Driving test more stressful than Wimbledon – Xu
Teenage tennis star Mimi Xu says her driving test was far more stressful than playing Emma Raducanu on her Wimbledon debut.
Teenage tennis star Mimi Xu says her driving test was far more stressful than playing Emma Raducanu on her Wimbledon debut.
John Beddington, the longtime tennis administrator who was one of the first tournament directors of the event that is now called the Nitto ATP Finals, passed away last week aged 83.
For more than five decades, Beddington was a key figure in the sport who shaped many, including the best players in the world and children in need. From laying the groundwork for some of the sport’s biggest events to giving back to the community, he has left tennis far greater than he found it.
Beddington was tournament director of the Commercial Union Grand Prix Masters from 1972 through 1976, and later played a critical role in Barclays becoming the title sponsor of the tournament when it moved to The O2 in London.
Three years later, Beddington became Executive Vice President of Tennis Canada and remained with the organisation until 1995. He was tournament director for what is now the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers.
In that capacity, Beddington not only built one of the best tournaments in the world — it is now an ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 event — but left a positive impression on the biggest stars in the sport.
Ivan Lendl, a former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, won the Canadian event six times between 1980 and 1989.
“I got to know John through the Canadian Open. We stayed in touch over the years,” Lendl said. “John was a great guy, I always enjoyed seeing him at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. John did a fantastic job in Toronto and Montreal. I appreciated his wicked sense of humor and was very sad to hear about John’s passing.”
Valerie Tetreault, Vice President of Communications, Professional Events and Tournament Director of the National Bank Open in Montreal, said that everyone associated with Tennis Canada and Canadian tennis mourns Beddington’s passing.
“The word trailblazer is sometimes used too often, but in John’s case it is absolutely fitting. He dedicated his life to the growth of our sport both in Canada and on a global level,” Tetreault. “His influence on our flagship WTA and ATP 1000 tournaments, the National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Toronto and Montreal, cannot be understated and their growth into the prestigious, world-renowned events they are today is in large part down to him.
“His legacy in Canadian tennis is enormous, and he will be remembered for the incredible footprint he leaves behind on our sport.”
Two years ago, Beddington was honoured at Wimbledon by the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Federation with the Golden Achievement Award.
“I have been fortunate to have had a very long career in tennis and was lucky to be around when tennis went open in 1968,” Beddington said at the time. “I’m thankful for the tremendous mentors, colleagues, and great friends I’ve made around the world in the sport over the years. It has been rewarding to see the sport thrive globally and I’m happy to have been able to play a role in tennis’ global development.”
Beddington also was a co-founder of the longtime ATP Champions Tour event held at Royal Albert Hall in London and helped launch countless other tournaments.
Throughout his time in the sport, Beddington raised close to £2 million for charity, supporting several causes and organisations, including Give It Your Max, for which he was patron. The goal was to try to keep kids off the street and instead introduce them to sport.
Give It Your Max posted on Instagram: “John’s kindness, vision, and enthusiasm will be deeply missed, but his impact on the tennis world – and on the lives he helped to change through our programmes – will continue to be felt for many years to come.”
Beddington is survived by his wife, Roseann Madden Beddington, and his sons, David Paul Madden Beddington and James Edward Beddington.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Day 1 of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna saw third seed Alex de Minaur and Alexander Bublik advance to the second round on Monday. Tallon Griekspoor stunned fifth seed Karen Khachanov.
View all results from Monday below.
Read more from Vienna:
De Minaur notches 300th career win in fast Vienna start
Sinner says he will convince ‘second father’ Cahill to stay in his corner
Budkov Kjaer, Sinner’s practice partner, ready to unleash the ‘hammer’ in Vienna
Results – Monday, 20 October 2025
Men’s Singles – Round of 32
Brandon Nakashima (USA) d Luciano Darderi (ITA) 62 75
[8] Alexander Bublik (KAZ) d Alejandro Tabilo (CHI) 64 64
[3] Alex de Minaur (AUS) d [WC] Jurij Rodionov (AUT) 64 61
Tallon Griekspoor (NED) d [5] Karen Khachanov 63 57 64
[Q] Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) d [Q] Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA) 75 64
Day 1 of the Swiss Indoors Basel, an ATP 500 event in Basel, Switzerland, saw #NextGenATP star Jakub Mensik and eighth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina win their first-round matches on Monday.
View all results from Monday below.
Read more from Basel:
Mensik ousts fellow #NextGenATP talent Bernet in Basel debut
Fritz to face Shanghai champ Vacherot in Basel draw blockbuster
Results – Monday, 20 October 2025
Men’s Singles – Round of 32
Jenson Brooksby (USA) d Alexandre Muller (FRA) 64 63
[8] Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) d Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) 76(2) 64
[7] Jakub Mensik (CZE) d [WC] Henry Bernet (SUI) 76(1) 67(7) 63
Jaume Munar (ESP) d [Q] Remy Bertola (SUI) 62 64
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Jakub Mensik delivered a dose of drama on Monday at the Swiss Indoors Basel, where he overcame fearless home wild card Henry Bernet 35 minutes after missing his first match point.
The seventh seed carved out a 7-6(1), 6-7(7), 6-3 victory over the 18-year-old Bernet, the Basel native who was making his ATP Tour debut. After letting slip a match point in the second-set tie-break, Mensik used his experience to regroup and ultimately drowned out the crowd with a clutch serving display to earn his first win at the indoor hard-court ATP 500 event
“It was a really, really tough night. I’ve been in his [position] two years ago, and I know how it feels to be hungry and fight for every point, and I felt it from him today,” Mensik said after his first Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Bernet. “He has such a huge game, a very aggressive style. One of his great things is his mental strength.”
Bernet, who won this year’s Australian Open boys’ title, was aiming to become the youngest Swiss match winner in Basel since his idol and record 10-time champion Roger Federer — then 18 years old — in 1999. He outhit Mensik 27 winners to 23 over the first two sets, but struggled to cope with the Czech star once found his range.
Mensik won 94 per cent (15/16) of first-serve points and hit nine of his total 18 aces in the deciding set, according to Infosys ATP Stats. The No. 19 player in the PIF ATP Rankings awaits the winner of Tuesday’s popcorn match between defending champion Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and #NextGenATP star Joao Fonseca.
In other action on Day 1 in Basel, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina notched his 25th hard-court win of the season by ousting Lorenzo Sonego 7-6(2), 6-4. The eighth-seeded Spaniard, who reached the final in Acapulco and Washington, now owns the seventh-most wins on the surface in 2025.
Davidovich Fokina will next face Jenson Brooksby, who needed just 67 minutes to move past Alexandre Muller 6-4, 6-3. Earlier, Jaume Munar eased past Swiss qualifier Remy Bertola 6-2, 6-4 and awaits a second-round meeting with last year’s finalist Ben Shelton or Kamil Majchrzak.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]A two-time semi-finalist at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, Luca Van Assche returned to the ATP Challenger Tour winner’s circle on Sunday with a marathon victory against former World No. 10 Pablo Carreno Busta.
The 21-year-old, who reached the last four in Jeddah the past two years, won the Olbia Challenger in Italy to lift his first trophy at that level since March 2023. Van Assche outlasted Carreno Busta 7-6(5), 6-7(1), 6-2 in a three-hour, 14-minute battle, which marked the Spaniard’s second Challenger-final loss in 16 appearances.
“It was an incredible match against Pablo. He’s an unbelievable fighter,” said Van Assche, a four-time Challenger champion. “It was very hard until the end. I’m very happy to win today. It was a big achievement for me. A lot of ups and downs since my last Challenger title, so I’m very happy to win here in Olbia. It has been a long road since two years ago.”
Spanish teen Jodar boosts Jeddah chances
#NextGenATP Spaniard Rafael Jodar improved his position in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah following his title run at the Lincoln Challenger. The 19-year-old rallied past American Martin Damm 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-3 in the final to claim his second Challenger title in the past three months.
“It feels great, I’m super happy with how the week went,” Jodar said. “I was feeling very good during all the matches. I handled the important moments very well. I know it’s always complicated to win a Challenger because you have to win five matches, you have to have a little bit of luck, you have to play your best during the whole week. It’s difficult. I’m very happy because it means the work I’m doing during the season is paying off.”
Jodar is up nine places to ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, strengthening his chances for his maiden trip to the 20-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.
Trophy time for Rafa Jodar 😎#ATPChallenger | @RFETenis pic.twitter.com/cvODPSHx8H
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) October 19, 2025
Last season’s US Open boys’ singles champion, Jodar is a sophomore at the University of Virginia. He is managing five classes this semester while competing in college and professional tournaments.
Vallejo caps dominant week in Brazil
Adolfo Daniel Vallejo dropped just one set all week to win the Copa Internacional de Tenis in Curitiba, Brazil. The 21-year-old Paraguayan, now a two-time Challenger champion, ousted Brazil’s Pedro Boscardin Dias 6-3, 7-5 in the clay-court final.
<img alt=”Adolfo Daniel Vallejo celebrates winning the Curitiba Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/10/20/14/25/vallejo-curitibach-2025.jpg” />
Adolfo Daniel Vallejo celebrates winning the Curitiba Challenger. Credit: João Pires/sup>
“I competed really well the whole week,” Vallejo said. “I got a few really good wins, especially in the first round, I beat Emilio Nava, who is in the Top 100. I also beat [Tomas] Barrios Vera, who won the title last week in Cali. In the semi-finals and final, I was playing against local players. I’m very happy with the week and the way I competed.”
Jacquet claims third title of 2025
Frenchman Kyrian Jacquet won his third Challenger trophy of the year at the Shenzhen Tennis Open. The 24-year-old downed home hope Zhou Yi 6-3, 6-3 in the final. In February, Jacquet captured back-to-back titles in India, triumphing at the Chennai and New Delhi Challengers. He is No. 151 in the PIF ATP Rankings, nine spots shy of tying his career high.
<img alt=”Kyrian Jacquet wins the Shenzhen Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/10/20/14/14/jacquet-shenzhench-2025.jpg” />
Kyrian Jacquet wins the Shenzhen Challenger. Credit: Shenzhen Tennis Open
Wendelken wins first Challenger trophy
Briton Harry Wendelken earned his maiden Challenger title at the Hersonissos Challenger 6 in Greece, where the 23-year-old made the best use of a lucky loser spot. Wendelken, who played seven matches in eight days, beat Czech Maxim Mrva 6-4, 6-3 in the final. Following his triumph, Wendelken rose 105 places to a career-high No. 341 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Mrva, 18, was in the draw through the Next Gen Accelerator.
Alex de Minaur kick-started his 2025 title bid at the Erste Bank Open with a milestone Monday victory against home favourite Jurij Rodionov.
The third-seeded Australian brushed aside wild card Rodionov 6-4, 6-1 at the indoor ATP 500 to claim his 300th tour-level win. De Minaur, who has now earned a Tour-leading 38 hard-court victories this season, is just the second man born in 1999 or later to hit the 300 tally, after World No. 2 Jannik Sinner.
“It’s pretty cool. You go through this sport, through your career, and you don’t really get time or many options to really let something sink in,” said De Minaur. “This is one of those things that is a pretty cool moment, to get to 300. Obviously, it seems what has been a long career and I’ve enjoyed these 300 wins.”
De Minaur raced to the milestone in style against World No. 154 Rodionov, who competed well in the first set but crucially let slip two break points in the fifth game. The Austrian became increasingly erratic with his groundstrokes in the second and De Minaur ultimately eased to an 80-minute victory inside the Wiener Stadthalle.
Next up for De Minaur in the Austrian capital is a second-round meeting with Camilo Ugo Carabelli or another home wild card, Filip Misolic. The Australian remains on track to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the second consecutive year: De Minaur is currently seventh in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, just 125 points shy of sixth-placed Ben Shelton.
Eighth seed Alexander Bublik also had little trouble advancing to the second round in Vienna. According to Infosys ATP Stats, the Kazakhstani struck 12 aces and won 91 per cent (31/34) of points behind his first serve in his 6-4, 6-4 triumph against Alejandro Tabilo. After winning his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Tabilo in just 68 minutes, the World No. 16 Bublik will play Francisco Cerundolo or Alex Michelsen for a quarter-final spot.
In other Monday action, Brandon Nakashima defeated Luciano Darderi 6-2, 7-5 to set a meeting with fifth seed Karen Khachanov or Tallon Griekspoor, while Matteo Arnaldi eased past Aleksandar Kovacevic 7-5, 6-4. Italy’s Arnaldi will play second seed and former champion Alexander Zverev or Jacob Fearnley in the second round.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Four-time Grand Slam champion Jannik Sinner will not be part of the Italy team aiming to win a third consecutive Davis Cup title in November.