Wimbledon 2025 Boosts Its Prize Pool
Wimbledon 2025 is set to be a landmark edition with a record prize pool of £53.5 million, increased match timings for finals, and the introduction of full electronic line-calling. Singles champions will earn £3 million each — the highest among all Grand Slams. The tournament continues its evolution while balancing innovation with tradition.
Rafael Nadal’s 2017 French Open Final Racquet Auctioned For A Record Price
Rafael Nadal’s match-used Babolat racquet from his historic 2017 French Open triumph has been auctioned for a record-breaking $157,333.20, making it the most expensive tennis racquet ever sold. Used during one of Nadal’s most dominant performances at Roland Garros, the racquet remains stained with clay and is photomatched to 27 key matches from his 2017 season, including victories over Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka.
Carlos Alcaraz Walks Away With $2.9million In Prize Money For Winning French Open 2025
In an epic five-hour-and-29-minute showdown, Carlos Alcaraz staged a stunning comeback to defeat Jannik Sinner in the 2025 French Open final, winning 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2). The match, now the longest Roland-Garros men’s final in the Open Era, earned Alcaraz his second French Open title and fifth Grand Slam overall.
Clostebol — The Anabolic Steroid That Led To Jannik Sinner’s Three-Month Ban
World No.1 tennis player Jannik Sinner reportedly served a three-month ban after testing positive for Clostebol. This article explores the banned substance, how it’s used by athletes, and what the World Anti-Doping Code says about such violations.
French Open Increases Its Prize Pool To Record $63.7 Million
The 2025 French Open boosts its prize purse to $63.7 million, with $2.9 million for singles champions. Top stars like Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, and Aryna Sabalenka headline the Grand Slam in Paris.
USTA Unveils $800 Million Modernization Plan for US Open Site
When the 2027 US Open rolls around the tournament will have a different feel to it. That is because the United States Tennis Association has announced plans to transform the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center which also includes modernizing the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium and building a new state-of-the-art player performance center. The modernization and upgradation will take place at an initial projected cost of $800 million, which will be fully borne by the USTA. It is the largest single investment in the tournament’s history. The redevelopment work will be carried out in a way such that the 2025 and 2026 edition of the US Open are not affected in any way. The US Open is one of the four Grand Slams in professional tennis alongside the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon. It takes place in New York and happens in August-September every year. “The US Open is the pinnacle of sports and entertainment, with the greatest athletes and fans in all of sport, and this reimagination of Arthur Ashe Stadium and construction of a state-of-the-art Player Performance Center will enhance the experience for everyone that comes on site to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center,” said Lew Sherr in a statement. Sherr is the CEO and Executive Director, USTA. Also Read: Transforming Indian Sports Infrastructure: Insights From Gallant Sports’ CEO Nasir Ali The entire redevelopment has been split into three phases. The timeline of these phases are as follows: Phase 1 (ahead of 2025 US Open), Phase 2 (between the 2025 US Open and 2026 US Open) and Phase 3 (between 2026 US Open and 2027 US Open). Phase 1 includes structural reinforcement of column loads at Arthur Ashe Stadium to support future in-stadium construction and upgrades, development of the first two floors of the upcoming four-story Player Performance Center—featuring parking facilities—in the current Parking Lot A, and various behind-the-scenes activities that will not be immediately noticeable to attendees of the 2025 US Open. Phase 2 will see will the removal and replacement of the existing courtside and suite levels in Arthur Ashe Stadium with a new, expanded courtside bowl and two dedicated luxury suite levels. Simultaneously, the top two floors of the four-story Player Performance Center in Parking Lot A will be constructed, though the facility will not be completed or accessible to players until after Phase 3, when interior work is finalized. The final phase will aim at completing all remaining projects in Arthur Ashe Stadium, including the construction of the iconic Grand Entrance designed by Daniel Libeskind; new loge and promenade levels featuring an expansive concourse and a publicly accessible premium bar with sweeping views of the Fountain Plaza and the Unisphere; and comprehensive upgrades to all concourses, encompassing enhanced retail, food and beverage areas, restrooms, and other fan amenities. Additionally, two new sets of escalators and two elevator banks will be added at the South entrance to improve crowd flow throughout the stadium. This phase will also introduce a series of premium hospitality lounges designed by Garrett Singer, offering unparalleled in-stadium experiences for premium ticket holders. Concurrently, the interior of the Player Performance Center will be completed and opened to competitors and teams ahead of the 2027 US Open. According to a Reuters report, this announcement comes seven years after the USTA completed a five-year, $600 million renovation project at the grounds. The report said that the 2024 edition of the US Open witnessed a record attendance as the tournament had a footfall of over a million tennis fans. Prakhar SachdeoThe Sportz Planet Desk
How Important Is Psychology In The Careers Of Tennis Stars?
In the world of professional tennis, where success is only a matter of milliseconds away from failure, psychology takes up a very important place in deciding the careers of the players. Mental strength, emotional strength, and stress management all become as important as athletic ability in determining victory in this game. Psychology Of Mental Strength In Tennis For most elite tennis players, the psychological element of the game is what decides it. For example, Rafael Nadal recently admitted that he had contemplated taking a break from tennis to get mental help due to the excessive pressure and stress of being one of the best players in the sport. However, he overcomes this problem by concentrating on progressing and slowly retrieving his ego. This is the journey of Nadal about how the battles fought with the mind are less witnessed publicly and how grit and strength in the mind have an excellent role in playing through all this. Psychology Of Pressure In Individual Sports Tennis is somewhat individual as a sport. Unlike team sports, there are no teammates to lean on during a match. Players are solely responsible for every point, every game and every decision made on the court. This can be lonely in tennis and it may even bring a lot of pressure upon a player when he or she has to face the world’s best or thousands of fans cheering for him or her. Managing nerves, staying focused and having a positive mindset are all the things that can be successful. Also Read: Djokovic To Kick Off 2025 In Brisbane, Aiming For 25th Grand Slam Psychology Of Confidence And Mental Toughness Psychological factors such as confidence, self-belief and mental toughness are often the intangible qualities that separate great players from the rest. Top stars like Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka have all openly discussed the importance of mental health in their careers. Djokovic, for instance, has attributed much of his success to mental resilience, focusing on the importance of meditation and visualization techniques to remain centered during tough matches. Psychology Of Coping With External Pressures The mental game extends beyond match day. Preparing for the physical demands of a Grand Slam, managing the pressure of rankings and dealing with the media and public expectations require mental endurance. Players who can remain focused and maintain a healthy mindset are better equipped to handle the ups and downs of a tennis career. The Role Of Psychology In Tennis Psychology plays an indispensable role in the careers of tennis stars. Sometimes, the mental challenges they face prove to be as daunting as the physical ones. Players like Nadal, who can overcome psychological hurdles, are more likely to achieve long-term success, proving that mental strength is just as vital as physical prowess in tennis. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Djokovic To Kick Off 2025 In Brisbane, Aiming For 25th Grand Slam
Novak Djokovic will begin his 2025 tennis season by vying for an 11th Australian Open title at the Brisbane International, which takes place from December 29 to January 5. The 37-year-old Serbian superstar will compete in the ATP-WTA event in preparation for the year’s first Grand Slam, which begins on January 12, 2024. Djokovic To Be Coached By Andy Murray The Brisbane tournament is the beginning of a new chapter for Djokovic, as he will be guided by former world number one Andy Murray. The partnership was formed ahead of the new season as Djokovic looks to continue his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title. His aim is to break the tie with Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 major singles crowns. Still, at a dismal close in a lackluster 2024 where Djokovic was unable to make gains on the milestone, it could potentially be reached in 2025. Also Read: Fueling Dreams, One Athlete At A Time: The Story Behind Saanjha Djokovic Chasing His 100th Career Title Apart from the Grand Slam aspirations, Djokovic is also close to another major milestone. A win in Brisbane would give him his 100th career singles title and he would become the third player in the Open era to do so after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer, who achieved 109 and 103 titles, respectively. Djokovic’s Fresh Perspective For 2025 Despite his early exit in this year’s Australian Open semifinals to eventual champion Jannik Sinner, the Serbian remains a dominant force in men’s tennis. A new partnership with Murray may prove vital as he goes for his elusive 25th Grand Slam title in Melbourne. Nick Kyrgios Returns To Competitive Tennis It won’t miss returning with one of the best tennis superstars at its backcourt, Nick Kyrgios, who suffered knee injuries twice with foot and wrist problems two consecutive years. Only a lone ATP Tour singles match so far for him after an injury-plagued phase, making his return something exciting for fans. Top Players To Feature In Brisbane Other top men’s players to start their 2025 seasons in Brisbane are Grigor Dimitrov, Holger Rune, Frances Tiafoe and Matteo Berrettini. Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning women’s champion at the Australian Open, has confirmed that she will be there. Three other top-10 women’s players join her in the line-up: Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro and Daria Kasatkina. Former champion Victoria Azarenka will also play. The United Cup: A Strong Opening For Most Players While for many players, the Brisbane International is a season-opener, many top players will start their year playing the United Cup, which will be played in Sydney and Perth in a mixed-teams format. Representing the women’s section will be world number two Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini, while Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz spearhead the men’s participation. A Massive 2025 Season On The Horizon With the 2025 tennis season set to kick off, the attention will be on the Brisbane International as Djokovic seeks history and lays the groundwork for his quest for a 25th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
‘Record Breaking Rafael’ Nadal Exits The Game
Tennis icon Rafael Nadal has finally confirmed his retirement following a brilliant 23 years of service that came to an end with the Davis Cup final. The Spaniard is retiring at age 38, one of the all-time greats in the sport and his record of 22 Grand Slams is nothing short of incredible. Rafael Nadal’s Records As Nadal leaves the court, let’s have a glance at some of his extraordinary tennis records, which currently are almost unbreakable. Also Read: How Important Is Psychology In The Careers Of Tennis Stars? Consecutive Seasons Nadal is the only tennis player to have won at least one Grand Slam title for 10 consecutive seasons from 2005 to 2014. King Of Clay He has been often termed as ‘King of Clay’ who has won double figures at various elite tournament levels such as 14 titles at the French Open, 12 titles at Barcelona Open, 11 titles at Monte Carlo Masters and 10 titles at Italian Open. Masters 1000 Tournaments Nadal is the only player in the history of tennis to have won all three of the clay-court Masters 1000 tournaments, as well as the French Open, during a single season. Youngest Male Player In 2018, Nadal became the youngest male player, at 24 years, three months, and 10 days old, in the whole history of tennis to complete both the career Grand Slam and the career Golden Slam. 10 Or More Titles Nadal is also the first man to win 10 or more titles in a single season before the age of 20, which he did in 2005. As Rafael Nadal says goodbye for the one final time, fans anticipate that his records will probably never be broken. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
The Top 5 ATP Masters 1000 Hard-Court Match Winners
Of all the four majors of tennis, the ATP Masters 1000 is the highest level of tennis that is outside the Grand Slams. The surface to the hard-court event is the hard courts and these tournaments will shape the kind of season the best players are going to have. In a way, it is a battlefield where the talented ones test their skills against the world’s iconic arenas. In terms of pure hard-court dominance, five men stand out as having incredible match win records at these prestigious events. Here’s a look at the five players with the most ATP Masters 1000 hard-court match victories. 5. Andre Agassi – 168 Wins One of the greatest personalities in tennis history is Andre Agassi, and he scored his 168th victory on hard courts, entering the annals of Masters 1000 victory history. Agassi’s playing career spanned an era marked by the appearance of many talented competitors for this sport, and he was always one to be reckoned with, particularly in Masters 1000 tournaments. His first Masters 1000 match victory was recorded at Indian Wells in 1990, while his last was there too, 16 years later, in 2006. Agassi’s finest performance throughout his career happened in the Miami Open tournament. There, he had 59 wins and a perfect win percentage of 85.5%, with Miami being Agassi’s real fortress in his whole career. 4. Andy Murray – 177 Wins Britain’s Andy Murray is one of the finest hard-court players ever, whose defensive abilities are unmatched. He has 177 hard-court Masters 1000 triumphs and ranks fourth on that list. Like Agassi, Murray produced his first win on this level in Cincinnati way back in 2005, then again and again proved to be a persistent grass-court opponent on hard courts during his career. He last featured at the hard-court Masters 1000 level at the 2024 Miami Open after advancing to the third round. Murray’s best play came at the Shanghai Masters. He had 25 wins with an incredible win percentage of 82.1%. His great play on Shanghai’s fast hard courts made him winner of several editions of the title. 3. Rafael Nadal – 210 Wins Although clay courses through his veins, Nadal never did forget about his success on the hard courts. His ATP Masters 1000 titles there stood at 210. Nadal entered Masters 1000 hard court competition at the Madrid Open in 2003 and concluded it first at Indian Wells in 2004. His last appearance was in a hard court Master was at the Paris Masters in 2022. Nadal was at his best at Indian Wells; he has 59 wins with a fantastic win percentage of 84.3%. The only place he is not known as a clay-court specialist is on hard courts. His fighting spirit and adaptability have garnered him huge success on hard courts. 2. Roger Federer – 264 Wins Roger Federer stands in second position on this elite list, with 264 match wins on hard courts within ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. Federer made his Masters 1000 debut at the 1999 Miami Open, where he lost, but he won his maiden Master 1000 on a hard court at the Miami Open, the following year. His latest appearance in a Masters 1000 tournament was in 2019 when he reached the quarterfinal stage in the Shanghai Masters. Elegant and flexible, Federer dominated the Masters 1000 events for two complete decades. The ongoing rivalry of the player with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal only added more glamour to these tournaments, and his unparalleled longevity is reflected in his win count. 1. Novak Djokovic – 267 Wins At the top of that is Novak Djokovic, a man whose dominance of hard courts has never been seen before. With 267 match wins up to his latest titles at the 2024 Shanghai Masters, Djokovic fashioned a record that only continues growing even stronger. Serbian sensation Novak Djokovic made his Cincinnati Open debut in 2005 and earned his initial on hard courts Masters 1000 victories later in the same year at the Paris Masters. Djokovic was brilliant at the Miami Open where he notched a fantastic 86.3% win rate, his best performance at any Masters 1000 event in such terms, and took his record to 51 hard-court wins at Indian Wells. At 37, the Serbian maestro appears to be getting no closer to the slow lane as he demonstrates why he is part and parcel of the pantheon of all-time great players. The ATP Masters 1000 tournaments on hard courts have been defined through the contributions of these five players to the long history of the game in their respective ways. The struggle to become the best on the hard courts may very well be fought out by new faces down the line, however one thing is sure, these five legends will always be at the top. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
