcaraz or Sinner will be more satisfied with their draw.

    Who is in Carlos Alcaraz’s group?

    Expected opponents: (4) Novak Djokovic, (6) Taylor Fritz, (7) Alex de Minaur

    Alcaraz was knocked out of the ATP Finals at the round-robin stage in 2024 after recording just one win, and will look to bounce back in 2025.

    On paper, the eye-catching match-up for the top seed is a clash against seven-time champion and fourth seed Djokovic — assuming the Serbian plays.

    Djokovic holds a 5-4 lead in their head-to-head and beat Alcaraz convincingly when they met in the semi-final of this event in 2023.

    However, Alcaraz has been in much more consistent form in 2025 and was a convincing winner when the two met in the semi-final of the US Open this September.

    Tennis News

    Novak Djokovic on Alcaraz-Sinner comparisons to Big Three rivalry and names most underrated player

    Jannik Sinner is ‘obsessed’ with Carlos Alcaraz, claims former world No 1

    Sixth seed Fritz was the runner-up at this tournament last year and has strong consistency indoors, even beating the Spaniard at the Laver Cup this year.

    But it was Alcaraz who had previously picked up a Laver Cup win over the American in 2024, and a win in the Japan Open final this September saw him move 4-1 up in their head-to-head.

    Fritz is certainly comfortable in Turin — Sinner was the only player to beat him last year — but Alcaraz will still enter this contest as the favourite.

    He will also enter as the favourite against the seventh seed de Minaur, who will be looking for his first ATP Finals match wins after a 0-3 record on debut in 2024.

    Alcaraz holds a perfect 4-0 record against the Australian, though he was pushed to three sets when they met in the indoor Rotterdam Open final this February.

    Who is in Jannik Sinner’s group?

    Expected opponents: (3) Alexander Zverev, (5) Ben Shelton, (8) Felix Auger-Aliassime OR Lorenzo Musetti

    Entering as the defending champion, home favourite and second seed Sinner only has two confirmed opponents so far — with Musetti and Auger-Aliassime still battling for the final spot.

    What we do know is that the highest seed in this group behind him is third seed Zverev, an opponent he has already beaten twice this indoor season.

    The two contested an incredibly competitive final in Vienna, though it was the Italian who prevailed in the Austrian capital before needing just 61 minutes to seal a 6-0, 6-1 win over Zverev in the Paris Masters semi-finals.

    Zverev was evidently not at full fitness in that match, but the German has now lost four straight matches to Sinner, including the Australian Open final in January.

    Sinner now leads that head-to-head 5-4 after being 1-4 down, though his head-to-head over fifth seed Shelton is even more emphatic.

    The Italian lost his first meeting against Shelton at the 2023 Shanghai Masters, but has won seven meetings since then — winning 17 straight sets against the American.

    Shelton struggles to challenge Sinner on return, and the Italian’s confident 6-3, 6-3 win in Paris last week suggests he will be the overwhelming favourite in this match-up.

    He will also be the heavy favourite against Auger-Aliassime or Musetti, regardless of who he faces.

    Sinner has an unblemished 3-0 record against compatriot Musetti, most recently meeting at the US Open, while he has beaten Auger-Aliassime in all three of their 2025 clashes — including the Paris final.

    Who has the better group?

    Fundamentally, both Alcaraz and Sinner will be happy with their groups in Turin, and remain heavy favourites to meet in the final.

    However, it will perhaps be Sinner who is the most satisfied.

    The three match-ups he faces in Turin — whether it’s Musetti or Auger-Aliassime — have all swung heavily in his favour in recent months, particularly against both Shelton and Zverev.

    Unbeaten at the event twelve months ago, the Italian looks in line for another strong campaign.

    Read Next: Prize money earned by Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic, Zverev in 2025 ahead of ATP Finals revealed

    The post ATP Finals: Does Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner have the best group-stage draw? appeared first on Tennis365.