(Getty/Elsa) Former world No. 3 and two-time Grand Slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas has admitted that he considered retirement last year. It was a disastrous 2025 season for the Greek star, who fell as low as 36th in the rankings, failed to surpass the second round of a major, and controversially parted ways with ex-coach Goran Ivanišević after a short stint. Injuries also played a factor in Tsitsipas' slump, as he retired during the first round of his Wimbledon opener, citi

(Getty/Brendon Thorne) Achieving one ATP title, two Grand Slam quarter-finals, and a year-end ranking of No.7 in a calendar year would satisfy most players, but not Alex de Minaur. It didn't all go according to plan for the top-ranked Aussie in 2025, as "burnout" and a lack of killer instinct in the big games left him more pessimistic than optimistic. HEAD has partnered with the Kooyong Classic for 2026. HEAD will be on-site with all their latest products, including the launc

Nick Kyrgios took down World Number 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the “Battle of the Sexes” on Sunday Night in Dubai, in a much hyped showdown with modified rules that has certainly divided the tennis world. The former Wimbledon finalist won 6-3, 6-3 in an exhibition match bearing little resemblance to the era-defining 1973 encounter between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Back then, there was more at stake with the nascent women’s professional tour, set up by King, as it fought for

Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios stare off in front of the battle of the sexes trophy. (Getty/Christopher Pike) Fifty-two years since that iconic battle of the sexes match in Houston between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, the stage is set for Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka to create their own piece of history. An estimated 90 million viewers tuned in to watch the great Billie Jean King defeat Riggs in straight sets (6-4, 6-3, 6-3) in what was a watershed moment for women

(Getty/Ma Ping) After lengthy negotiations, Tennis Australia has "reached agreement" to settle a lawsuit case spearheaded by the Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA), just weeks out from the Australian Open. Last month, The First Serve explained Tennis Australia's push to break away from the other three Grand Slams in an effort to settle a lawsuit filed by the PTPA against multiple governing bodies. In March, the PTPA, co-founded by Novak Djokovic, lodged a 163-p

The Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club have been dealt a major blow after failing to meet the deadline to finalise the purchase of Vision Australia's site. In October, Kooyong announced an exciting plan to redevelop the spiritual home of tennis by investing in "world-class facilities" and expanding the site to include 454 Glenferrie Road, opposite the Club. Ian Robson, Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club CEO, said at the time: "The great definition of legacy is to plant the seeds of trees that y

(Getty/Robert Prange) Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Świątek believes that the upcoming 2026 WTA season is anyone's to dominate, as the gap continues to narrow. Świątek, who has held the No.1 ranking for a total of 125 weeks, broke her 14-month major drought by winning her first Wimbledon title earlier this year. HEAD has partnered with the Kooyong Classic for 2026. HEAD will be on-site with all their latest products, including the launch of the new Revolt Pro 5.0. Visit th

(Getty/Julian Finney) Two-time major winner Coco Gauff has ended the season ranked as the top female athlete earner for the second consecutive year by Forbes. Collecting an estimated A$50 million in 2025, Gauff is the fourth-highest earner in the publication's history, behind Naomi Osaka (A$86.2 million), Serena Williams (A$69.4 million) and her own A$52 million total from 12 months ago. HEAD has partnered with the Kooyong Classic for 2026. HEAD will be on-site with all their

Carlos Alcaraz embraces Juan Carlos Ferrero after winning the 2025 US Open. (Getty/Clive Brunskill) In news that has sent shockwaves across the tennis world, world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz has parted ways with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, but the reasons for the split are beginning to surface. Ferrero has coached Alcaraz for seven years since the latter was 16, a successful partnership that has propelled Alcaraz to six Grand Slam titles. "After more than seven years together, Juanki

Novak Djokovic struggles in the Wimbledon heat. (Getty/Henry Nicholls) The 2026 ATP season will see a welcome change concerning extreme heat following a Board decision. Adjustments are based on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which measures heat stress by combining temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle, and cloud cover. It will kick in for the first time during the Australian summer of tennis. HEAD has partnered with the Kooyong Classic for 2026. HEAD will be o

Founder of DDSA Shane Liyanage has been one of the secrets behind Aryna Sabalenka's success. One of Australia's most remarkable high-performance success stories has reached a new milestone, with global sports-science powerhouse Orreco announcing its acquisition of Melbourne-based Data Driven Sports Analytics (DDSA) — the company quietly driving some of the biggest tennis success stories of the past five years. Founded by Melbourne performance data scientist Shane Liyanage, DD

(Getty/Sam Tabone) Long-serving Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley is in advanced talks to become the new United States Tennis Association (USTA) CEO, according to American outlet Sportico, which understands that multiple people are aware of the negotiations. Tiley, 63, joined Tennis Australia in 2005 as Director of Tennis before being appointed CEO in 2013. The report claims that Tiley's experience ticks all the boxes for USTA, as the national governing body continues to stri

Quentin Folliot (left) has had his career ended. (Photo: Instagram) French tennis player Quentin Folliot's career is over following a whopping two-decade suspension and A$105,000 for his involvement in a match-fixing syndicate. The 26-year-old was found to have committed 27 breaches of the Tennis-Anti Corruption Program, as stated by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). HEAD has partnered with the Kooyong Classic for 2026. HEAD will be onsite with all their lates

(Getty/Mark Avellino) Senior business leader Chris Harrop has been appointed as the new Tennis Australia Chair, following Jayne Hrdlicka's departure. Harrop, who joined the Tennis Australia board in December 2023, has a wealth of business experience in Australia, the US and the UK. He works as an advisory partner for the global strategy consulting firm Bain & Company - a position which he has held for over 30 years. "I am excited by the privilege of leading this incredible or

The Australian Summer of Tennis is fast approaching, with the Brisbane International fields unveiled today. The combined WTA 500 / ATP 250 will see seven of the world's top 10 women come together in the Queensland capital including world No.1 and reigning Brisbane International champion Aryna Sabalenka.   Lining up alongside Sabalenka will be some of the biggest names in women’s tennis, including two-time major finalist Amanda Anisimova, WTA Finals champion Elena Rybakina, r

(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia) Alex de Minaur has been crowned the winner of the 2025 Newcombe Medal at the Australian Tennis Awards , in Melbourne. Australia’s top-ranked player continued his rise in 2025, qualifying for the prestigious ATP Finals for the second consecutive year, where he advanced to the semifinals for the first time. De Minaur claimed his 10th career title with a commanding run at the ATP 500 event in Washington, part of a to

(Getty/Robert Prange) Former world No.4 and recently retired player Caroline Garcia has explained why her podcast turned down a whopping $270,000 sponsorship offer to make an important statement. Garcia, a WTA Finals champion in 2022, hosts the Tennis Insider Club podcast alongside her husband, Borja Duran, where the pair have interviewed many star names, including Justine Henin, Garbiñe Muguruza, Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula. By entering the code TFS2025, you will receive

(Getty/Koji Watanabe) Former Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová has hit out at anti-doping officials following a "serious intrusion" into her privacy. Vondroušová, who won her maiden Grand Slam at the All England Club in 2023, has not played since retiring injured at the Japan Open in late October. 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 But despite ending her season after that m

(Getty/Elsa) Serena Williams has brushed off speculation that she is planning a return to tennis in 2026, despite a clear sign that suggests otherwise. The 44-year-old, who bid farewell to professional tennis at the 2022 US Open, is regarded by many as the greatest female player of all time with 24 Grand Slam singles titles. Shop with a 15% storewide discount code: SERVE15 - excludes clearance items, machines, court equipment and gift cards at  www.tennisdirect.com.au On Wedn

Switzerland player Mika Brunold has become the second professional male tennis player to come out as gay, despite "pressure to stay quiet". The 21-year-old mirrored 25-year-old Brazilian João Lucas Reis de Silva, who openly shared his sexuality with the public in December 2024. "As a professional tennis player, I've spent countless hours working on my game, my body, and my mindset," Brunold wrote on Instagram. "Through all of this, one of the most important things I've learne