2026 ATP General News

[kskate2]

Happy New Year folks! Here's a new thread for new news.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

New Year's Resolutions for 2026 for each member of the ATP Top Ten,

1. Carlos Alcaraz Learn to enjoy playing some safe, high percentage tennis
2. Jannik Sinner Continue to building some creative elements into his game
3. Alexander Zverev Reach a major final
4. Novak Djokovic Relax and put less pressure on himself
5 FAA Win a Masters 1000
6. Taylor Fritz Stop Zverev reaching a major final
7. Alex de Minaur Remain in the Top Ten
8. Lorenzo Musetti Win a title of any sort
9. Ben Shelton Improve back hand and return
10. Jack Draper Just get back to playing healthy.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

This isnt good news,
Arthur Fils has withdrawn from Hong Kong Tournament due to ongoing back issues ( Fils last played Canadian Open August 2025 )
Fils said ' the team and I have decided to take our time, and comeback when my back is 100%
Fils wont be playing the AO, I feel it is a wise decision.

 

[El Dude]

Bummer about Fils. At some point I'd like to do a study about what percentage of "probable top 10 players" see their careers cut short due to injury and/or see their careers seriously hampered. I'm not saying that this will be the case with Fils, but it isn't a good sign.

 

[Fiero425]

Bummer about Fils. At some point I'd like to do a study about what percentage of "probable top 10 players" see their careers cut short due to injury and/or see their careers seriously hampered. I'm not saying that this will be the case with Fils, but it isn't a good sign.

I lamented ages ago this was going to be the norm w/ the physicality of the game today! This type of mindless aggression was always destined to affect the game and the players w/i whether elite or not! The Big 3 were only the exception to this rule as all other players are slowly breaking down! Those records will stand the test of time b/c no one w/b able to play elite pro tennis for 20+ yrs. as Fedalovic!

 

[Moxie]

Bummer about Fils. At some point I'd like to do a study about what percentage of "probable top 10 players" see their careers cut short due to injury and/or see their careers seriously hampered. I'm not saying that this will be the case with Fils, but it isn't a good sign.

It's very unfortunate, and I hope he gets past it. It would be interesting to see how many that we (and others) had high hopes for that were felled by injury. Hyeon Chung comes to mind. In 2018, he beat both Zverev and Djokovic in Australia. Once he got hurt, he's barely been seen since. He's 29, and still trying to come back, I think.

 

[El Dude]

It's very unfortunate, and I hope he gets past it. It would be interesting to see how many that we (and others) had high hopes for that were felled by injury. Hyeon Chung comes to mind. In 2018, he beat both Zverev and Djokovic in Australia. Once he got hurt, he's barely been seen since. He's 29, and still trying to come back, I think.

Yeah, he's on the list. If it is a spectrum of "Still did some great things but with an overall disappointing career" to "never really got a chance, except showing flashes of potential," then we have a range from Del Potro to Chung. Somewhere in the middle I'd put guys like Mario Ancic, who while he probably never would have been elite (top 5), he did get into the top 10 and could have had a much better career. Towards the Del Potro side of the middle would be Robin Soderling and Guillermo Coria. More towards the Chung side would be Joachim Johansson.

Of the guys mentioned above, here is what derailed their careers:

Ancic - knee injury from jet skiing, mono (making out with Federer and Soderling?) - both at age 22 in late 2006/early 2007. He limped on until 2010 but never made it back to the top 10.

Johansson - Reached as high as #9 in early 2005 at age 22. Had shoulder surgery in July of that year and came back strong in 2006, but then struggled with the shoulder and was basically done, despite some comeback attempts.

Soderling and Del Potro we all know about. I think the Soderling mystique is a bit over-inflated, but he definitely seemed a cut above the Tsongas and Berdych's of the world in his prime. Del Potro is the one guy that could have turned the Big Four into a Big Five. He was good enough that he could have challenged Murray for the fourth spot and won several Slams. He did win a bunch of titles later on, including a very late Masters in 2018, but we never got to see what the 2009 version could have turned into.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

2009 Del Potro is better than anything Alcaraz/Sinner has faced. Del Potro challenged, and at times, even beat Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic at the biggest tournaments.

Alcaraz and Sinner would have their hands full against a healthy Del Potro. I mean, Sinner was getting dominated by 34-year-old Dmitrov at Wimbledon. Imagine what 2009 Del Potro would do to Sinner.

 

[Moxie]

Yeah, he's on the list. If it is a spectrum of "Still did some great things but with an overall disappointing career" to "never really got a chance, except showing flashes of potential," then we have a range from Del Potro to Chung. Somewhere in the middle I'd put guys like Mario Ancic, who while he probably never would have been elite (top 5), he did get into the top 10 and could have had a much better career. Towards the Del Potro side of the middle would be Robin Soderling and Guillermo Coria. More towards the Chung side would be Joachim Johansson.

Of the guys mentioned above, here is what derailed their careers:

Ancic - knee injury from jet skiing, mono (making out with Federer and Soderling?) - both at age 22 in late 2006/early 2007. He limped on until 2010 but never made it back to the top 10.

Johansson - Reached as high as #9 in early 2005 at age 22. Had shoulder surgery in July of that year and came back strong in 2006, but then struggled with the shoulder and was basically done, despite some comeback attempts.

Soderling and Del Potro we all know about. I think the Soderling mystique is a bit over-inflated, but he definitely seemed a cut above the Tsongas and Berdych's of the world in his prime. Del Potro is the one guy that could have turned the Big Four into a Big Five. He was good enough that he could have challenged Murray for the fourth spot and won several Slams. He did win a bunch of titles later on, including a very late Masters in 2018, but we never got to see what the 2009 version could have turned into.

I agree that the Soderling mystique is probably inflated. At the very least, there is too little to go on. But he and del Potro were actually in the Top 10. So if you include those, well, Nishikori is one. Berrettini is in there as possible (also as high as #6.)

Borna Coric has to be in there, I think.

 

[Fiero425]

I agree that the Soderling mystique is probably inflated. At the very least, there is too little to go on. But he and del Potro were actually in the Top 10. So if you include those, well, Nishikori is one. Berrettini is in there as possible (also as high as #6.)

Borna Coric has to be in there, I think.

Perhaps, but Soderling did a little bit more than just upset Nadal at the 2009 FO! He also completed the trifecta of Rafa dropping all 3 of his RR matches at the YEC that same season! Robin did defend those pts. by getting to 2010 FO final dropping it in straights to Rafa! I keep harping on Roger to gift Soderling a house back in Sweden for knocking off Rafa for him allowing his lone CGS! Rafa has barely 2 of them, while Novak rules w/ 3! Nole's been so close to a 4th!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

2009 Del Potro is better than anything Alcaraz/Sinner has faced. Del Potro challenged, and at times, even beat Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic at the biggest tournaments.

Alcaraz and Sinner would have their hands full against a healthy Del Potro. I mean, Sinner was getting dominated by 34-year-old Dmitrov at Wimbledon. Imagine what 2009 Del Potro would do to Sinner.

I disagree that Del Potro would have his hands full against Alcaraz or Sinner. let say in his prime 2009 or even beat them.
Del Potro's raw power on his fhand, would rush Alcaraz early, however Alcaraz superior movement and his ability to hit winners from defensive positions would eventually neutralize the power of Del Potro. Alcaraz's variety, including drop shot, would disrupt Del Potro's rhythm.

Sinners ability to take the ball early and his consistent , deep heavy groundstrokes would likely allow him to absorb Del Potro's pace.
Del Potro's bhand was solid, but Sinners current ability to hit through that wing with more aggression would be a defining advantage.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Joao Fonseca's start to the 2026 season has been delayed by a lower back injury, he has withdrawn from the Brisbane International and will be replaced by a lucky loser, he was supposed to play Opelka in his first round match.
Fonseca is still expected to play Adelaide International next week

Brisbane Update:
IN: Arnaldi ( LL will play against Altmaier)

 

[Kieran]

Bummer about Fils. At some point I'd like to do a study about what percentage of "probable top 10 players" see their careers cut short due to injury and/or see their careers seriously hampered. I'm not saying that this will be the case with Fils, but it isn't a good sign.

You had opportunities to signal this in your many long and excellently detailed posts on greatness...

 

[kskate2]

2009 Del Potro is better than anything Alcaraz/Sinner has faced. Del Potro challenged, and at times, even beat Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic at the biggest tournaments.

Alcaraz and Sinner would have their hands full against a healthy Del Potro. I mean, Sinner was getting dominated by 34-year-old Dmitrov at Wimbledon. Imagine what 2009 Del Potro would do to Sinner.

It's always difficult to assume player X will run circles around player Y because player X gave player Z a hard time. Without the data, we cannot assume. Remember, tennis is about matchups and we don't know how Alcasin would've matched up against Delpo, but I sure would have loved watching that contest.

 

[mrzz]

. I think the Soderling mystique is a bit over-inflated, but he definitely seemed a cut above the Tsongas and Berdych's of the world in his prime.

That's the part of the post I disagree with, but it is a long discussion that we had multiple times already...

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Stan Wawrinka dosent know if he will receive a AO wild card,
" I dont know actually, for me, I'm taking week after week. When I receive good news like playing here ( Stan is playing for Swiss at the United Cup in Perth) next tournament is in Auckland, I'm super happy. When I dont receive, thats all good. I'm going to go for the next tournament".

 

[mrzz]

Joao Fonseca's start to the 2026 season has been delayed by a lower back injury, he has withdrawn from the Brisbane International and will be replaced by a lucky loser, he was supposed to play Opelka in his first round match.
Fonseca is still expected to play Adelaide International next week

Brisbane Update:
IN: Arnaldi ( LL will play against Altmaier)

As per Brazilian press it was just a precaution, he did some image exams and everything is fine.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

As per Brazilian press it was just a precaution, he did some image exams and everything is fine.

Better to be safe than sorry, good news, lets see how he goes in Adelaide tournament next week

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Novak Djokovic @ DjokerNole,

After careful consideration, I have decided to step away completely from the Professional Tennis Players Association. This decision comes after ongoing concerns regarding transparency, governance, and the way my voice and image have been represented.
" I will continue to focus on my tennis, my family and contributing to the sport in ways that reflect my principles and integrity.
" I wish the players and those involved the best as they more forward, but for me, this chapter is now closed".

2025 VCG via Getty.

 

[Kieran]

Novak Djokovic @ DjokerNole,

After careful consideration, I have decided to step away completely from the Professional Tennis Players Association. This decision comes after ongoing concerns regarding transparency, governance, and the way my voice and image have been represented.
" I will continue to focus on my tennis, my family and contributing to the sport in ways that reflect my principles and integrity.
" I wish the players and those involved the best as they more forward, but for me, this chapter is now closed".

2025 VCG via Getty.

That’s interesting, right? I thought this was the idealistic organisation that Novak was happy to stump for. Now, which can say? I thought it was an ego trip on his part but maybe it wasn’t?