(Getty/Robert Prezioso) The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) have published the full decision behind Marinko Matosevic's four-year blood doping ban, which reveals several text messages. Before being due to appear in court last month, former world No.39 Matosevic reached out to The First Serve to release a statement to clarify his situation involving the use of a banned substance. "It's with a heavy heart and a clear mind as I write this. I have been under investi

(Getty/Robert Prezioso) Former Australian player Marinko Matosevic has released a statement in response to being handed a four-year ban by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). On Monday, an independent tribunal determined that Matosevic committed five anti-doping rule violations between 2018 and 2020, including the use of a prohibited method through blood doping (while an active player) and facilitating another player to blood dope, providing advice to other play

Moise Kouame. (ATP/X) In what will go down as a day he'll never forget, 17-year-old Moise Kouame is an instant sensation after becoming the youngest player to win a Masters 1000 match in 23 years. Kouame made the most of his wildcard, as the world No.385 defeated Zachary Svajda 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 at the Miami Open. Born in 2009, the Frenchman became the youngest player to win a match in Miami, and the youngest to win a Masters match since 2003, when a then 16-year-old Rafael Nadal

Coco Gauff at Indian Wells. (Getty/Harry How) Who remembers men's semifinal Friday at the 2026 Australian Open? Pretty much every tennis fan, as well as seasonal watchers of the sport, were in awe of the two matches that took place at Melbourne Park. Carlos Alcaraz's Houdini escape against Alexander Zverev before Novak Djokovic wound back the clock against Jannik Sinner. Both matches had drama, sublime shot-making and a script that even M. Night Shyamalan would find it diffic

(Getty/Rich Storry) World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka admits she's "not sure" whether to play in Dubai again following harsh criticism from the Tournament Director. Last month, Dubai Tournament Director Salah Tahlak vented his frustration over the withdrawals of Sabalenka and Iga Świątek a few days out from the WTA 1000 event. Sabalenka revealed at the time that she wasn't feeling 100 per cent, while Świątek put her decision down to a "change of schedule". "It was an unfortunate su

(Getty/William West) Kooyong Classic Tournament Director and former Australian player Peter Johnston believes there are "essential" steps that Tennis Australia need to take after Craig Tiley's departure. The next few months will prove crucial for Tennis Australia, as Tiley, who acted as the governing body's CEO and Australian Open Tournament Director simultaneously, confirmed his move to become the new United States Tennis Association (USTA) CEO. Listen to The First Serve Liv

( Robert Prezioso/Getty Images) The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has confirmed that Australian tennis coach and former professional player Marinko Matosevic has been suspended for four years under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP). An independent tribunal determined that Matosevic committed five anti-doping rule violations between 2018 and 2020, including use of a prohibited method through blood doping (while an active player) and facilitating another pl

United Cup Tournament Director Stephen Farrow alongside Alex de Minaur. (Getty/Brett Hemmings) The United Cup is a tournament that has gotten better and better every year. From the somewhat wonky format of the first year, with sporadic attendance, to the most recent year, when Poland clinched the title in front of a packed crowd against Switzerland, the tournament really feels like it has come into its own under the watchful eye of Tournament Director Stephen Farrow. Farrow,

Destanee Aiava competing at the US Open. (Getty/Elsa) It was the retirement that stunned tennis fans, not just in its abruptness, but in the scathing manner in which the message was delivered. At just 25, Australian tennis player Destanee Aiava recently announced that 2026 will be her final year on tour. While early retirements are not unheard of in sport, Aiava's decision has sparked a broader debate about the environment players face in modern tennis, particularly online ab

(Getty/Oksana Dolgikh) Tennis player Alana Tuayeva has been hit with a three-year and nine-month ban by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for her involvement in match-fixing on two occasions. The ITIA confirmed that she accepted the ban and an A$41.5k fine, $29.2k of which is suspended. Listen to The First Serve Live every Monday at 8pm AEDT in its 18th year on the SEN Network/App, Australia's only dedicated weekly tennis program on commercial radio running thr

(Getty/Dom Gibbons) As Formula 1 roared back to life at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne last week, it once again reminded the sporting world what a perfectly packaged global championship looks like. A tightly controlled calendar of glamour events, building towards a single title with just 22 drivers. For tennis administrators, it sounds like a dream and has become something of an obsession. Over the past few years, those at the top of the game have repeatedly pointed t

Endorsed by Coco Gauff and Lorenzo Musetti, the new BOOM 2026 tennis racquet series from HEAD has been upgraded with advanced technologies and new designs. Fresh, vibrant color meets powerful touch in the new BOOM 2026 tennis racquet series, which now has even more explosive feel and a choice of striking designs. The colors will be going HEAD-to-HEAD on court; you can choose between Lorenzo Musetti’s BOOM 2026 racquet in bold blue and Coco Gauff’s purple BOOM ALTERNATE. Purpl

(Getty/Robert Prange) I speak on behalf of all the team at The First Serve . It gives us incredible joy to see an Aussie/s take on the world and conquer in arguably the toughest sport there is. Tennis is a sport where anything is possible. Yes, the margins are small in a huge pool of competitors trying to get the 'W' every time they step on court, and as we know, it is not that uncommon from week to week on tour that a qualifier or a lucky loser can have a run that can change

Ajla Tomljanovic competing at the 2026 Indian Wells event. (Getty/George Walker) On Monday, March 9, we celebrated International Women's Day, and on this day, it is imperative to analyse how tennis is changing the landscape for women in sport in Australia, as well as the current climate of equality within women's tennis. Tennis has long played a role in advancing women's equality. In 1884, the All England Club finally permitted women to compete in the first major tennis tour

(Getty/Robert Prange) American world No.48 Peyton Stearns has split from coach Rafael Font de Mora amid a WTA investigation into misconduct. Stearns exited the first round of Indian Wells last week in straight sets at the hands of Solana Sierra. A few days earlier, the 24-year-old clinched the ATX Open title in Austin, where she was guided by new coach, Roberto Ortega, despite just three weeks working together. During an interview on Saturday night, Stearns confirmed that she

(Getty/Harry How) "The main goal for me this year is to get inside the top 100." That's what Talia Gibson told journalists at the 2026 Australian Open. Six weeks on, at 21-years-old, she is Australia's newest top 100 tennis player. It comes amid a career-best week for Gibson at Indian Wells, coming through two qualifying matches before defeating two top 50 players in consecutive matches – without dropping a set – to reach the third round in the Californian desert. It's a run

(Getty/Andy Cheung) Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash hopes that Craig Tiley's departure will open the door for systemic change at the top. Last week, Tennis Australia CEO and Australian Open Tournament Director Tiley confirmed he has accepted a new role as the United States Tennis Association (USTA)'s CEO. Cash, one of Australia's most famous tennis names, is in Tasmania for the Launceston International, where he is coaching world No.371 Li Tu part-time. "Unfortunately, the

Panna Udvardy. (Getty/Gabriele Maricchiolo) Before her match in Turkey yesterday, world No.95 Panna Udvardy received frightening threats towards her family linked to a WTA database breach, describing the ordeal as "very scary". The Hungarian player lost a tight two-set affair against Anna Kalinina in Antalya, but after the defeat, she shared that something more serious was on her mind. "Last night around midnight, I received several very disturbing messages on WhatsApp from a

(Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images) Hand on heart, I love the game, and The First Serve is committed to providing day-in, day-out coverage of this great global sport, but the concern raised in the above question is real. I have said it before, and I will say it again, tennis is the toughest sport to 'make it'. That makes it appealing because the human race loves a challenge and to defy the odds, a bit like someone taking the plunge to start their own business, becaus

(Getty/Matthew Stockman) Considered the greatest player ever to pick up a racquet, Novak Djokovic is looking forward to Serena Williams' likely return to professional tennis, lauding her as "one of the greatest athletes". Rumours have swirled for months regarding Williams' comeback on the WTA Tour , having re-entered the doping testing pool six months ago. Listen to The First Serve Live every Monday at 8pm AEDT in its 18th year on the SEN Network/App, Australia's only dedicat