Good morning, Court Theorists! ☕️
Today’s tennis mood:
We have one final week of preparation ahead of the Australian Open main draw. That puts players in Adelaide, Auckland, and Hobart (including Venus Williams 😍!). But we’re also into qualifying at the Australian Open, which has already set some attendance records. We also have some things to talk about from last week, including a knock-down, drag-out battle for the United Cup.
Let’s tennis!
-Allen
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🎾 Poland wins: After two years of landing in the runner-up position, Poland won the United Cup for the first time, defeating Switzerland in the final. Belinda Bencic defeated Iga Swiatek, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3. Hubert Hurkacz leveled the tie with a win over Stan Wawrinka, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. That pushed it to the mixed doubles decider in which Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski clinched Poland’s maiden title with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Belinda Bencic and Jakub Paul.
Yes, but: The week-plus of competition raised some questions about Swiatek’s fitness. Early in the tournament, she was in tears on the bench. By the end, she was clearly hampered, physically. She attempted to downplay any problems, but also said, “First tournament of the year, it causes the body (to feel) a bit different. Differently than during the season…But I had similar experience last year also, so I’ll just get good recovery, a couple of days off. Also, these team events, I really love them, but they really take a lot of energy from you.”
🎾 Raonic calls it: Milos Raonic, the 35-year-old Canadian who once reached the top three in the ATP rankings, announced his retirement from professional tennis after years of fits and starts due to nagging injuries.
What he said: “The time has come, I am retiring from tennis,” Raonic posted on social media. “This is a moment you know will come one day, but somehow you never feel ready for it. This is as ready as I will ever be. Tennis has been my love and obsession for most of my life,” Raonic said. He added: “I have been the luckiest person to get to live out and fulfill my dreams. I got to show up every day and focus on just getting better, seeing where that will take me, and playing a game I was introduced to at 8 years old by complete luck. Somehow, this became my entire obsession and childhood, and then became my profession and life.”
Noteworthy: In 2016, Raonic became the first Canadian man to reach a major final by defeating Roger Federer in the semifinal of Wimbledon, 6-3, 6-7, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
🎾 The pressure is getting to them: At the end of last week, Matt Futterman reported at The Athletic that leaders from three of the majors, as well as the ATP and the WTA, held secret meetings last week in London over the PTPA lawsuit. As Futterman reports, “The leaders discussed the structure of a deal aimed at giving tournaments financial security, producing more revenue for the sport, and giving players the increased pay, benefits and voice for which they have been pushing ever harder in recent months.”
Intriguing: Presumably, it was leaders from the Australian Open missing in London, given how close the meetings were to kick-off time. Not only that, the Australian Open has reportedly reached an agreement with the PTPA ahead of the other defendants in the suit.
🎾 One to watch: Iva Jovic (#30) vs. Janice Tjen (#56) (1st round - WTA 250 - Hobart): Expect a fun battle between two rising players who had truly outstanding years in 2025, all because they refuse to lose. Jovic, the American teen, is coming off a nice week in Auckland, losing in the semifinals to the eventual champion Elina Svitolina in two competitive sets. Meanwhile, Tjen ended 2025 with a 250 title, but had a bit of an unlucky start to this year with a three-set, first-round loss in Auckland.
The record: This will be the first meeting between Iva Jovic and Janice Tjen.
On the line: Neither player has points to defend. This is about hunger and pride — and the hope for a good warm-up before the Australian Open.
🎾 🏆 🎤 YOUR CALL
And that’s game.
