Tennis News

Cachin bids farewell, reflecting how €60,000 risk met reward in 'incredible journey'

Hanging up the racquet is never easy for a tennis player. It is even more difficult when many sacrifices have been made along the way, as is the case for Argentina’s Pedro Cachin, who said farewell to tennis in an Instagram post Monday.

“It was an incredible journey with a lot of lessons along the way,” wrote Cachin, who reached a career-high No. 48 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2023, the same year he was crowned champion at the ATP 250 in Gstaad.

One of Cachin’s biggest lessons was to never give up. His retirement could have come four years ago. Yet to break the Top 100, Cachin then held a 3-2 tour-level record with his best result as a pro being an ATP Challenger Tour title in Seville in 2015.

“The circuit slapped me around the face and told me, ‘No, no, to be a tennis player, you have to win more than just one title,” Cachin told ATPTour.com.

Rather than giving into the temptation of early retirement in 2021, Cachin applied for a loan that would extend his career.

“I applied for a loan of €60,000 when I was World No. 360. I risked it all because I still had faith in myself. I set myself a goal of playing in qualies in Australia the following year. And I did it. 2022 is when things clicked into place,” said Cachin.

<img alt=”Pedro Cachin” style=”width:100%” src=”/-/media/images/news/2023/07/23/13/25/cachin-gstaad-trophy.jpg” />
^{Pedro Cachin wins the ATP 250 in Gstaad in 2023. Credit: Getty Images}

But life did not get any easier. The next obstacle was a physical setback.

“From September 2021 to April 2023, I was playing with an injury. I would take a pill every single day to kill the chronic pain in my ankle because I have an extra bone there,” Cachin said. “In fact, in 2022 I barely practised on the recommendation of doctors. I only played when I was competing. I overcame things like that with the innate competitiveness we tennis players have.”

Despite those limitations, Cachin finally broke into the Top 100 in 2022 and won his sixth and final ATP Challenger Tour title in Santo Domingo. The following season he climbed into the Top 50 following his triumph in Gstaad. He also claimed his biggest career win in 2023 when he took down then-World No. 11 Frances Tiafoe in Madrid en route to the Round of 16, Cachin’s career-best finish at a Masters 1000 event.

However, things were not the same in 2024. He found some motivation when he faced Rafael Nadal during the Spaniard’s final appearance in the Caja Magica. Cachin asked Nadal for his shirt when they shook hands at the net. “He’s my idol. Having the chance to face him was a gift I’ll always carry with me,” Cachin said.

The Argentine reflects on that 2024 season and remembers feeling that his desire was waning. “I lost that internal fire, because the defeats didn’t hurt so much and the wins didn’t taste as good,” explained the 30-year-old, who played his final match in June at a Challenger event in Lyon.

Cachin’s legacy lies in the warmth and respect he showed to everyone around him, qualities which his peers praised while wishing him well in his retirement post.

“You were brave, you bet big without being sure of the rewards, and now you know… People love you and respect you — me more than anyone. That’s much more important than any title. Always on my team, or rather, always in my family,” said Alex Corretja, the Argentine’s former coach.

Juan Martin del Potro wrote: “Congratulations Pedrito! I hope you really enjoy this new phase of your life. Thanks for being with us for such special moments.”

Tomas Martin Etcheverry said: “Amazing, my brother. I wish you all the best. Above everything else, you are one of the best people I have ever met. You deserve everything.”

Cachin’s new phase of life is already underway. He is helping young players find their place in professional tennis. What else does he plan on for the near future? “To relax here at home in Barcelona, and travel for about 20 weeks of the year as a coach.”

Editor’s Note: This story has been translated from ATPTour.com/es.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pedro Cachin (@pecachin)

Source link

The Handover: Puppets stole the show, now the players want revenge

What began as a harmless experiment has spiralled into a full-blown takeover.

Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz and Lorenzo Musetti’s bright idea — to let their puppet doubles handle the off-court grind — was supposed to buy them extra training time and a little peace and quiet. Instead, it unleashed a new era of chaos on the ATP Tour.

At first, everything seemed to be running smoothly. The puppets handled media duties with surprising professionalism, posed perfectly for photos and delivered lines with charm and confidence. But as time went on at the Rolex Paris Masters, their intentions became clear.

<img alt=”Alex de Minaur” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/11/04/11/12/de-minaur-puppet-press-conference.jpg” />_{^{Alex de Minaur’s puppet addresses the media in Paris. Photo: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour.}}

Suddenly, the doubles weren’t content to stay in the background. They had opinions, egos and undeniable stage presence. Soon, they were front and centre, outshining their real-life counterparts and taking over every shoot, interview and social post in sight.

The players — Top 10 stars in the PIF ATP Rankings — now found themselves playing catch-up. What started as a clever shortcut became a full-scale puppet power shift. The line between player and puppet blurred, and the Tour officially hijacked.

Eventually, De Minaur, Fritz and Musetti decided enough was enough. Determined to reclaim their spotlight, they staged a decisive intervention. The puppets, for all their flair, were shown the exit, and the balance of power was restored… at least for now.

Because in The Handover, nothing ever goes entirely to plan. The players might have taken back control, but the puppets left their mark, and if their past behaviour is any indication, this won’t be the last we see of them.

Watch the full video to find out who prevails in this puppet takeover.

.videoWrapper {
position: relative;
padding-bottom: 56.25%; /* 16:9 */
padding-top: 25px;
height: 0;
}
.videoWrapper iframe {
position: absolute;
top: 0;
left: 0;
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
}

Source link

Rybakina completes clean sweep in WTA Finals group

Elena Rybakina completes a clean sweep of her group at the WTA Finals with a straightforward victory over late call-up Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Source link

When is the Nitto ATP Finals draw?

The draw for the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals will take place on Thursday at 12pm CET (6am ET). Fans will be able to watch live as the eight players are placed into their four-man groups. A live stream of the draw will be available at approximately 11:45 a.m. CET/5:45 a.m. ET.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will headline a star-studded field at the prestigious year-end event, taking place 9–16 November at the Inalpi Arena. They’ll be joined by Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic, Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, and Alex de Minaur, with the final spot still up for grabs between Felix Auger-Aliassime and Lorenzo Musetti.

Auger-Aliassime is currently eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin but Musetti can leapfrog the Canadian and claim the final spot if he wins the ATP 250 event in Athens this week.

Sinner lifted the trophy in Turin last year and arrives on home soil off the back of title runs in Vienna and Paris. The 24-year-old has won his past 26 indoor matches, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Alcaraz is set for his third appearance in Turin, where he reached the semi-finals in 2023. The Spaniard leads the Italian 10-5 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series and has won four of their five meetings in 2025.

Djokovic is a record seven-time Nitto ATP Finals champion, while Zverev won the event in 2018 and 2021. Fritz reached the title match last year. De Minaur will compete at the indoor tournament for the second consecutive year, with Shelton making his debut. The doubles draw will also take place on Thursday.

Tune in here to watch the draw on Thursday at 12pm CET.

Source link

ATP unveils evolved logo and brand identity ahead of 2026 season

LONDON – The ATP has revealed the latest evolution of its iconic logo – the sixth in its 54-year history. The refreshed design modernises ATP’s visual identity while retaining the legacy and spirit that define men’s professional tennis.

Simplified and reimagined for the digital age, the new logo enhances versatility across platforms and products – from broadcast and social media to merchandise and tournament branding. The refreshed mark is designed to telegraph the energy of the sport, featuring a curved trajectory that reflects the motion of a tennis ball in play.

“Tennis is constantly evolving,” said Eno Polo, ATP CEO. “To keep pace with our global fan base, we need to tell our story with creativity and energy. Our new identity captures the drama, precision, and momentum of the Tour, connecting with today’s fans while inspiring the next generation discovering tennis for the first time.”

The logo evolution is part of a wider brand update, set to roll out across ATP touchpoints in 2026. Developed by renowned design agency Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, the new system consolidates the ATP’s visual language, creating a more cohesive and contemporary look for the sport.

The brand refresh is part of ATP’s long-term strategy to engage younger audiences and build deeper fan connections. Over the past year, ATP has launched content partnerships with TikTok and Overtime, alongside its global marketing campaign ‘It All Adds Up’, developed by Wieden+Kennedy.

Together, these initiatives underscore ATP’s commitment to evolving the way tennis is experienced: faster, more digital, and more expressive than ever.

.videoWrapper {
position: relative;
padding-bottom: 56.25%; /* 16:9 */
padding-top: 25px;
height: 0;
}
.videoWrapper iframe {
position: absolute;
top: 0;
left: 0;
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
}

Source link

Modified court and one serve each – Sabalenka v Kyrgios divides opinion

Women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka will face controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios in a Battle of the Sexes-style event.

Source link

Williams, 45, given wildcard for Auckland Classic

Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams is awarded a wildcard for the Auckland Classic in January.

Source link

Norrie wins in Metz and Djokovic through in Athens

Cameron Norrie beats Arthur Cazaux to reach the Moselle Open quarter-finals, while Novak Djokovic progresses in Athens.

Source link

Wawrinka: 'The most important thing is loving what you do'

Stan Wawrinka penned an emotional social media post after last month’s Swiss Indoors Basel about his passion for tennis. It is that attitude that has led many young players to look up to the 40-year-old and try to become like the three-time major champion.

What would his message be for those trying to follow in his footsteps?

“I think at the end the most important [thing] is loving what you do,” Wawrinka told ATPTour.com at the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship in Athens. “It’s enjoying the process, enjoying the road. [Being a] tennis player, it’s an amazing life. If you’re passionate about your sport, it’s so special to be able to travel the world to play tennis.”

There is a new crop of Swiss players rising through the PIF ATP Rankings who grew up watching Wawrinka perform at the highest level and have been able to absorb lessons from the former World No. 3 as they have joined him on Tour.

Leandro Riedi and Jerome Kym reached the fourth round and the third round of the US Open, respectively, while 18-year-old Henry Bernet won this year’s Australian Open boys’ singles title and this week competed in the same event as Wawrinka in Athens.

“For me it’s always amazing to see the new generation coming,” Wawrinka said. “I’m so happy also to have the chance to play with them and to play against them. It’s always special as a player to be able to play different generations.

“You always hope that more players will come — more young players will come — because that’s what you want to see.”

There are countless fans of Wawrinka around the world. ’Stan the Man’ is a huge fan of the sport himself, and said “for the fans it’s been amazing to watch]” tennis this year.

“There are different generations playing against each other,” Wawrinka said. “Of course you have Sinner and Alcaraz at the top of the rankings, but Novak is still there trying to keep achieving amazing goals, so it’s always special.

“You have so many different personalities, different players playing this game, so as a fan of tennis, you can only enjoy that.”

Plenty of fans will enjoy Wawrinka’s showdown Wednesday against second seed Lorenzo Musetti. The Italian must win the Athens title to earn the final qualification spot for the Nitto ATP Finals.

“He has a [big] challenge in front of him for getting there and it’s important for him of course,” Wawrinka said after his first-round win against Botic van de Zandschulp. “It’s a big challenge [facing him]. He’s playing so well. I’ve watched him play many matches this year, so I’m looking forward to playing him and seeing where I am.”

Source link

Djokovic honours Nikola Pilic's memory: 'As long as I live, I will celebrate his name'

Novak Djokovic celebrated more than a victory Tuesday evening at the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship. The 100-time tour-level titlist also honoured the life of influential coach Nikola Pilic, who passed away in September.

Djokovic welcomed friends and coaches from Pilic’s academy — Petar Basic, Lado Chikhladze, Ana Jovanovic, Oliver Poturicek, Peter Shuster and Kostas Zaraklanis —  to the court in Athens to remember his life in front of a packed crowd. Djokovic and his brother, tournament director Djordje Djokovic, were moved as a video tribute played on the big screen.

“It was an emotional moment,” Djokovic told ATPTour.com. “Considering what he meant to me and my family — privately, also professionally — he was my tennis father as I like to call him, someone that has played a fundamental, integral role in my development as a tennis player and as a human being. It was really sad news when I heard that he passed away a few months ago.”

Pilic’s funeral was the first Djokovic had attended. The emotions of that moment remain with him and is a powerful reminder of the impact Pilic had on the Serbian and many others.

“It was a very, very difficult moment,” Djokovic said. “But on a brighter side, the legacy that he left behind on me, but also for this sport, is never going to fade away, never going to die.

“As long as I play tennis and as long as I live, I will celebrate his name. And tonight this was one of the moments of how to pay tribute and I’m sure in the near future — in the far future as well — people will learn about how Niki has impacted the world of tennis and the world of sport. He deserves it. He was a very special man.”

Source link