You Cannot Be Serious

MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO 
2025 starts with more injuries than blockbusters

It’s already a mess, and we’ve barely started. First week of January, and injuries are already piling. I’m sorry, aren’t we just out of the winter break? It actually should be called the “winter-break-joke,” if you ask me, and we might already be seeing the consequences of an off-season that doesn’t qualify for “off” at all nowadays.

In Brisbane, Jiri Lehecka got into the final after Grigor Dimitrov retired and then clinched the title after Reilly Opelka retired after five games (wrist). In Auckland, Clara Tauson lost the first set but won the title after Naomi Osaka retired in tears. In Hong Kong, Juncheng Shang retired in his semi-final against Kei Nishikori after seven games due to illness. In the United Cup, Tomas Machac retired in the semi-final match against Taylor Fritz. In the final, Iga Swiatek took a long off-court MTO for an undisclosed injury that she just summed up as being caused by fatigue. Other players on the injury list already: Alexander Zverev (out of the United Cup), Nick Kyrgios, and Emma Raducanu (back, out of Auckland). I’m sure I’m missing more, as I saw some players, like Luca Van Assche regarding Melbourne, had retired in qualifications here and there.

So, again, I’m sorry, but what is this sport doing? People had paid tickets for these semi-finals and finals that disappeared. Broadcasters had paid rights. Players are a week away from the first Grand Slam of the season. Sponsors are paying said players to be out there playing. I’m a broken record about it, I know, but tennis is now breaking bodies on the regular at a way too high pace. Let’s see if this whole debacle was a case of start-of-the-season rust or if, by turning these players' winter break into dust, the sport is shooting itself in the foot again.

The tennis world has been shocked and moved by Gabriela Dabrowski opening up about her breast cancer journey. Massive props to be given here, too, to the WTA doctor who encouraged her to get checked again, despite Dabrowski being told months ago not to worry by her doctor. That she played and won so much despite it all is quite the performance.

“Over time, I began to recognize I was a part of something much bigger than myself. (…) Currently I’m in a place where I have a better grasp of my treatment, side effects and how to manage them. Please know I am fully aware of how lucky I am as well, because many do not get the luxury of being able to tell their story at all. (…) If you saw me smiling more on court in the past 6 months, it was genuine. That wasn’t always the case. While I have been actively working on improving my attitude for many years through therapy and other guidance, my cancer diagnosis was the catalyst for more sustained change. When the threat of losing everything I’d worked for my entire life became a real possibility, only then did I begin to authentically appreciate what I had,” she said.

A blood test to track muscle recovery? It’s happening! In what could be a huge change in how athletes train and how their staffs monitor their progress, a biotechnology company claims to have created “a groundbreaking, easy-to-use diagnostic tool to detect and monitor muscle damage and recovery in athletes.” The fingerpick blood test could become “a valuable step in transforming sports medicine, helping to minimize muscle injury, better manage recovery, and optimize performance in athletes.”

ATP/WTA  
Some started by winning big

2025 started really well for a few players, starting with Coco Gauff, who clinched the United Cup title with Taylor Fritz for Team USA by beating Poland. Gauff got her second victory in a row against Iga Swiatek, and that could start to matter, even if the H2H is still 11-3 for Swiatek. It’s the second title in two years for the USA and the second consecutive defeat in the final for Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz. Swiztek will still head to Melbourne with more confidence than doubts, thanks to a run that included a win over her nemesis Elena Rybakina.

Aryna Sabalenka perfectly launched her year and her road to a potential third title at the Australian Open by winning in Brisbane. Polina Kudermetova, coming from the qualifications, gave her way more trouble than I thought she would in the final. We might have to keep an eye on Veronika’s younger sister, as she’s been improving a lot since last year.

Jiri Lehecka won the second title of his career in Brisbane after the one he clinched in Adelaide last year. I hope he can stay healthy the whole season because I feel he has some serious damage to make in these draws now. Alexandre Müller, 27, fought like crazy the whole week in Hong Kong and got rewarded with the first ATP title of his career after another three sets against Kei Nishikori, who was playing his first final since the Brisbane 2019 title.

QUESTION OF THE DAY 
What do you think?

You were 62,50% to say you were watching the United Cup.

BUSINESS/MEDIA
ATP guarantees minimum earning, Netflix to make us pay for its sports content

We all know these days that we can’t have it all. But could we at least stop to have it less? More sports on Netflix and other streamers: yayyyy! But, wait, why would you then raise my bill for it? Apparently, we’re getting there. #EwDavid

Investors.com seems to think that by ramping up sports content, Netflix will have no other choice than to ask subscribers for more money. And there’s no reason to think this model wouldn’t spread. "At the recent UBS Media and Communications conference, Co-CEO Ted Sarandos tied future price increases to increased engagement and improved overall value to members, including through marquee live events. With the recent focus on paid sharing, Netflix has not raised the price of the Standard U.S. plan since early 2022. A price increase in line with historical changes across the ad-free plans would drive an estimated $1 billion in incremental annual revenue for Netflix," the report says. Could people who don’t care about the NFL be spared, please?

The ATP is distributing money to players like never before, they say. In a press release, the Tour announced that their Baseline programme had distributed $1,3 million to players in 2024, also guaranteeing minimum earnings for the Top 250 players “for the first time in history.” And it’s just a start: “ATP will raise the guaranteed minimum thresholds in 2025: to $200,000 (up from $150,000) for singles players ranked 101-175, and $100,000 (up from $75,000) for players ranked 176-250. The threshold for Top 100 will remain at $300,000. The new thresholds mean that all players who finished 2024 in the Top 250 will earn a minimum of $100,000 in 2025, provided they play a minimum of 15 events.”

Aryna Sabalenka is joining forces with Naomi Osaka. Wut? Well, not on the court, but the World N°1 has signed with the Japanese’s representation and management company Evolve, leaving IMG. I guess that Sabalenka didn’t see enough deals for her liking coming her way, so she hopes Evolve will change that. She also seems to want to become a big name outside of tennis and might be interested in how Osaka is tied to the entertainment industry. Evolve’s statement calls Sabalenka “a multi-faceted icon with limitless potential.”

SOME BREAK POINTS…  
The WTA faces a serious test with Rybakina

The WTA’s safeguarding procedures are already facing a make-or-break challenge. And the season has barely started. Why? Because of the now infamous coach turned ex-coach turned coach again of Elena Rybakina, Stefano Vukov. And it’s not enough that the WTA is investigating him for a breach of the code of conduct and has suspended him; the Tour has to do all of this without the support of Rybakina, who keeps swearing Vukov is Mister Perfect and who’s now threatening to boycott the Australian Open.

More about this mess? Goran Ivanisevic thought he was the only coach on board until he discovered Vukov would come back despite that ban to basically take his job when they’re not on-site for tournaments. In which world is it supposed to work? In which world did Rybakina even try to pull this on Ivanisevic? What is going on?

Unfortunately, this sport has a long story of female players being in unsafe environments, so let’s hope that the Tour will keep showing a spine here. Pam Shriver, one of the first tennis insiders to call Vukov’s behavior out, had this to add on social media: “It’s time for our entire sport to finally stand up to known abuse and cult-like manipulations of players. This is a very sad situation, and my prayers are with ER.”

Carlos Alcaraz has decided to make some changes this year. No, haven’t heard about an arm tattoo yet. The Spaniard has worked on a new configuration for his racquet, which is now heavier, in order to gain some power and control. Five grams more and a new service, will it push Alcaraz above Jannik Sinner? Nice to see Alcaraz was up to making some big decisions to get better despite being basically already extremely great. That’s how it works at the top. I’m also curious to see how it will do for his right arm because I haven’t forgotten he nearly missed the clay season last year due to a forearm injury. And now you’re telling me his racquet is heavier.

The other big decision taken by Alcaraz to start this new season? He’s dropping out of the Davis Cup squad for the February tie against Switzerland. Good luck to Captain David Ferrer in dealing with that.

Novak Djokovic is also plotting his way back to the top and has disclosed some of his 2025 approach. Chasing the Grand Slam n°25, he has decided to take on the new wave with an all-or-nothing attitude. 

“I definitely am looking to improve, even if it’s the slightest percentage, every single shot that I have in my game, and maybe something that people don’t necessarily see is this court positioning, the transition play, the tactics. Physically, mentally, as well and ready to compete, whatever it takes, however many hours it takes with the youngsters. (…) The week before Australian Open (we will) do a lot of video analysis of my main opponents, top guys, trying to understand how my game matches up,” he explained. I hope coach Andy Murray enjoyed his time on the slopes because his charge has a strong work plan for his start on the bench.

In an interview, Djokovic discussed why he still finds it traumatic to come to Australia after being detained there.

PLAY HARD, TRAIN HARD, DRESS THE PART  
Hurkacz 2025 is a whole new man, kinda

The start of the season is also usually when you see who got divorced in the winter and left who for who. No, I don’t mean I’m opening a gossip column here… Sorry to disappoint you all. I mean, we get to see who switched brands. Less sexy, I know. Right now, the biggest name in that game seems to be Hubert Hurkacz. He came back for the United Cup with a whole new look! Goodbye, Yonex, and welcome Wilson for the racquets and Adidas for his apparel. Switching racquets is always a big deal, so let’s see how it goes here!

Lorenzo Musetti also made some headlines in the department…because he cut his hair. Tennis gossip is struggling, let me tell you this, when a Musetti haircut is on the news cycle. But hey, don’t you think he’s looking a bit like Borna Coric here?

EDITOR’S PICKS  

You can find other picks here, including my go-to newsletters for anything tech*, anything backstage* or professional sports*. I also have a sweet spot for The Creator Spotlight*, which provides examples of other creators’ journeys. If you are a collector of anything sports-related, look at Above the Mantel. And if you’re a woman looking for better coverage of our lives, issues, and interests, I suggest you, Gloria. And if you’re looking at longevity tips, you should have a look at Livelong Newsletter*.

READ: The WTA Insider talked to Mirra Andreeva about how the young phenom intends to keep rising in 2025.

WATCH: Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud in a mixed double battle at the United Cup was very popcorn-worthy!

LISTEN TO: I talked to you about it recently, and it’s now up: Iga Swiatek on Caroline Garcia's podcast.

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