This week’s tennis headlines examine Davis Cup relevance, NCAA champions, rising stars, shifting etiquette, and a new viral moment.
The annual ‘World Cup of tennis’ that players want less often: Ahead of this year’s Davis Cup Finals, the top three men in the world made the same criticism in different ways. The format of the tournament, one of the oldest team competitions in sports, gets in the way of its own ambition — starting with its yearly presence on the tennis circuit. Full Story: The Athletic
Is the Davis Cup Still Relevant? Italy claimed the title despite its top player missing the competition, while questions rose about the tournament’s future. Full Story: Sports Illustrated
Champions Crowned at the 2025 NCAA Tennis Individual Championships: Michael Zheng of Columbia became the first man since Steve Johnson in 2011 and 2012 to repeat as the NCAA Men’s Tennis Singles Champion. He is now also the winningest men’s player in NCAA Singles Championship history. Reese Brantmeier of North Carolina won the women’s Championship. She is currently ranked in the Top 450 in the world. Full Story: ITA
College tennis star behind prize money lawsuit, Reese Brantmeier, wins NCAA championship: Reese Brantmeier couldn’t help but have a laugh at the irony of her winning the NCAA women’s tennis singles championship. The University of North Carolina player is the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the NCAA, which aims to overturn the rule prohibiting tennis players from collecting prize money above $10,000 per year at professional tournaments. Full Story: The Athletic
Why Women’s Tennis Can’t Win Sabalenka Vs Kyrgios Battle Of The Sexes: Before Aryna Sabalenka takes the court against Nick Kyrgios in an exhibition called the “Battle of the Sexes,” women’s tennis has already lost. By agreeing to play the ATP Tour’s part-time player and full-time bad boy, Sabalenka is making a mockery of women’s tennis and minimizing fundamental inequities. The Battle of the Sexes match is December 28, in Dubai. Full Story: Forbes
Elli Mandlik clinches Australian Open return in wild card play-off: Daughter of two-time champion Hana Mandlikova, Mandlik has rocketed up 80 spots in the rankings since switching coaches in September. She won the USTA’s annual Australian Open Wild Card Challenge, edging countrywoman Claire Liu in a series of tournaments across a five-week stretch this fall. Full Story: Tennis
Coco Gauff surprises a New Orleans tennis clinic at courts refurbished in her honor: The 10 courts at Joe Brown Park were refurbished earlier this year as part of the US Open Legacy Initiative, launched in recognition of Coco Gauff’s 2023 US Open women’s singles title. As part of the initiative, the USTA pledged $3 million–equivalent to Gauff’s prize money in 2023–to refurbish public tennis courts across the country. The Gauff family handpicked the New Orleans project due to their extensive ties to the city. Full Story: USTA
How mainstream media is reshaping tennis etiquette: For most of its history, tennis has presented itself as a sport defined by order—exclusive, elegant and bound to tradition. But today, as tennis enters a surge in global popularity, its polished image is cracking open. What’s emerging is loud, emotional and — depending on who you ask—either revitalizing or eroding the sport. Full Story: The Guilfordian
Working within the traditional framework, tennis players made their point in 2025: From frosty handshakes to trash talk, some of the game’s best used the net and microphone as effectively as their racquets this season. Full Story: Tennis
Coaching Yourself During a Match: Keep your ideas simple. Watch the ball, expect every shot to come back, and try to execute your strategy. Repeat this thought over and over again and try not to get disappointed, frustrated, and emotional about what just happened. Play the next point the best that you can and remind yourself that a tennis match will have many ups and downs. Full Story: Long Island Tennis
Serena Williams breaks the internet with photos of herself teaching her 2-year-old daughter tennis: The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion showed Adira forehand form as the toddler balanced a lower-compression red ball on her tiny racquet. Full Story: Tennis
This Week in Professional Tennis
There are no professional tour events scheduled this week. (Yes, I know there is a WTA 125, but I only list 250s and above.)
