Draper pulls out of UTS final as he delays return
Jack Draper delays his comeback from an arm injury as he pulls out of this weekend’s Ultimate Tennis Showdown grand final in London.
Jack Draper delays his comeback from an arm injury as he pulls out of this weekend’s Ultimate Tennis Showdown grand final in London.
Denmark’s Elmer Moller capped the 2025 ATP Challenger Tour season on a high note Sunday when he claimed his third title of the season.
The 22-year-old won the Maia Open, where he ousted Slovakian Andrej Martin 6-4, 6-1 in the final. Following his title run, Moller is up to No. 121 in the PIF ATP Rankings, drawing him closer to his Top 100 debut.
“It’s incredible. I was actually not sure a month and a half ago if I was going to play anymore this year,” Moller said in his post-match press conference. “It was good for me to take a break from playing tournaments, practising and staying at home. I feel like I came here with new energy that had been missing for a while. I’m happy I did that for myself. It paid off in the end.”
This was not the first time Moller triumphed in Portugal this year. He also won the Oeiras Challenger in April. His second Challenger title of the season came in July in Iasi, Romania. All four of Moller’s career Challenger crowns have come on clay.
Samuel secures back-to-back titles
Briton Toby Samuel finished his season in dominant fashion. The former University of South Carolina star, who graduated in 2024, won back-to-back Challenger titles, with his most recent victory coming at the Manama Challenger in Bahrain. He raced past Ilia Simakin 6-0, 6-2 in a 48-minute final.
Samuel, 23, did not drop a set all week in Manama and is now at a career-high No. 267 in the PIF ATP Rankings. The week before, Samuel was crowned champion in Soma Bay, Egypt. He also won an ITF M15 title in Sharm ElSheikh in early November.
Gomez wins first Challenger title of season in final week
Federico Agustin Gomez secured his first Challenger title of 2025 and fourth overall with his triumph at the Challenger Dove Men+Care Temuco in Chile. The Argentine defeated Lautaro Midon 6-4, 6-1 in the championship match to win his first hard-court title.
<img alt=”Federico Agustin Gomez wins the Temuco Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/12/01/14/58/gomez-temucoch-2025.jpg” />
Federico Agustin Gomez wins the Temuco Challenger. Credit: Legión Sudamericana
Mejia triumphs on home soil in Bogota
Colombia’s Nicolas Mejia triumphed on home soil at the Challenger Seguros del Estado in the capital city Bogota. A three-time Challenger champion, Mejia’s victory marked his first on Colombian soil. In an all-Colombian final, the 25-year-old downed countryman Juan Sebastian Gomez 6-4, 6-4.
Hijikata wins Playford Challenger for third time
Rinky Hijikata successfully defended his title at the City of Playford Tennis International, where he also triumphed in 2022. All four of Hijikata’s Challenger trophies have come on Australian soil. The 24-year-old, who played college tennis at the University of North Carolina, overcame fellow Aussie Dane Sweeny 6-0, 6-7(8), 6-4 in the final.
<img alt=”Rinky Hijikata in action at the Playford Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/12/01/15/04/hijikata-playfordch-2025.jpg” />
Rinky Hijikata in action at the Playford Challenger. Credit: Mark Willoughby/Aussie Photo Media
Clarke wins Pakistan’s first Challenger tournament
Briton Jay Clarke went one step further than last week’s runner-up finish in Soma Bay with a title run in Islamabad, Pakistan, which became the 97th country to host a Challenger event. Clarke, 27, beat Turkey’s Mert Alkaya 6-3, 6-1 in the final.
Geerts wins maiden Challenger crown in Greece
Michael Geerts won the I.T.C. Athens Challenger, which was directed by Apostolos Tsitsipas, the father and coach of ATP Tour star Stefanos Tsitsipas. Geerts defeated the top two seeds, Sandro Kopp and Arthur Fery, respectively, in his final two matches of the week. The 30-year-old outlasted Fery 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 in a hard-fought final to claim his maiden Challenger crown. Geerts also won the Athens doubles title alongside Alberto Barroso Campos.
Geerts takes it all in Athens 😎
The Belgian follows up yesterday’s doubles triumph with a hard-fought three-set victory over Fery to complete the full title sweep! #ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/iChZ7IUoiT
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 30, 2025
It can be said that without Nicola Pietrangeli, who died today aged of 92, the sport of tennis may not have become as popular in Italy.
With film star good looks, Pietrangeli mingled with the jet-set, counting the likes of Marcello Mastroianni, Brigitte Bardot and Claudia Cardinale among his acquaintances. On court, it was his exceptional touch, movement and a superb backhand that helped him become one of the world’s leading clay-court exponents in the late 1950s and 1960s.
In seven major final appearances at Roland Garros, Pietrangeli captured four titles – notably the singles (d. Vermaak) and men’s doubles (w/Orlando Sirola) in 1959. The next year, his socks were red with blood in a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Chile’s Luis Ayala. He additionally lost to Manuel Santana in gruelling singles finals of 1961 and 1964 and claimed the mixed doubles trophy at the event in 1958 with Shirley Bloomer.
Fans in Rome also marvelled at his 1957 and 1961 titles, two of 52 pieces of career silverware, but it was in the Davis Cup that Pietrangeli raised his game. In a record 164 rubbers between 1954 and 1972, the Italian won 120 matches and the country lost to Australia in the 1960 and 1961 Challenge Rounds (both held on grass courts). In playing retirement, as captain, he led Corrado Barazzutti, Paolo Bertolucci, Adriano Panatta and Tonino Zugarelli in 1976 to Italy’s first Davis Cup title with a 4-1 final victory over Chile in Santiago.
Pietrangeli was born in Tunis, and during the Allied occupation of Tunisia (1942-43), his father, Giulio, an amateur tennis player, was interned. Nicola started to play tennis inside the prison camp, before the family moved to Rome. He later became part of the youth team of Lazio football club.
It wasn’t until Pietrangeli was 19 that he fully committed to tennis. He first competed at the 1952 Italian Championships [now known as the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, an ATP Masters 1000 event] and at The Championships, Wimbledon on 19 occasions, reaching the 1960 semi-finals (l. to Rod Laver) — one of two years the right-hander ranked World No. 3.
He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1986, and, 20 years later, the second largest tennis stadium at the Foro Italico was named in his honour. It is at the 3,000-seater Pietrangeli stadium, he wrote in his autobiography, Se piove rimandiamo (If it rains, we postpone), that he would like his funeral to be held.
Pietrangeli had three sons — Marco, Giorgio [who died aged 59 on 4 July 2025] and Filippo — in a 15-year marriage to Susanna Artero, and he also had a long-term relationship with Italian TV presenter Licia Colo. Pietrangeli had been in declining health following a hip fracture in December 2024.
Nicola ‘Nicky’ Chirinsky Pietrangeli, tennis player and captain, born 11 September 1933, died 1 December 2025
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Andy Murray says he “probably didn’t get the results I would have liked” for Novak Djokovic during his time coaching his former rival earlier this year.
Two devoted scarecrows plan the perfect wedding – until a rival threatens everything.
Italian tennis great Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, dies at the age of 92.
Lorenzo Musetti and his partner Veronica Confalonieri welcomed their second child on Saturday. The couple have had a baby boy named Leandro and Musetti took to social media to share the news.
“Love is multiplied,” wrote the Italian in introducing the new family of four on Instagram. Musetti and Confalonieri welcomed their first son Ludovico in March 2024.
View this post on Instagram
Musetti received congratulatory messages from stars including Holger Rune, Jasmine Paolini, Sara Errani and Marta Kostyuk.
Musetti finished the 2025 season at No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings after holding a 45-22 record on the year. The 23-year-old Italian reached the title match at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Monte-Carlo and made his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]To mark the end of another thrilling season, ATPTour.com is unveiling our annual ‘Best Of’ series, which will reflect on the most intriguing rivalries, matches, comebacks, upsets and more. Today we highlight some of the most memorable off-court moments from this season.
The on-court action may make the headlines, but the ATP Tour is about much more than just serves, sets and sporting success. A host of the world’s top stars enjoyed plenty of exciting off-court experiences during the 2025 season, reminders of the wider spectacle of the tennis merry-go-round.
ATPTour.com recaps some of the best off-court moments of 2025.
[ATP AWARDS] Djokovic to Coach Murray: No injuries, please!
Novak Djokovic began his 2025 season with a New Year’s Eve opening-round win at the Brisbane International presented by ANZ. The Serbian was promptly asked to reveal the whereabouts of his then-coach and great former rival Andy Murray, who was reportedly only scheduled to arrive Down Under later that month for the Australian Open.
“He is skiing at the moment. He has a family skiing trip. Sending my love to all the Murray family,” Djokovic confirmed in his post-match on-court interview in Brisbane. “I hope he doesn’t get injured skiing before he comes to Melbourne. That wouldn’t be great.”
Djokovic needn’t have worried, as Murray soon responded to his charge with a reassuring-if-tongue-in-cheek post on X:
I’m taking on some huge slopes as you can see but no injuries just yet 😂 https://t.co/fqdBbMzNZJ pic.twitter.com/4E5QUYUOQc
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) December 31, 2024
From volleys to Vogue
The crossover between tennis and fashion hit new heights in 2025. In March, fast-rising leftys Ben Shelton and Jack Draper appeared in an issue of Vogue Magazine, with the iconic fashion publication branding the pair as ‘Two Princes’.
<img alt=”Ben Shelton ” style=”width: 100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/03/05/12/41/shelton-vogue-2025-(1).jpg” />
Ben Shelton takes part in a photo shoot for Vogue Magazine. Photo Credit: Theo Wenner/Vogue
Meanwhile another renowned fashion publication, GQ, got into the action at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals, where it held a photo shoot with six of the qualified players at a hotel in downtown Turin.
<img alt=”Nitto ATP Finals” style=”width: 100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/11/11/14/28/gq12025.jpg” />
A group shot from the Nitto ATP Finals GQ photo shoot. Photo Credit: John Russo
Sinner’s divine moment with Pope Leo XIV
In May, Jannik Sinner marched to his maiden final at his home ATP Masters 1000 event, the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Perhaps Sinner was feeling particularly inspired on the Rome clay in the wake of his meeting with the newly elected Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican City.
When in Rome…
Jannik Sinner met Pope Leo XIV this morning 🤩
🎥: Vatican Media#IBI25 pic.twitter.com/tYg7fCN3zx
— Internazionali BNL d’Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 14, 2025
Leo XIV was not the only iconic figure with whom Sinner crossed paths in 2025. In June, the then-No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings released a song with famous Italian tenor Andrea Boccelli, titled Polvere e Gloria (Dust and Glory).
Golfing greats…& golfing gaffes
ATP Tour stars past and present tried their hand at golf in 2025, apparently with mixed success. While many tennis players appear to have no trouble adjusting their skills to excel at golf, ATP No. 1 Club members Alcaraz (“I’m not that good”) and Murray (“I know, I know, I’m terrible at golf”), who played a round together shortly before Wimbledon, both seemed intent on ‘managing expectations’ when asked about their abilities with club in hand.
Perhaps Alcaraz and Murray could benefit from tagging along on the next ‘Fedal’ golf day… legendary Lexus ATP Head2Head rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal hit the fairways together in Mallorca in July, while Alcaraz could also just head to the locker room and hit up Casper Ruud for some advice: the Norwegian is a fanatic of the sport who is widely acknowledged as the best golfer on the ATP Tour.
<img alt=”Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer” style=”width: 100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/07/22/20/02/roger_rafa.jpg” />
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer played golf together in July at the Pula Golf Resort in Mallorca. Photo Credit: Rafa Nadal Academy
No man is an island… except Alcaraz?
Golf was not the only off-court activity that Alcaraz enjoyed this season. The Spaniard, who finished the year with ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours, took the time to visit a San Francisco landmark ahead of the 2025 Laver Cup.
Alcaraz took a tour of Alcatraz Island, home of the world-famous former prison that has become one of San Francisco’s most-visited tourist attractions. The Spaniard was able to escape the island in time to lead Team Europe’s Laver Cup bid, but it is Team World who will keep the event’s trophy under lock and key until next year after it secured a commanding 15-9 victory at Chase Center.
<img alt=”Carlos Alcaraz at Alcatraz Island in San Francisco ahead of the Laver Cup.” style=”width: 100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/09/17/22/41/alcaraz-alcatraz-laver-cup-2025-visit.jpg” />
Carlos Alcaraz at Alcatraz Island in San Francisco ahead of the Laver Cup. Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup
Earlier in the year, Alcaraz had taken another, somewhat different, island trip following his stunning triumph from three championship points down against Jannik Sinner in the Roland Garros final. For the second year in a row, the Spaniard flew to Ibiza to enjoy a June holiday with friends: “The craziest thing was probably staying out really late,” Alcaraz later said. “I danced a bit, but nothing more than what a normal person would do.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]“I just go out there and try and enjoy it as much as I can.”
Relaxed, unhurried and backed by a quiet, unwavering self-belief, Learner Tien radiates ease as he reflects on a breakthrough season that has turned heads across the ATP Tour.
Still just 19, the rising American surged into the title match at the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF and now returns to the 20-and-under showdown in 2025 as one of the players to watch. His year featured a series of firsts and milestones, including a maiden ATP 250 crown in Metz, marking him as one of the sport’s fastest-climbing talents.
In the opening episode of the new Journey to Jeddah series, Tien rewinds to his earliest memories on court, shares what he’s learned from his debut year on Tour and opens up about competitiveness, pressure and why friendships with peers matter more than most people realise.
“I think all the young guys do a great job at pushing each other. It helps seeing familiar faces in new places,” Tien says. “So many other guys are living almost the same life as you… It’s reassuring to know you share so much in common with the people around you.”
Also stepping into the spotlight in Episode 1 is Japan’s Rei Sakamoto. The 19-year-old, known for his self-proclaimed quirky personality and booming serve, is navigating the pivotal transition from juniors to the ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour. Coach Federico Ricci is encouraged by Sakamoto’s development, but highlights the importance of sharpening focus as the next stage of his career begins to unfold.
Featuring expert insight from Lee Goodall and Candy Reid-Harrop, episode one sets the scene for a compelling series ahead, charting the journeys of the game’s most exciting young names as they race toward Jeddah. Watch the first episode now.
The 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF will take place from 17–21 December.
.videoWrapper {
position: relative;
padding-bottom: 56.25%; /* 16:9 */
padding-top: 25px;
height: 0;
}
.videoWrapper iframe {
position: absolute;
top: 0;
left: 0;
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
}
Cameron Norrie is engaged.
The Briton and longtime partner Louise Jacobi announced the news Sunday in a joint Instagram post.
“A special moment on our trip in South Africa. Cheers to a beautiful life together with my best friend 💫🌟💫” Jacobi wrote on Instragram. “(Note: real engagement ring to come)”
View this post on Instagram
Norrie and Jacobi began posting photos together in 2019. Jacobi has been a consistent presence on Tour since.
Norrie is the No. 27 player in the PIF ATP Rankings following a season in which he earned 34 tour-level wins, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]