A tennis news roundup covering breakaway tour plans, Australian Open controversies, player welfare, college tennis pipelines, and the sport’s evolving future.
Players’ group’s $1bn breakaway tour plan pushes tennis to brink of civil war: In a direct challenge to the ATP and WTA tours, the Professional Tennis Players Association has developed a new blueprint for the sport, Future Tennis, that was sent to more than 20 investment banks and financial advisory firms on Tuesday. Full Story: The Guardian
Jim Courier weighs in as AO heat rule sparks debate: The former No. 1 backs the controversial roof closure after a cramping Jannik Sinner survived a momentum swing against Eliot Spizzirri. Full Story: Tennis
Rising tennis stars feel at home at the Australian Open, a tournament of tennis diasporas: Smaller tennis nations, which do not receive the investment or carry the institutional weight of the Grand Slam countries and other powers with multiple major winners, are ready to throw their support behind their players whenever they arrive on the biggest stages. Full Story: The New York Times
One-Point Slam winner Jordan Smith on life after beating tennis’ greats to $670,000: A tennis coach from Sydney just become Australia’s newest millionaire. Life, it turns out, will never be the same again for Jordan Smith. Full Story: CNN
How college tennis became a Grand Slam incubator and took over the Australian Open: During the middle weekend of this Australian Open, Melbourne Park has turned into a convention of former NCAA champions and standouts. Full Story: The Athletic
The Tennis Ball’s Biggest Critic Thinks “They’re Getting Better”: Around this time last year, Giri Nathan wrote about how many ATP players hated the tennis balls used on tour. Chief among those critics was Daniil Medvedev, who said the allegedly inferior balls moved more slowly through the air, undermining his counterpunching style and leaving him feeling “zero pleasure of being on the court.” A year later, he sounds a lot happier. Full Story: The Defector
GSPDP Announces 2026 Player Grant Recipients: The ITF-operated Grand Slam Player Development Programme (GSPDP) has awarded 65 with Grand Slam Player Grants. The programme, which was established in 1986 by the found Grand Slams together with the ITF, aims to provide players from underrepresented nations and regions with greater access to competitive pathways an international level, including Grand Slams. Full Story: ITF
Players at ‘high risk’ as tennis chases sun: Nearly 85% of professional tennis tournaments are held outdoors, and some players are estimated to train or compete in the direct sun for as much as 400 hours per year. This means they are at major risk of high UV exposure, which can lead to eye damage and the development of skin cancers. Full Story: BBC
Pushing the Boundaries of Tennis Clothes: Arriving at her first match at the Australian Open, Naomi Osaka wore couture designs with athletic wear. Was it a sign of outfits to come? Full Story: The New York Times
Drew Brees and Tennis Channel Founder Launch New Racket Sport: Typti is a cross between tennis and pickleball, played on a pickleball court, and a group of 80+ celebrity investors are backing its rollout. Full Story: Front Office Sports
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 1/18-2/1 | Australian Open | Grand Slam | Australia |
