Welcome to Monday’s Tennis Briefing, where The Athletic presents the hidden stories behind the notable events of the past week on court.
This week, the 2025 tennis season began with Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios, who reignited the subject of doping. Furthermore, Naomi Osaka spoke about sustainability over quality, and Belinda Bencic, back, received a reality check, for the better.
How can tennis reconcile the freedom of expression of athletes with the information of fans?
For many fans, the best and most famous tennis players are authority figures more influential than the governing bodies and agencies that make and enforce the rules. When players like Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios speak out about doping cases, many listen, even if their comments don’t always reflect the reality of a given situation.
Djokovic and Kyrgios, who won their first doubles match at the Brisbane International in Australia on Monday, discussed the doping cases involving Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek before the tournament. At a press conference, Djokovic said players had been “kept in the dark” regarding Sinner’s case and questioned why “the ATP hasn’t really looked into the matter”.
Kyrgios also commented at the conference, saying regarding Sinner’s case: “Why did they wait five to six months to act?”
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Jannik Sinner doping case explained: What are the implications of WADA’s appeal and what’s at stake for tennis
In Sinner’s case, three courts — one for each positive clostebol test, and one concluding the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) investigation into them — determined that he had “no fault or negligence”. The ATP, which manages the men’s tennis circuit, has no jurisdiction over doping. In the cases of Sinner and Swiatek, the players appealed their mandatory provisional suspensions following positive tests within ten days. According to ITIA protocol, this means their cases are not disclosed until investigations are completed.
This has been a recurring theme throughout both cases with many players and fans. Overall, this shows how tennis authorities need to do a better job of explaining and promoting how they protect the integrity of the sport. If there is so much skepticism regarding the correct application of the procedures, it is pertinent to ask whether these procedures need to be revised.
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Iga Swiatek’s doping suspension explained, why it was kept secret and what it means for tennis
How does Naomi Osaka see her tennis future?
Of the 10 oldest Grand Slam winners in the Open era, seven have achieved the feat since 2017, and one player, Ken Rosewall, is responsible for the other three. The longevity of Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic has created new expectations about career length and the desirability of continuing to play, but one recent major winner doesn’t seem to want to “make up the numbers” .
“At this point in my life, if I’m not above a certain ranking, I don’t see myself continuing to play,” Naomi Osaka said at a press conference ahead of the Auckland Classic in New Zealand. Osaka, who holds four Grand Slam titles, has not won a major since 2021.
“I would rather spend time with my daughter than not be where I think I should be and where I feel like I could be.”
Naomi Osaka was at the top of tennis not too long ago. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
The 27-year-old Osaka returned to 2024 after giving birth to her daughter, Shai, and climbed 776 places in the rankings, from 833rd to the current 57th position. This ranking corresponds neither to where she thinks she should be, nor to what she thinks she can achieve. She wants a seed at the Grand Slam and the deep runs that should result from it; a change of mindset exemplified during last year’s summer season, marked by his transition from jokes about disappointing results to a change of coach, replacing Wim Fissette with Patrick Mouratoglou.
Longevity is the goal — but only at high levels.
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Naomi Osaka and the weight of a superstar at the US Open
A reality check for Belinda Bencic, positive and negative?
Another returning player hoping to get back to her best is 2020 Olympic singles gold medalist Belinda Bencic, who recently had her first child. Aged 27, Bencic reached the final of her first WTA tournament back, a 125-level event in France. She first triumphed over world number 123 Chloe Paquet with a score of 6-3, 6-1 at the United Cup, but then suffered a harsh reality against Jasmine Paolini, the most improved player of 2024. Paolini eliminated Switzerland with a score of 6-1, 6-1.
Bencic, who had reached the top 10 as a teenager before a wrist injury and surgery forced him to make his first comeback — culminating in that gold medal in Tokyo — wants, just like Osaka, rediscover the heights of tennis. A heavy loss at this stage is certainly difficult, but it also reminds her of where she needs to be to achieve her goals.
Shot of the week
It’s impossible not to appreciate a shot passed around the net…
Recommended reading:
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????Sydney and Perth, Australia: United Cup with Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, Alexander Zverev, Hubert Hurkacz
????Brisbane, Australia: Brisbane International (250) with Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios, Grigor Dimitrov, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
????Hong Kong, Chine : Hong Kong Open (250) with Andrey Rublev, Arthur Son, Shang Juncheng, Denis Shapovalov
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????Sydney and Perth, Australia: United Cup avec Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Karolina Muchova
????Brisbane, Australia: Brisbane International (500) with Aryna Sabalenka, Emma Navarro, Mirra Andreeva, Paula Badosa
????Auckland, New Zealand: ASB Classic (250) avec Madison Keys, Naomi Osaka, Emma Raducanu, Amanda Anisimova
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Let us know what you noticed this week in the comments below, as the men’s and women’s tours continue.
(Photo : Getty Images; design : Eamonn Dalton)
