I decided to lead with a conspiracy theory this week, but the real story is how tennis fails to retain fan attention for the end-of-year Asian swing. The ATP tour filmed some Taskmaster-inspired shorts that I am here for.
Are courts being slowed to aid Alcaraz and Sinner? Roger Federer set tongues wagging last month when he said tournament directors like uniformly slow courts because they increase the chance of a final between superstars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Full Story: BBC
Professional tennis is grasping for the narrative it needs to create drama for late-season tournaments: Sports seasons are supposed to follow a rhythm and a pattern. Like a teapot on a slow boil, they are supposed to heat up gradually over many months, riding a rising tension that reaches its crescendo in its final weeks, as players or teams slug it out for that last jewel. That’s not happening so much in tennis these days.. Full Story: The Athletic
How the Hall of Fame Nominees Stack Up: Roger Federer is, of course, a shoo-in for the honor, but the other two player candidates are more complex cases. Full Story: Sports Illustrated
New program supports players accused of doping, match-fixing: Tennis players involved in doping or match-fixing investigations are now eligible for free legal help, confidential counseling or money to test products they have taken that might have led to a positive drug test. Full Story: ESPN
The Australian Open’s new Million Dollar 1 Point Slam: The Australian Open is hosting a pre-tournament exhibition that features Alcaraz and 21 other pros facing off against 10 amateurs. Each match lasts just one point, with rock-paper-scissors deciding who serves or receives. The winner of each point advances, and the final will be played on Rod Laver Arena—where the ultimate winner will walk away with the $1 million prize.. Full Story: Tennis
All fluffed up: why modern balls are sparking injury worries and frustration in tennis: One of many significant challenges in elite tennis is adjusting to the differing conditions each week, including the constantly changing balls. Different tournaments have their own contracts with ball manufacturers, which present other issues. Injuries are often attributed to players having to adjust to different types of balls. Full Story: The Guardian
Carlos Alcaraz reportedly set to unveil custom logo at ATP Finals: The design is more than a year in the making, after Alcaraz signed a contract extension with Nike last spring. Full Story: Tennis
Artist Erik Parker launches new portraits of tennis stars: Erik Parker isn’t known for his backhand, but he’s taking a swing at tennis. The German artist has painted nine bespoke portraits of male Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) players, which will be revealed at the Rolex Paris Masters. . Full Story: Artsy
How one woman strung together a grassroots tennis community in Queens, New York: Meet a woman who has spent the past few years tirelessly helping grow her neighborhood’s tennis presence. With her leadership, the two public park courts attract crowds of up to 20 people in the early mornings and late afternoons, and their WhatsApp group hosts approximately 120 members. Full Story: USTA Editorial Note: This is a textbook example of what I call a “Tennis Instigator.” We need more of these community heroes.
USA wins W75 & 85, Silver in W80: Serious tennis players set their sights on world championships, regardless of their age. Full Story: Senior Tennis Blog
ATP Masters Tasks: The ATP tour shot a couple of “Masters Task” shorts at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo. As a fan of the official Taskmaster show and all the unofficial tribute offshoots… I am here for that. Legit, I think the professional tours should partner with Taskmaster to produce a year-long series through prominent stops on the tour. It would be legitimately good television that might draw new fans to the sport.
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 10/13-19 | Kinoshita Group Japan Open | WTA 250 | Japan |
| 10/13-19 | Ningbo Open | WTA 500 | China |
| 10/13-19 | Almaty Open | ATP 250 | Kazakhstan |
| 10/13-19 | BNP Paribas Fortis European Open | ATP 250 | Belgium |
| 10/13-19 | BNP Paribas Nordic Open | ATP 250 | Sweden |
