(Getty/Ian MacNicol) Tennis is always on the lookout for the next big thing, the next prodigy. This is especially so at the beginning of a new season. In 2026, things are no different. We are fortunate in Australia to have the majority of early-season events on our doorstep, meaning we can keep a close eye on who might be ready to take that rankings leap. One player already making some waves on the WTA tour is 17-year-old Austrian Lilli Tagger. After watching one practice ses

Who is Rafael Jódar? As the 2026 tennis season kicks off, Rafael Jódar is quickly proving that his transition from junior standout and top college player to full-time professional was the right move. The 19-year-old Spaniard’s recent performances, particularly at this week’s ATP Challenger 125 in Canberra is highlighting his ascent and growing presence on the men’s tour. Born on 17 September 2006 in Madrid, Jódar developed into one of the world’s elite junior players early in

(Getty/William West) Ah, yes, it's that time of the year when Australian Open wildcards are passionately debated at length. 'Why has this player been offered a wildcard?' 'Why has that player been overlooked?' They are often questions asked by the Australian tennis public, which actually opens the door for healthy discussion. Unlike Thanasi Kokkinakis, who has activated his protected ranking to compete in the 2026 Australian Open main draw, Nick Kyrgios could no longer rely o

In professional tennis, long-term progress is rarely accidental. It is shaped by clear structure, informed planning, and the ability to manage the realities of life on tour. Samuel Guarin built his coaching career around those principles, working internationally across the ATP, WTA, and ITF circuits while supporting players through the technical, tactical, and organisational demands of modern professional tennis. Over the years, Guarin has accumulated extensive international

Call me a glass-half-empty person in this instance, but the plight of Australian professional tennis is staring us in the face ahead of the 2026 season and not just for this year, but for possibly the next decade and more potentially. Our longest male Grand Slam champion singles drought will go into its 24th year in 2026 (also this year marks 50 years since an Australian won our home slam) and our longest Davis Cup winning drought will go into its 23rd year. Apart from Alex d

Having spent all of 2025 on tour around the world attending 23 tournaments with the Aussie tennis players, always my starting point at each destination, I have seen more of Australia's number one-ranked tennis player (18/23 tournaments) up close than any other year i have covered tennis, so that experience alone also has further shaped my thoughts. In effect, like all professional tennis players out there, Alex is largely representing himself, except for team competitions whe

(Getty/Brendon Thorne) After a decade involved with Tennis Australia, American-Australian business executive Jayne Hrdlicka has served her final year as Chair. The 64-year-old will be replaced by Chris Harrop, who joined the Board two years ago. Her work with Bain & Company, Qantas, Jetstar, and other organisations proved enough experience and expertise for Tennis Australia to give her the nod. HEAD has partnered with the Kooyong Classic for 2026. HEAD will be on-site with a

There were plenty of empty seats during Spain's quarter-final tie against Czechia in Bologna. (Photo: The First Serve) As the Italians conquered Austria, Belgium and Spain without dropping a match en route to their third successive Davis Cup title, the BolognaFiere stadium was rocking thanks to a football-like atmosphere that can only be replicated by a select handful of nations. But what did we actually expect? The Finals were held in Bologna at a 10,000-seat arena. Fans of

(Getty) Grace loves tennis. She loves to practice, compete and socialise with her friends. The only thing she loved more than tennis was her mum, and when she passed away suddenly, all of the love she had for tennis disappeared.  Grace and her two sisters grew up in Sri Lanka — a loving household that shared a love of family and tennis. The girls would have lessons and play with their friends during the week, and then the whole family would play together on the weekends. The

Team Australia celebrate after defeating Brazil and Portugal in the BJK Cup qualifiers. (Getty/William West) On a rainy Sunday morning, a spattering of fans made the steep journey up the hill from Hobart's CBD to the Domain Tennis Centre. The road up to the grounds may not look like much, but once fans arrive in the stadium, they are greeted by what is undoubtedly the most picturesque tennis arena in Australia. Framed by Mount Wellington and the ever-present cruise ships, the

(Getty/Clive Brunskill) Love it or hate it, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have become the present and future of men's tennis, as between them, they have won nine of the last 10 majors, including the last eight. The last three majors of 2025, being the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, saw the pair face off in the finals, and now we're at the stage where, barring injury, it feels as if these two will be in every final for the next decade. Some may find it boring, but

(Getty/Zhizhao Wu) Bernard Tomic is one of the most polarising players in Australian tennis history, but for some reason, I can't help rooting for him. Yes, he has endured his fair share of controversy over the years, whether it be his counting millions quotes or barbs at the hierarchy of the sport to bring the focus away from on-court results, but let's be honest, they have been nonexistent for a while now. It is hard to believe that 14 years have passed since his incredible

(Getty/Clive Brunskill) Season 2025 has come to an end for Alex de Minaur, and it comes with a taste of both familiarity and the new. A bold run to the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals ended with a 13 th consecutive defeat to eventual champion Jannik Sinner. In a match that had its moments for the Australian, break points early and strong serving, with an eye perhaps to what it might take to break through against what has been the great stumbling block for the nation's hi

(Getty) The packed schedule of professional tennis has been a hot topic among players, fans, and the media. Those finishing after the ATP Finals this week have around six weeks until the Australian summer, while those playing Davis Cup have just over a month. But there's one city in the world that has no concerns about a crowded calendar.  Since January 6, this location has had a men's professional tennis tournament every single week of 2025. Shop with a 15% storewide discoun

Holger Rune limps off court with an Achilles injury at the Stockholm Open. (Getty/Linnea Rheborg) A young aspiring tennis player starts making waves in the tennis world, only to get hit with a serious injury that brings them to a screeching halt. It's a tale as old as time, yet it seems to be happening more frequently. Why is this so?  Most recently, 22-year-old Holger Rune, who sits at No.15 in the ATP rankings, suffered a terrible Achilles injury during his semi-final at th

Cousins Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rindekrnech produced one of tennis' greatest stories in Shanghai. (Getty/Lintao Zhang) Coming into the final tournaments on the tennis calendar, 2025 has been another memorable year on the ATP and WTA tours.  From one of the greatest Grand Slam finals of all time to the lowest-ranked player ever to win a Masters 1000 title, let's roll back the year as we revisit the best stories of the 2025 tennis season. Maddie's fairytale run The last ti

João Fonseca soaks in his maiden Basel 500 title. (Getty/Fabrice Coffrini) Brazilian teenager João Fonseca has concluded his first season on the ATP Tour. A season that was one of the most hyped in recent memory – thanks mainly to the way he finished off last season, and blasted out of the 2025 gates. He recently announced via social media: "Wrapping up the season incredibly proud of the work accomplished. So grateful for everything that happened this year, full of experience

Italy celebrate back-to-back Davis Cup titles (Getty/Clive Brunskill) The Davis Cup has long been a vexed topic amongst tennis fans. After Switzerland's 2014 triumph in the competition, the 'Big Three' were rarely seen, leading to a push for change to make the event more manageable for players amidst an increasingly demanding tennis season.   This led to a format change, removing home and away ties in the World Group and adopting a neutral round-robin format, much to the cons

Rafael Nadal was celebrated on Court Philippe-Chatrier with a permanent plaque. (Getty/Clive Brunskill) When sports teams lift the championship trophy, immediately, even before the last piece of confetti can hit the ground, we start talking about the D word. No, not that D word, I'm talking about 'Dynasty'. It's as if we can't allow the team to enjoy the moment before we start discussing the future. We essentially dismiss the notion that winning one title is an accomplishment

(Getty Images - Max Slovencik) Despite remaining winless in 12 attempts against Jannik Sinner after his latest defeat in Vienna, how fortunate is Australian tennis to have Alex de Minaur. My year travelling the globe from Melbourne following the tour for The First Serve has coincided with the 26-year-old Aussie having the most match wins (54) in all formats combined since he turned pro back in 2015. I have been up close and personal with the Demon more than any other year, be