TOP 50 EPIC GAÉRL MONFILS SHOTS & RALLIES

 

ATP TOUR RANKING | AFTER ITALIAN OPEN 2026

 

CARLOS ALCARAZ REACTS AS HE ECLIPSES DJOKOVIC, NADAL, FEDERER WITH MILESTONE AT MINTE CARLO MASTERS

Carlos Alcaraz hits a backhand

Carlos Alcaraz became the third-fastest player to reach a significant ATP Tour milestone as he advanced to the semi-finals at the 2026 Monte Carlo Masters.

The Spanish superstar crushed world No 11 Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-0 in just over an hour in the quarter-finals at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

Alcaraz won the first two games before Bublik fought back to take a 3-2 lead after saving four break points to avoid going down a double break

From 2-3 behind, Alcaraz reeled off the next 10 games in a devastating sequence as he surged to the finish line in his first-ever meeting with Bublik

The world No 1 is vying to win his second successive Monte Carlo Masters crown after his maiden triumph in the Principality last year.

In his on-court interview with Tennis TV, Alcaraz shared his thoughts on the match.

“Well, first of all, I think I did start pretty well, I just had points to be two breaks up in the first set, I didn’t make it. And then all of a sudden I lost a little bit the feeling of the ball,” said Alcaraz.

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“But yeah, after that, I think he just pulled off great shots, great games, I had to run side to side a lot, try to defend my best and I think I just saved a few games that gave me a lot of confidence coming into the match again.

“And then playing aggressive… I would say I played a great and a solid match against him — that is probably a player that you don’t know what’s gonna be next. Just happy to get through and playing another semi-final here.”

The seven-time Grand Slam champion also reacted to being told he had achieved his 300th victory on the ATP Tour.

“Obviously I’m really happy about my 300th win in the ATP Tour, and hopefully many more to come,” Alcaraz said.

Alcaraz lost only 67 matches en route to amassing 300 victories, which is fewer than the Big Three (Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer) lost before reaching this milestone.

Tennis icons Rod Laver and Jimmy Connors are the only players to reach 300 victories in fewer matches than Alcaraz in the Open Era of men’s tennis.

The 22-year-old arrived at the 300-win landmark in the same number of matches as American legend John McEnroe (367).

- Ewan West

MOST MASTERS 100 MATCH WINS | TENNIS 🎾

 

CARLOS ALCARAZ SAYS HE 'DOESN'T SUPPORT' NOVAK DJOKOVIC -BACKED LAWSUIT

Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz pushed back on a lawsuit against the ATP Tour filed by the Novak Djokovic-led tennis players union.

AFP

Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz pushed back on a lawsuit against the ATP Tour filed by the Novak Djokovic-led tennis players union on Wednesday, saying he does not support the move. The Spaniard world number three, speaking ahead of the Miami Open, said he had not been given any notice of the legal case from the Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA) or the strongly-worded statement issued on Tuesday. "Honestly, it was surprising for me, because nobody told me nothing about it, so I was just, yesterday, I saw in the social media," Alcaraz said.

The PTPA filing cites an Alcaraz quote from a press conference in which he criticised the tour schedule and the player said he was not aware of that decision.

"I saw that there were some statements that they put something that I said in press conference, which I didn't know. I don't support that letter, that, I don't support that, because, as I said, I didn't know anything about it," he added.

Alcaraz said he had mixed opinions about the nature of the complaint which is a wide-ranging critique of the way the sport is run by the ATP and the WTA Tour.

"There are some things that I agree with, there are some other things that I'm not agreeing with, but the main thing here is that I'm not supporting that, so that's it," he said.

The PTPA was set up by Djokovic and Canada's Vasek Pospisil in 2020. Some 20 players were named as part of at least one of the actions.

"The lawsuits expose systemic abuse, anti-competitive practises, and a blatant disregard for player welfare that have persisted for decades," said the PTPA statement. 

"The ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA operate as a cartel by implementing a number of draconian, interlocking anti-competitive restraints and abusive practises."

The ATP and WTA, along with the International Tennis Federation and the tennis integrity body ITIA, all defended themselves against the claim and rejected the charges.

- Agence France-Presse

PLAYERS ACCUSE TENNIS GOVERNING BODIES OF RUNNING 'CARTEL' IN LAWSUIT

Vasek Pospisil and Novak Djokovic are founders of the Professional Tennis Players Association. Photograph: Kelly Barnes/AP

The player advocacy organization founded by Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil has launched a lawsuit against the governing bodies of professional tennis, marking an escalation in its battle to secure better rights for players.

The six-year-old Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), which has struggled to drive change from outside the system, is now pursuing legal action against the ATP Tour, WTA Tour, International Tennis Federation (ITF) and International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The 163-page complaint, filed in the US district court for the southern district of New York, lists 12 current and former players as plaintiffs, including Pospisil, Nick Kyrgios and Sorana Cîrstea. It alleges that the governing bodies have systematically suppressed competition, manipulated prize money structures and imposed restrictive ranking systems that prevent players from seeking alternative earnings. The lawsuit also accuses the ITIA of violating player rights through invasive anti-doping and anti-corruption practices.

In a statement announcing the lawsuit, the PTPA described the legal action as a necessary step after years of failed attempts to push for reform. “Following years of good-faith efforts to reform professional tennis, the PTPA has taken decisive legal action,” it said. “The lawsuits expose systemic abuse, anti-competitive practices, and a blatant disregard for player welfare that have persisted for decades.”

The lawsuit, a copy of which has been obtained by the Guardian, argues that the governing bodies function as a “cartel”, enforcing a rigid economic system that keeps players’ earnings artificially low. It highlights an example from Indian Wells, where billionaire tournament owner Larry Ellison was blocked from increasing prize money due to ATP and WTA regulations. The plaintiffs contend that this system prevents tournaments from competing for talent and forces players into unfair contracts.

“Tennis is broken,” Ahmad Nassar, the executive director of the PTPA, said in a statement. “Behind the glamorous veneer that the defendants promote, players are trapped in an unfair system that exploits their talent, suppresses their earnings, and jeopardizes their health and safety.”

The ranking system is another major point of contention. Players earn ranking points only by competing in ATP- and WTA-sanctioned events, which the PTPA argues forces them into an unsustainable 45-week-per-year schedule. Additionally, the governing bodies impose non-compete clauses and fines for players who participate in alternative tournaments.

Beyond financial issues, the lawsuit also highlights concerns about player welfare. The PTPA claims that the governing bodies have disregarded player health by forcing athletes to compete in extreme heat and late at night, citing recent incidents at the Australian Open and US Open.

The ITIA, which oversees tennis’s anti-doping and anti-corruption investigations, is accused of operating with little accountability, subjecting players to intrusive searches of their personal devices, repeated drug tests and lengthy interrogations without legal representation. The lawsuit suggests that these measures are used as a tool of control rather than genuine efforts to maintain integrity in the sport.

Pospisil, a former Wimbledon doubles champion, emphasized that the lawsuit is not just about money but about fundamental fairness and dignity. “I’m one of the more fortunate players, and I’ve still had to sleep in my car when traveling to matches early in my career,” he said. “Imagine an NFL player being told he had to sleep in his car at an away game. It’s absurd. No other major sport treats its athletes this way.”

The PTPA was founded in 2019 to represent players independently from the ATP and WTA, which also serve as the governing bodies for men’s and women’s professional tennis. The lawsuit alleges that the ATP has actively sought to suppress the PTPA, including by introducing rules that penalize players who affiliate with the organization. One such rule change removes eligibility for pension benefits and player council participation for those aligned with “adverse organizations” like the PTPA.

Djokovic has been vocal about the need for a fairer system, arguing that players deserve a larger share of the sport’s multi-billion-dollar revenue. “We need a system where players have a voice and can negotiate for their rights like athletes in other major sports,” he said in a recent interview.

The lawsuit draws parallels to historic legal battles in other sports, including Major League Baseball’s reserve clause case and the National Basketball Association’s fight for free agency. If successful, it could force major structural changes in professional tennis, including the restructuring of revenue-sharing models and ranking systems. It could also pave the way for greater player autonomy, similar to what has been achieved in leagues like the NFL and NBA.

Tennis’s governing bodies have yet to issue formal responses, though insiders suggest they will argue that the existing system is necessary to maintain competitive balance. A protracted legal battle is expected, with potential ramifications that could reshape the professional game.

For now, the PTPA insists that reform is inevitable. “Players are the product,” said one unnamed plaintiff. “Without us, there is no tennis. It’s time for the sport to reflect that reality.”

- Bryan Armen Graham In New York

ATP TOUR RANKINGS | SINGLES

 

GAEL MONFILS BREAKS ROGER FEDERER'S RECORD AFTER VICTORY IN AUCKLAND

France's Gael Monfils celebrates with the trophy after defeating Belgium's Zizou Bergs in the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland. AP

Gael Monfils became the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title after defeating Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4 in the final in Auckland on Saturday

Gael Monfils broke Roger Federer’s record to become the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title after winning the ASB Classic in Auckland on Saturday. The French veteran achieved the feat after defeating Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4 in Auckland, claiming his 13th tour title – 20 years after winning his first – at the age of 38 years and 132 days.

Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, was 38 years and 74 days old when he won the Swiss Indoor title in Basel in 2019, the final tour title of his iconic career.

Monfils currently is ranked 52 and is the oldest player in the history of the ATP Tour to be ranked in the top 100.

Pancho Gonzalez was 44 years, 7 months and 4 days old when he won a Kingston, Jamaica singles title in 1972, prior to the formation of the ATP Tour in 1990.

The Auckland final was delayed on Saturday by a medical emergency in the crowd but Monfils showed the same mixture of aggression and tenacious defense to claim his first title since the Stockholm Open in 2023.

Prior to the start of the Auckland tournament, Monfils spoke about how his love of tennis kept him going.

“I love tennis. I love what I’m doing so of course all the sacrifices you do, they are a little bit easier. When you love something, it’s easier to keep pushing," he said.

“I’ve been enjoying myself since the first day I played tennis and (at) 60 years old I will still have this joy. Practice, it’s easy. It’s in the DNA. Stay in shape, it’s easy. It’s more the travel.”

After collecting the Auckland trophy, Monfils headed straight to the airport for a flight to Melbourne where he will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of the Australian Open.

With AP inputs

- FP Sports

8,000 MATCHES LATER, CARLOS BERNADES SAYS GOODBYE TO TENNIS 🎾

Brazilian ends 30-plus year career in Turin

For more than three decades, chair umpire Carlos Bernardes enjoyed the best seat in the house. One of the sport's most respected officials, the Brazilian has presided over some of the game’s most memorable showdowns in tennis’s grandest arenas.

From Sampras and Agassi to the unforgettable Federer-Nadal rivalries, Bernardes has been right there, courtside, keeping order. His storied journey came to a fitting close on the ATP Tour this week at the Nitto ATP Finals, where he officiated his final ATP Tour match in the title showdown.

Bernardes reminisced on his career to ATPTour.com in Turin.

"My first contact with tennis was as a kid in Brazil. We used to jump the fence to play at the local club until we finally registered there. Since then, I’ve been part of the game, and I feel so fortunate to have had these experiences,” Bernardes said.

In 1984, Bernardes began coaching and soon found his way into officiating as a line judge at a regional Billie Jean King Cup tie in Sao Paulo. Balancing coaching and officiating across South America, his breakthrough came in 1992 when he joined the ATP Tour as a chair umpire.

"I started with tournaments in South America, then got assigned to the United States. I remember an early event in San Jose in 1996," he said with a smile. "That tournament featured Sampras, Agassi, and Chang. Sampras was No. 1. It was incredible — to go from playing tennis on Brazilian streets to umpiring Sampras and Agassi."

Carlos Bernardes with ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi in Turin. Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

Out of the 29 players to reach No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Bernardes had the privilege of officiating 24 of them. From Mats Wilander to Jannik Sinner, he’s witnessed historic moments and built lasting relationships with the game’s biggest stars.

“I’ve done matches with Sampras, Agassi, Chang, Edberg, Wilander, Becker. It was great to see Boris Becker here in Turin this week. He came up to talk to me, which was nice. Becker had such charisma on court. And the Sampras-Agassi matches were unforgettable.”

Bernardes recalls the ‘special’ era of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic, and the thrill of umpiring Andy Murray, Juan Martin del Potro, and Stan Wawrinka.

“I think some of my longest matches were with Murray — four hours on court, and he’d still push through. I’d see him later and ask, ‘How did you do it?’ and he’d say, ‘I can’t walk now,’ but he’d be back on court the next day winning. That respect from players means a lot.”

One of Bernardes’ fondest memories is umpiring Rafael Nadal’s first ATP Tour match in Mallorca in 2002, followed by Nadal's first encounter with Federer in Miami (2004). He also officiated the 2011 Wimbledon final, where Novak Djokovic defeated Nadal to claim the title and ascend to No. 1.

“Wimbledon is magic,” Bernardes said. “I started playing tennis because of Wimbledon. Getting to umpire on Centre Court — it’s incomparable. That 2011 final was truly special.”

Bernardes has seen first-hand how the sport has grown, evolved and changed, making him a fountain of knowledge in regard to the history of the game. The 60-year-old became a key part of the travelling roadshow that is the ATP Tour, journeying countless miles and spending years of his life in hotels.

“I love Melbourne — I can walk back to the hotel at 2 a.m! Tokyo was always ahead of the game," Bernardes said when speaking about his favourite cities. "Monte-Carlo is beautiful, especially when it’s not raining. And New York, where I umpired at my first Grand Slam, is always unforgettable.

“Barcelona too. It is a proper tennis event. If you want to see a tennis event, that is the one to go with. There may be two guys who are lower ranked, but it will be packed in the stands.”

Today, Bernardes leaves a sport transformed by technology. Electronic line calling is already widespread and will be mandatory on the Tour by 2025, with limited trials of video review underway. Though Bernardes embraced the high-stakes pressure of making line calls, he understands the shift.

“It’s different now with electronic calls — you don’t talk to players as much. There’s no need to overrule or explain calls. Now, I just listen to the music in the stadium. It’s becoming more mechanical, and we need to be cautious. I enjoyed the pressure of making the right call. Now, even if I think a ball is out, I sit back and let technology decide.”

Seated in the officiating room at Turin's Inalpi Arena, Bernardes reflects warmly on his memories. His eyes light up most, though, when he speaks of the people he’s met.

“I have so many stories, and I’m lucky. I’ve done over 8,000 matches — just 1 percent of that leaves plenty of memories,” Bernardes said. “But it’s the people I’ve met that stand out. We’re away from home for half our lives, so you embrace the people and the places. This year, fans and people came up to me — that’s been wonderful. It’s a great environment to be part of.”

Bernardes will finish his career next week at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga but received warm words from Jannik Sinner following the title match at the Nitto ATP Finals, which the Brazilian umpired.

"Carlos, it's been an amazing career," Sinner said. "I feel privileged to be part of your last ATP journey."

Jannik Sinner shakes hands with Carlos Bernardes. Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

- Sam Jacot

SHANGHAI HIGHLIGHTS | DAY 8

 

DE MINAUR SINKS RUUD TO RETAIN MEXICAN OPEN CROWN

Reuters 

 Third seed Alex de Minaur successfully defended his Mexican Open crown on Saturday, romping to a 6-4 6-4 victory over Casper Ruud in the Acapulco title clash.

The result helped the 25-year-old Australian snap a four-match losing run in finals and bag his eighth ATP Tour title - his seventh on hard courts - to secure his place in the top 10 of the world rankings that will be updated on Monday.

"It's been an amazing week," said De Minaur, who finished runner-up to Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner in Rotterdam last month.

"It's probably a week I didn't really expect. I came into Mexico not feeling my best and just kept telling myself to keep giving myself chances. I think today I played my best match of the tournament by far.

ATP ROUNDUP: DANIIL MEDVEDEV WINS TO BEGIN DUBAI TITLE DEFENSE

Reuters 

 Reigning champion Daniil Medvedev recorded a 6-3, 7-5 win over Alexander Shevchenko of Kazakhstan on Tuesday in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Medvedev had withdrawn from two recent tournaments due to fatigue and a right foot injury, making this the top-seeded Russian's first on-court appearance since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open final.

Medvedev advances to face Italian Lorenzo Sonego, who posted a 6-4, 5-7, 6-1 win over Sumit Nagal of India. The latter saved two break points at 5-5 in the second before running out of steam in the third set of the 2-hour, 19-minute match.

Fourth-seeded Karen Khachanov breezed to a 6-2, 6-3 win over Frenchman Luca Van Assche.

France's Ugo Humbert, the fifth seed, posted a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over countryman Gael Monfils and eighth-seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain seized a 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 victory over Fabian Marozsan of Hungary.

RAFAEL NADAL NAMED AMBASSADOR FOR SAUDI TENNIS FEDERATION

 

X

MELBOURNE -- Rafael Nadal said there is real potential to grow the sport of tennis in Saudi Arabia after the 22-time Grand Slam champion was named an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation.

The role will see the former world No. 1 spend time each year in the desert kingdom to help train children and grow interest in the sport, with plans also in the pipeline for a training academy, the Saudi federation said.

"Everywhere you look in Saudi Arabia, you can see growth and progress and I'm excited to be part of that," Nadal, who pulled out of the ongoing Australian Open with a muscle injury, said Tuesday in a statement.

The Spaniard, who recently visited a junior tennis clinic in Riyadh, struggled with a hip problem last year before making his comeback in Brisbane but expects 2024 to be his final season on the professional tour.

WTA SAYS NO DECISION YET ON 2024 FINALS HOST AMID REPORTED SAUDI INTEREST

The WTA is yet to decide on a venue for its 2024 season-ending Finals, the governing body of women's tennis said, amid growing speculation the championship is headed to Saudi Arabia.

Cancun was named the venue for this year's edition less than two months before it began on Oct. 29 and the Mexico event drew heavy criticism from world number two Aryna Sabalenka over the standard of organisation.

Multiple media outlets have said the Finals are set to move to Saudi Arabia and the BBC reported that negotiations were in the late stages with both parties keen on a multi-year deal.

"We are in discussions with various groups surrounding the 2024 WTA Finals and beyond and have not made any decisions at this time," a WTA spokesperson said in an email.

"As with all WTA decisions, we are working closely with players and focused on continuing to build a strong future for women's tennis."

TAYLOR FRITZ VS. NOVAK DJOKOVIC | HIGHLIGHTS | US OPEN 2023

 

ATP ROUNDUP: FRANCES TIAFOE WIN THRILLING STUTTGART FINAL

Reuters 

Third-seeded Frances Tiafoe survived a championship point and outlasted home favorite Jan-Lennard Struff to win the Boss Open title 4-6, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (8) on Sunday in Stuttgart, Germany.

By winning his third career title and first on grass in 2 hours and 12 minutes, the 25-year-old American will move into the Top 10 in the ATP Tour rankings for the first time on Monday.

Tiafoe saved the championship point trailing 7-6 in the third-set tiebreak. He withstood 28 aces from Struff and finished with 36 winners and just four unforced errors. Struff ripped 56 winners with 13 unforced errors and recorded the match's only service break in the seventh game of the opening set.

FABIAN MAROZSÁN AFTER BEATING CARLOS ALCARAZ

 

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