Players 'misunderstood' over exhibition criticisms
World number one Carlos Alcaraz says players are misunderstood when they want to play in exhibition tournaments despite criticising the demanding tour schedule.
World number one Carlos Alcaraz says players are misunderstood when they want to play in exhibition tournaments despite criticising the demanding tour schedule.
Third seed Flavio Cobolli earned victory on his Almaty Open debut Wednesday, when he moved past Rinky Hijikata 6-4, 7-5 to end his brief losing run on the Tour.
After defeating Andrey Rublev in Beijing, the Italian suffered consecutive defeats, falling to Learner Tien at the ATP 500 and then Jaume Munar in Shanghai. However, he looked close to his best against Hijikata, striking 21 winners and committing just seven unforced errors to advance to the quarter-finals after 79 minutes.
Cobolli has enjoyed a standout year, winning titles in Hamburg and Bucharest. The 23-year-old is currently No. 22 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings but would return to the Top 20 with a title run in Almaty, where he will next face James Duckworth.
Australian qualifier Duckworth upset seventh seed and last year’s finalist Gabriel Diallo 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-4 for the biggest win of his season. The World No. 138 did not face a break point en route to his win, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
Earlier, Shintaro Mochizuki defeated Arthur Cazaux 6-4, 6-4 to earn his third tour-level win of the season. The 22-year-old is up three spots to No. 99 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and will hope to break the Top 100 for the first time. He will next play fourth seed Luciano Darderi.
Alex Michelsen snapped a five-match losing streak to reach the second round. The American, who had not won a match since Cincinnati in August, downed Beibit Zhukayev 6-2, 6-3 and will next meet Aleksandar Vukic.
“I am pleased with my level,” Michelsen said. “He is a dangerous player, has a big serve. I am super happy to get the win and super happy to be in Almaty for the first time.”
Jan-Lennard Struff also advanced, clawing past Mackenzie McDonald 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. The German struck 25 winners to improve to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against the American. Struff will next face top seed and defending champion Karen Khachanov. Frenchman Corentin Moutet eliminated home favourite Alexander Shevchenko 7-5, 6-3. Moutet was a semi-finalist last month in Hangzhou.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Karen Khachanov, Daniil Medvedev, and Flavio Cobolli joined Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko and Beibit Zhukayev on Monday to inaugurate the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation’s new Alatau International Tennis Complex in Almaty.
The facility is located in Almaty’s growing Alatau district and is designed to support both elite and grassroots tennis. It features 14 courts, including indoor and outdoor hard and clay surfaces, alongside a gym, medical centre, cafe, and conference hall. The centre can host up to 500 athletes daily and meets international standards for ITF and ATF-level tournaments.
The opening drew a large crowd of fans and junior players and featured performances by a local band, along with a symbolic tree-planting ceremony by the players.
Almaty Mayor Darkhan Satybaldy and KTF President Bulat Utemuratov also attended the event.
“The new tennis centre has become an important sports facility for the growing Alatau district of our city,” said Satybaldy. “It will serve as a platform for training young athletes and for hosting national and international competitions. This not only raises Almaty’s prestige in the eyes of the global sports community but also contributes to the city’s continued development.”
Built with support from the KTF, the Alatau center is the 39th tennis facility constructed in the country since 2007. In total, the Federation has overseen the development of 291 courts nationwide, backed by more than $200 million in private investment over the past 18 years.
Beyond professional training, the complex will offer free programmes for children from low-income families, as well as discounts for large families and pensioners. The site is also fully accessible for people with limited mobility, and all training will be led by certified coaches.
“Investments in infrastructure help make tennis an accessible sport for a wide range of citizens nation,” said KTF President Utemuratov. “The Alatau Tennis Centre is an example of how sports can become a mass movement when world-class conditions are created. Today, more than 30,000 children in Kazakhstan play tennis on a regular basis. One of our key strategic goals is to continue expanding participation and promoting a healthy lifestyle among all citizens.”
The launch of the Alatau Tennis Complex marks another step in Kazakhstan’s continued rise in world tennis, with a dual focus on developing top-level talent and expanding participation across all levels of society.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]British number three Katie Boulter wins only four games as she is knocked out of the Japan Open by Sorana Cirstea.
Roger Federer may have retired from the ATP Tour, but the Swiss maestro’s smooth serve is still drawing admiration and a bit of playful critique. On Monday, Federer posted a video on Instagram showcasing his iconic service motion, looking as elegant as ever on the court. But one familiar rival wasn’t about to let him off the hook so easily.
Enter Andy Murray.
Never one to miss a chance for some friendly banter, the Scot slid into the comments with a cheeky jab: “If you could have disguised your toss better you would have been some player.”
View this post on Instagram
The comment, dripping with classic Murray dry wit, instantly drew laughs and a flood of fan reactions. While the two legends faced off 25 times on Tour, with Federer leading the Scot 14-11 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, it’s clear that even in retirement, the scoreboard of sarcasm might just be tilting in Murray’s favour.
Federer has been here, there and everywhere in the past month. The former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings was in attendance as usual at the Laver Cup, which was co-founded by Federer and his management company. He then visited the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where he watched Valentin Vacherot win the title.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]The Erste Bank Open is an indoor hard-court ATP 500 in Vienna, Austria. This year, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur and Lorenzo Musetti will headline the action at the 51st edition of the tournament.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of the tournament:
The ATP 500 event will be held from 20-26 October at the Wiener Stadthalle. The tournament director is Herwig Straka.
Sinner, Zverev, De Minaur, Musetti, Karen Khachanov, Andrey Rublev, Tommy Paul and Daniil Medvedev are among the field in Vienna.
The Erste Bank Open draw will be made on Saturday, 18 October at a time to be announced.
Qualifying: Saturday, 18 October & Sunday, 19 October at TBA
Main Draw: Monday, 20 October to 26 October. Schedule TBA
Doubles Main draw to begin on Wednesday, 22 October
Doubles Final: Sunday, 26 October at TBA
Singles Final: Sunday, 26 October at TBA
View On Official Website
The prize money for the Erste Bank Open is €2,736,875.
SINGLES:
Winner: € 511,835/ 500 points
Finalist: € 275,390/ 330 points
Semi-finalist: €146,765/ 200 points
Quarter-finalist: €74,980 / 100 points
Round of 16: € 40,025/ 50 points
Round of 32: € 21,345 / 0 points
Qualifying: € 21,345 / 25 points
Qualifying: € 10,940 / 13 points
Qualifying: € 6,140 / 0 points
DOUBLES (€ per team):
Winner: € 168,120/ 500 points
Finalist: € 89,660/ 300 points
Semi-finalist: € 45,360 / 180 points
Quarter-finalist: € 22,690/ 90 points
Round of 16: € 11,740 / 0 points
Watch Live on TennisTV
TV Schedule
Hashtag: #ErsteBankOpen
Facebook: Erste Bank Open (ATP Vienna)
Youtube: @emotionmanagement
TikTok: @erstebankopen
Twitter: @ErsteBankOpen
Instagram: @erstebankopen
Jack Draper edged Karen Khachanov 6-4, 7-5 to clinch the singles title at the Erste Bank Open last year. Austrians Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler claimed the doubles crown by defeating Neal Skupski and Michael Venus 4-6, 6-3, 10-1.
Most Titles, Singles: Brian Gottfried (4)
Last Home Champion, Singles: Dominic Thiem (2019)
Oldest Champion: Tommy Haas, 35, in 2013
Youngest Champion: Horst Skoff, 20, in 1988
Highest-Ranked Champion: No. 1 Pete Sampras in 1998
Lowest-Ranked Champion: No. 175 Anders Jarryd in 1990
Most Match Wins: Brian Gottfried (31)
View Who Is Playing, Past Champions, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Botic van de Zandschulp spoiled Joao Fonseca’s first outing as a seeded player on the ATP Tour with a 7-5, 7-6(2) win on Tuesday at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open.
The Dutchman rallied from a break deficit in each set and outhit Fonseca by 32 winners to 22 en route to snapping his five-match tour-level losing streak. Van de Zandschulp also won 88 per cent (42/48) of first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, during his two-hour, two-minute victory.
“I played a really good match, I served unbelievably well, also returning in certain moments,” said Van de Zandschulp. “The key for me to win this match was, [in] a lot of the important points, to keep my focus.”
Van de Zandschulp had not won a tour-level match since reaching the Winston-Salem final in August. The World No. 86, who is competing with a new coach in his box this week, will next face American qualifier Eliot Spizzirri, who earlier eased past Pedro Martinez 6-4, 6-1.
“We started this week. We had some practice weeks, but this is the first tournament together,” Van de Zandschulp said of his coach. “Enjoying a lot… It’s been different this year, but this week I’m enjoying it a lot, so it’s good.”
In other action on Day 2 in Brussels, Belgian qualifier Gilles Arnaud Bailly claimed his maiden ATP Tour win with a thrilling 6-4, 6-7(10), 6-3 upset of Daniel Altmaier. With his victory, the 20-year-old surged five spots to 10th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah and could rise up to eighth if he defeats third seed and last year’s finalist Jiri Lehecka in the second round.
Belgian brillance in Brussels 🤩🇧🇪
[Q] Bailly secures his first ever ATP Tour victory 6-4 6-7(10) 6-3 🆚 Altmaier@BNPPFEUOpen | #BNPPFEuropeanOpen pic.twitter.com/xSaEb4qqoF— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 14, 2025
Wild card Raphael Collignon captured his first win on home soil by edging countryman and eighth seed Zizou Bergs 6-4, 7-6(5) in a vibrant all-Belgian clash. The 23-year-old is up seven spots to No. 83 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, two places shy of his career-high No. 81.
Watch Collignon upset countryman Bergs:
Collignon, who reached the third round at this year’s US Open, will next take on Francisco Comesana after the Argentine moved past home hope and 2016 semi-finalist David Goffin 7-6(5), 6-4.
The French duo of Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Valentin Royer also advanced to the second round on Tuesday. Mpetshi Perricard outlasted Emil Ruusuvuori 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 6-4 and improved to 3-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, while lucky loser Royer downed Sebastian Baez 6-2, 6-3.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]In a rare battle between brothers on the ATP Tour, Sweden’s Elias Ymer ousted his younger sibling Mikael Ymer on Tuesday at their home tournament, the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm.
The 29-year-old prevailed 6-2, 7-6(4) in what was the eighth tour-level meeting between brothers since 1990, and second this season. Argentine brothers Francisco Cerundolo and Juan Manuel Cerundolo faced off in Buenos Aires.
Matches between brothers on the ATP Tour since 2000
| Players | Tournament |
| Elias Ymer d. Mikael Ymer | 2025 Stockholm |
| Francisco Cerundolo d. Juan Manuel Cerundolo | 2025 Buenos Aires |
| Alexander Zverev d. Mischa Zverev | 2018 Washington |
| Gerald Melzer d. Jurgen Melzer | 2016 Kitzbühel |
| Olivier Rochus d. Christophe Rochus | 2000 Palermo & 2002 Wimbledon |
Following the opening-round match, the Ymer brothers shared a warm embrace at the net and Elias was overcome with emotion during his post-match interview.
“Today, I would have been happy even if I lost,” said the No. 243 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, who entered the week on an eight-match skid across all levels. “I’m usually never crying. I don’t know what’s happening.”
In other action, Tour-veteran Marin Cilic won a clash between experience and youth. Cilic overcame #NextGenATP 19-year-old Nicolai Budkov Kjaer 7-5, 6-3. The Croatian relied on his hefty serve at the indoor event, where he won 85 per cent of first-serve points and struck 12 aces, according to Infosys ATP Stats, en route to the one-hour, 33-minute win.
Cilic, 37, is competing in Sweden for the first time in his pro career. He will next face second seed Casper Ruud. The Norwegian leads Cilic 3-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
Tomas Martin Etcheverry overcame Estonian qualifier Mark Lajal 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 6-3 in a two-hour, 55-minute battle. Kamil Majchrzak ousted Filip Misolic 6-2, 6-2.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Brandon Nakashima prevailed in a hard-fought battle between former Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champions on Tuesday at the Almaty Open.
The fifth-seeded American downed Hamad Medjedovic 7-6(5), 6-2 on his debut at the indoor hard-court ATP 250. With his 83-minute victory, Nakashima improved to 31-25 for season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. The 24-year-old has more tour-level wins this season than any other player outside the Top 20 besides Francisco Cerundolo (35).
Rock solid from start to finish 👊
[5] @b_nakashima takes down Medjedovic 7-6(5) 6-2 to mark his Almaty debut in style@AlmatyOpen_KZ | #AlmatyOpen pic.twitter.com/4DdfsuC75N— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 14, 2025
Nakashima (who won the 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Milan) and Medjedovic (who triumphed in 2024 in Jeddah) were meeting for the second consecutive year at an indoor ATP 250 event. Medjedovic triumphed in the pair’s maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash in Belgrade a year ago, but Nakashima levelled at 1-1 with a rock-solid performance in Almaty.
“It feels great, it’s my first time here in Kazakhstan and I’m loving it,” Nakashima said. “It’s always good to get through the first round, so I’m really happy. It’s something you have to get used to [the conditions], but luckily was able to get here pretty early so I was able to get some good practice on the courts.”
The World No. 34 won 80 per cent (35/44) of points behind his first serve and converted two of four break points he earned to set a second-round meeting with Fabian Marozsan in Almaty. Nakashima is now 11-1 in his past 12 opening rounds on hard courts.
Alexander Shevchenko sent his home fans into a frenzy by converting his fifth match point to defeat Laslo Djere 7-6(1), 7-6(12) after a thrilling end to their first-round encounter. The Kazakhstani No. 2 saved four set points, including three in the second-set tie-break to prevail after two hours, six minutes.
Shevchenko, who is now 4-3 in Almaty after reaching last year’s quarter-final, will next face eighth seed Corentin Moutet.
Earlier, Australians Aleksandar Vukic, Rinky Hijikata and Adam Walton all progressed after three-set wins. Vukic downed qualifier Marko Topo 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, while lucky loser Hijkata overcame home hope Timofey Skatov 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3.
Walton defeated countryman Tristan Schoolkate 7-6(4), 6-7(3), 6-2 to set a meeting with second seed and former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]An architect moves with careful intention, considering every detail and decision of the building process. From the blueprint planning to the structural composition and beyond, every measurement is considered and refined. Gradually, the architect’s vision takes shape, layer by layer.
That same philosophy is what guides Frederic Fontang’s approach to coaching tennis. From nurturing young talents like Jeremy Chardy and Caroline Garcia to guiding Vasek Pospisil and Felix Auger-Aliassime to new heights, Fontang’s craft lies in building players, one adjustment at a time.
“The coach is an architect, a guardian of the process,” Fontang told ATPTour.com. “We are in the business of competition, of results. The players want to win. They want to win every match. The coach and his team — we need to be really focused on the process, what we have to apply day by day.
“The vision, the action on the court, technically, tactically, physically, mentally — also managing the schedule of tournaments, rest, the practice.”
Fontang, a former No. 59 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, retired from pro tennis in 1999 and then opened an academy in Pau. He first began working with a 12-year-old Chardy, a Pau native whom Fontang would guide for 11 years. “We did the whole process from 12 years old to Top 30,” Fontang said. “That was my first stint as a coach.”
Fontang’s track record speaks volumes. After coaching Chardy, Fontang spent two years with another French player, Garcia, who was transitioning from juniors to the Hologic WTA Tour. In 2012, Tennis Canada’s Louis Borfiga invited Fontang to coach Vasek Pospisil, who then was World No. 140. During a successful four years, Fontang helped Pospisil reach a singles career-high No. 25 and doubles No. 4.
Fontang is currently coaching Felix Auger-Aliassime, a partnership that dates back to when the Canadian was 16 years old. Fontang spent the first two years of that journey as co-coach, alongside Guillaume Marx.
At the heart of Fontang’s approach is a holistic philosophy.
“I believe you need to be a good generalist in a lot of fields, and you can choose the expert you need in those specific fields,” said Fontang. “I like the approach to educate your player and that means you have to educate yourself all the time to improve every day and to be a good generalist as a coach.
“For example, in fitness — at this level everybody has their own fitness coach — but you need to have a notion of fitness, of mental, of nutrition. Nowadays the role of the coach is also a manager because there’s a lot of people around the player. So you need to manage and to explain your vision well: Your vision as a coach for your player, that’s really important too.”
Fontang has earned his reputation as a highly regarded coach, yet he remains a lifelong student of tennis and of life. A father of two, he embraces constant growth and a curiosity that extends beyond the court.
“It’s a permanent process [of learning],” Fontang said. “To listen to some podcasts in different aspects; politics, geopolitics, finance, and directly from the sport from the physical aspect, mental aspect, nutrition. In all those fields you need to educate yourself because life is a non-stop improvement.”
Born in Casablanca, Morocco, Fontang is an avid reader who finds inspiration from legendary coaches across sports, including Phil Jackson, the NBA’s record 11-time champion.
“I like to read books because they give me inspiration. You can transfer a lot of things from other fields to my main field, which is coaching Felix,” said Fontang.
“I learned more from coaches from other sports because they are more like in the spotlight, and tennis was always less. In my time, we didn’t have much access to tennis coaches’ interviews, because it’s an individual sport and the players are in the front and the tennis coach is not in the front stage.”
Fontang, who fondly recalls childhood memories watching Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander, has helped his charge Auger-Aliassime reach as high as No. 6 in the PIF ATP Rankings, among other accomplishments since they began working together in 2017. Auger-Aliassime has claimed seven tour-level titles, including two this year (Adelaide, Montpellier).
[NEWSLETTER FORM]