Tennis News

Top seed Rune escapes late jam to win Stockholm opener

Holger Rune made a smooth start to his BNP Paribas Nordic Open campaign, beating Marton Fucsovics 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday in Stockholm. Through to his third consecutive ATP Tour quarter-final, Rune will next take on Tomas Martin Etcheverry, a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 winner against Miomir Kecmanovic.

Rune, who won his first hard-court title at the Stockholm ATP 250 in 2022, is seeking his second trophy of 2025 after his clay triumph in Barcelona — a result that would see him leapfrog Casper Ruud for 11th place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin.

The Dane improved to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Fucsovics by wriggling out of 15/40 to serve out the match on centre court. Rune saved eight of nine break points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, with Fucsovics’ lone break proving harmless at 5-2 in the opening set.

“He was really swinging through the ball so I had to play very well,” Rune said of his opponent’s late charge. “I had to step up at the end because he was not going to hand it to me. It was difficult to close it out but obviously very happy with my performance. It was a great match I think for both of us.”

Earlier on Thursday in Stockholm, fourth seed Ugo Humbert edged Matteo Berrettini, 7-6(5), 6-3. The Frenchman converted on both of his break chances and did not face a break point on his own serve.

Through to his fourth quarter-final of the season, Humbert will seek to make it a perfect 4-0 at that stage when he takes on Lorenzo Sonego. He is 11-1 in his past 12 indoor matches, behind runs to the Paris Rolex Masters final last year and the Marseille title earlier this season.

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Moutet saddles up for Lexus ATP Head2Head Challenge in Almaty

Corentin Moutet is known for his flair, creativity, and unpredictable shotmaking on the ATP Tour, but can he bring that same artistic touch to a completely different kind of challenge?

Ahead of his run at the Almaty Open, the Frenchman swapped the tennis court for the Kazakhstani steppe in a special Lexus ATP Head2Head challenge. This time, Moutet faces off against host Natalie Pike in a uniquely local test — Kokpar, a traditional Kazakhstani game.

Moutet and Pike cheer on their teams as riders gallop across the field on horseback, racing to throw tennis balls into a Lexus car.

Will Moutet’s competitive instincts and creative flair help him claim victory? Watch the video below to find out who wins.

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Stella Artois ATP Perfect Serve: Vote now for September's winner

From fearless second serves to hammering aces under pressure, the September contenders are in for the ATP Perfect Serve, brought to you by Stella Artois. Now, it is up to the fans to decide the winner.

Alexander Bublik produced a moment of brilliance in the Hangzhou final, sealing the opening set with a second-serve ace that left both his opponent and the crowd stunned. It was one of 70 aces that the Kazakhstani struck that week, during which he won all 44 of his service games en route to the title.

Bublik’s final opponent, Frenchman Valentin Royer, also had a clutch delivery of his own at the ATP 250. Royer had the hot hand in the quarter-finals, crushing back-to-back aces to force a first-set tie-break. Moments later, Royer hammered yet another ace to seal the tie-break 7/0 against Learner Tien.

China’s Zhang Zhizhen provided his own dose of serving perfection, striking an ace to save match point before returning to the same spot — a booming serve down the T — to clinch victory against his countryman Buyunchaokete.

Watch the video below, then head to our Stella Artois ATP Perfect Serve hub to vote for your favourite!

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Draper & coach Trotman part ways after four years

Jack Draper will no longer work with the man who coached him to the Indian Wells title as James Trotman wants to prioritise time with his family.

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Tiafoe splits with coach David Witt

Frances Tiafoe and David Witt have parted ways after more than a year working together on the ATP Tour. The American coach, who previously worked with Jessica Pegula and Maria Sakkari, revealed the news Wednesday in an Instagram post.

The pair began working together ahead of the North American hard-court swing in 2024, enjoying immediate success with a semi-final run in Washington, D.C., a runner-up finish at the Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 and a semi-final showing at the US Open. But following a five-match losing streak that dropped Tiafoe to 26-23 on the 2025 season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, they have ended their partnership.

“Thanks, Big Foe, for the ride this last year and a half. Some things come to an end, but good memories, great times, and a friendship last forever,” Witt wrote on Instagram. “Thanks, brotha — nothing but love.”

Tiafoe was No. 29 in the PIF ATP Rankings when the pair began working together. The American rose as high as World No. 11 this July after a full year with Witt, his best 2025 results including runs to the Roland Garros quarters and the Houston final. But after an inconsistent season overall, Tiafoe ends their partnership back at World No. 29.

Tiafoe has also split with another member of his team in Jordi Arconada, the former Top 500 player who has been by his side for the past half-decade. “After five years of hard work and fun it is time to let go,” Arconada said in his own Instagram post. “I will always be thankful for the opportunity you gave me to come work with you and I’m extremely proud of what we have achieved together. Super excited for what the future has in store for me and for new beginnings.”

 [NEWSLETTER FORM]

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LeBron, Ronaldo, Brady 'inspire' Djokovic to play into 40s

Novak Djokovic wants to follow sporting greats such as LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tom Brady by playing in his 40s and help shape the future of tennis.

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Hot Shot of the Month: Shang's behind-the-back brilliance in Beijing

Shang Juncheng has won September’s Hot Shot of the Month award for his stylish play under pressure at the China Open.

Competing in his home city of Beijing, the 20-year-old pulled off a behind-the-back stunner to stay alive in a crucial point late in the third set against Arthur Cazaux. The Chinese star followed up the perfectly executed trick shot with a forehand winner, bringing the home fans to their feet as he soaked in the applause.

The clutch point brought up two break chances at 15/40 as Cazaux served for the opening-round match, though Shang was unable to claim either in an eventual 6-0, 6-7(5), 5-7 defeat.

With the award, Shang joins the likes of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz on the fan-voted winners list. Stay tuned for more electrifying hot shots throughout the ATP Tour season.

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Auger-Aliassime prevails in third-set tie-break in Brussels thriller

Felix Auger-Aliassime survived a major test from Damir Dzumhur on Thursday at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open in Brussels, where he prevailed in a third-set tie-break to reach the quarter-finals.

The Canadian recovered from squandering three match points on return at 5-4 in the third set, eventually advancing 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5) after two hours and 54 minutes. He now leads the Bosnian star 2-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“I am feeling good and better now the match is over and I won,” said Auger-Aliassime, who is 38-20 on the year according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. “It was a tough day for different reasons and you just have to fight and get through. It was three hours but a lot of fun.”

Auger-Aliassime has fond memories competing in Belgium, having won the title in Antwerp in 2022 before the ATP 250 event relocated to Brussels in 2025. The 25-year-old has been close to his best in recent months, reaching the semi-finals at the US Open and the quarter-finals at ATP Masters 1000 events in Cincinnati and Shanghai.

With his latest win, Auger-Aliassime cemented his spot in 10th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. He is on 2,955 points, trailing eighth-placed Lorenzo Musetti by 530 points. Auger-Aliassime, who is chasing his second appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals, will play Botic van de Zandschulp or American qualifier Eliot Spizzirri in the last eight.

Musetti, the Brussels top seed, kept pace by beating qualifier Yannick Hanfmann 7-6(3), 7-5 later on Thursday. With the win, Musetti became the seventh man to reach 10 tour-level quarter-finals this season and the third Italian quarter-finalist at the Brussels ATP 250 after Andreas Seppi (2016) and Jannik Sinner (2019, 2021).

The Italian converted the only break point of the match for either player at 5-5 in the second set. He hit six aces and won 84 per cent (37/44) of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

In the opening match of the day, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard advanced to the quarter-finals after Nikoloz Basilashvili was forced to retire. The fifth-seeded Frenchman led Basilashvili 7-5 when play was halted at the ATP 250. Mpetshi Perricard will next meet Musetti.

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Rating Raducanu's season – and what does future hold?

BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller looks at how Emma Raducanu’s 2025 season went – and what the future could hold.

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Medvedev gains revenge in Almaty, keeps alive Turin hopes

Daniil Medvedev gained revenge against Adam Walton on Thursday at the Almaty Open, where he overcame the Australian 7-5, 7-6(0) to reach the quarter-finals at the ATP 250.

Medvedev lost to the Australian in Cincinnati in August but ensured history would not repeat itself in Kazakhstan. The second seed trailed 1-4 in the second set and fended off four break points in the sixth game of the second set to avoid trailing 1-5.

After holding, Medvedev went on the charge. He upped his depth in the baseline exchanges and struck 12 winners in the second set to advance after one hour and 45 minutes. Medvedev reached the semi-finals in Shanghai and Beijing and has won eight of his past 10 matches. He will next play Fabian Marozsan.

“It was a very tough match. The game at 1-4, I think I saved four or five break points. It was crucial because then I managed to break back and get back into my rhythm, so I am pleased to have defeated a tough opponent,” said Medvedev, who is level at 1-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Walton.

The 29-year-old, chasing his first title since 2023, is up one spot to 14th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin and could still qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the seventh consecutive year. He trails eighth-placed Lorenzo Musetti by 1025 points. The Italian is in the final qualification spot.

Earlier, Shintaro Mochizuki and Alex Michelsen set a quarter-final meeting in Almaty. Japanese star Mochizuki defeated fourth-seeded Italian Luciano Darderi 6-3, 6-3 to advance to the last eight at a tour-level event for the first time this season.

The 22-year-old, who reached the semis in Tokyo in 2023, is up 10 spots to No. 92 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and is set to crack the Top 100 for the first time on Monday. Mochizuki dominated the baseline exchanges against Darderi at the indoor hard-court event to advance after just 65 minutes.

Michelsen arrived in Almaty on a five-match losing run but has looked good in Kazakhstan. The American downed Beibit Zhukayev in the first round and backed that up with a 6-3, 6-2 triumph against Aleksandar Vukic.

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