• One final chapter in the Djokovic-Murray story. The recently retired Andy Murray is going to coach longtime rival Novak Djokovic. Taking to social media to announce the news, Djokovic said, “We played each other since we were boys - 25 years of being rivals, pushing each other beyond our limits. We had some of the most epic battles. They called us game-changers, risk-takers, history-makers. I thought our story may be over. Turns out, it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome on board, Coach - Andy Murray.”

• Murray is excited to spend time on the same side of the net as Djokovic. “I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the offseason, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open. I’m excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals,” Murray said in a statement released by his management team.

• It only takes everything. As Rafael Nadal bid goodbye to professional tennis, his long-time sponsor Nike dedicated a beautiful video to one of its most iconic stars. In a social media post, Nike said, “No one has given more to their sport. Or left it all on the court every single time. @RafaelNadal, you showed us what it takes to be the greatest. It only takes everything.” Nike has also updated its social media profile image to Nadal’s iconic bull logo. The Spanish legend has been a Nike athlete since he was 13 years old.

• A special T-shirt to honour Nadal’s career. Nike has created a special T-shirt to honour Nadal’s incredible career. The front features Nadal’s photo, while the back reads: It Only Takes Everything. Top players of the past and present like Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Aryna Sabalenka, Karen Khachanov, Bianca Andreescu and Lorenzo Musetti have already been spotted wearing theirs.

• A career most won’t dare to dream of. For Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal was an inspiration. In a social media post, she said, “Congratulations on a career that most won’t dare to dream of. I feel so fortunate to have been able to play when you were playing and being great. You inspired me to be better, to play harder, for fight, to never give up, and to win more. No excuses just play the sport. Your legacy will never die. Wow, to see your career from the beginning to today was an honour, champ! Long live Rafa!”

• This isn’t a retirement, right? You’re moving on! Accompanying her heartfelt caption, Williams filmed a video wearing a Nike T-shirt and a matching bandana with Nadal’s logo and likeness. “Got my Rafa gear together,” she said, adding, “Got it Rafa tight. We’re gonna always love you, we’re gonna always miss you. But let’s go. This isn’t a retirement, right? You’re moving on!”

• Saluting his great friend and rival. Millions of tennis fans are saying goodbye to Rafael Nadal as he just ended his career as a professional player. Among those paying tribute is Nadal’s great friend and rival Roger Federer. Federer posted an emotional tribute on social media, celebrating Nadal’s iconic career and the moments they shared on and off the court.

• Vamos, Rafa! In a lengthy, deeply personal post, Federer said, “… You beat me - a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. You made me reimagine my game - even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge. You made me enjoy the game even more. What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Open titles - historic! You made Spain proud… you made the whole tennis world proud. I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you, and will be cheering just as loud for everything you do next.”

• Reactions from the world of tennis and beyond. Tennis legends Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Serena Williams, as well as football greats David Beckham, Iker Casillas and Andres Iniesta are among those who’ve come together in a video to pay tribute to Rafael Nadal. There were emotional scenes in Malaga as the 22-time major winner played his last professional match - Spain’s Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands.

• For Federer and Serena, Rafa is an inspiration. Said Federer, “Congratulations on the most incredible career. It was such a privilege to play with you, but especially against you.” Added Djokovic, “The tennis world and the sports world will miss the incredible energy that you brought on the court.” For Serena, Nadal meant so much. “You’ve inspired me to have so many wins, to keep going, to fight, to get better, to improve, to basically play like you.” Murray said that fans will remember Nadal’s passion and intensity.

• Making the most of his early start to the off-season. Since playing his last ATP tournament of 2024 - the Rolex Paris Masters - earlier this month, Holger Rune has been busy vacationing in Dubai and the Maldives. The world No. 13 couldn’t qualify for the ongoing Nitto ATP Finals, where he had qualified for the first time in 2023. So, he’s determined to make the most of his early start to the off-season.

• From jet-skiing to pre-season workouts, . From jet-skiing in Dubai to pre-season workouts on his favourite island getaway in Maldives, Rune seems to be having a memorable off-season. “Couldn’t wish for better surroundings to kickstart my body,” Rune wrote on social media. He then got up close with some spectacular undersea creatures. The 21-year-old Dane also found time to indulge his crafty side, getting creative with a little pottery outing.

Photo Credit: © Susan Mullane-Imagn Images

• Lighthearted moments. They’re rivals on the court, but world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz aren’t afraid to open up to each other off it. Currently in Italy for the Nitto ATP Finals, the duo grilled each other with some fun questions. They’re both chasing their maiden title at the prestigious season finale. The pair talked about which shot they’d take from their rival and revealed the nickname they each had for the other in the locker room.

• ‘Carrot’ Sinner and ‘Beast’ Alcaraz. “I call you, like everybody, ‘Carrot’,” said the Spaniard, a reference to Sinner’s penchant for eating the vegetable at changeovers. Meanwhile, the Italian’s nickname for Alcaraz was related to his approach to the game. “You’re a ‘Beast’,” said Sinner. All this was before Sinner and Alcaraz’s one-on-one entered ‘Savage Mode’. The questions got spicier. The duo gave their honest assessment of each other’s skills (not to mention fashion sense). Watch this video to see the full exchange.

• From tennis court to the stage. Former world No. 1 Andy Murray will talk about his career during a four-stop tour in Scotland and England in June 2025, according to his management group. “After I retired this summer, I wanted to try some different things. I don’t think a tennis player has done anything like this before, so it felt like a great challenge,” Murray, 37, said. “… Hopefully my fans will enjoy seeing me in this new setting.”

• First-ever theatre tour. Murray will be joined on stage by BBC Sports broadcaster Andrew Cotter. His four appearances will be in his birthplace of Glasgow, followed by Edinburgh and then two in London. “I’m stepping onto a different stage this summer. Come and see me on my first-ever theatre tour with Andrew Cotter, in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Hammersmith and Wimbledon,” Murray posted on social media. Tickets will go on sale on AndyMurray.com shortly.

Photo Credit: © Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

• Demading answers. Former world No. 2 Ons Jabeur has shared an open letter to the International Tennis Federation and its president David Haggerty after over half a dozen men’s and women’s tournaments in her native Tunisia in December were cancelled seemingly without explanation. Jabeur took to her social media to post the letter, hand signed by 60-plus players - ranging from rising juniors to Challenger veterans representing countries like the US, Canada, Germany, Ukraine, Turkey, Japan, etc.

• Care to explain? Jabeur said she was ‘shocked’ to see the events absent from the calendar. Her post read, “… Shocked to see that events have been cancelled in December! Players are already struggling and working hard to get their rankings up! Care to explain @ITFTennis @HaggertyTennis?” The letter urges the ITF to consider the pleasant climate and quality infrastructure of the city of Monastir. Neither the ITF nor Haggerty have responded to Jabeur. No statement has yet been issued by the Tunisian Tennis Federation.

Photo Credit: © Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

• It’s Djokovic for Zverev, Nadal for Alcaraz. Who has inspired Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev - part of the John Newcombe Group at the ongoing 2024 Nitto ATP Finals - to become the champions that they are today? Well, world No. 2 Zverev mentions former basketball player Michael Jordan, retired Olympic gold-winning sprinter and world record holder Usain Bolt, and Novak Djokovic. For third seed Alcaraz, it’s Rafael Nadal, footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and, like Zverev, Jordan.

• Ruud goes for the ‘Big Three’, Rublev mentions Avicii, James Dio and Safin. Sixth seed Ruud looks up to the ‘Big Three’ - Nadal, like Alcaraz, former champion Roger Federer and Djokovic, like Zverev. The late Avicii and singer Ronnie James Dio, and former player Marat Safin are eighth seed Rublev’s champions. The ATP Finals is currently being played at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy. The champion will be crowned on November 17.

• ‘Menswear Guy’ enters the picture. For the first time since 2018, all the Top eight players competing at the ongoing 2024 Nitto ATP Finals suited up for an iconic group photo. Naturally, ‘Menswear Guy’ decided to weigh in on the suited up players. Known for his viral commentary on the state of men’s fashion, Derek Guy took to ‘X’ to share his views.

• Missing ties, poor colour choices. According to Guy, the biggest faux pas was the lack of ties. His post read, “Some of the outfits have bad colour choices. But most conspicuously, they are missing ties, which makes the outfits look very plain…” Guy went on to dish out specific style advice for a few players, before concluding, “For a group photo taken for an important occasion, I think it would look better if everyone just wore a normal suit and tie.”

• A nod to the previous era. Guy pointed to an iconic shot of Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, Murray, and others, all dressed in classic suits and ties, implying that the previous era had style — today’s generation? Not so much.

• Backwards move. Stefanos Tsitsipas says that playing ATP Masters 1000 events for over two weeks is a ‘backwards move’. Five of the ATP Tour’s most prestigious tournaments beneath the four majors, currently stretch over two weeks. This will increase to seven in 2025 under the tour’s ‘OneVision’ plan. In a social media post, Tsitsipas said, “The two-week Masters 1000s have turned into a drag. Players aren’t getting the recovery or training time they need. It’s a backwards move. Sometimes, it feels like they’re fixing what wasn’t broken.”

• Be careful, Wawrinka has receipts. Responding directly to the post, Stan Wawrinka unearthed a video where Tsitsipas was singing a different tune. In the video released by the ATP two years ago, Tsitsipas quizzed ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi about the ‘OneVision’ plan and enthusiastically voiced his support for it. “I love that idea,” Tsitsipas said then, adding that the changes would help the sport find “solutions for a better future.”

• It’s all about motivation. In 2024, the only title Novak Djokovic won was the gold medal for Serbia at the 2024 Paris Olympics. His former coach Goran Ivanisevic believes he can still contend for major titles in 2025. “I can’t know if he is motivated and how much, but the moment he decides to play, it means that he is eager to play,” Ivanisevic told Tennis Majors.

• Write Novak off at your own peril. Ivanisevic went on to add, “… when he wants to play, he’s still the best in the world, in my opinion. The thing is how much he wants to play and when – we saw at the Olympics… If he plays like that, then he can still win a Slam… Can he do it? Yes, he can. You can never write him off. I’d never do that.”

Photo Credit: © Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

• Baking is different from cooking. Having moved out of her parents’ home, Coco Gauff is now opening up about some of her successes and failures in the kitchen of her new living space. “I’m living alone, so I’m just trying to learn how to cook more. It’s been something that I’ve been experimenting with,” she said. Among her successes include salmon teriyaki and a pasta dish with chicken as an added protein. But not everything has gone well. Case in point: banana bread. “I think when you’re baking, you have to be more precise than cooking. So, I won’t freestyle the next time around.”

• WTA Finals. Gauff is currently playing at the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh. The third seed won her first two round-robin matches against second seed Iga Swiatek and sixth seed Jessica Pegula. Having already made it to the semifinal, she will next take on eighth seed Barbora Krejčíková in their final group match shortly.

Photo Credit: © Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

• Unforgettable memories and incredible achievements. After hearing the news about Rafael Nadal’s retirement, his long-time rival and good friend Roger Federer was one of the first people to pay tribute to him. “What a career, Rafa! I always hoped this day would never come. Thank you for the unforgettable memories and all your incredible achievements in the game we love,” wrote Federer in the comment section of Nadal’s Instagram post.

• Nothing but respect. Novak Djokovic, one of the ‘Big Three’ in the tennis world along with Nadal and Federer, took to social media to post this, “Rafa, one post is not enough to express the respect I have for you and what you have done for our sport. You have inspired millions of children to start playing tennis and I think that’s probably the greatest achievement anyone can wish for. Your legacy will live forever. Thank you for pushing me to the very limit so many times.”

Picture Credit: © Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images

• Incredible history, tradition and culture. To commemorate his latest trip to China, Novak Djokovic recently stepped out in the streets of Shanghai for a fun photo shoot. The former world No. 1 player and 24-time Grand Slam champion rocked a bright blue sleeveless sweater from Lacoste and a pair of trousers for the outing. “China has incredible history, tradition and culture. We (tried) to combine that with a modern touch. I hope people like it.” Djokovic is currently playing at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, an event he’s won a record four times.

• Channelling his inner tourist. At this stage of his career, Djokovic, 37, is making the most of opportunities to channel his inner tourist and the “good vibes” that come with soaking up local surroundings. “I enjoy doing these kinds of photo shoots that are a bit different from what I’ve done throughout my career. Embracing the fashion and these off-court activities really bring joy to me,” he said.

Picture Credit: © Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

• Has he popped the question? World No. 1 Jannik Sinner isn’t ready to tie the knot with his girlfriend just yet. While responding to a recent story in Italian media that he was ready to take the next step with his girlfriend, world No. 13 Anna Kalinskaya, he said, “It was new for me too, to be honest! No, I didn’t ask and nothing happened. I just read the details a little bit that it happened after the US Open, but it’s all false news.”

• This is not true. Earlier, Kalinskaya addressed the tabloid reports through her social media, “To clarify things about fake rumours, this is not true.”

• Focussing on their respective tournaments. While Sinner is competing in the Rolex Shanghai Masters this week, Kalinskaya is participating in the Wuhan Open. Both will take to the court on October 9. Sinner has reached the pre-quarterfinals, while Kalinskaya will be involved in a Round of 32 tie.

• Stepping up when needed. Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters of Belgium seems to be a fan of US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka. During a recent appearance on the ‘Served with Andy Roddick’ podcast, Clijsters, 41, had this to say about Sabalenka’s performance in the US Open final, “Just like Serena (Williams), she (Sabalenka) has the ability to step up when needed.” Belarusian Sabalenka, 26, beat American Jessica Pegula, 30, in straight sets 7-5, 7-5 to win the 2024 US Open title.

• More praise for Sabalenka. Roddick, 42, on his part, added, “You have to commit to who you are and find your best process, it’s not one-size fits all. With Sabalenka, I appreciate the different process. Hers looks fun. She dives in afterwards and has a smile. It’s like she’s down for a joke, but also committed to improvement. It seems like she has a great balance… I wish I had a little more Sabalenka.” Watch Clijsters and Roddick take about Sabalenka and others here.

• Hamilton is a tennis fan. Lewis Hamilton is widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time. With a record-equalling seven world championship titles under his belt, he also has another passion: women’s tennis. Need proof? Watch this.

• US Open final sighting. The 39-year-old Brit was recently seen enjoying the women’s US Open final between Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka and home favourite Jessica Pegula at New York’s Arthur Ashe Stadium. The former beat the latter in straight sets – 7-5, 7-5.

• More than a spectator. Hamilton isn’t just a tennis fan—he’s tried his hand at the sport too. Hamilton once posted a video of himself playing tennis with his father, leaving fans to wonder what could have been if he had picked up a racket sooner. Also, a fun fact: Hamilton is often spotted at tennis events alongside American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, another tennis superfan.

• 2024 is Andy Murray’s last season. Earlier this year, Andy Murray made an announcement that this season would be his last. After realizing that he wasn’t fit enough to participate in the Wimbledon singles event, he decided to instead enrol in doubles and mixed doubles, partnering with his brother Jamie Murray and Emma Raducanu, respectively.

• Andy’s doubles match with brother Jamie ran high on emotions. Andy and Jamie Murray’s 1st round doubles match was a hard-fought battle against John Peers and Rinky Hijikata that ended in defeat 7-6 (6), 6-4. Following the match, an emotional video montage celebrating Andy’s storied career was played on the big screen, leaving both the crowd and Andy in tears, as their mother, Judy, watched on from the stands.

• Emma Raducanu’s sudden withdrawal from the mixed doubles event means Andy’s Wimbledon career is over. Just a day before their scheduled mixed doubles match, Emma Raducanu announced her withdrawal due to wrist stiffness, choosing to instead focus on her singles campaign at Wimbledon. This meant that Andy’s anticipated Wimbledon farewell in the mixed doubles would not happen, and that he had played his last ever Wimbledon match.

• Judy Murray wasn’t pleased with Emma’s sudden withdrawal. Responding to the news, Judy Murray posted on Twitter that the withdrawal was “astonishing.” Her not-so-warm tweet has sparked speculation that she isn’t entirely supportive of Emma’s decision to withdraw.

• Tennis fans are furious with Judy’s remarks. Fans have expressed displeasure and disappointment at Judy’s terse reaction, with many feeling that she should have displayed more compassion and support towards a young British star who has faced numerous injury issues in the recent past, including a wrist injury in 2023. This backlash from fans even forced Judy to temporarily “protect” her twitter account, preventing others from accessing her tweets. She later clarified that her comments were “sarcasm”, although people aren’t buying it.

• The buzz on social media: Tennis fans have taken to Twitter to express their displeasure with Judy’s remarks:

• What is the queue? The Wimbledon queue is a tradition where tennis fans line up at Wimbledon Park, often camping overnight, to purchase same-day tickets for the tournament. This allows a limited number of spectators to buy tickets on the day of play. We can travel back in time to 1913, and there are black and white images that show thousands of fans standing in line outside Wimbledon to catch a glimpse of some tennis action.

• Many fans stand by the queue. / Many fans support the long-standing tradition. Supporters believe that the Queue is an integral part of the All England Club experience. They think the chance to experience Centre Court, even if it means a long wait, is worth it. The queue offers an opportunity for those who missed out on the public ballot, giving them a shot at seeing their favourite players in action. These fans see the queue as more than just a long wait; it’s a unique tradition that adds to the experience of Wimbledon.

• But not everyone is on board. Recent reports highlight queue times stretching up to seven hours, sparking a discussion about the feasibility and health implications of such long waits. A tweet from a fan who was in the queue for 7 hours on Saturday, 6th July, has sparked discussion about the practicality of queuing. Many believe that expecting fans to wait this long is unreasonable, especially considering health concerns and the challenges of camping out overnight.

• Buzz on social media: Tennis fans are letting their thoughts known on X:

• Fan frustration: The discontent began with Djokovic’s initial draw, which some fans deemed relatively easy. The withdrawal of Hurkacz, a potential quarter-final matchup, has only intensified the debate.

• Match-ending injury: During a fourth set tiebreak against Arthur Fils in the 2nd round at Wimbledon, Hurkacz landed heavily on his knee after a flying volley. Despite taking a medical timeout and attempting to continue, Hurkacz struggled and was soon forced to retire.

• The implications: With Hurkacz out, Djokovic’s path to the final seems less challenging. He will face Alexei Popyrin in the 3rd round, and Holger Rune in the 4th, who hasn’t exactly been in stellar form. Djokovic’s main threats, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, are both placed in the opposite half of the draw.

Tennis fans are letting their thoughts known on Twitter: