Tennis News

What is the 2026 ATP Tour calendar?

ATP has announced the 2026 ATP Tour calendar, featuring tournaments across 29 countries, in addition to the four Grand Slam events. Propelled by ATP’s OneVision strategy, the season is set to deliver an elevated fan experience and accelerated growth across the sport.

The 2026 ATP Tour season features:

• Nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, seven of which feature the enhanced 12-day format

• 16 ATP 500 events

• 29 ATP 250 events

• The sixth edition of the Nitto ATP Finals hosted in Italy and the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.

• Team events: United Cup, held in partnership with WTA and Tennis Australia, Laver Cup and the Davis Cup.

View the full 2026 ATP Tour calendar below.

2026 ATP Tour calendar

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Former finalist Tien qualifies for Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF

Learner Tien will return to the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. The 19-year-old American booked his spot after a standout first full season on Tour.

The lefty ended last year by reaching the title match in Jeddah and built on that success at the Australian Open, where he defeated Top 10 star Daniil Medvedev. Tien reached the fourth round in Melbourne to become the youngest player to reach that stage at the hard-court major since Rafael Nadal in 2005.

Tien then stunned Alexander Zverev at the ATP 500 event in Acapulco, where he enjoyed a quarter-final run. He also reached the fourth round at ATP Masters 1000 events in Toronto and Shanghai.

Tien’s best result came at the ATP 250 event in Metz this month, when he won his first tour-level title, defeating Cameron Norrie in the final. The American also tasted success at the ATP 500 event in Beijing, where he reached the championship match. Tien eliminated Lorenzo Musetti and Medvedev in China. He ended the season holding a 5-4 record against Top 10 players, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, and is at a career-high No. 28 in the PIF ATP Rankings, having started the year outside the Top 120.

The 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF will take place from 17-21 December. Former champions include Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

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Draper, Fonseca among nominees for ATP Breakthrough of the Year

From unexpected ATP Masters 1000 champions to historic runs across the globe, the 2025 ATP Tour season featured several electrifying moments when rising talents seized their opportunity at the sport’s biggest tournaments.

For the first time, the 29 members of the exclusive ATP No. 1 Club will decide the winner of Breakthrough of the Year in the ATP Awards. ATPTour.com takes a look at the four nominees.

Jack Draper
The 23-year-old lefty played with newfound confidence and firepower to cement his place at the top of the game. In the first six months of the year, Draper went from No. 18 in the PIF ATP Rankings to a career-high No. 4, highlighted by his biggest career title at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells. The Briton, who enjoyed career-best runs at the Australian Open and Roland Garros by reaching the fourth round at both, also reached finals in Doha and Madrid, respectively.

Joao Fonseca
The Brazilian emerged as one of the most exciting young talents on Tour in 2025, backing up his triumph at the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. At the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires in February, the then-18-year-old Fonseca became the youngest South American champion in the ATP Tour era (since 1990). Fonseca made more history in Basel in October, when he became the third-youngest ATP 500 champion in series history. Having started the season outside the Top 100, Fonseca finished the year at a career-high No. 24.

Jakub Mensik
Mensik lived out a childhood dream at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Miami. The Czech went on a surprise run and shocked Top 5 stars Taylor Fritz and Novak Djokovic in his final two matches of the tournament. “It was probably the biggest day of my life,” said Mensik after defeating his longtime idol Djokovic in the title match. Having started the year as the World No. 48, the rose as high as No. 16 in August.

Valentin Vacherot
The Monegasque lived the fairytale of all fairytales in Shanghai, where he was in the main draw as a No. 204-ranked qualifier with only one previous ATP Tour win, and then went on to make history as the lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 champion in history (since 1990). Vacherot, who beat his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the final, earned 1,020 PIF ATP Ranking points in that tournament alone and skyrocketed to World No. 40. The 27-year-old built upon his momentum with a quarter-final run at the Rolex Paris Masters to reach a career-high World No. 30.

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Mensik becomes first player to qualify for Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, Fonseca withdraws

Jakub Mensik has qualified for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF for the second time.

The 20-year-old made history earlier this season in Miami, where he stunned Novak Djokovic in the final to become the second-youngest titlist in tournament history behind Carlos Alcaraz. Mensik, 19 at the time, was just the fifth teen to defeat Djokovic on the ATP Tour.

In a standout year, the Czech jumped to a career-high No. 16 in the PIF ATP Rankings in August, while he earned four Top 10 wins in 2025, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Mensik defeated Jack Draper, Taylor Fritz and Djokovic in Miami and eliminated Casper Ruud en route to the third round at the Australian Open.

Mensik enjoyed a quarter-final run in Madrid and advanced to the fourth round in Rome. He also reached the quarter-finals in Brisbane, Auckland, Eastbourne and Beijing.

Last year’s champion Joao Fonseca has withdrawn from the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF as he continues to recover from an injury sustained at the end of the 2025 ATP Tour season. We wish Joao the best in his recovery and in his preparations for the 2026 ATP Tour season.

The 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF will take place from 17-21 December. Former champions include Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

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Rivalries of 2025: Alcaraz vs. Fritz

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. This week, we are looking at the best rivalries of the year.

Four Lexus ATP Head2Head clashes across 2025 cemented a budding rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz. Having met just twice before this season, the duo this year battled at some of tennis’ biggest tournaments in captivating showdowns, from the Wimbledon semi-finals to the Nitto ATP Finals.

ATPTour.com recaps the four tour-level tussles between Alcaraz and Fritz this season.

Wimbledon SFs, Alcaraz d. Fritz 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(6)
The tension in Alcaraz and Fritz’s Wimbledon semi-final showdown reached its breaking point at the match’s climax. The Spaniard teetered on the brink of being forced to contest a fifth set when facing two set points at 4/6 in the fourth-set tie-break, but he rattled off four consecutive points to secure his spot in a third consecutive final at SW19.

Alcaraz was riding a 24-match winning streak heading into the match, while Fritz was fresh off nine straight victories, including a title run in Eastbourne across a standout grass-court season. The American was unable to extend that run on the All England Club’s Centre Court, however, as his wait for a maiden tour-level victory against Alcaraz went on.

The Spaniard dictated play from the baseline, peppering in precise drop shots and wielding a hefty second serve that kept Fritz constantly on the back foot. Alcaraz increased his level when it mattered most and pulled no punches in tight moments, such as when he surged forward to the net while Fritz threatened with his first set point in the fourth set. On his second set point at 6/5, the American was left to rue an inside-out forehand error.

<img alt=”Carlos Alcaraz” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/07/11/15/53/alcaraz-wimbledon-2025-friday2.jpg” />

^{_{Credit: Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images.}}

Laver Cup, Fritz d. Alcaraz 6-3, 6-2
Fritz finally cracked the code against Alcaraz, claiming his first Lexus ATP Head2Head win against the Spaniard in four attempts, with a comfortable victory for Team World at September’s Laver Cup in San Francisco.

The American was fearless in his approach, dictating baseline play at every turn and applying relentless pressure on Team Europe’s Alcaraz by converting 16 of his 20 net points. In the second set, Fritz pulled away by winning the final four games to seal a memorable victory. A pivotal moment came in the opening game of the match, when Fritz fended off the only two break points he faced for the entire match, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

“The three times I had played Carlos, he had broken me in the first game every time,” said Fritz. “Getting out of that first game was huge. I just made sure I didn’t second guess myself.”

Tokyo Final, Alcaraz d. Fritz 6-4, 6-4
Just nine days after their clash in San Francisco, Alcaraz and Fritz stood across the net again, this time at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo, where the World No. 1 exacted his revenge.

Alcaraz stamped his authority with trademark firepower and shotmaking in the title match at the hard-court ATP 500. He overwhelmed Fritz from all corners of the court and rarely let up in a 93-minute victory. Fritz took a medical timeout at the end of the first set to receive treatment on his left thigh, which was later strapped after three games of the second. Struggling to move efficiently, the American saw his chances of reclaiming the Tokyo crown, which he won in 2022, slip away.

“I’m really happy with the level that I played, with everything,” said Alcaraz, who rebounded from a left ankle injury scare in his first-round match to lift the trophy on Tokyo debut. “Starting the week not good with the ankle, and the way that I came back from that, I’m just really happy about it.”

Nitto ATP Finals Round Robin, Alcaraz d. Fritz 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-3
The two rivals saved arguably their best match of the season for last and the Nitto ATP Finals. A confident, heavy-hitting Fritz carried the momentum for much of the first 90 minutes and held two consecutive break points at 2-2 in the second set, having already taken a one-set lead. Then, the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings Alcaraz turned the tables in Turin.

The most pivotal moment came with Fritz holding his first break point of the second set. He had the upper hand in a thrilling 19-shot rally, but Alcaraz moved forward — similar to his tactic when down set point against Fritz in the Wimbledon semi-finals — to put away a backhand volley. Fritz had a chance for an overhead during that rally, but he elected to let the ball bounce, a decision he later admitted, “I probably should have sent it out of the air.” Alcaraz eventually held after 14 minutes, deflating Fritz’s chances of an upset.

Throughout the high quality tug-of-war match, Alcaraz and Fritz battled for baseline position, each taking risks on return and searching for their first opportunity to play offence. But in the end, Alcaraz went into lockdown mode with a squeaky-clean third-set performance to survive.

“I was really relieved after the win because of everything I went through during the match,” said Alcaraz. “I wasn’t feeling the ball as well as I was in the first [match], but I’m really happy that I found a way to come back.”

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On This Day: Sampras completes mad dash for record sixth straight year-end No. 1 finish

When Pete Sampras won his last professional match, beating Andre Agassi in the 2002 US Open final, he earned a record-extending 14th Grand Slam title and tied Jimmy Connors’ record of five US Open men’s singles crowns. The American also finished his career having spent 286 weeks at No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Those marks seemed insurmountable at the time, but all three records were eventually matched or broken by the Big 3. Still, there is at least one Sampras record that has remained untouchable: His six consecutive year-end No. 1 finishes from 1993-98. Roger Federer achieved the feat four years in a row (2004-07) and Novak Djokovic did it in back-to-back years on three occasions, while Rafael Nadal never finished No. 1 in consecutive seasons.

“It’s an ultimate achievement. It will probably never be broken,” Sampras said of the milestone, which was confirmed on 26 November 1998. “I’m trying to stay humble through all this, but the record speaks for itself. It’s a little overwhelming.”

Across Sampras’ six-year reign, he was knocked off the summit six different times and repeatedly wrestled his way back to the top of the PIF ATP Rankings.

He was never pushed closer for the year-end honours than in 1998, when Marcelo Rios twice unseated him at No. 1 for a combined six weeks. Following a semi-final defeat to eventual champion Patrick Rafter at the US Open, Sampras held a narrow lead over the Chilean atop the PIF ATP Rankings. The final two months of the ATP Tour season would determine whether Sampras could break Connors’ record of five straight year-end No. 1 finishes.

In an all-out bid to hold off Rios, Sampras competed in seven ATP Tour events across October and November. Rios played six in his own mad dash for the finish line.

“It wasn’t fun, I’ll be honest with you,” Sampras said. “I had one chance to break this record, this all-time record of six years in a row. I was like, ‘Alright, if I’m going to have to be over here [in Europe] for another three or four weeks, I’ll do it.’ And I did it. 

“It felt great, but it definitely took a lot out of me emotionally, even the next few years. It’s very hard to stay No. 1, and to do it six years in a row… For me in my career, I look back at that — and I’ve won a lot of majors and I’ve done some great things — but staying No. 1 all those years I think was my biggest achievement, just to be dominant. And to not just stay No. 1 for six months or year, but to really cement that.”

Sampras’ 1998 run-in began with a first-round defeat in Basel before he crucially claimed his fourth title of the season the following week as a late wild card in Vienna, just as Rios lifted a trophy of his own in Singapore. (Sampras’ spot in Vienna came courtesy of Boris Becker, who offered his own wild card to the American.) Both men traveled to Lyon next but pulled out of the tournament as their bodies broke down; Sampras withdrew ahead of the quarter-finals with a back problem before Rios retired in his semi-final match against Tommy Haas.

Next up were two ATP Masters 1000s in Stuttgart and Paris. While Rios reached the quarter-finals at both, Sampras reached the semis and the final at the respective tournaments, padding his lead in the PIF ATP Rankings.

But Sampras stalled in Stockholm, where the mental toll of his late-season push was evident. After losing a first-set tie-break in an eventual three-set defeat to World No. 29 Jason Stoltenberg, the typically stoic American smashed his racquet in a rare outburst. 

“The European circuit in the fall is no picnic, even at the best of times,” Sampras wrote in his autobiography, “A Champion’s Mind”. “It’s cold, it gets dark early, and you’re playing night matches in massive arenas under artificial lights. At the end of the long, hard Grand Slam season, that ambience can leave you feeling like you’re living in some strange, parallel universe.”

However, the American’s opening-round exit in Stockholm had a silver lining: It afforded him two weeks off before the ATP World Tour Championships (now the Nitto ATP Finals), where year-end No. 1 honors would be decided.

Sampras entered the Hanover season finale with a slim lead of 33 points in the PIF ATP Rankings, meaning he needed to match or better Rios’ total at the year-end showcase to complete his No. 1 mission. With the pressure ratcheted up, Sampras rediscovered his peak form in the group stage, posting a 3-0 record and losing just 15 games in six sets against Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Carlos Moya and Karol Kucera.

While the American was beaten by eventual champion Alex Corretja in the semis — two years after Sampras’ epic 1996 US Open quarter-final win against the Spaniard, during which he famously threw up on the court — he had secured year-end No. 1 honours long before the knockout rounds. Rios, after losing to Tim Henman in his opening round-robin match, was forced to withdraw from the event with a back injury, confirming Sampras as No. 1. He was eating pasta in his hotel when he heard the news.

Sampras’ six consecutive year-end No. 1 finishes remain a PIF ATP Rankings record. Only Sampras and Djokovic, who has earned year-end No. 1 honours eight times, have achieved the feat more than five times in total.

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The voices driving Landaluce & Cina to the top

In tennis, a sport that spotlights the lone competitor, it’s easy to forget how much of a player’s identity is shaped long before they step on court. For Martin Landaluce, the steady climb toward the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF hasn’t only been about growing into his talent, it’s been about having the right voice next to him, pushing, guiding, grounding.

One of those voices belongs to Oscar Burrieza, one of the Spaniard’s two coaches, alongside Esteban Carril.

Landaluce’s partnership with Burrieza began with a phone call. Landaluce was just 14, full of potential but still a mystery to the top coaches. Burrieza was working with established pros in Madrid when Landaluce’s father reached out.

“I remember his dad called me and talked to me about the possibility of coaching Martin,” Burrieza told ATPTour.com in September. “He wasn’t sure if I’d be open to coaching a 14-year-old. He asked me if I knew him.”

Burrieza did what any coach does when curiosity sparks. He went online, pulled up a few matches and watched.

“Immediately, I liked what I saw,” Burrieza said. “From the first time we met, we had a good connection. Even early on, I could see he was a really nice kid, mature for his age, responsible. On court, he was ready to work and eager to learn. Honestly, it was easy to start working with him.”

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Martin Landaluce (@martin_landalucee)

That ease has turned into years of discipline, progress and perspective. It is a combination that has fueled one of the most balanced young players on Tour.

Landaluce captured the US Open Boys’ singles title in 2022 and then lifted his first ATP Challenger Tour title in 2024. A second triumph at that level followed in 2025, with the 19-year-old reaching a career-high No. 110 in the PIF ATP Rankings in October.

Landaluce’s rise has been built brick by brick and every milestone hits with a familiar mix of pride and purpose for Burrieza.

“As a coach, every time you get a good result with your player, you feel proud and happy,” Burrieza said. “Happy for them, but also for yourself and the work you’ve put in. When Martin became World No. 1 in juniors, when he won the US Open junior title, those were very special moments. But honestly, not much changes. We enjoy the training weeks, not just the competition.”

What sets Landaluce apart goes beyond his backhand or his court sense. Burrieza believes his greatest advantage is something rare, something almost intangible.

“For me, his balance, mentally, is one of his biggest talents,” Burrieza said. “Tennis is mentally brutal. Most weeks, you lose. But Martin has this ability to wake up the next day and get back to practice like nothing happened. He resets emotionally. Whether he’s about to play at the Madrid Open or a Futures match, he acts the same. That consistency in attitude is rare.”

It’s also nurtured. Burrieza gives him space, lets him be independent, lets him be 19. They travel together, train together and find rhythm in the mundane. And beneath the professional structure, there’s a warmth that powers everything.

“We don’t need to be friends because I’m his coach,” Burrieza said. “I care about him a lot, as a person. I love him, and I truly want the best for him.”

That human connection is what shapes a player-coach relationship.

It’s a theme that runs through this generation of #NextGenATP stars. Italian Federico Cina knows it intimately. His rise, featuring his first tour-level win in Miami and three ATP Challenger Tour finals, has been built around the familiar voice he hears every day: his father and coach, Francesco Cina.

“That’s maybe the hardest part, he’s the coach on court and dad off court,” Cina said. “But my dad is really good at separating the two. On court, he talks to me like a coach, and off court he’s just my dad. I like having that balance. It’s very cool, and I feel lucky.”

They break down opponents together. They troubleshoot practices together. And when stress creeps in, Francesco resets his son the same way Burrieza steadies Landaluce.

“My coach and my dad remind me to keep enjoying practice,” Cina said. “Keeping that spirit is very important, and the results will come.”

Burrieza will hope to push Landaluce to the next level this year in Jeddah, where the Spaniard competes at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. For Cina, more progress alongside his father Francesco and he will be in good shape to qualify for the 20-and-under event in 2026.

This is the fifth feature of our Next Gen ATP series Next in Line. Read our other stories here:

Wimbledon dreams, Nishikori’s run & Vinci’s courtside lessons: Next Gen stars share memories

Next Steps: How Tien, Basavareddy & Engel are making the leap
Learning from Legends: Nadal, Cilic & Ram inspiring #NextGenATP stars
Fuel for the future: Inside the mindset of the best youngsters

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Rivalries of 2025: Medvedev vs. Tien

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. This week, we are looking at the best rivalries of the year.

Daniil Medvedev against Learner Tien was the rivalry that nobody saw coming in 2025. Medvedev began the season inside the Top 5 while Tien was outside the Top 100, hardly a setup for a recurring showdown. Yet their three Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings proved to be some of the most captivating of the year.

As all-court players capable of carving up opponents, their clashes became a series of compelling strategic equations. Another layer of intrigue lay in the battle between experience and youth as a former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings took on a rising teenage sensation, while even the seven-inch height difference between the two has been of note in this budding rivalry.

All three of Medvedev and Tien’s Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings this year went to a deciding set, with the American lefty holding a 2-1 advantage over Medvedev. Tien started the year with a stunning five-set upset against Medvedev at the Australian Open and they would not meet again until the Asian hard-court swing, where two meetings in eight days ended in a split.

Australian Open R64, Tien d. Medvedev 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-7(8), 1-6, 7-6(7)
The scoreline of Medvedev and Tien’s Melbourne clash, featuring three tie-breaks, resembles a Sudoku puzzle more than a tennis match and the 2:54 a.m finish only added to the drama.

Tien held a match point in the third set, which Medvedev erased with an ace, but ultimately the match was destined for a Melbourne late-night classic instead of a straight-sets routine win. Medvedev was a defending finalist and had reached the title match on two other occasions, but the former World No. 1 let slip a 7/6 lead in the deciding-set tie-break, putting an end to his tournament. Tien captured four consecutive points and raised in his arms in relief, with a big smile painted across his face after clinching victory.

“I was definitely hoping it wouldn’t go to a fifth-set breaker,” Tien admitted after the victory. “But I’m just happy to get a win. I know I made it a lot harder than maybe it could have been.”

Displaying crafty shotmaking and brickwall consistency throughout the four-hour, 48-minute thriller, Tien would eventually become the second-youngest American man to reach the Round of 16 at the season’s first major, alongside Pete Sampras, who reached the same stage aged 18. Meanwhile, Medvedev finished the major season with a 1-4 record.

<img alt=”Learner Tien celebrates the biggest win of his career over World No. 5 Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/01/17/00/41/tien-ao-2025-thursday-3.jpg” />
_{^{Tien overcomes Medvedev in a Melbourne thriller. Credit: Getty Images}}

Beijing SFs, Tien d. Medvedev 5-7, 7-5, 4-0 retired
Early signs suggested Medvedev was on course to avenge his Melbourne defeat at the China Open in Beijing. Leading by a set and 4-1, and later serving for the match at 5-3, victory seemed within reach. But Tien refused to fade, staying composed in long rallies to draw errors from Medvedev and extend the semi-final clash at the ATP 500.

Medvedev went off court before the third set and returned with his upper right leg taped. He visibly struggled to move from the first point of the decider, seemingly dealing with cramps. After completing the fourth game, the 29-year-old limped to the net and shook hands with Tien, who advanced to his first tour-level final and became the second-youngest finalist in Beijing history behind Rafael Nadal.

“I had that belief that I was still in the match even though I was down a break,” Tien said of his comeback. “I had the confidence that I could break him because I was able to break him a few times in the first set. I hung around and it worked out.”

Shanghai R16, Medvedev d. Tien 7-6(6), 6-7(1), 6-4
Just eight days after Medvedev was forced to retire in Beijing, he was again standing across the net from Tien and the third time was the charm. In a drama-laced Rolex Shanghai Masters fourth-round clash, Medvedev overcame physical struggles late in the second set and summoned a gritty late surge to victory.

A high-quality opener set the tone for one of the season’s best matches. Then, the drama intensified when Medvedev began cramping at 6-5 in the second set. He asked his coaching team for pickle juice and spoke with the physio before the tie-break, saying in desperation, “What do you think I can do?” Hobbling around the court, Medvedev’s fate looked destined for a repeat of Beijing as Tien dominated the tie-break.

Medvedev would not go down without a fight, however. Although frustrated with his physical state and despite frequently pleading with his team for answers, Medvedev surged to three consecutive games from 3-4 in the decider to cap the two-hour, 53-minute encounter. Medvedev’s rollercoaster victory was fuelled more by heart than anything else and he signed the camera lens afterwards: ‘I don’t want to leave the best city in the world yet!’

In his post-match interview, a relieved Medvedev reflected: “For me to beat him… I thought I was going to lose. I was cramping again and I’m just super happy to manage to do it.

“I think the toughest part was that we played two times [before], and in my opinion he is an unbelievable player, because he doesn’t have a great serve and serve is so important in tennis. Without the serve, he is 19 years old and 30-something in the world and only going up. In my opinion he is such a good tennis player. He feels the game so well.”

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Sinner makes ATP history with unmatched statistical double in 2025

Jannik Sinner may not have ended the year as the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, but that did not stop him adding another significant achievement to an already successful season.

In 2025, the 24-year-old Italian became the first player in ATP history (since statistical records began in 1991) to lead the Tour in both percentage of service games won and percentage of return games won over the course of a single season. Sinner’s dominance in both areas helped him deliver a six-title haul, including a successful defence of his Nitto ATP Finals crown on home soil in Turin.

Across 64 matches in 2025, Sinner won 713 of 775 service games, according to Infosys ATP Stats, at a rock-solid 92 per cent hold rate.

Service Games Won (2025)

Sinner finished nearly three percentage points ahead of his nearest competitor Taylor Fritz and no other player held more than 89.18 per cent of his service games. The World No. 2’s margin over proven big servers — Fritz, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Reilly Opelka, and even Novak Djokovic — underlines how far his serve has come and how central it has been to his rise.

“On the serve, we changed a lot of things after the US Open,” Simone Vagnozzi, one of Sinner’s coaches, said after the Nitto ATP Finals. “We are lucky to have Jannik [who] is really fast to improve, to understand the changes and everything… For sure our goal in the next season is to be more aggressive than what we are now.”

That strong platform fed directly into Sinner’s return game, winning 247 of the 757 return games he played (32.63 per cent) in 2025.

Return Games Won (2025)

Sinner finished 0.75 percentage points ahead of his biggest rival, Carlos Alcaraz, with whom he split the four major titles in 2025. They also clashed in the Nitto ATP Finals title match, and Sinner used his effective return of serve to apply maximum pressure.

“The return of serve is incredibly important. If you don’t get the ball back in play, you’re not going to break serve too often,” Darren Cahill, one of Sinner’s coaches, said after the Nitto ATP Finals. “Jannik, even though he was down a break of serve in that second set, was consistently putting pressure on Carlos’ service games.”

The gap between Sinner and his closest peers reflects how consistently he applied pressure in return games — especially given that in 2024, the season in which he earned ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours, he won 28.3 per cent of return games.

Rising from 28.30 per cent to 32.63 in just one year marks a significant leap. Combined with a serve that continues to grow in reliability and potency, Sinner now possesses one of the most complete statistical profiles in modern tennis, and a foundation that makes him a formidable threat heading into 2026.

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Sakamoto, 19, secures Challenger title at home

Japan’s Rei Sakamoto finished his season in style Sunday when he claimed an ATP Challenger Tour title on home soil. The 19-year-old triumphed at the YOKOHAMA KEIO CHALLENGER by MITA KOSAN and became the first Japanese teenager to win three Challenger titles.

Seeded second, Sakamoto rallied from a set down in his final three matches of the week. He fought off his elder countryman Kaichi Uchida 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 in a two-hour, 15-minute championship match.

“I had lots of ups and downs this year, but fought hard at the end,” Sakamoto wrote in an Instagram post reflecting on his 2025 season. “Appreciate all the support from everybody around me. Can’t wait for the offseason and what 2026 will bring to us!!”

Rei Sakamoto makes history for Japan 🇯🇵

The 19-year-old becomes the first Japanese teenager ever to win three Challenger titles!#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/rYmaWWC9kg

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 23, 2025

Sakamoto, 10th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, won two Challenger trophies this year, with his previous triumph coming in Cary, North Carolina.

Former No. 4 Kei Nishikori was also competing in Yokohama, where he reached the quarter-finals before falling to Uchida. Nishikori was in action for the first time since the Cincinnati Open.

Maestrelli crowned champion in Bergamo
Italian Francesco Maestrelli won the 20th anniversary edition of the Internazionali di Bergamo, a tournament that stars such as Jannik Sinner, Matteo Berrettini, Holger Rune and Jack Draper have previously won.

<img alt=”Francesco Maestrelli wins the Bergamo Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/11/24/14/10/maestrelli-bergamoch-2025.jpg?w=100%25″ />
^{Francesco Maestrelli wins the Bergamo Challenger, which was celebrating its 20th anniversary. Credit: Antonio Milesi}

The 22-year-old Maestrelli overcame German Marko Topo 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in the final and is now at a career-high No. 138 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Vallejo, 21, reaches career high after Guayaquil title 
Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo is also at a career-high following his latest victory. The 21-year-old captured the Challenger Ciudad de Guayaquil, where he escaped Juan Pablo Varillas 7-5, 6-7(7), 6-3 in a marathon two-hour, 59-minute final. Vallejo is now No. 143 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

<img alt=”Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in action at the Guayaquil Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/11/24/14/13/vallejo-guayaquilch-2025.jpg” />
^{Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in action at the Guayaquil Challenger. Credit: Challenger Ciudad de Guayaquil}

Heide wins at home in Brazil without dropping a set
Brazilian Gustavo Heide capped a dominant week on home soil at the ENGIE Open in Florianopolis. The 23-year-old secured his second Challenger crown and first of this season with a 6-2, 6-3 final victory against Argentine Andrea Collarini. Heide’s first Challenger title run came last year in Asuncion, where he beat countryman Joao Fonseca in the championship match.

<img alt=”Gustavo Heide celebrates winning the Florianopolis Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/11/24/14/17/heide-florianopolisch-2025.jpg” />
^{Gustavo Heide celebrates winning the Florianopolis Challenger. Credit: Luz Press Luiz Candido}

Duckworth ties active title record at Challenger level
James Duckworth lifted his 17th Challenger trophy, tying Facundo Bagnis for the most titles among active players at that level. Duckworth did not drop a set all week at the NSW Open in Sydney, finishing the tournament with a 6-1, 6-4 win against 20-year-old Hayato Matsuoka.

<img alt=”James Duckworth during the Sydney Challenger final.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/11/24/14/21/duckworth-sydneych-2025.jpg” />
^{James Duckworth during the Sydney Challenger final. Credit: Jake Lim/Tennis Australia}

Former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt came out of retirement in Sydney to partner his 16-year-old son Cruz Hewitt in the doubles field. Lleyton and Cruz won their opening-round match before falling in the quarter-finals. Cruz also competed in the singles main draw and earned his second match win at that level.

Kolar captures second title of 2025
Czech Zdenek Kolar returned to the winner’s circle for the second time this year. The 29-year-old won the III Challenger Montemar ENE Construccion in Montemar, Spain, where he beat Gianluca Cadenasso 6-4, 6-4 in the final.

Samuel, former college standout, earns maiden Challenger trophy
Former University of South Carolina star Toby Samuel claimed his maiden Challenger crown in Soma Bay, Egypt. The 23-year-old Briton survived countryman Jay Clarke 4-6 7-6(4) 6-0 in the final. Samuel is now at a career-high No. 329 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

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