Tennis News

Marozsan downs Wawrinka; Cilic, Mannarino advance in Shanghai

Fabian Marozsan earned a career-best 24th tour-level win of the season on Wednesday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where he defeated Swiss wild card Stan Wawrinka 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to reach the second round.

The Hungarian recorded 23 wins in 2024 but surpassed that mark with victory at the ATP Masters 1000 event. Marozsan won 83 per cent of his first serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and converted on his third match point to down the 40-year-old Wawrinka, who was aiming to become the oldest Masters 1000 match winner in the series history (since 1990).

Marozsan has fond memories in Shanghai, having advanced to the quarter-finals in 2023. Last week, the 25-year-old reached the quarter-finals in Beijing, falling to Jannik Sinner. His best result this year was a semi-final showing at the ATP 500 in Munich. Marozsan will meet Taylor Fritz in the second round.

Earlier, Adrian Mannarino overcame former World No. 6 Matteo Berrettini 7-5, 7-6(5) to reach the second round. The Frenchman has performed well on hard courts in recent months, reaching the fourth round at the US Open and in Cincinnati. He will next play Francisco Cerundolo.

Former semi-finalist Marin Cilic advanced, downing Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-3, 7-6(5). Cilic, who reached the last four in Shanghai in 2017, broke a six-match losing streak dating back to Wimbledon with his win. Cilic meets Novak Djokovic in the second round. The Serbian leads the Croatian 19-2 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Sebastian Baez beat home favourite Zhang Zhizhen 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, while David Goffin overcame Alexandre Muller 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-1. Zhang reached the fourth round in Shanghai in 2023, the best performance from a Chinese man at the event.

Zizou Bergs beat American Sebastian Korda 6-4, 7-5, Daniel Altmaier defeated Tristan Schoolkate 6-3, 6-4 and Jordan Thompson eliminated Danish qualifier August Holmgren 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Altmaier will play Jannik Sinner in the second round. There were three-set wins for Jaume Munar and Luca Nardi. Munar defeated Marton Fucsovics 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 and Nardi clawed past Sebastian Ofner 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

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Federer, Del Potro among 2026 nominees for International Tennis Hall of Fame

The former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings Roger Federer headlines the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 nominees, joined by 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro and four-time major champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the ballot’s Player Category.

The Player Category recognises ATP and WTA players who have achieved a distinguished record of competitive achievement at the highest international level.

Federer is one of only eight men in tennis history to achieve a Career Grand Slam in singles. He captured his first major title at age 21 at Wimbledon in 2003, going on to become the first male player in tennis history to win 20 major singles titles. Federer then ascended to World No. 1 for a record 237 consecutive weeks, ultimately holding that spot for 310 total weeks through his career.

He finished his career with 103 singles titles, second most in the Open Era, and was voted to receive the ATP’s Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award 13 times. Additionally, Federer was the ATP Fans’ Favourite for a record 19 consecutive years, from 2003 to 2021.

Representing Switzerland, Federer led his country to the Davis Cup title in 2014 and captured Olympic gold in doubles alongside Stan Wawrinka at the 2008 Beijing Games. As part of Team Europe, Federer captured three-straight Laver Cup titles from 2017 through 2019.

Del Potro of Argentina is the 2009 US Open men’s singles champion, one of 22 titles captured over the course of his career. In 2008, while still a teenager, Del Potro earned four ATP singles titles, along the way compiling a 23-match winning streak.

In 2009, Del Potro reached his first Grand Slam final, and secured a five-set victory against Federer at the US Open. He finished the year as the youngest player in the Top 10. In 2016, Del Potro led Argentina to its first Davis Cup title and also earned a silver medal in the Olympic singles competition.

Kuznetsova is a four-time major champion, with two apiece in singles and doubles. She won singles titles at the 2004 US Open and 2009 Roland Garros, and doubles titles at the Australian Open in 2005 and 2012. She reached an additional two major finals in both disciplines. During her 15-year career, she won 18 WTA singles titles and 16 in doubles and reached career high rankings of No. 2 in singles and No. 3 in doubles.

The annual Fan Vote is now open, and will extend through next Friday, 10 October. Click here to cast your vote.

Only the Player Category is eligible for Fan Voting, and fans can vote for any of the nominees they deem deserving. The nominees will receive added percentage points to their vote totals from the Official Voting Group, with first place earning three percentage points, second place two percentage points, and third place one percentage point.

To be elected to the Hall of Fame, candidates must receive an affirmative vote of at least 75 per cent or higher from the combined total of the Official Voting Group result, and any bonus percentage points earned in the Fan Vote.

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Kartal upsets Andreeva to reach China Open quarters

Britain’s Sonay Kartal claims the biggest scalp of her career, beating world number five Mirra Andreeva to reach the China Open last eight.

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Tien, Landaluce enjoy memorable weeks, increase Jeddah hopes

Learner Tien and Martin Landaluce were the big winners in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah in the past week.

Tien made his biggest breakthrough yet at the ATP 500 event in Beijing, where he became the second-youngest finalist in tournament history. The 19-year-old lefty defeated Top 10 star Lorenzo Musetti and former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev at the China Open.

Tien, the third-youngest tour-level finalist this season, lost to Jannik Sinner in the title match but now holds a 7-5 career record against Top 20 opponents. The American is up one place to second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah on 1,170 points and is set to compete at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF for the second consecutive year, having reached the final last season.

“It’s been a great week,” Tien said following the final in Beijing. “Obviously I would have loved to go all the way. Regardless, I’m super happy with the week. It’s my first semi-final, my first final, so I’m very happy with the progress I’m making.

“I’m learning a lot week to week just playing more matches each week. This is my first year on tour, so I think every week I’m gaining a lot of experience, playing a lot of new players, playing different environments, just a lot of different matchups. It’s all great all these experiences I’m getting.”

View PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah

One player hoping to join Tien in Jeddah from 17-21 December is Landaluce. The Spaniard captured his first ATP Challenger Tour title of the season in Orleans, climbing three spots to fifth in the Live Race To Jeddah on 406 points. He is 165 points clear of ninth-placed Justin Engel, who is the first player outside the Top 8 qualification cut.

The 19-year-old won the US Open boys’ singles event in 2022. He captured his maiden Challenger title last October in Olbia and is now aiming for his maiden trip to the 20-and-under event.

“Martin has a great balance on and off court and it will help him a lot throughout his career,” Landaluce’s coach Oscar Burrieza told ATPTour.com in September. “He is a positive person and he is a happy and very calm guy and that will help. We are working hard on his consistency when he strikes it harder but the big thing is his fitness. Mentally he is ready, he is a very resilient person, so he knows how to suffer and is very brave. He goes big on the important moments. We have a lot ahead of us.”

Germany’s Engel was also a big mover, rising three positions to ninth. The 17-year-old, who reached the quarter-finals on home soil in Stuttgart this year, advanced to the semi-finals in Orleans.

The PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah runs until Monday, 10 November, with the Top 8 players qualifying. Joao Fonseca lifted the trophy in 2024.

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'Life is too short' – Monfils to retire in 2026

French veteran Gael Monfils announces he will retire from tennis at the end of the 2026 season.

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Monfils announces 2026 season will be his last on Tour

Gael Monfils has announced he will retire from professional tennis at the end of the 2026 season.

One of the most beloved and charismatic stars on the ATP Tour since he made his pro debut in 2004, the Frenchman has lifted 13 tour-level singles trophies and climbed to a career-high No. 6 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2016. In a post across social media channels on Wednesday, Monfils explained his decision to retire at the end of next year.

“I had a racket in my hands for the first time at two and a half, and began playing professionally at 18,” he wrote. “Now, after celebrating my 39th birthday just a month ago, I’d like to share that the year ahead will be my last as a professional tennis player.

“The opportunity to turn my passion into a profession is a privilege I have cherished during every match and moment of my 21-year career. Though this game means the world to me, I am tremendously at peace with my decision to retire at the end of the 2026 tennis season.”

I’ve got something to share with you. pic.twitter.com/pBGh58O6pg

— Gael Monfils (@Gael_Monfils) October 1, 2025

Even into his 22nd year as a professional, Monfils has remained a title contender on the ATP Tour. He is 18-15 for the 2025 season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, a tally highlighted by a run to the title in Auckland in the first week of the year. In his post, he thanked members of his team, fans, the French Tennis Federation, fellow players and his parents, as well as his wife, WTA star Elina Svitolina, and their daughter Skai.

“When you love something so much, it never feels like a good time to say goodbye,” wrote Monfils. “But 40 will be the right time for me. Of course, winning one more title before I’m done would be truly incredible. Truthfully though, my only real goal for the year ahead is simple.

“To enjoy every minute, and to play each match like it’s my last.”

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Heliovaara & Patten qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals

Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten have qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals for the second consecutive year following their victory at the China Open in Beijing.

Last year, Heliovaara and Patten began their partnership during the clay-court season and still battled their way to Turin. In their first full year together, they have replicated their feat and will compete at the season finale from 9-16 November.

After triumphing at Wimbledon in 2024, Heliovaara and Patten claimed more major glory at this year’s Australian Open, where they clawed through three-set clashes in the semi-finals and final to lift the trophy. The Melbourne champions also have now triumphed in Beijing and made the final in Dubai.

They showed consistency throughout the season, advancing to eight additional semi-finals, including three at ATP Masters 1000 events in Miami, Monte-Carlo and Rome.

Heliovaara competed in the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time in 2022 with Lloyd Glasspool. Patten has only played in the year-end championships with Heliovaara.

Four teams have now qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, with Heliovaara and Patten joining Julian Cash/Lloyd Glasspool, Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos and Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic. Four places remain in the season finale.

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