Get ready for the 2024 Australian Open with Nick Kyrgios has joined ESPN’s commentary team. The Ukraine-U.S. Davis Cup qualifier will be played in Lithuania. The ATP and WTA have implemented new match scheduling regulations intended to curtail late night matches.
The key storylines to watch at the 2024 Australian Open: It might be cold or even snowing where you live, but it’s summertime in the Southern Hemisphere and that means just one thing: It’s time to get ready for long nights and overcaffeinated mornings because the 2024 Australian Open is upon us. Full Story: ESPN
Not just tennis: how the Australian Open became the ‘biggest’ event of the summer: The Australian Open’s mass appeal has seen several new brands sign up as sponsors in 2024, including Louis Vuitton and New Balance. Others, including Canadian Club, are marking 10-years of “partnering” (marketing speak for sponsoring) with the event. Full Story: The Guardian
ESPN Welcomes Tennis Star Nick Kyrgios as Guest Commentator for the 2024 Australian Open: “On behalf of ESPN, we are thrilled to have Nick join the on-air team in Australia. He brings an electric mix of experience and enthusiasm and pedigree and passion for tennis,” said Mark Gross, ESPN senior vice president of production and remote events. “His candor and genuine rapport with fans, and his first-hand knowledge facing some of the players he’ll be commenting on, promise to inject a dynamic and authentic edge to our 2024 Australian Open coverage.” Full Story: ESPN
Lithuania to host Ukraine-U.S. Davis Cup qualifier due to war: Ukraine was supposed to host the U.S. team for the best-of-five series, but fighting continues in the war that began when Russia invaded in February 2022. U.S. captain Bob Bryan announced Friday that his roster will include Taylor Fritz, Sebastian Korda, Christopher Eubanks, Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram. Fritz is the highest-ranked American man at No. 10 in this week’s ATP rankings. Full Story: ESPN
ATP & WTA announce new match schedule regulations to minimize late finishes: The ATP and WTA have collaborated on new scheduling rules to reduce the number of late match finishes on the Tours. A strategic review on tennis balls is also underway, with the aim of increasing quality and consistency of balls during tournament swings from 2025 onward. The initiatives directly result from player input and aim to boost the tournament experience for players and fans. Full Story: ATP
Total prize money at BNP Paribas Open rises to $19 million: The BNP Paribas Open is increasing its total prize money by over $1.4 million to $19 million for the two-week combined men’s and women’s tournament in the Southern California desert. Full Story: ESPN
Ons Jabeur inks sponsorship deal with Saudi fitness brand Kayanee: TOns Jabeur has “signed a new sponsorship deal” with Saudi Arabia’s fitness and wellness brand Kayanee. Jabeur had been with Lotto Sport Italia for nearly a decade, but she will now be “wearing an exclusive tennis line designed for her by Kayanee,” an integrated company established “with the goal of promoting quality of life for women.” Full Story: Sports Business Journal
Nadal’s ’07 French Open Winning Racquet Over Fed Up for Auction: Prestige Memorabilia, the global leader in tennis memorabilia, is thrilled to announce an auction featuring a remarkable piece of tennis history: Rafael Nadal’s championship point winning racket from his 2007 French Open Final victory over Roger Federer. The iconic racket was the exact racket with which Nadal won the championship point, sealing his 3rd Grand Slam title. It is expected to achieve $150,000, with bidding open online at PrestigeMemorabilia.com from January 9th to January 28th. Full Story: Racquet Sports Industry
Genie Bouchard, Jack Sock among tennis pros playing in Mission Hills pickleball slam: The event, called the Hyundai Masters, is one of four grand slam events of the year on the Carvana PPA Tour, and will feature pro pickleball stars Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters and tennis pros Genie Bouchard, Jack Sock, Donald Young and Sam Querrey, each of whom are making their PPA Tour debut. Johns and Waters each previously won a triple crown, earning gold medals in singles, doubles and mixed doubles in a masters event. Full Story: The Desert Sun
Alexander Bublik Helps Himself To Some Chips:
Novak Djokovic Tries Cricket:
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 1/14-28 | Australian Open | Grand Slam | Australia |
