American women dominated the 2025 majors, Sabalenka and Kyrgios set up a Battle of the Sexes, and tennis finds fresh voices, partnerships, and brands.
WTA Tour Finals was a tennis showcase for American women’s year of evolution: America’s top women’s tennis players have spent 2025 doing what they have done for a while: delivering when the lights shine brightest. They won the first two Grand Slams, with Madison Keys taking the Australian Open and Coco Gauff the French. Amanda Anisimova reached the Wimbledon final before she and Jessica Pegula made the U.S. Open semifinals. Anisimova made the final, too, meaning an American woman contested all four major finals of 2025. Full Story: The Athletic
Aryna Sabalenka to play Nick Kyrgios in ‘Battle of the Sexes’: Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka will play former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios in a “Battle of the Sexes” exhibition match in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Dec. 28. Full Story: ESPN
Why ‘Battle of the Sexes’ exhibition is polarising opinion: BBC Sport has learned the court will be modified to level the playing field between the pair. According to organisers Evolve, data shows women players move about 9% slower on average than men. Therefore, the dimensions of Sabalenka’s side of the court will be 9% smaller. Each player will receive only one serve, aimed at restricting Kyrgios’ power and speed advantage. Full Story: BBC
Tennis Stars Encircle Grand Slams Over Prize Money And Player Welfare: It has been a tumultuous time for the tennis authorities. While the finishing line is in sight this year, the pile of broken bodies and complaints from the game’s elite has been a constant background noise to the action. The players know their worth. The Grand Slams have listened. The ensuing silence isn’t golden for those at the top of the game and doesn’t cover the bills for the lower-ranked players at the bottom of the food chain. More big voices are speaking out to try to force the issue. Full Story: Forbes
Alizé Cornet named French captain for Billie Jean King Cup: Alizé Cornet has been named the French captain of the Billie Jean King Cup team, a few months after retiring as a player. The French tennis federation announced the nomination, saying Cornet stood out from other candidates because of her “investment in French tennis, her profile, her motivation, and her availability.” Full Story: ESPN
Rohan Bopanna’s tennis career hinged on yoga: It almost sounds like the start of a stand-up comic’s routine. So this middle-aged professional tennis player with a gray beard hobbles into a yoga studio, and asks if they can save his career. Full Story: The Athletic
Racquet Sports Industry magazine acquired by Atlanta’s New South Publishing: Racquet Sports Industry, the largest racquet sports trade magazine in the world, has been covering tennis and racquet sport businesses for 52 years. The magazine was recently acquired by Atlanta’s New South Publishing. RSI magazine was part of the magazine package that Tennis Channel acquired in a previous transaction. The Tennis Channel continues to own and operate Tennis.com. Full Story: USTA
Tennis Deserves Better Than Worthless Metrics: If you happen to be watching an ATP match, you will get served a Performance Rating or Shot Quality metric, a graphic that tells you nothing that the scoreline does not. Full Story: Defector
TikTok Tennis Creator Network launches at Nitto ATP Finals: The ATP and TikTok have officially launched the Tennis Creator Network, a global creator initiative that debuts this week at the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals. The programme brings together a selection of dynamic TikTok creators from around the world, giving them unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the season finale in Turin and opportunities to connect fans with the sport’s biggest stars. Full Story: ATP
ATP & Spotify unveil global content collaboration: The ATP will team up with Spotify to distribute original tennis programming that brings fans closer to the sport. The collaboration kicks off ahead of the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, the ATP Tour’s season-ending championship, with episodic content on Spotify and continues through the 2026 season. One of the first projects will be a behind-the-scenes documentary on the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals, set to debut in December. Full Story: ATP
New logos, please: The ATP becomes latest tennis org to rebrand in 2025: The ATP Tour has unveiled a new logo that’s “simplified and reimagined for the digital age,” making it the latest major tennis organization to debut a fresh visual identity in 2025. Full Story: Tennis
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 11/9-16 | Nitto ATP Finals | ATP Finals | Italy |
