Tennis News

Fonseca wins Laver Cup debut, Alcaraz strikes back in doubles

Joao Fonseca put Team World on the board at the 2025 Laver Cup with a stylish debut victory before the doubles duo of Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik staked Team Europe a 3-1 lead after Friday’s play in San Francisco.

The youngest player to compete at Laver Cup at age 19, Fonseca stormed back from 2-4 in the opening set against Flavio Cobolli, rattling off five games in a row and seven out of eight to take control of the singles showdown. After the #NextGenATP Brazilian’s 6-4, 6-3 victory breathed life into Team World, Alcaraz and Mensik clawed back the momentum for the Europeans with a 7-6(7), 6-4 victory against Taylor Fritz and Alex Michelsen. It was Alcaraz’s first competitive action since he won the US Open title and reclaimed the No. 1 PIF ATP Ranking.

Team World was staring down a potential 0-3 deficit before Fonseca fired up his team and the San Francisco crowd with an electric display of power and shotmaking that left Cobolli without answers, even with Roger Federer cheering him on from the stands.

“I think my team helped me a lot, to stay positive during the match,” said Fonseca, who was born 12 days before new Team World captain Andre Agassi retired at the 2006 US Open. “I was a little bit more nervous than usual. It’s normal. And then after I started talking a little bit more with Andre and the team… I was playing good in the beginning, but I was still a little bit nervous and making a lot of mistakes, but after I got through so I’m very happy with that.”

The crowd sang Fonseca’s name throughout the match, and his captain and teammates joined in on the fun in celebration following the much-needed victory.

Alcaraz and Mensik cut the home team’s party short with a clinical doubles display in which they did not face a break point, according to Infosys ATP Stats. But the Spanish-Czech duo did have to save a set point, on return at 5/6 in the first-set tie-break. The lone break of the match came in its final game, when Fritz was unable to extend the entertaining match. 

“I think doubles, it gives you more opportunities to make great shots, great volleys,” said Alcaraz, whose showmanship was on full display. “But doubles is not just about one player. You have to team up with a great player like I did today with Jakub. Thanks to him with his great shots, great skills on the volleys as well, he made me feel comfortable on the court.”

Mensik, who also beat Michelsen in singles earlier on Friday, completed a perfect Laver Cup debut by winning both of his matches on Day 1. The action continues in San Francisco on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. local time.

Since the start of Laver Cup in 2017, no team has come back from 3-1 down to win.

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Ruud shines, Mensik survives as Team Europe takes 2-0 lead at Laver Cup

Casper Ruud and Jakub Mensik powered Team Europe to a 2-0 lead at the Laver Cup on Friday, albeit in contrasting styles.

The Norwegian set the tone with a 6-4, 7-6(4) win over big-serving American Reilly Opelka, delivering a dominant serving performance of his own, while Mensik fought off Alex Michelsen 6-1, 6-7(3), 10-8.

Ruud, who revealed that he is debuting a slightly smaller racquet head, was ultra consistent behind his delivery. He won 88 per cent of his first-serve points (45/51) and erased both break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Opelka won just 16 per cent of his return points, compared to Ruud’s 28 per cent.

“The [goal was] to be in the zone, make a lot of balls, make him play and get Europe off to a good start,” said Ruud in his on-court interview. “Really happy with the match. I was in the same position last year and lost the opening match, so it’s good to get some revenge and begin strong for Europe.”

Mensik survived a late scare against Team World’s Michelsen. Serving for the match at 6-1, 5-3, Mensik lost serve and needed to complete his victory in a Match Tie-break.

Both players raised their level as the match wore on, but the Czech quickly jumped to a 4/0 lead in the Match Tie-break to deflate the American’s hopes of levelling with Team Europe. Michelsen displayed his competitive spirit to pull within one at 7/8. Mensik converted his first match point with a booming serve on the Ad side to Michelsen’s backhand, which missed long.

“Great match,” Mensik said. “We’ve known each other since juniors, so we knew a lot about ourselves on the court. With this format, with the Match Tie-break in the third, it’s always tough for your nerves, but I’m happy that I stayed focused until the end and I kept fighting. I’m glad that I helped my team take a point.”

Friday’s evening session will feature Flavio Cobolli versus Joao Fonseca. Then, Carlos Alcaraz and Mensik partner against Taylor Fritz and Michelsen.

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Watch Challenger TV: Wawrinka in Saint-Tropez SFs Saturday

Stan Wawrinka is seeking ATP Challenger Tour history this weekend. The 40-year-old, into the semi-finals at the Saint-Tropez Open, is aiming to become the oldest Challenger champion in history.

Wawrinka, former No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings, finished runner-up at last week’s Rennes Challenger and in Aix-en-Provence in May. Should the Swiss go one step further and claim the Saint-Tropez title, he would pass Ivo Karlovic to become the oldest Challenger titlist. Karlovic won the 2018 Calgary Challenger at 39 years, four months.

Seeded fifth, Wawrinka faces Dan Added in the second match from 2 p.m. CEST / 8 a.m. ET Saturday. Fans can watch for free on Challenger TV. The stream can also be seen below. Wawrinka beat Added last week in the Rennes second round.

Watch Stan Wawrinka vs. Dan Added live on Challenger TV Saturday:

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Denis Shapovalov marries Mirjam Bjorklund in picturesque Greek wedding

Denis Shapovalov and Mirjam Bjorklund tied the knot earlier this month, the couple announced on social media Friday, sharing stunning photos from their ceremony. The Canadian and Bjorklund married on 9 September at Lesante Cape in Zakynthos, Greece.

“It was really so special,” Shapovalov told ATPTour.com. “Every day we had in Zakynthos with our close friends and family was better than we could have ever asked for and I’m so excited I got to marry my best friend in such an incredible setting.”

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The couple began dating in 2019 and Shapovalov proposed to Bjorklund in July 2023. Their wedding ceremony overlooked the Ionian Sea, providing a breathtaking backdrop.

“It was truly as amazing as we envisioned when we chose Lesante Cape for our wedding venue,” said Bjorklund, now Mirjam Shapovalova. “The weather was incredible and every moment was picture-perfect. It was the most beautiful start to our marriage and we are so excited to spend forever with each other.”

Shapovalov, No. 26 in the PIF ATP Rankings, boasts a 21-17 season record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. He won his biggest career title in February at the ATP 500 in Dallas. The 26-year-old captured an ATP 250 trophy in Los Cabos in July without dropping a set.

Photo Credit belongs to: Karin Lundin @karinlundinstudio 

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Paolini leads Italy to BJK Cup final with Ukraine win

Holders Italy reach third consecutive final with 2-1 victory over Ukraine in the Billie Jean King Cup.

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Jannik Sinner Foundation officially unveiled in Milan: 'The project is finally alive'

Jannik Sinner officially launched the Jannik Sinner foundation on Thursday evening at an event in Milan, where more than 100 guests gathered to celebrate the initiative. The Foundation will focus on empowering children through sport.

“I’ve been lucky to pursue my passion through tennis, but I know millions of children never get the chance to follow their dreams because they don’t have access to school,” the No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, Sinner, said on stage. “Standing here tonight, I see the project is finally alive, and we are ready to help children realise their dreams.”

The foundation announced its first partnerships in both education and sports. It will collaborate with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), the world’s largest fund dedicated to improving schooling in lower-income countries, as well as Südtirol Sporthilfe, a non-profit from Sinner’s home region that supports young athletes through funding, mentorship and development.

Laura Frigenti, CEO of GPE, welcomed the collaboration: “We are honoured that the Sinner Foundation’s first major initiative is a three-year partnership with GPE. Jannik Sinner’s vision and global influence bring fresh momentum and visibility to the education cause. Together, we can help millions of marginalised children learn and thrive.”

The foundation will be led by an experienced Board of Directors, including Sinner’s long-time manager Alex Vittur as President, Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali, and former Apple CFO Luca Maestri. Director Christina Tauber will oversee daily operations.

“Education multiplies possibilities, opening doors and opportunities that shape individual lives, communities, and economies,” Tauber said. “Through the Foundation, we want to extend those same opportunities to children everywhere. Supporting GPE is a powerful first step in that mission, and collaborating with Südtiroler Sporthilfe allows us to give back to the community that shaped Jannik’s own journey.”

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Yannick Noah on Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry: 'You don't know what show you're going to see'

Yannick Noah, captaining Team Europe at this year’s Laver Cup, has been given the perfect platform to reflect on the recent dominance of his leading player, Carlos Alcaraz.

As the former No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings and 1983 Roland Garros champion, Noah knows the weight rivalries carry in shaping tennis history. Having competed in an era filled with iconic clashes, the Frenchman is well placed to comment on how the sport continues to reinvent itself through new generations, such as the compelling Alcaraz-Jannik Sinner rivalry, which has hit new heights this year.

“Three, four years ago, we all thought as tennis fans that after Roger, Rafa and Djoko, after their time, [there is] gonna be a long hole: ‘What’s gonna happen?’. The next thing you know, here are these champions coming,” Noah said in a pre-tournament Laver Cup press conference.

“I’m not such a great technician really, but I really believe in the energy that they bring because they are such interesting and different characters out there and very, very popular for the tennis fan. And of course they’re playing great tennis, we all know that. But it’s also the personalities that people like.”

Known for his on-court exuberance and flair, Noah has always placed personality at the heart of tennis. During his own career, he often thrived on rivalries: His Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Ivan Lendl, which he trailed 7-11, stood out as a defining battle that helped shape his place in the sport.

It is why, when Noah talks about players like Alcaraz, Sinner and Alexander Zverev, he emphasises not just their tennis but their individuality.

“To see the difference of personality and even within the [Laver Cup] team… What I really appreciate and I like is the fact that I can meet different guys that are so all different,” Noah said. “The journeys are different, they come from different countries and that’s what makes the circuit attractive.

“Right now you’ve seen a lot of Carlos with Jannik and Sascha and most of the guys here, but what’s interesting is that they’re so different. So you’re gonna go see the show. You don’t know what show you’re gonna really see. And the level is amazing. So that’s what makes it interesting.”

The ‘show’ was never more evident than in this year’s final at Roland Garros, where Alcaraz saved three championship points before overcoming Sinner in a breathtaking five-set battle. The 22-year-old Spaniard himself remembers that day vividly.

“I remember, obviously, the feeling that I had in that match. I was playing great until match [points] down, I felt like it was about the details. That is core,” Alcaraz said. “And you know what? I can say just that I believed all the time that I was able to come back and that I was able to win that match. I think that that’s the most important thing from my perspective.”

Competing as the World No. 1 for the first time since September 2023, Alcaraz will be eager to bring that same resilience this weekend at the Laver Cup, where he will spearhead Team Europe’s quest for its second consecutive title under Noah’s guidance.

They will face fierce competition from Team World, which features Top 10 stars Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur, as well as rising #NextGenATP Brazilian Joao Fonseca.

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Shelton withdraws from Tokyo

Ben Shelton has withdrawn from the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships due to injury, the tournament announced Friday.

The No. 6 player in the PIF ATP Rankings suffered a shoulder injury during his third-round match at the US Open against Adrian Mannarino and was forced to retire before starting the fifth set. He has not competed since.

The lefty won his first ATP Tour title two years ago in Tokyo on his debut at the ATP 500 event. Last year, he returned to Japan and made the quarter-finals, falling short in a final-set tie-break to eventual champion Arthur Fils.

Shelton owns a 37-18 record this season and is fifth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. The 22-year-old is trying to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time.

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'Nothing to lose' – how GB match up against US

Great Britain face the United States in the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup and BBC Sport takes a look at the key match-ups.

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Tabilo's tears after Darderi win in Chengdu: ‘Just keep rolling with it’

A trip to China has helped Alejandro Tabilo breathe belated life into his 2025 season.

The former No. 19 player in the PIF ATP Rankings booked his quarter-final spot at the Chengdu Open on Friday afternoon with an impressive 6-4, 6-3 victory against second seed Luciano Darderi. After a testing first eight months of 2025, during which he struggled with form and also suffered wrist and abdominal injuries, the Chilean was visibly emotional after sinking Darderi to reach his first tour-level quarter-final since last October.

Finding his rhythm 💪

Qualifier Alejandro Tabilo books his 1st quarter-final in 11 months@ChengduOpen | #ChengduOpen pic.twitter.com/2n2yKUmK6a

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 19, 2025

“It’s been a very tough year for me, so I’m just happy to get the rhythm back a little bit, and hopefully this is the start again,” said Tabilo, who is 7-13 for the season, in his on-court interview. “Just keep rolling with it, but very happy with the win.”

The two-time ATP Tour champion Tabilo showed signs of his best form upon arriving in China earlier this month, when he reached an ATP Challenger Tour final in Guangzhou. In Chengdu, he won two qualifying matches against Te Rigele and Lloyd Harris, respectively, before notching his first tour-level win since Roland Garros by dispatching Jordan Thompson in the first round.

Chasing just his second Top 50 victory of 2025 after he defeated Novak Djokovic in April in Monte-Carlo, the 28-year-old Tabilo outhit Darderi by 32 winners to 21 in Friday’s clash. He converted both break points he earned and saved all four he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to improve to 2-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Italy’s Darderi.

“I think it was just physical. I came from [three] matches in a row [here] and played a Challenger last week, so it’s just been recovery and just being able to hold it off,” reflected Tabilo. “I knew Luciano plays really well, so I just had to be there, be solid, and I’m just so happy I was able to get through this with the team here supporting me.”

Tabilo will next face Christopher O’Connell in Chengdu after the Australian downed Zhou Yi 6-2, 6-4. In the final match of the day, Brandon Nakashima ended Chinese interest in the singles draw by ending #NextGenATP favourite Shang Juncheng’s title defence with a 7-5, 6-3 victory.

The fourth-seeded Nakashima is now into his personal-best seventh ATP Tour quarter-final of the season. His opponent there will be Marcos Giron, who defeated eighth seed Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-4.

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