American roulette, anyone? By @benrothenberg.bsky.social www.thesecondserve.com/ethan-quinn-...

Chanda asks Naomi what it took to beat Sorana tonight. Naomi: "Apparently a lot of come ons that she was angry about, but whatever. I tried to play well, I think I hit a lot of UFE but I tried my best. She's a great player. I think this was her last AO, so I'm sorry she was mad about it."

Denis Shapovalov: “I definitely feel like a different player coming into this season.” Also read Monfils struggling with the concept of “retirement season“: tennissweetspot.substack.com/p/its-yellow...

Obsessed with Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah’s pronunciation guide on the WTA website. 😂 www.wtatennis.com/players/3309...

Bjorn Fratangelo: “I think it was harder than I thought it was going to be. I think it put pressure on her, which I really wasn't expecting because she is a little bit older... I just think she wasn't ready for how much it was going to be.” youtu.be/cDqtEDRbXzI?...

🚨Monday Edition of Daily Intel is Live!🚨 A snapshot of today's updated ATP & WTA rankings. Everything you need to know about the first official ranking week of 2026. Want to get the Daily Intel in hour inbox every day? Subscribe at www.ticktocktennis.com

Madison Keys: “I think the biggest thing is getting to the point where it's not about not feeling the pressure, but knowing how to navigate through it. I think I sometimes get in the habit of trying to avoid it and push it away...” www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...

The people who decided to hold the AFCON every 4 years are being proven wrong every single day throughout this tournament. It’s been an unbelievable AFCON so far 🔥 and it would be a real shame if that decision isn’t reversed. Just ridiculous!

It’s quarter-finals time in the AFCON. Here’s a look at the 4 match-ups taking place this Friday and Saturday… www.thenationalnews.com/sport/footba...

Friendsss! I get to cohost Kim Clijsters’ Love All podcast and it would mean a ton if my tennis fam would follow and listen along. Have the happiest New Year! www.instagram.com/loveallpodca...

🔟 Arab sportswomen to look out for in 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ www.thenationalnews.com/sport/2025/1...

It’s that time of the year again 🎊 From uncertain futures to World Cup and Winter Olympics aspirations, up-and-comers to seasoned veterans, returning champions to yet-to-be-proven contenders, here are 10 Arab sportsmen to look out for in 2026. www.thenationalnews.com/sport/2025/1...

Hello. I’ve been doing regularish webposts that collect all the tennis news into a fun and tidy format for you to read at your leisure. If that is a service that would be useful to you, subscribe or just bookmark to read. It’s free and always will be. See you in the 2 6. forty-deuce.ghost.io

Coco Gauff played 18 tournaments in 2025 and repeated an outfit just twice all year (Doha-Dubai, IW-Miami). I asked her about it in Riyadh and also spoke to New Balance earlier this year about why brands find it difficult to stay in tennis and the challenge of delivering new looks all season

"As always, the best way to understand the greatness of women’s tennis is to watch women’s tennis." As usual, @tumcarayol.bsky.social sticks the landing. www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...

Marmoush and Salah guide Egypt to a 2-1 comeback win over Zimbabwe. This is Egypt’s first victory in the AFCON since the 2021 edition. Omar Marmoush: “Feeling very good. We had a rough start but the most important thing is that we got the 3 points.”

Egyptian U14 top seed Mohamed Genidy has reached the final of Junior Orange Bowl

Juan Carlos Ferrero: “I wish I could have continued. I am convinced that good memories and good people always find a way to cross paths again.”

Learner Tien: I wasn’t used to being away from home that much. I wasn’t used to losing that much in some parts of the year. Week to week, sometimes it was tough managing everything. It felt like a lot. But looking back it really wasn’t as scary as it felt sometimes. www.arabnews.com/node/2626520...

Carlos Alcaraz announces he is parting ways with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero‼️

I spoke to Cadillac F1 team principal Graeme Lowdon in Abu Dhabi to discuss the American team’s venture into F1, choosing to unveil their car livery at the Super Bowl, and the value they hope to bring to the sport. www.arabnews.com/node/2626036...

Meet Egyptian tennis player Jana Hossam, who recently reached the semifinals of the NCAA Championship, repping USC: “Going into the spring, I'm actually excited to keep competing more and to be a consistent point on the board for the team to keep winning.” www.thenationalnews.com/sport/2025/1...

UAE’s Rashid Al Dhaheri first got in a go-kart at 4 years old. Now 17, he’s a Mercedes junior driver and just wrapped up his first season in Formula Regional. I caught up with the 17-year-old at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to discuss his journey so far and his hopes for 2026.

George Russell: “I’m really happy for him, honestly. Maybe when I was a bit younger and not as mature, I think you’d be envious of a rival and fellow countryman to win. But honestly, the older we get, we recognise how difficult it is to sustain a certain level in this sport (…) He deserves it.”

Isack Hadjar: It’s not the same car at all next year. The team is going to build this car. I have to adapt to that car and Max will have to do the same job. And if the car goes into one direction, at least I'll be there to feel the change. And ideally I contribute to that change.

Kimi Antonelli: “I had a really strong first part of the season. Obviously expectations got higher and higher. And then the European season came, it felt like everything was just falling apart. It felt like everything was just not working.” www.arabnews.com/node/2625258...

Carlos Sainz: “I think everyone knows how well I get on with Lando and obviously I wish Lando the best possible outcome in that sense. I also have a lot of respect for Max and Oscar and I wish them the best, but I think Abu Dhabi is a Lando track.” www.thenationalnews.com/sport/f1/202...

Lewis Hamilton: “There’s not a single thing I’ll miss about these cars. Simple as that. Literally there’s nothing, I’m not enjoying it.” www.arabnews.com/node/2625023...

McLaren co-chief commercial officer Matt Dennington: “We've got, I'd like to think, one of the most envied ecosystem of partners within world sport. And we're very proud of that. And we've grown that over the last seven or eight years.” www.thenationalnews.com/sport/f1/202...

Spoke to SURJ Sports CEO Danny Townsend about the Saudi Masters 1000, the issues tennis is facing at the moment & the role he hopes SURJ/PIF can play in addressing them: "The fundamental principle that needs to be addressed is the premium level of the sport." www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...

Egyptian Jana Salah of USC is through to the NCAA quarterfinals 🙌🏼

Ons Jabeur: “The maternity programme is unbelievable, I want to thank PIF & WTA for making this happen. I spoke to some PIF people in Saudi & I think it’s going to help a lot of us. I’ll be participating in that & hopefully it will make my comeback easier.” www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...

Qinwen was the flag bearer for Hubei. 10/10 aura. Unfortunately she had to withdraw due to her elbow.

China National Games are underway and it’s in Shenzhen this year. Hometown gal Wang Xinyu got to be a torchbearer in the opening ceremony.

New: On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess. Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...

Simona Halep: “Tennis did nothing to me, nothing wrong. It did only good things. What happened, it was just, for me, without doing any mistakes. So everything was proved. Tennis has nothing to do with that and I still keep the passion for it.” www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...

A close look at pressure in professional sport and how athletes work on their mental strength. For GQ Middle East 👇🏼 www.gqmiddleeast.com/article/trac...

A close look at the 8 singles players who competed at the WTA Finals and where they're at heading into the offseason. www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...

Heck of a year 2 in Riyadh 🔥 www.arabnews.com/node/2621953...

That was a serving clinic from Elena Rybakina who: Fired 13 aces Had a 64% first-serve percentage Won 72% of her first-serve points Won 73% of her second-serve points Saved 5/5 break points Beats Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0) to win her biggest title since Wimbledon 2022. #WTAFinalsRiyadh

Aryna Sabalenka: “I told Amanda that she should be proud of her season, she played incredible tennis the whole season, but it’s just the beginning for her. There are many good things coming her way for sure.” Unreal match!! Today's semis certainly delivered! #WTAFinalsRiyadh

Anisimova plays an excellent second set to force a decider. Going 3 again here in Riyadh. Sabalenka saved 0/3 break points and won just 3/12 of her 2nd serve points in the 2nd set. #WTAFinalsRiyadh

Rybakina: I played a lot the last weeks, so of course it's not easy on the body. I've been serving very hard here too, a lot of tough matches, long matches. It's only the last match left so we'll try to do everything possible for my shoulder to feel better tomorrow, push myself as much as I can.

Jessica Pegula: "I feel like I can end this year knowing that I became a better player and hopefully have confidence and get excited to work on some things I know that I want to work on in the offseason and see if I can do the same thing next year." #WTAFinalsRiyadh

Jessica Pegula takes the opening set 6-4 with a fist pump and a 'come on' in 41 minutes over Elena Rybakina. Unforced error count is worryingly high for Rybakina. 25 UFEs in 10 games. Number is a little suss tbh.

News: The Next Gen Finals will move away from Jeddah next year, with the Saudi Tennis Federation opting out of their five-year deal with the ATP Tour. This year’s third edition will be the last one held in Jeddah. ATP is accepting bids for 2026 and 2027. www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...

Jessica Pegula: I felt like this year was so competitive (…) I do feel like the level has been crazy, crazy deep this year. It feels a little bit harder than maybe past years. For AFP: www.rfi.fr/en/sports/20...

Iga Swiatek: “It would be great if the Grand Slams wanted to talk to us because that's how it's supposed to be and I don't really get why there's no more open conversation. I think for sure it's a setback and for sure the players are not happy with it.” www.barrons.com/news/sabalen...

Sabalenka: “I totally understand the responsibility of this match that I put on my shoulders. That's why I'll go out there and there's no jokes. I'll play full. Hopefully I can just keep up with Billie Jean and help women’s tennis to get better conditions.” www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...

Iga Swiatek: “I felt good mentally, physically, and tennis-wise also it was nice, looking at the conditions and everything. So I don’t really get why I couldn’t go out of the group. Maybe I won too much in the last years and this is karma. It’s really hard for me to say (...)” #WTAFinals