Tennis

Venus Williams weds Andrea Preti in Florida as part of a 5-day celebration of their union

The Associated Press 2 minute read Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Venus Williams and Andrea Preti are married, the tennis great announced Tuesday on social media.

Williams and Preti became wife and husband over the weekend in Palm Beach, Florida, as part of a five-day celebration.

After becoming the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match in July, the 45-year-old Williams gave thanks to her fiance, who was in the stands at the DC Open. Preti is a Danish-born Italian model and actor, according to the website IMDB.

Williams hadn’t played in a tournament in 16 months until entering the event in Washington.

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Three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka announces 2026 as his final year on tour

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka announces 2026 as his final year on tour

The Associated Press 2 minute read Friday, Dec. 19, 2025

Three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka says 2026 will be his last year on tour.

Since Wawrinka turned pro in 2002, the Swiss has won 16 tour singles titles. He beat the No. 1-ranked player in the finals of the 2014 Australian Open (Rafael Nadal), 2015 French Open (Novak Djokovic) and 2016 U.S. Open (Djokovic).

“One last push,” Wawrinka wrote on social media on Friday.

“Every book needs an ending. It's time to write the final chapter of my career as a professional tennis player. 2026 will be my last year on tour.”

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Friday, Dec. 19, 2025

FILE - Stan Wawrinka, of Switzerland, plays a backhand return to Lorenzo Sonego, of Italy, during a first-round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup, File)

FILE - Stan Wawrinka, of Switzerland, plays a backhand return to Lorenzo Sonego, of Italy, during a first-round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup, File)

ATP Tour sets out safeguarding policy with training for players and potential for bans

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

ATP Tour sets out safeguarding policy with training for players and potential for bans

The Associated Press 2 minute read Friday, Dec. 19, 2025

LONDON (AP) — The ATP Tour set out a new safeguarding policy Friday which aims to ensure players and staff feel safe from abuse on tour and know how to report inappropriate behavior.

In a move which mirrors work done by the WTA in women’s tennis, the ATP's code of conduct sets out how investigations should be conducted and a range of potential punishments, from reprimands up to permanently revoking access to its tournaments.

The ATP also says it will launch training for players, coaches and staff throughout next year.

“Everyone involved in our events — from players and their teams to staff and volunteers — deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued," chief executive Eno Polo said in a statement. "This program helps make that a reality. By introducing clear protections against abuse, we’re strengthening the culture of tennis and aligning our sport with global standards of governance and care.”

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Friday, Dec. 19, 2025

FILE - A trophy and the ATP logo is displayed on a screen during a singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)

FILE - A trophy and the ATP logo is displayed on a screen during a singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)

Chinese tennis player banned 12 years for match-fixing spree

The Associated Press 2 minute read Friday, Dec. 19, 2025

LONDON (AP) — Chinese tennis player Pang Renlong has been banned for 12 years and fined $110,000 for a match-fixing spree involving 22 matches in a five-month period.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency said Friday that the 25-year-old Pang admitted to fixing five of his own matches in lower-level events and making “corrupt approaches” to players in 11 more matches, six of which were also fixed.

The match-fixing happened from May through September 2024, the ITIA said. During that period, Pang played in various ITF tournaments in Turkey, Hong Kong and mainland China and lost in qualifying for one ATP Challenger event, the Jinan Open in China.

The ITIA didn't list the fixed matches linked to Pang, whose career-high ranking was 1,316th last year. His suspension is due to run through 2036, including time already spent under a provisional suspension. Of his $110,000 fine, $70,000 was suspended.

Carlos Alcaraz ends 7-year partnership with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero

Samuel Petrequin, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Carlos Alcaraz ends 7-year partnership with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero

Samuel Petrequin, The Associated Press 3 minute read Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025

Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz is parting ways with his longtime coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, the man who guided him to the pinnacle of men’s tennis during a remarkably successful seven-year partnership.

Alcaraz announced the decision to end their collaboration on Wednesday in a message on his social networks. Ferrero, in a separate statement, thanked his protege and said he wished he “could have continued.”

With Ferrero, who coached the Spaniard since he was 15 years old, Alcaraz claimed six Grand Slams: two French Open titles, two Wimbledon crowns and two US Opens. He amassed 24 tour-level titles, including eight Masters 1000 trophies.

“After more than seven years together, Juanki and I have decided to bring our chapter together as coach and player to an end,” the 22-year-old Alcaraz wrote. “Thank you for turning childhood dreams into reality. We started this journey when I was barely a kid, and throughout all this time you’ve accompanied me on an incredible journey, on and off the court. I’ve enjoyed every single step with you immensely.”

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Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz reacts after winning the first set against Joao Fonseca during the Miami Tennis Invitational tournament, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Carlos Alcaraz reacts after winning the first set against Joao Fonseca during the Miami Tennis Invitational tournament, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Carlos Alcaraz announces he is parting ways with long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero

The Associated Press 1 minute read Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025

MADRID (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz announces he is parting ways with long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.

The men’s tennis tour is adding a heat rule like the one the women have had for more than 30 years

Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

The men’s tennis tour is adding a heat rule like the one the women have had for more than 30 years

Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press 3 minute read Monday, Dec. 15, 2025

The ATP Tour is adding a rule to address extreme heat during men's professional tennis matches that will allow for 10-minute breaks during best-of-three-sets singles matches starting next season and is similar to what was put in place on the women's circuit more than 30 years ago.

The ATP Board's approval of the new policy, announced Monday, strengthens “protections for players competing in extreme conditions,” the tour said.

During the Shanghai Masters in October, some players called for the ATP to introduce guidance to help them in cases of extreme heat and humidity. Defending champion Jannik Sinner stopped playing a match there because of severe leg cramps; 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic lamented the conditions after vomiting during a victory.

“It’s brutal when you have over 80% humidity day after day," Djokovic said then, "particularly for the guys when they’re playing during the day with heat, with sun."

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Monday, Dec. 15, 2025

FILE - Novak Djokovic of Serbia cools himself with water during the men's singles semifinal match with Valentin Vacherot of Monaco, at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center, in Shanghai, China, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong,File)

FILE - Novak Djokovic of Serbia cools himself with water during the men's singles semifinal match with Valentin Vacherot of Monaco, at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center, in Shanghai, China, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong,File)

Canadian tennis star Mboko named WTA Newcomer of the Year

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canadian tennis star Mboko named WTA Newcomer of the Year

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Monday, Dec. 15, 2025

Canadian tennis star Victoria Mboko has been named the WTA's Newcomer of the Year.

The professional women's tennis tour announced its year-end award recipients on Monday.

The 19-year-old Mboko, from Toronto, raised her ranking from outside the top 300 to inside the top 20 after an impressive 2025 campaign.

The highlight of her breakout season came in August when she won the WTA 1000 National Bank Open in Montreal. She defeated four Grand Slam singles champions, including four-time major winner Naomi Osaka in the final, en route to her first title on tour.

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Monday, Dec. 15, 2025

Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Canadian tennis champion Victoria Mboko are pictured as Carney holds Mboko’s tennis racket used to win the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal during a meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Canadian tennis champion Victoria Mboko are pictured as Carney holds Mboko’s tennis racket used to win the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal during a meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Aryna Sabalenka is the WTA Player of the Year again. Amanda Anisimova earns Comeback Player honors

Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Aryna Sabalenka is the WTA Player of the Year again. Amanda Anisimova earns Comeback Player honors

Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press 3 minute read Monday, Dec. 15, 2025

Aryna Sabalenka won her second consecutive WTA Tour Player of the Year award on Monday, getting nearly 80% of the vote from a media panel after winning the U.S. Open, reaching the finals of two other Grand Slam tournaments and closing the season at No. 1 in the rankings.

Sabalenka joined Serena Williams and Iga Swiatek as back-to-back winners of the honor over the past 25 years.

Sabalenka, a 27-year-old from Belarus, led women's tennis in match victories (going 63-12), titles (four) and finals reached (nine) in 2025 and set a tour record by earning $15 million in prize money. She spent the entire year at No. 1.

At the majors, Sabalenka was the runner-up to Madison Keys at the Australian Open in January and to Coco Gauff at the French Open in June, made it to the semifinals at Wimbledon in July before losing to Amanda Anisimova and collected her fourth career Grand Slam singles trophy with a successful title defense at the U.S. Open in September, defeating Anisimova in the final.

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Monday, Dec. 15, 2025

FILE - Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, holds her trophy aftyer defeating Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, after the women's finals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)

FILE - Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, holds her trophy aftyer defeating Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, after the women's finals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)

LONDON (AP) — Vicky Mboko, Janice Tjen, Lilli Tagger, Arnaud Bailly and Luka Mikrut were selected by a panel as the International Tennis Federation's Class of 2025, a group considered “promising and breakthrough” talents of the sport.

The five players were revealed this week, based on their seasons on the ITF World Tennis Tour.

Mboko, a 19-year-old Canadian, won four consecutive ITF World Tennis Tour titles early in the year and went on to win a WTA 1000 tournament in Montreal and reach the third round at the French Open.

Tjen, 23, claimed five ITF World Tennis Tour titles in a row, including a 27-match winning streak, and at the U.S. Open became the first Indonesian player to compete in a Grand Slam main draw since 2004, defeating No. 24 seed Veronika Kudermetova. Tjen collected her first WTA Tour trophy in November.

Rafael Nadal undergoes right-hand surgery to relieve pain

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Rafael Nadal undergoes right-hand surgery to relieve pain

The Associated Press 2 minute read Friday, Dec. 12, 2025

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Rafael Nadal has undergone surgery to treat pain and gain mobility in his right hand, the retired tennis great said on Friday.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion, who plays left-handed, said in an X post that he had been dealing with the issue "for a long time.”

Nadal accompanied the social media post with a photo of himself with his right arm bandaged and in a sling. He also quipped that he “won’t be able to play the Australian Open,” the first major of next year.

The surgery was “aimed at relieving pain and restoring mobility” of the joint at the base of his right thumb, according to a separate statement from Nadal’s representative. The operation was performed at a private health clinic in Barcelona.

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Friday, Dec. 12, 2025

FILE - Spain's Rafael Nadal during a tribute after playing his last match as a professional tennis player in the Davis Cup quarterfinals at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, on Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)

FILE - Spain's Rafael Nadal during a tribute after playing his last match as a professional tennis player in the Davis Cup quarterfinals at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, on Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)

French tennis player Quentin Folliot suspended for 20 years, fined $70,000 for match-fixing

The Associated Press 3 minute read Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025

LONDON (AP) — The International Tennis Integrity Agency said Thursday French tennis player Quentin Folliot has been suspended for 20 years and fined $70,000 for match-fixing.

The ITIA said Folliot has also been ordered to repay “corrupt payments” totaling more than $44,000 for “committing 27 breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).”

Folliot’s suspension will end in May 2044, “subject to repayment of outstanding fines.” Time served under a provisional suspension in May 2024 will be credited against the player’s period of ineligibility.

During the period of ineligibility, the ITIA said Folliot is prohibited from “playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorized or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA … or any national association.”

Victoria Mboko and Felix Auger-Aliassime win Tennis Canada excellence awards

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Victoria Mboko and Felix Auger-Aliassime win Tennis Canada excellence awards

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025

TORONTO - National Bank Open champion Victoria Mboko was named women's player of the year by Tennis Canada on Tuesday, while Felix Auger-Aliassime took the men's player of the year honour. 

Mboko, from Burlington, Ont., posted a 62-14 record across all competitions this year. She rocketed from No. 350 in the world rankings at the start of the season to her current No. 18 position.

Mboko's first career WTA Tour title came last summer as a wild-card entry in Montreal. She beat big names like Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina en route to the final of the WTA 1000 tournament, where she upset former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka.

The 19-year-old Canadian, who capped her breakout season with a title in Hong Kong last month, was also named women's singles player of the year and women's most improved player of the year. 

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Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025

Canada's Victoria Mboko reacts following her win over Naomi Osaka of Japan in the National Bank Open final in Montreal on Aug. 7, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Canada's Victoria Mboko reacts following her win over Naomi Osaka of Japan in the National Bank Open final in Montreal on Aug. 7, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Carlos Alcaraz joins other tennis stars in first ever tennis event at Marlins’ loanDepot Park

Alanis Thames, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Carlos Alcaraz joins other tennis stars in first ever tennis event at Marlins’ loanDepot Park

Alanis Thames, The Associated Press 3 minute read Monday, Dec. 8, 2025

MIAMI (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz wanted to play in front of an energetic crowd at the inaugural Miami Invitational.

The No. 1 men's tennis player got his wish, drawing a roar of applause when he stepped onto the court and electric cheers throughout an exhibition event Monday night at loanDepot Park, the home of Major League Baseball's Miami Marlins.

It was a one-time event — the first time tennis has ever been played at loanDepot Park — and also featured rising Brazilian standout João Fonseca and women's stars Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula.

Alcaraz defeated the 24th-ranked Fonseca 7-5, 2-6, 10-8 in a thrilling singles match, their first time facing each other. Anisimova topped Pegula 6-2, 7-5 earlier in the night. Alcaraz and Pegula also beat Anisimova and Fonseca in a mixed doubles 10-point tie breaker.

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Monday, Dec. 8, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz reacts after winning the first set against Joao Fonseca during the Miami Tennis Invitational tournament, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Carlos Alcaraz reacts after winning the first set against Joao Fonseca during the Miami Tennis Invitational tournament, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Caroline Garcia turned down $270,000 betting company offer for her tennis podcast

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Caroline Garcia turned down $270,000 betting company offer for her tennis podcast

The Associated Press 2 minute read Monday, Dec. 8, 2025

PARIS (AP) — Retired French tennis player Caroline Garcia has rejected a $270,000 sponsorship deal for her podcast from a betting company, saying she chooses values over money.

Garcia, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 4, retired earlier this year. She has stayed connected with the sport through the Tennis Insider Club podcast she created with her husband Borja Duran.

“It wasn’t an easy “no,” especially right after retiring from tennis,” the 32-year-old Garcia said on her social networks. “But we want to build a platform where players feel completely safe to be honest, vulnerable and open about anything, without pressure or distraction.”

Garcia did not identify the company that offered the deal.

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Monday, Dec. 8, 2025

FILE - France's Caroline Garcia reacts as she plays United States' Bernarda Pera during their first round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Monday, May 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

FILE - France's Caroline Garcia reacts as she plays United States' Bernarda Pera during their first round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Monday, May 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

Russian-born tennis player Anastasia Potapova switches nationality to Austrian

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Russian-born tennis player Anastasia Potapova switches nationality to Austrian

The Associated Press 2 minute read Friday, Dec. 5, 2025

VIENNA (AP) — Russian-born Anastasia Potapova has switched allegiance to Austria, clearing a path for the 51st-ranked player to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup.

Potapova will become Austria's highest-ranked women's player, ahead of No. 94 Julia Grabher, with the nationality switch, which she announced on social media.

“Welcome to the team,” the Austrian tennis federation said in a statement that also confirmed her move.

The 24-year-old Potapova played at the Billie Jean King Cup in 2018 and 2019, but Russia has been banned from team competitions since the invasion of Ukraine.

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Friday, Dec. 5, 2025

FILE -Anastasia Potapova, of Russia, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Aug. 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis, File)

FILE -Anastasia Potapova, of Russia, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Aug. 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis, File)

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