This week’s news roundup covers record U.S. participation, WTA schedule reform, Serena’s possible return, Alcaraz’s new racket, and other moves in the sport.
Tennis participation in U.S. rose to high of 27.3 million in 2025: The U.S. Tennis Association said Wednesday that 27.3 million people in the U.S. played the sport in 2025, reaching a new high in its sixth consecutive year of growth. Full Story: ESPN
Women’s tennis tour seeks ‘meaningful improvements’ to tournament schedule by 2027: WTA Tour chair Valerie Camillo sent a letter to players and tournament organizers Tuesday, later issued as a news release, in which she announced the Tour Architecture Council. It will review when events are held, the rules around which tournaments are mandatory and the penalties for players that miss those events. Full Story: The Athletic
‘People shouldn’t be dying just for existing’: The two-time Grand Slam singles champion is among a host of American athletes who have voiced their displeasure with US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Full Story: BBC
Serena Williams’ tennis comeback: When she can play: Serena Williams, considered by many the greatest women’s tennis player of all time, will be eligible to compete on the WTA Tour and at Grand Slams later this month. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has listed Williams, 44, on its roster of reinstated tennis players, with an eligibility date of Feb. 22, 2026. Full Story: The Athletic
PlayReplay Electronic Line Calling Systems Gets Real-Time Silver Status: Electronic Line Calling systems are now classified as either Gold, Silver or Bronze under evaluation procedures announced by the ITF in July 2025. The assessment of the PlayReplay system as meeting silver-level criteria for real-time line calls follows a rigorous multi-stage testing process. Full Story: ITF
Carlos Alcaraz and Babolat Launch New Tennis Racket Line: This week, Babolat announced the ninth generation of Carlos Alcaraz’s Pure Aero racket. Even better, Babolat unveiled the Carlitos Junior range of rackets and bags. Full Story: Sports Illustrated
Boast Signs JJ Wolf, Bolstering Tennis Presence: Boast reentered the tennis space in 2024. Now the Florida-based brand is back on the singles tour, signing American JJ Wolf. The partnership will see Wolf wear Boast apparel during tournaments and training and collaborate with the brand on content. Full Story: Forbes
Mexican Open tennis tournament removes meat from player restaurant due to doping concerns: The Mexican Open in Acapulco will not serve meat in its player restaurant during the 2026 edition, to assuage concerns over doping contamination. A tour document circulated among tennis players said that the ATP 500 tournament “will provide high-quality protein options that do not include meat”, in order to “minimize the risk of contamination with prohibited anti-doping substances”. Full Story: The Athletic
Lindsay Davenport, Mary Joe Fernandez watch sons win NCAA debut together 30 years after their Roland Garros triumph: The ITA Men’s National Team Indoor Championship was a showcase for several family members of past and present tour-level competitors. Full Story: Tennis
Call for tennis players to have say in cup future: The article explains that Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association has ended the long-running Winter County Cup, an indoor team event where players represent their counties. The LTA says the costs are too high and funds should be redirected to broader participation initiatives, while grassroots players are campaigning to have a say in the competition’s future. Full Story: BBC
Gagosian to Exhibit Jonas Wood Tennis Court Series in Beverly Hills: Gagosian will present an exhibition of new tennis court paintings by Jonas Wood, opening March 12 in Beverly Hills. The show marks the gallery’s tenth exhibition of Wood’s work and its first staged in Los Angeles. Full Story: Design Scene
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 2/23-28 | Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships | ATP 500 | UAE |
| 2/23-28 | Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC | ATP 500 | Mexico |
| 2/23-3/1 | Merida Open | WTA 500 | Mexico |
| 2/23-3/1 | ATX Open | WTA 250 | USA |
