The International Tennis Hall of Fame announced its nominees for the Class of 2027, with Serena Williams’ absence from the ballot generating almost as much interest as the candidates themselves. Elsewhere, changes to anti-doping regulations are on the horizon, the fields are set for the WTA Finals and the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup team. London’s public tennis courts are facing a new problem with automated booking bots.
Ash Barty headlines International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Class of 2027 nominees; fan voting runs through Oct. 25: Former world No. 1 Ash Barty of Australia leads the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Class of 2027 nominees. Barty is joined on the player ballot by Juan Martín del Potro of Argentina, the 2009 U.S. Open champion, and Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, a four-time major champion. Both return to the ballot from previous years. Full Story: What’s Up NewP
Which 2027 Tennis Hall of Fame Nominees Have a Solid Case?: The headline is that Serena Williams, who initially stepped away from competitive tennis in 2022 and could have made a case for eligibility, wasn’t on the ballot. Surely, that was her preference. And the obvious inference is that she will continue her comeback in 2027. Perhaps she doesn’t want to muck up a potential U.S. Open preparation with a Hall of Fame induction. Perhaps she is waiting to be inducted alongside her sister. But it makes for a bit of intrigue. Full Story: Sports Illustrated
How tennis doping rules on whereabouts and contamination will change under 2027 WADA rules: The anti-doping codes taking effect in January 2027, which affects the whereabouts rules that govern how and when players are tested. Tennis players who argue that they have tested positive for a banned substance due to contamination could also have more recourse — and could receive reduced suspensions. Full Story: The Athletic
Tennis player suspended for 20 years describes impact of fixing ban: Quentin Folliot, a French tennis player serving a 20-year ban for match-fixing, says he faces “nothing but emptiness” after devoting his life to the sport he can no longer play. Folliot, who previously denied the charges, has admitted to fixing four matches but disputes the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) December 2025 finding that he was a central figure in a network recruiting other players. Full Story: The Athletic
Gauff, Keys, Li, Townsend, Melichar-Martinez to Represent U.S. in BJK Cup vs. Hungary in Delray: The USTA announced that Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, Ann Li, Taylor Townsend, and Nicole Melichar-Martinez have been nominated to compete for the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup Team as it takes on Hungary in a pivotal Billie Jean King Cup competition November 21-22 at the Delray Beach Tennis Center. Full Story: Racquet Sports Industry
Field is set for FAGE WTA Finals Indian Wells: The elite eight field is set for the FAGE WTA Finals Indian Wells after Czech Karolina Muchova claimed the final spot on Wednesday. Aryna Sabalenka, finalist Elena Rybakina, Linda Noskova and Elina Svitolinawill be joined by Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Mirra Andreeva and Muchova. Full Story: BNP Paribas Open
Advantage All Honour Initiatives Opening Doors for Women in Tennis: From expanding coaching networks to opening doors into leadership and officiating, tennis organisations across the world are taking action to advance gender equality, with the 2026 World Tennis Advantage All Awards highlighting the impact of their work. Full Story: ITF World Tennis
Elina Svitolina Confirms End of Her Marriage to Fellow Tennis Player Gaël Monfils: The Ukrainian tennis player, 32, opened up in an emotional Instagram post on Monday, Oct. 18, while confirming the end of her marriage with the former French tennis player, 40, after tying the knot in July 2021. Full Story: People
How accepting the lows of tennis helped Ann Li reach her peak – and keep going: Ann Li reached a career-high of world No. 25 Monday, after beating Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1 of the past two years, at the Wuhan Open in China. Full Story: The Athletic
London’s tennis players cry fault as bots snap up court bookings: ‘Sniper bots’ that trawl reservation websites are distorting the fight for slots on the capital’s 1,400 public courts. Full Story: Financial Times My thoughts on this are coming in a future post.
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 10/26-11/1 | Toray Pan Pacific Open | WTA 500 | Japan |
| 10/26-11/1 | Guangzhou Open | WTA 250 | China |
| 10/26-11/1 | Erste Bank Open | ATP 500 | Austria |
| 10/26-11/1 | Swiss Indoors Basel | ATP 500 | Switzerland |
