Grand Slams dominate global attention, but professional tennis still offers months of high-quality competition afterward. The ATP and WTA are focused on better promoting these non-major events to sustain fan interest beyond the Slam cycle. Both tours run extensive fall schedules, including the Shanghai and Paris Masters for ATP and the China Open and WTA Finals in Riyadh.
The challenge is awareness. While three million Americans watched the Alcaraz-Sinner U.S. Open final, many casual fans don’t know what follows. WTA Ventures CEO Marina Storti highlighted that compelling narratives unfold weekly at 1000, 500, and 250 tournaments. WTA has leaned into social media, doubling video views and boosting followers by 25% in a year. A new brand identity and stronger athlete storytelling aim to deepen fan connections.
Players also stress visibility. Frances Tiafoe believes personal promotion from stars matters, while Marin ΔiliΔ called for more behind-the-scenes content to showcase each tournament’s uniqueness. Holger Rune suggested shorter events with fewer players to generate more hype, though ATP continues to expand events.
Media is central. Tennis Channel remains the sport’s year-round hub, airing 10,000 hours of matches and pursuing broader reach through Amazon, Roku, sports bars, airports, gyms, gas stations, and digital billboards. Partnerships help engage casual audiences, and record viewership of the Cincinnati Masters shows progress. WTA recently extended its Tennis Channel deal through 2032, cementing long-term coverage.
Still, broader distribution on mainstream platforms could help capture casual fans who otherwise tune in only for Grand Slams. Ultimately, the tours’ challenge is sustaining post-Slam momentum and ensuring their stars and stories shine year-round, not just during tennis’ biggest four stages.
Are tennis players the fittest athletes? Sports scientist Dr. Mark Kovacs strongly believes so, echoing Venus Williams’ and Frances Tiafoe’s views that tennis is one of the hardest sports. Kovacs, who has worked across multiple professional sports, argues tennis demands a uniquely broad combination of physical, mental, and tactical skills.
Physiologically, tennis players’ aerobic fitness is on par with elite soccer players, with VO2 max levels in the low 60s. While they may not match cyclists or marathoners in pure endurance, their versatility sets them apart. Tennis requires repeated explosive sprints, rapid directional changes, agility, and strength to deliver 140 mph serves. Unlike specialists in powerlifting or football, tennis players must balance power with endurance to survive hours-long matches, especially in five-set grand slam encounters.
Kovacs highlights contrasting strengths of top players: Carlos Alcaraz thrives on explosiveness, while Jannik Sinner excels in balance and deceleration. Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka exemplify athleticism on the women’s side, with Gauff described as capable of excelling in multiple sports. Women, he adds, endure high training volumes and are “tough as nails.”
The demands extend beyond fitness. With an 11-month season and over 100,000 miles of annual travel, players battle jet lag, minimal recovery, and extreme conditions. Mental toughness is equally critical: Venus Williams preserved longevity by taking breaks, while Jack Draper and Alexandra Eala spoke of anxiety and resilience during matches.
Ultimately, Kovacs asserts that tennis players may not dominate any single fitness measure, but their blend of speed, power, endurance, and mental resilience makes them among the world’s fittest—and toughest—athletes.
Opinion:
Tennis is a tough sport. Especially the singles games when there is only 1 winner each tournament.
Daniil Medvedev’s US Open campaign ended in chaos as he lost a dramatic five-set first-round match to France’s Benjamin Bonzi. Serving for the match at 6-3 7-5 5-4, Bonzi was disrupted when a photographer stepped onto the court. Chair umpire Greg Allensworth controversially reset the point, sparking a furious outburst from Medvedev, who accused the umpire of weakness and mocked him in front of a hostile crowd. The match was halted for six minutes amid boos and whistles as security escorted the photographer out and revoked his credentials.
The disruption briefly revived Medvedev, who saved match point, stole the third set in a tiebreak, and swept the fourth 6-0 as Bonzi struggled with a knee issue. However, the Frenchman regained composure in the decider, trading breaks before clinching victory 6-3 7-5 6-7(5) 0-6 6-4 with a stunning backhand. Medvedev smashed his racket in frustration while Bonzi celebrated, acknowledging both cheers and boos from the crowd.
With the defeat, 2021 champion Medvedev became the first former winner to exit this year’s tournament, capping a miserable season at the majors.
Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori successfully defended their US Open mixed doubles title, defeating world singles stars Iga ΕwiΔ tek and Casper Ruud 6-3, 5-7, 10-6 in a dramatic final. Their victory, worth $1 million in prize money, was not just a personal triumph but also a symbolic win for doubles specialists, showcasing the tactical depth and skills unique to doubles tennis.
This year’s event introduced a revamped format, held the week before the main tournament. Matches featured shortened sets (first to four games, no-advantage scoring, and a 10-point tie-break instead of a full third set), with the final played to six games per set. The format drew criticism from doubles players, including Errani and Vavassori, who initially called it a “pseudo-exhibition.” Yet it attracted packed crowds and major singles stars, turning the event into a fan spectacle.
The Italians’ path included wins over Rybakina/Fritz, MuchovΓ‘/Rublev, and Collins/Harrison before the final. For Errani and Vavassori, it marked their third Grand Slam mixed doubles title. Despite initial resistance, the format proved popular, and organizers may expand to 32 teams next year, potentially giving more doubles specialists exposure.
The US Open has revamped its mixed doubles into a short-format event during Fan Week, featuring star pairings like Carlos Alcaraz & Emma Raducanu and Iga ΕwiΔ tek & Casper Ruud, with a record $1 million prize. Matches are first-to-four games per set, no-ad scoring, and a 10-point tiebreak decider. While organizers aim to boost fan appeal, doubles specialists criticize the change as disrespectful, calling it a “pseudo-exhibition” that cheapens a grand slam and excludes them from competing for career-defining titles. Supporters see it as a business move that could revive interest in doubles, though its legitimacy as a true grand slam remains disputed.
At the Cincinnati Open, Nate Ferguson’s company Priority One handles high-pressure racquet stringing for ATP/WTA players, sometimes mid-match. With up to 30 racquets per day per stringer, the team works from early morning to the last match, adjusting string tension for conditions and player preference. Professionals bring their own strings, often natural gut or polyester. Ferguson, who started in 1986 and has strung for legends like Sampras, Federer, and Djokovic, says the job is stressful but rewarding, with his experienced crew operating like a family under tight deadlines.
Opinion :
Never knew stringing was stressful.
Each sports at the top tiers have unique challenges.
Tennis players grunt to improve performance, regulate breathing, and release energy during strokes. Experts say grunting helps maintain rhythm and prevents breath-holding, which can hinder movement and power. It may also increase shot velocity—by up to 5%, according to studies—and psychologically pressure or distract opponents by masking the sound of the ball or disrupting timing. While controversial and often criticized as excessive or distracting, especially in women’s tennis, it’s now common across genders. For many players, grunting becomes instinctive and is tied to their intensity and playing style.
Roger Federer, even in retirement, continues to be a highly sought-after figure for luxury brands, embodying opulent allure and Swissness. His vast endorsement portfolio, spanning from Rolex to Lindt, reflects his longevity and unassailable status as a brand magnet. Federer’s clean image, coupled with his ability to adapt to new environments, has solidified his position as a symbol of elegance and sophistication, making him a lucrative figure for advertisers.
Roger Federer, despite his retirement, maintains a high level of public interest and demand for his return to tennis, even in exhibition matches. While he owes nothing to his fans, the allure of a potential reunion tour with Rafael Nadal, coupled with his business acumen and understanding of his brand value, presents a compelling opportunity. Federer’s success extends beyond tennis, with his investment in the On shoe company proving highly lucrative, solidifying his status as a business mogul.
•Electronic Line Calling Issue: Electronic line calling (ELC) system on clay courts is disagreeing with players’ visual assessment of ball marks.
•Player Reaction: Players like Alex Eala and Arthur Fils are questioning the accuracy of ELC, citing instances where the system contradicted clear ball marks.
•Historical Context: Clay court tennis has traditionally relied on human line judges and ball mark inspection, making the transition to ELC challenging.
•Technology Adoption in Tennis: Hawk-Eye ELC, an electronic line calling system, is being adopted by major tennis tournaments, replacing human line judges.
•Player Disputes and Technology: Players like Alexander Zverev and Aryna Sabalenka have challenged calls using photographic evidence, highlighting the conflict between human perception and technology.
•Future of Line Calling in Tennis: By 2025, Hawk-Eye ELC will be used at most major tennis events, with the French Open being the exception, continuing to rely on human line judges and clay court markings.
•ELC Accuracy: ELC has a margin of error and ball marks on clay can be misleading due to factors like court conditions and ball compression.
•Player Awareness: The ATP and WTA have attempted to educate players about the limitations of ELC on clay, but some players still challenge calls based on ball marks.
•Ball Mark Reliance: Players’ reliance on ball marks for determining the validity of calls presents a challenge to the acceptance of ELC as the sole arbiter of ball in/out calls.
•ELC Discrepancy: Discrepancies between ELC and human judgment in tennis have been a source of debate and frustration for players and spectators.
•Challenge System Limitations: The challenge system, while providing some recourse, was limited in scope and often led to situations where players disagreed with calls despite visual evidence.
•Player Perspectives: Players like Zverev and Fritz have expressed concerns about the accuracy and impact of ELC, highlighting the challenges of adjusting to a system that may not always align with their visual perception.
•Player Preference for ELC: Many players, including Sabalenka, Keys, de Minaur, and Svitolina, prefer ELC over umpire calls due to its consistency and removal of human error.
•Fils’s Opposition to ELC: Fils advocates for returning to traditional line judges and umpires, believing they should maintain their authority.
•Shapovalov’s Experience with Line Calls: Shapovalov, despite acknowledging the difficulty of accepting machine-made calls, still prefers ELC over umpire decisions based on their interpretation of ball marks.
•Electronic Line Calling (ELC) Impact: Players are adjusting to ELC, which recalibrates their understanding of the sport.
•Player Acceptance: Despite potential preference for umpires, players like ΕwiΔ tek are accepting ELC.
•ΕwiΔ tek’s Stance: ΕwiΔ tek believes focusing on ELC versus umpires is unproductive and chooses to accept the system in place.
•Impact on Ukrainian Players: The war is an everyday reality that affects every aspect of their careers.
•Russian Players’ Stance: Some Russian players, like Andrey Rublev and Daria Kasatkina, have spoken out against the war.
•Tournament Policies: Wimbledon banned Russian and Belarusian players in 2022, leading to ranking points being withheld by the ATP and WTA.
•Tennis and the War: Tennis is uniquely impacted by the war due to the high number of Ukrainian, Russian, and Belarusian players on the WTA Tour.
•Ukrainian Players: There are four Ukrainian players in the WTA Tour top 100, including Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, Dayana Yastremska, and Anhelina Kalinina.
•Russian and Belarusian Players: There are 14 Russians and Belarusians in the WTA top 100, including world No. 1 Sabalenka and world No. 7 Mirra Andreeva.
•US Stance on Ukraine War: The US will decide if ending the war is feasible after meetings in Paris.
•Impact on Ukrainian Tennis Players: Ukrainian players face immense challenges, pressure, and uncertainty due to the war, including communicating with family members in Ukraine.
•Tsurenko’s Lawsuit Against WTA: Lesia Tsurenko filed a lawsuit against the WTA and its chairman, alleging breach of contract, negligence, and emotional distress related to the WTA’s response to the Russian invasion.
•WTA’s Stance on Russian and Belarusian Athletes: Allowed to compete without national flags, a policy rooted in the belief that athletes shouldn’t be penalized for their governments’ actions.
•Ukrainian Players’ Response: Refuse to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players, even those who oppose the war.
•Impact of the War on Ukrainian Players: Constant reminders of the conflict in their sport, contrasting with the war’s fluctuating visibility in the wider tennis community.
The number of times tennis players have complained about line calls on clay courts is not systematically tracked, making an exact count impossible. However, the nature of clay courts—where the ball leaves a visible mark—reduces disputes compared to other surfaces. Here’s a breakdown of key factors:
1. Clay Court Dynamics:
- Players and officials can inspect ball marks to verify line calls, which minimizes ambiguity. This system often leads to fewer complaints than on grass or hard courts, where electronic challenges (e.g., Hawk-Eye) are used.
2. Tournament Context:
- At clay-court events like the French Open, players request mark inspections instead of electronic reviews. While data on complaints isn’t public, umpire inspections typically resolve disputes quickly, reducing prolonged arguments.
3. Anecdotal Evidence:
- High-profile disputes (e.g., Serena Williams’ 2018 French Open incident) show that disagreements can occur when players contest an umpire’s interpretation of a mark. Such cases are rare but memorable.
4. Comparative Frequency:
- Studies suggest clay courts have higher call accuracy due to visible marks, leading to fewer overall complaints. However, occasional disagreements persist, often tied to human judgment in reading marks.
In conclusion, while complaints on clay courts are less frequent than on other surfaces, they still occur sporadically. The exact number remains unquantified due to lack of centralized tracking, but the clay surface’s inherent transparency generally fosters fewer disputes.
Opinion:
I think it's a good move to use electric line just like Hawkeye.
Apple Intelligence: The Singapore Tennis Invitational Cup and the Singapore Tennis Open will be held concurrently at the Kallang Tennis Hub, offering a mix of regional and world-class tennis matches. This dual-format approach aims to engage a diverse audience, provide valuable experience for local players, and boost interest in tennis. The Kallang Tennis Hub, with its state-of-the-art facilities, embodies the inclusive spirit of the Singapore Sports Hub, catering to athletes of all levels.
Iga ΕwiΔ tek, the world No. 2 tennis player, received a one-month suspension after testing positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) in August 2024. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) determined that the banned substance likely entered her system through contamination of an over-the-counter sleep aid she used to address jet lag and sleep issues.
ΕwiΔ tek accepted the suspension, which was backdated to cover the period from September 22 to October 4, 2024, leaving her with eight days remaining to serve. As a result, she forfeited her prize money from the Cincinnati Open, amounting to $158,944.
In a statement, ΕwiΔ tek described this experience as the “toughest battle in my life” and emphasized her commitment to maintaining a clean sport.
This incident has sparked discussions about the responsibilities athletes have regarding the substances they consume and the importance of transparency in anti-doping processes.
This diversity in winners showcases the dynamic and unpredictable nature of women’s tennis today. Do you have a favourite player among the recent champions?
My Thoughts
Congrats Krejcikova. WTA's quite different from the men's Big Three era.
Imo, Singles favours talent more than hard work. It's not a team-based sport.
