(Getty) "I don't need you anymore!" That was the greeting I received last month from a young student whom I had worked with for around three months. "OK, no problem. You have it all worked out?' I replied: "Yes, dad and I bought a ball machine and realised we don't need to spend all this money on lessons when I can just use the ball machine any time I want for as long as I want". I filled that spot the next day and did not give it another thought. I did, however, think about

(Getty/Minas Panagiotakis) In August 2024, Australia's Alexei Popyrin produced a stunning result that surprised many in the tennis world when he claimed the Montreal Masters, a 1000-level event, despite his modest world ranking of No.62 at the time. The win catapulted him to No. 23 and secured his seeding for this year's Australian Open. The shockwaves of that win were twofold. It got people thinking about the path of the next generation, and just how open it might be (seemin

Dane Sweeny at the 2024 Australian Open. (Getty/Martin Keep) The first month of the Australian Pro Tour has concluded across four cities around the country, establishing some stellar results for both homegrown talent and players from abroad.   Having been involved in the commentary for Tennis Australia on beIN Sports across the opening month in 2025, the grit and determination on show have been exemplary.   Players fight tooth and nail for any ranking point they can get their

(Getty/Mustafa Yalcin) The path for a newcomer on the WTA tour today looks very different from a decade ago. The trajectory of a tennis player to the pro tour has changed exponentially, not to mention the tour and everything that comes along with it. So just how different was the circuit for a WTA newcomer 10 years ago?  Back then, the typical trajectory for a pro WTA player included progressing through the junior ITF level, then onto the professional ITF circuit, and working

Naomi Osaka interacts with the Wuhan crowd with a selfie. (Getty/Wang He) As the tennis world chases new riches in the Middle East, it's the rest of Asia that deserves attention. The men's circuit has just wrapped up its annual swing through Asia and is already heading back to its comfort zone: Europe.  Across three short weeks (an extended one for Shanghai), we saw five tournaments — two 250s, two 500s, and a single Masters 1000.  All but one were held in mainland China, wit

(Getty/Hector Retamal) Valentin Vacherot's victory at the Shanghai Masters is the story of the tennis season — a true underdog triumph that defied every expectation. The 26-year-old Monegasque, ranked outside the world's top 200 at the start of the tournament, stunned the tennis world by winning his first career title. By entering the code TFS2025, you will receive 15% off the RRP on all non-sale items when you shop online at  www.racquetworld.com.au On his way to lifting the

Craig Tiley addresses the audience at the 2026 Australian Open launch. (Daniel Pockett/Getty) Australian Open and innovation. The two...

(Getty/Hu Chengwei) Are tennis courts getting slower to suit the top male players in the modern game? Alexander Zverev seems to think so....

(Getty/Clive Brunskill) Another Laver Cup has come and gone. The eighth edition in San Francisco wrapped up with some wonderful tennis,...

(Getty/Wendell Teodoro) It's crazy to think about just how fast the year has gone, but within the blink of an eye, we're nearly at the...

Australia's Maya Joint in action. (Getty/Robert Prange) There is never a shortage of storylines in the tennis world. But one of the...

(Getty/Robert Prange) Amanda Anisimova has cemented her place among the world's elite, and she's done it on the biggest stages. The...

(Getty) When we think of tennis tournaments, we traditionally cast our minds to major tournaments we see on television, the money...

(Getty/Sarah Stier) The changing of the guard is complete, and immediately, the question turns to: Who can challenge this new world...

(Getty/Andy Cheung) Lleyton Hewitt will now be free in November to join Mark Schwarzer, Jason Dunstall, Cameron Smith and others at the...

Matteo Berrettini and Taylor Fritz, who are both sponsored by BOSS, share a friendly embrace after a three-set tussle in Miami....

(Getty/Maddie Meyer) For most of the past decade, Australian men's tennis has been enjoying its strongest run since the days of prime...

(Getty/Elsa) It has been an intriguing year at Grand Slams for the Australians this season, with plenty of resounding wins and even more...

(Tennis Victoria/Instagram) For the third straight year since its return in 2023, another Victorian State Grade Pennant season is done...

Victoria Mboko holds her first WTA 1000 trophy in Canada. (Getty/Minas Panagiotakis) Last month, another teen sensation in Victoria Mboko...