Empty seats in China, injury withdrawals, and Roger Federer headlines the 2026 nomination list for the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Does China Care About Tennis? Every fall, the professional tennis tours descend on China. And every fall, the same Western headlines surface: empty seats, muted atmospheres, and the inevitable question, “Does China really care about tennis?” Full Story: Racquet Magazine
China Open injury retirements lay bare tennis schedule complaints from top players: Five of Monday’s 12 matches at the ATP and WTA China Opens ended in mid-match retirements, raising more questions of the long-term sustainability of the tennis calendar.. Full Story: The Athletic
What the Top Players Want From the Four Majors: How the sports’ biggest names are pushing for better benefits, more say and a greater proportion of revenue. Full Story: Sports Illustrated
International Tennis Hall of Fame announces Class of 2026 nominees: The International Tennis Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2026 nominees. 20-time major champion Roger Federer headlines the player category alongside Juan Martin del Potro and Svetlana Kuznetsova. Journalist Mary Carillo and administrator Marshall Happer are nominees in the contributor category. Full Story: What’s Up Newport?
French Open keeps line judges for 2026 tournament: The French Open will retain human line judges for 2026, making it an outlier among tennis’ Grand Slams as others will use electronic line calling. Full Story: The Athletic
Gael Monfils says he will retire at end of 2026 season: Perennial crowd favorite and former world No. 6 Gael Monfils says he will retire at the end of the 2026 tennis season. At 39, the French veteran renowned for his spectacular style of play and athleticism announced Wednesday on social media that “the year ahead will be my last as a professional tennis player.” Full Story: ESPN
USTA announces teams for 2025 ITF Masters 75-, 80-, & 85-and-over World Team Championships: The players who will represent the United States at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Masters 75-, 80- and 85-and-over World Team Championships have been announced. The event will be held from October 5 to 10 on red clay courts in Bol, Croatia. The tournament is the super-senior equivalent of the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup competitions, where top American tennis players represent their country in the 75-, 80-, 85-, and over age groups. Full Story: USTA
Niki Pilić obituary: The Croatian tennis player who found himself at the centre of the 1973 player boycott of the Wimbledon Championships. Full Story: The Guardian
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 10/6-12 | Dongfeng Voyah · Wuhan Open | WTA 1000 | China |
| 10/1-12 | Rolex Shanghai Masters | ATP 1000 | China |
