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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.

Iga Swiatek’s 2025 campaign saw the Pole break new ground, with the 24-year-old sealing her sixth Grand Slam title by winning Wimbledon for the first time.

Though she faced challenges outside of SW19, Swiatek still claimed an impressive three titles across the year and finished the season ranked second, setting her up nicely for her 2026 campaign.

Here, we take a look at Swiatek’s expected schedule for the impending new season and what could await her over the coming twelve months.

United Cup — January 2-11

Swiatek’s season is once again set to start at the United Cup, with the world No 2 representing Poland in the mixed team event across Sydney and Perth.

Team Poland has finished at the runner-up at the tournament in both 2024 and 2025, meaning Swiatek will likely be eager to help her nation triumph for the first time.

Australian Open — Jan 18 – Feb 1

All eyes will be on Swiatek at the opening Grand Slam of the year at the Australian Open, arguably the biggest event of her whole season.

A French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open, the 24-year-old will look to become the first woman since Maria Sharapova (2012) to complete the Career Grand Slam.

Qatar Open — February 9-15

The first WTA 1000 event of the year will be held at the Qatar Open in early February, with Swiatek looking to regain her title in Doha.

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She was beaten in the semi-final this year, though she had won three straight titles (one at WTA 500-level) at the tournament prior to 2025.

Dubai Tennis Championships — February 16–22

The second of two WTA 1000 events in the Middle East, the six-time Grand Slam champion will likely head to Dubai looking to win the title for the first time.

Swiatek was a quarter-finalist at the tournament in 2025, though she was previously the runner-up to Barbora Krejcikova back in 2023.

Indian Wells — March 4-15

One of the most prestigious tournaments on the calendar outside of the four Grand Slams, Swiatek will hope her streak of winning the Indian Wells title in alternate years continues in 2026.

The Pole lifted the title at the WTA 1000 event in 2022 and then again in 2024, falling in the last four to eventual champion Mirra Andreeva in March this year.

Miami Open — March 18-29

The second of the ‘Sunshine Double’ WTA 1000 events, the Miami Open has been a less successful event for the Pole than Indian Wells — though she is still a former champion.

Swiatek triumphed at the tournament back in 2022, though withdrew in 2023 and has not returned to the semi-final since then.

Stuttgart Open — April 13-19

Traditionally, Swiatek has always started her clay swing at the WTA 500 indoors event in Stuttgart, where she is a two-time former champion.

The former world No 1 claimed back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 — beating Aryna Sabalenka in both finals — and was a 2024 semi-finalist and 2025 quarter-finalist.

Madrid Open — Apr 22 – May 3

The first of two WTA 1000 events held during the clay swing, the Madrid Open is the first huge event on the dirt for the leading stars of women’s tennis.

Swiatek lifted the title inside the Caja Magica for the first time in 2024, though suffered a heavy defeat to Coco Gauff in the semi-final this year.

Italian Open — May 6-17

The Italian Open in Rome has traditionally been one of the 24-year-old’s happiest hunting grounds, with the Pole lifting the title in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

She will enter the tournament in 2026 looking to bounce back from a shock third-round exit at the tournament back in May.

French Open — May 24 – Jun 7

Swiatek’s 26-match French Open win streak was snapped by Sabalenka in the semi-final earlier this year, ending her dominance in Paris.

A four-time Roland Garros champion, will the Pole bounce back to claim a staggering fifth title in 2026?

Bad Homburg Open — June 21-27

Swiatek entered the Bad Homburg Open in 2025 and reached the final of the tournament, falling to Jessica Pegula after a strong week.

If the Pole does decide to play a grass-court warm-up event in 2026, the two-week gap between Roland Garros and Bad Homburg makes this a likely option once again.

Wimbledon — Jun 29 – Jul 12

Swiatek sensationally snapped her 13-month title drought with a stunning Wimbledon triumph this summer, famously double-bagelling Amanda Anisimova to win a sixth Grand Slam title.

No woman since Serena Williams in 2016 has successfully defended her crown at the All England Club; can the world No 2 snap that run next July?

Canadian Open — August 1-13

Her first event of the hard-court summer is likely to be the WTA 1000 Canadian Open, which will be held in Toronto next year after a stop in Montreal this summer.

Swiatek has never won the title in Canada, with her 2023 run to the semi-final her best showing at the tournament.

Cincinnati Open — August 13-23

The second of two WTA 1000 events during the hard-court swing, Swiatek will enter the 2026 Cincinnati Open as the reigning champion.

The Pole defeated Jasmine Paolini in the final back in August, having previously reached the semi-final of the event the past two years.

US Open — Aug 30 – Sep 13

At the last Grand Slam tournament of 2026, Swiatek will enter the US Open looking to claim the title she first won back in 2022.

The Pole was a quarter-finalist at the tournament in 2025, falling to eventual runner-up Amanda Anisimova.

Korea Open — September 21-27

Swiatek made her Korea Open debut in 2025 and beat Ekaterina Alexandrova in a thrilling final to lift the title, and she could return to the WTA 500 event in 2026.

Alternatively, she could be in action for Poland at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals — if Poland has qualified.

China Open — Sep 28 – Oct 11

At the penultimate WTA 1000 event of the season, Swiatek suffered a disappointing fourth-round exit in Beijing earlier this year.

However, she does have pedigree at the China Open, lifting the title on her event debut back in 2023.

Wuhan Open — Oct 12-18

Swiatek finally made her Wuhan Open debut in 2025, reaching the quarter-final before a loss to Paolini.

The Pole will likely be back in action at the final WTA 1000 event of the season in 2026, as she looks to lift the title for the first time.

WTA Finals — November 7-14

If she qualifies, Swiatek will head to Riyadh for the WTA Finals, the final official tour-level event of the season — reserved only for the year’s eight best players.

The Pole has qualified every year since 2021 and was the champion in 2023, though she has suffered back-to-back round-robin exits since then.

Read Next: Carlos Alcaraz 2026 tennis schedule: Where is star expected to play?

The post Iga Swiatek 2026 tennis schedule: Where will Wimbledon champion play next season? appeared first on Tennis365.

The 2025 ATP Tour season is officially over, with action at the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna bringing a long and memorable year of men’s tennis to a close.

It has been a year dominated by two men, who likely need no introduction, but there have still been an array of interesting storylines and narratives within the ATP.

Here, looking back at a player’s year-end ranking and ranking moves, titles won — and significance of those titles — and overall consistency, we rank our 10 best ATP Tour players of 2025.

10) Jack Draper

Injury derailed the second half of Draper’s season, though a strong first part of 2025 will build hopes that the 23-year-old can become a force in the game for years to come.

The Brit memorably stunned two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz on his way to winning a first Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells, and was also a Madrid Open and Qatar Open finalist.

Draper cracked the top 10 and reached a stunning new high of world No 4 in 2025 and, despite playing just one match after Wimbledon, finished the year 10th in the ATP Rankings.

9) Lorenzo Musetti

Musetti’s wait to win a first title since 2022 continues, but this was undoubtedly the greatest season of the Italian’s career so far.

The Italian was runner-up at the Monte Carlo Masters, Chengdu Open, and Hellenic Championship, as well as a Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros semi-finalist, and a US Open quarter-finalist.

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The 23-year-old broke into the top 10 for the first time and reached a new high of sixth in the world, ending the year ranked eighth after making his ATP Finals debut — and sealing a key match win.

8) Ben Shelton

The latter stages of Shelton’s year were somewhat affected by the shoulder issue he sustained at the US Open, but 2025 was still a huge step in the right direction for the US star.

A first Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open was accompanied by a semi-final run at the Australian Open, alongside reaching a first Wimbledon quarter-final, and a first fourth round at the French Open.

The 23-year-old was briefly ranked as the US No 1 later in the year and reached a career-high of fifth in the world, ending a breakout year ranked ninth — up 12 spots from the end of 2024.

7) Alex de Minaur

De Minaur went under the radar at points in 2025, but the Australian put together a solid and consistent year to continue establishing himself towards the top of the men’s game.

The highlight of his season was a thrilling triumph at the ATP 500 Washington Open, though he was also a Rotterdam Open finalist, and a quarter-finalist at both the Australian Open and US Open.

He was also part of Team World’s victorious Laver Cup team in San Francisco and ended his season on a high in Turin, ultimately reaching the semi-final of the ATP Finals after a tough start to his campaign.

6) Taylor Fritz

2025 looked set to be a difficult season for Fritz throughout the opening months of the year, though the US No 1 roared into life in the second half of the year.

A strong grass-court season fired the 28-year-old into his first Wimbledon semi-final and saw him claim titles in Stuttgart and Eastbourne, and he would later return to the quarter-final of the US Open.

Fritz was also a United Cup and Laver Cup champion in 2025 and a Japan Open finalist, ending the year sixth in the world — and sixth in our countdown.

5) Alexander Zverev

Zverev’s year may not have been a vintage one, but it was arguably not as bad as many people would make it out to be.

Despite struggles at times, the German still finished the year ranked fourth in the world and was a champion at the ATP 500 Munich Open, as well as a runner-up at the Australian Open.

Also a finalist at the Stuttgart Open and Vienna Open in 2025, Zverev’s season was solid enough — if not spectacular — and will still likely be a threat in 2026.

4) Felix Auger-Aliassime

After finishing 2023 and 2024 down at 29th in the world, the resurgence of Auger-Aliassime across 2025 was one of the best stories on the ATP Tour this season.

The Canadian started the year strongly with titles in Adelaide and Montpellier, and would later claim his third title of the year at the European Open — weeks after reaching the US Open semi-final.

Also a runner-up in Dubai and at the Paris Masters in 2025, a run to the last four of the ATP Finals saw the 25-year-old reach a brand new high of world No 5 — up from his previous best ranking of sixth from 2022, and up 24 spots on the year.

3) Novak Djokovic

Despite a limited schedule throughout the season, Djokovic’s permanent class shone through, ending the year ranked fourth in the world despite playing just 13 tournaments.

The Serbian sealed a milestone 100th title in Geneva in April and then ended his year with victory at the Hellenic Championship in Athens, as well as finishing as the Miami Open runner-up.

One of just two men to reach the semi-final of all four Grand Slam tournaments in 2025, the 38-year-old undoubtedly remains the best player on the ATP outside of the ‘New Two’.

2) Jannik Sinner

Despite a three-month doping ban served from February to May this year, Sinner’s year was still truly exceptional when it comes to his on-court achievements.

The Italian reached the final of all four Grand Slams in 2025 — triumphing at the Australian Open and Wimbledon — and also lifted the China Open, Vienna Open, and Paris Masters titles in 2025.

Sinner wrapped up his year with a successful title defence at the ATP Finals, and the world No 2 looks poised for another remarkable season across 2026.

1) Carlos Alcaraz

Ending the year as the world No 1, a career-best season puts Alcaraz atop the official ATP Rankings — and on the top of our standings for 2025.

The Spaniard lifted a staggering eight titles across the year — the most he has ever won in a season — with highlights being his French Open and US Open victories.

Alcaraz was also the Monte Carlo Masters, Italian Open, Cincinnati Open, Japan Open, Rotterdam Open, and Queen’s Club Championship, as well as a further runner-up finish at Wimbledon, the ATP Finals, and the Barcelona Open.

Closest rival Sinner did well to push the Spaniard as close as he did in 2025, but Alcaraz was arguably just a step ahead across the year as a whole.

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A popularity contest at the top of men’s tennis was often a big talking point when Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were dominating the sport and we may soon have the debate revived with the new ‘Big 2’ in men’s tennis.

Djokovic fans who appeared to relish social media battles with a little too much relish were always quick to suggest their man was treated differently by the world’s media than Federer and Nadal, with the Serbian backing up those sentiments in numerous interviews.

The simple truth was that Federer and Nadal had a bigger and wider fanbase than a rival who broke through at the top of the game after they had started their rivalry, with the third member of the ‘Big 3’ an unwanted distraction for fans keen to cherish the Roger vs Rafa showdowns.

Now we have started a new era in men’s tennis, with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner dominating at the top of the game and once again, there is a clear winner in the popularity stakes.

While Sinner’s brilliantly efficient tennis is admired, Alcaraz’s beaming smile and endearing personality mean he is the player more tennis fans have warmed to during a period when he has shared the Grand Slam titles with his Italian rival.

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Alcaraz is the shining star of men’s tennis and his eagerness to take part in engaging interviews and show his personality to fans has helped him to build up a huge following among youthful supporters.

Young boys and girls around the world have adopted Alcaraz as their new sporting hero and, inevitably, they will be cheering against his big rival Sinner.

While Sinner has yet to face the kind of animosity Djokovic has been forced to deal with in a career that has seen him booed and jeered by fans around the world, the Italian may never attract the kind of devotion Alcaraz gets.

In Italy, Sinner is a national hero, but his calm and polite personality is not as exciting as Alcaraz’s ebullient charm and he accepts his rival will always be a step ahead of him in that department.

“We are two different kinds of players, different personalities,” Sinner said. “I am the more solid player in a way, you are much better with the touch of the ball, you have very good sensibility.

“Carlos is a great person and that is why we have such a good friendship away from the court. We can all see he smiles a lot and he has a nice personality, so he is great for tennis.”

The battle on the court between these two great champions will be fascinating to watch, but Alcaraz may always have an edge on his more stoic rival off it and that is likely to lead to more lucrative sponsorship deals with companies eager to be part of the story of the most popular player in tennis.

However, money is unlikely to be a concern for either of these two great champions who will be taking home in excess of $20million in prize money every year for the foreseeable future if they continue their domination of the men’s game.

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Carlos Alcaraz was the standout performer of 2025, with the Spanish star producing the best season of his career to finish 2025 as the year-end No 1.

After winning eight titles — including two Grand Slam titles — this season, Alcaraz now faces the challenge of attempting to back up his stunning year across 2026.

Here, we look at the predicted schedule that the Spaniard is expected to play next season as he looks to secure his place at the very top of the men’s game.

Australian Open — Jan 18 – Feb 1st

Alcaraz’s season will start with a historic quest at the Australian Open, with the Spaniard looking to win the title for the first time.

The Spaniard is a two-time quarter-finalist Down Under but, having won the other three majors, will be looking to complete the Career Grand Slam.

Rotterdam Open — February 9-15

Alcaraz claimed the first indoor title of his career at the Rotterdam Open in 2025, beating Alex de Minaur in the final.

He is already confirmed to be returning to the event in 2026, with action starting eight days after the Australian Open final.

Qatar Open — Februay 16-21

Alcaraz reached the quarter-final of the Qatar Open this February, where he was stunned by Jiri Lehecka in three sets.

This is an event he may potentially skip in 2026, though he may also want some hard-court prep ahead of the year’s first Masters 1000 event.

Indian Wells — March 4-15

The first Masters 1000 event of the year comes at Indian Wells, one of the most prestigious events on tour outside of the four Grand Slams.

Alcaraz won back-to-back titles in Tennis Paradise in 2023 and 2024, though he was shocked in the semi-final in 2025 by eventual champion Jack Draper.

Miami Open — March 18-29

Action in Indian Wells is followed swiftly by the Miami Open, where Alcaraz won his first Masters 1000 title back in 2022.

He was beaten in round two of the event by David Goffin this year and will be eyeing up a much stronger campaign in 2026.

Monte Carlo Masters — April 5-12

Alcaraz’s 2025 surge started with his run to the title at the Monte Carlo Masters in April, beating Lorenzo Musetti in the final to triumph for the first time.

The world No 1 looks set to start his clay-court swing at Country Club once again, though he did miss the event in both 2023 and 2024 due to injury concerns.

Barcelona Open — April 13-19

Many have questioned whether Alcaraz will miss the ATP 500 Barcelona Open in 2025 to prioritise the Masters events on the dirt, but he has been a regular at the event in recent years.

He lifted the title in 2022 and 2023 and reached the final in 2025, though he was absent in 2024 due to injury.

Madrid Open — Apr 22 – May 3

One of the 22-year-old’s biggest targets this year could well be to regain the Madrid Open title, having lost in the quarter-final in 2024 and then withdrawing in 2025.

The Spaniard previously claimed back-to-back titles at the Masters 1000 event in 2022 and 2023, at what is the biggest tennis event held in Spain.

Italian Open — May 6-17

The third Masters 1000 event of the clay swing will see Alcaraz head to Rome as the defending champion.

He beat home favourite Jannik Sinner in the final this year, and will want to silence the home crowd once again.

French Open — May 24 – Jun 7

Having won the French Open title in 2024 and 2025, can Alcaraz complete a Roland Garros ‘threepeat’ in 2026?

The Spaniard has won two five-set finals to lift the title in Paris, and is a provisional favourite once again heading into the new year.

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Queen’s Club Championship — June 15-21

Alcaraz’s grass-court season will likely start at the Queen’s Club, where he has become a regular in recent seasons.

The Spaniard first lifted the title in 2023 and beat Lehecka to triumph at the ATP 500 for the second time in 2025.

Wimbledon — Jun 29 – Jul 12

The third Grand Slam tournament of the season will see Alcaraz look to reach a fourth straight final at Wimbledon.

He defeated Novak Djokovic in back-to-back finals in 2023 and 2024, though his reign was ultimately ended by chief rival Sinner this summer.

Canadian Open — August 1-13

Alcaraz withdrew from the Canadian Open in 2025 due to the turnaround from Wimbledon, though a three-week gap in 2026 means he is more likely to play.

The Spaniard has never won the title in Canada, reaching the quarter-final on his most recent appearance at the tournament in 2023.

Cincinnati Open — August 13-23

Having lost a thrilling final in 2023, Alcaraz claimed the Cincinnati Open title for the first time in 2025.

The Spaniard will likely be back to defend his title in 2026, in what will be the second of two Masters 1000 events across the summer.

US Open — Aug 30 – Sep 13

The fourth and final Grand Slam season of the year, the Spaniard will be eyeing up his third US Open title at the end of the summer.

Alcaraz won the first of his six major titles at Flushing Meadows in 2022, and claimed his second title by beating Sinner in 2025.

Laver Cup – September 25-27

Alcaraz has competed at the Laver Cup in the past two seasons — and is already confirmed to be in action for Team Europe next year.

The 2026 Laver Cup will return to London, with Team World star Taylor Fritz also already confirmed to compete.

Japan Open — Sep 30 – Oct 6

The tight turnaround between London and Tokyo may make competing at the Japan Open more of a challenge, though it is more than possible that the Spaniard will still be in action.

A Yonex-sponsored player, the Spaniard lifted the title on his tournament debut in 2025 — choosing to play in Tokyo rather than Beijing.

Shanghai Masters — October 7-18

Alcaraz withdrew from the Shanghai Masters in 2025 after sustaining an injury in his Japan Open campaign, though he will hope to be fully fit for the event in 2026.

The world No 1 reached the quarter-final of the Masters 1000 event in 2024, after reaching round four on his debut in 2023.

Paris Masters — November 2-8

At the final Masters 1000 event of the season, the Spaniard will look to banish his Paris Masters demons in what has been a challenging event for him.

Alcaraz was stunned by Cameron Norrie in the opening round in 2025 and has only once reached the last eight, where he retired injured back in 2022.

ATP Finals — November 15-22

Assuming he qualifies, Alcaraz would be making his fourth straight appearance at the ATP Finals in 2026; he also qualified in 2022, but withdrew due to injury.

He reached the final for the first time in 2025, falling to Sinner.

Davis Cup Finals — November

Alcaraz did not play the Davis Cup Finals in 2025 but could be back at the event in 2026, assuming Spain qualify.

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Novak Djokovic is the “only one” who can end the Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Grand Slam dominance, according to former doubles world No 1 Rennae Stubbs.

Alcaraz and Sinner have shared the eight majors on offer the past two years with each winning four titles and you have to go back to the 2023 US Open for the last time a different player tasted success at the Slams.

And that player, of course, was Djokovic as he won his record-extending 24th title at Flushing Meadows, but even he has been a distant third to the top two this year as he failed to reach a final at the biggest four events on the tennis calendar.

The former world No 1 fell at the semi-final stage at the four Grand Slams, losing twice to Sinner, once to Alcaraz and once to Alexander Zverev, but he did get one big win, and that was at the Australian Open when he defeated Alcaraz in the quarter-final.

But it was one-way traffic after that and Alcaraz and Sinner will head to next year’s season-opening Grand Slam at Melbouren Park as the clear favourites.

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When it was put to Stubbs on The Rennae Stubbs podcast that it is “hard to imagine anybody, but them barring any sort of serious injury or a series of upsets” that can win a big tournament, the four-time women’s Grand Slam doubles champion replied: “I have one at the Australian Open and I said it over and over. I do think that Novak is setting his sights.

“I don’t think he cared about the ATP Finals, clearly, he didn’t play it. I think he’s going to put all this time and effort into busting his a** one last time to win down in Australia.

“I think he’s the only one who can rock the cherry cart for Jannik and Carlos. Carlos has never made the finals there. Novak crushed him down there last year; one set was really good, but Novak was overall better.

“So I think Novak goes in there going, I know I can potentially get to a semi-final there, and I know I have maybe one more last grasp.”

But Stubbs does add that it is hard to look past Sinner to win the title as the Italian will be gunning for three consecutive Australian Open crowns next year.

“I don’t think he’d beat someone like Jannik on that court, I think Jannik is just too good on that court anymore. But it might be the one place that Novak can you know [win],” she said.

The Australian added: “There are also injuries, I mean, an injury can happen to a player, and you know, there’s been a couple of players that have slipped through and won a Grand Slam because the top players got injured.”

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Carlos Alcaraz may hold a 10-6 lead in his head-to-head battles with his great rival Jannik Sinner, but a leading coach has suggested the Italian is trailing in this compelling battle.

Alcaraz and Sinner have dominated men’s tennis for the past two years, as they have shared the last eight Grand Slam titles between them.

The chasm in class between the ‘Big 2’ and the rest appears to be widening, with the chasing pack showing no signs of getting any closer to the two players who contested the deciding match at the ATP Finals earlier this month.

Yet when assessing which of the duo is the best, opinion will always be divided.

In the opinion of leading coach Patrick Mouratoglou, there is no clear winner in a head-to-head that always serves up tight matches when they meet on court.

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Yet the former coach of Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka has dismissed the theory that Alcaraz is a step ahead of Sinner due to his winning record in their battles.

“We have a World No 1 named Carlos Alcaraz, who has defeated his nemesis Jannik Sinner in 10 out of their 16 matches,” he wrote on LinkedIn.

“Alcaraz leads their Grand Slam final head-to-head 3-1, and 4-2 in total Grand Slam matches. However, Sinner consistently overplays every other opponent on the Tour and has nearly tied Alcaraz in the ATP rankings despite missing three months of play.

“He is often pictured as the ‘real’ No 1, which leads to this perception, even more after his dominance at the ATP Finals. They say Sinner is better than anyone else, but Alcaraz is the best of the two. Sorry, but I don’t buy it.

“Even though Carlos leads their head-to-head, their matches are extremely close. The Roland-Garros final was decided by tiny details, nothing suggested that one player didn’t have the answers for the other. Technically, tactically, mentally, they are equals.

“What truly separates them is how they dominate everyone else. Jannik does it with focus, margin, and no fluctuations. Against most players, there’s simply nothing they can do.

“Carlos does it differently, with creativity, risk, explosive winners, and sometimes more ups and downs. But when he raises his level, no one can live with him.”

Mouratoglou’s suggestion that Alcaraz is close to being unstoppable when he is at his best was backed up by his thrilling dismantling of Sinner in the US Open final in September, but the truth is we will cannot answer who is the best of the duo right now.

It may take a decade to come up with a final decision on whether Alcaraz or Sinner was the best of this era of tennis and by then, it is safe to assume these two all-time greats of the game will have taken their Grand Slam win tally into double figures.

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