Tennis is churning with controversy, rivalry, fashion, lawsuits, and even a baby announcement, offering a whirlwind snapshot of the sport this week.
How the kingmaker of men’s tennis sent the sport into turmoil by trying to save it: Andrea Gaudenzi’s two-week ATP Masters 1000s were meant to save tennis. Full Story: The Athletic
Novak Djokovic says ‘cloud will follow’ Jannik Sinner after positive steroids test: Jannik Sinner was ranked No. 1 in the world when he tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March 2024. Novak Djokovic said the way the case was handled raised “so many red flags.’’ Full Story: USA Today
What Happened to Swedish Tennis?: The country was once a force, with Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander leading the way. Now, none of its players are highly ranked. Full Story: The Athletic
Elena Rybakina declines photo with women’s tennis chief at WTA Tour Finals trophy ceremony: New WTA Tour Finals champion Elena Rybakina declined a photo with WTA Tour chief executive Portia Archer during Saturday’s trophy ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the wake of the tour’s investigation into her coach, Stefano Vukov. Full Story: The Athletic
Novak Djokovic’s Athens Title Has Added Significance: The tennis great has moved his family to Greece as he faces criticism in Serbia. Full Story: Sports Illustrated
USTA Sues NYC Over Queens Casino Plan: The USTA claims the Adams administration aims to break the terms of its long-term lease in order to help aid the casino project backed by Mets owner Steve Cohen. Full Story: The City
IBM and Andre Agassi Sports Firm Team up on AI Tennis App: IBM and the retired tennis superstar’s sports entertainment company collaborate on a new Watsonx-powered platform for racket sports. Full Story: AI Business
Tennis giants Sinner and Alcaraz talk rivalry, friendship: For two years now Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz – colloquially known as ‘Sincaraz’ – have dominated the men’s tennis landscapes. This week at the season-ending championship in Turin the prestigious World No.1 title is on the line as the duo aim to deliver a gripping finale in the latest chapter of this rapidly gripping rivalry. They’ve been speaking with CNN’s Amanda Davies about their burgeoning rivalry, mutual admiration… and yes, their year in hair! Full Story: CNN
Sinner, Alcaraz & Co. feature in GQ: Six of the world’s best tennis players swapped baseline battles for high-fashion frames in the lead-up to the Nitto ATP Finals, trading kits for couture at a GQ photo shoot in downtown Turin. Full Story: ATP
Padel is growing in the U.S as investment booms. Is its mission to rival tennis realistic? David Eisen, one of the newest investors in the North American Pro Padel League (PPL), believes he is at the start of a revolution that will upend the existing order of racket sports. Full Story: The Athletic
Ons Jabeur announces pregnancy: Tennis’s Minister of Happiness is welcoming her own bundle of joy this spring. Full Story: Tennis
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 11/18-23 | Davis Cup Finals | ITF Championship | Italy |
Editorial Note: The extent to which the upcoming Davis Cup Finals were absent from the newswires this week stuns me.
