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Djokovic Cuts Ties With Players’ Group He Co-Founded Due to Concerns Over Transparency, Governance
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Novak Djokovic has cut ties with the Professional Tennis Players Association, the players’ union he co-founded, saying “it has become clear that my values and approach are no longer aligned with the current direction of the organization.”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion launched the breakaway organization alongside Canadian player Vasek Pospisil in 2021.
The PTPA last March launched legal action against the women’s and men’s tours, the International Tennis Federation and the sport’s integrity agency, accusing the organizations of “systemic abuse, anti-competitive practices, and a blatant disregard for player welfare.”
Djokovic said he “will continue to focus on my tennis, my family, and contributing to the sport in ways that reflect my principles and integrity.
“I wish the players and those involved the best as they move forward, but for me, this chapter is now closed.”
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Martina Navratilova expresses support for criminal sanctions to US companies that take oil from Venezuela
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Venezuelan oil a key resource amid transition of power
Former U.S. Army Capt. Doug Truax and former U.S. Navy Capt. Brent Sadler join ‘Fox News Live’ to discuss strike on Venezuela and the capture of Nicolas Maduro, breaking down details of the raid on Maduro’s compound and more.
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Women’s tennis legend Martina Navratilova took to social media on Saturday to share her thoughts on the U.S. intervention in Venezuela, supporting the idea of criminal sanctions on American companies that try to take oil from the country.
Navratilova praised a post on X suggesting the sanctions, writing “love it” in response to journalist Lauren Windsor’s post that read, “Any American oil company that expropriates oil from Venezuela should be sanctioned by the International Criminal Court.”
Navratilova later shared further thoughts about the operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with President Donald Trump saying that the U.S. will “run” Venezuela until a transition of power is complete.
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“Holding a country hostage while pillaging its natural resources. Next stop- either Greenland or Nigeria,” Navratilova wrote in response to a thread that included a report about Wall Street firm officials in the finance, energy and defense sectors visiting Venezuela after the recent strikes.
Roughly twice the size of California, Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves. At an estimated 300 billion barrels, about 20% of the global total and nearly four times U.S. reserves, that endowment dwarfs that of any other nation.
Venezuela’s stockpile, now larger than those of energy titans like Saudi Arabia, has become a central flashpoint in the geopolitical struggle surrounding the country’s future.
‘WE BUILT VENEZUELA’S OIL INDUSTRY:’ TRUMP VOWS US ENERGY RETURN AFTER MADURO CAPTURE
Venezuela’s reserves are dominated by heavy and extra-heavy crude that requires specialized equipment, constant maintenance and advanced refining capacity, much of which has deteriorated after years of underinvestment and skilled labor losses.
During his address on Saturday, Trump accused Venezuela’s socialist government of seizing American energy assets and dismantling an industry built with U.S. investment.
“Venezuela unilaterally seized and sold American oil, American assets and American platforms, costing us billions and billions of dollars,” Trump said. “They took all of our property.”
“We built Venezuela’s oil industry with American talent, drive and skill, and the socialist regime stole it from us,” he added.
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Trump added that U.S. energy companies would play a key role in rebuilding the Latin American country’s oil sector.
“We are going to have our very large United States oil companies go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken oil infrastructure and start making money for the country,” he said.
Fox News Digital’s Amanda Macias contributed to this report.
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Venus Williams Is Back at the Australian Open 5 Years After Her Last Appearance, 28 After Her 1st
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MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams has received a wild-card entry for the Australian Open beginning Jan. 18 in Melbourne.
The tournament said Friday that the 45-year-old Williams would make a return to Melbourne Park 28 years after her first appearance. In 1998, she defeated her younger sister Serena in the second round before losing in the quarterfinals to fellow American Lindsay Davenport.
Venus had announced in November that she would play in Auckland, New Zealand, where she also received a wild card, two weeks before the Australian Open. The Australian Open said Williams was also entered to play a tournament in Hobart, Australia a week later and just before play begins at Melbourne Park.
She last appeared in Melbourne in 2021 and has finished runner-up in the women’s singles twice, losing to Serena in the finals in 2003 and 2017.
“I’m excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the Australian summer,” Williams said. “I’ve had so many incredible memories there, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career.”
Williams’ record at Melbourne Park is 54 wins and 21 losses. This year will be the 22nd time she has appeared in the main draw.
The tournament said Williams is set to become the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open main draw, surpassing the record previously held by Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she lost in the first round at Melbourne Park in 2015.
In late December, Williams married Danish-born model and actor Andrea Preti at Palm Beach, Florida.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Zanetti: Serving Inter and my mission to help the next generation
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Javier Zanetti lived out his dreams as a player, lifting 16 trophies in an Inter Milan career that spanned a record 858 appearances, winning 145 caps for Argentina, and earning a reputation as one of the best defensive players of his generation.
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Venus Williams weds Andrea Preti as part of 5-day celebration of their union
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FILE – Andrea Preti, left, and Venus Williams attend the CFDA Fashion Awards, hosted by The Council of Fashion Designers of America, at The American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
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Carlos Alcaraz Ends 7-Year Partnership With Coach Juan Carlos Ferrero
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Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz is parting ways with his longtime coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, the man who guided him to the pinnacle of men’s tennis during a fruitful seven-year partnership.
Alcaraz announced the decision to end their collaboration on Wednesday in a message on his social networks.
With Ferrero, who coached the Spaniard since he was 15 years old, Alcaraz has claimed six Grand Slam titles: two French Open titles, two Wimbledon crowns and two US Opens.
“After more than seven years together, Juanki and I have decided to bring our chapter together as coach and player to an end,” the 22-year-old Alcaraz wrote. “Thank you for turning childhood dreams into reality. We started this journey when I was barely a kid, and throughout all this time you’ve accompanied me on an incredible journey, on and off the court. I’ve enjoyed every single step with you immensely.”
With Ferrero, Alcaraz became the youngest player to reach No. 1 in the ATP rankings after winning the U.S. Open in 2022 at 19.
“Today is a difficult day,” Ferrero said. “One of those when it’s hard to find the right words. Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when there are so many shared experiences behind it. We have worked hard, grown together, and shared unforgettable moments. I want to thank you for the time, the trust, the learning, and above all, for the people who have surrounded me throughout this journey.”
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Aryna Sabalenka is the WTA Player of the Year again. Amanda Anisimova earns Comeback Player honors
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Aryna Sabalenka won her second consecutive WTA Tour Player of the Year award on Monday, getting nearly 80% of the vote from a media panel after winning the U.S. Open, reaching the finals of two other Grand Slam tournaments and closing the season at No. 1 in the rankings.
Sabalenka joined Serena Williams and Iga Swiatek as back-to-back winners of the honor over the past 25 years.
Sabalenka, a 27-year-old from Belarus, led women’s tennis in match victories (going 63-12), titles (four) and finals reached (nine) in 2025 and set a tour record by earning $15 million in prize money. She spent the entire year at No. 1.
At the majors, Sabalenka was the runner-up to Madison Keys at the Australian Open in January and to Coco Gauff at the French Open in June, made it to the semifinals at Wimbledon in July before losing to Amanda Anisimova and collected her fourth career Grand Slam singles trophy with a successful title defense at the U.S. Open in September, defeating Anisimova in the final.
Anisimova was selected as Most Improved Player after making it to her first two Grand Slam finals at the All England Club — where she was the runner-up to Swiatek — and Flushing Meadows. She reached three other finals, including claiming WTA 1000 titles in Doha and Beijing.
The 24-year-old from the United States ended 2024 at No. 36 in the rankings and, after making her top-10 debut, rose all the way to No. 4 at the end of this season. Anisimova also was nominated as Player of the Year.
This season capped quite a climb for Anisimova, who took time off in 2023, saying she had been “ struggling with my mental health ” for nearly a year.
Other award recipients Monday included Vicky Mboko as Newcomer of the Year, Belinda Bencic as Comeback Player of the Year, and Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend as Doubles Team of the Year.
Mboko, a 19-year-old from Canada, lifted her ranking from outside the top 300 to inside the top 20 with a season that included a WTA 1000 trophy in Montreal by beating four Grand Slam singles champions.
Bencic was away from the tour for more than a year while having her first child, then won two titles in 2025 and reached the semifinals at Wimbledon for the first time — her first appearance in the final four of a major since 2019.
Siniakova and Townsend won the Australian Open and were the runners-up at the U.S. Open.
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Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich. More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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Hearts sweep aside Falkirk to move six points clear
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Claudio Braga and Stephen Kingsley were on target as resurgent Hearts won 2-0 away to misfiring Falkirk to move six points clear at the top of the William Hill Premiership.
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LI pickleball developer launches app for racquet sports reservations | Long Island Business News
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THE BLUEPRINT:
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New AI-powered CourtsApp simplifies booking for racquet and paddle sports players.
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More than 1,500 courts across 150+ facilities are already on the platform.
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Expansion planned from Maine to Florida by early 2026, with more markets to follow.
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App helps facilities gain exposure while offering players real-time court access.
With the exploding popularity of the racquet sports industry, Long Island developer and pickleball enthusiast Daren Hornig saw a need for players to reserve court time more easily.
To help serve the growing demand, Hornig partnered with creative executive Kate Daggett to launch CourtsApp, an AI-powered marketing and booking platform built to modernize court promotion and reservations.
The app is designed to give players a tool to reserve a court in any racquet and paddle sport. In addition, CourtsApp is also aimed at giving racquet sports facilities more exposure and expand their reach. The platform provides its software to the facilities for free and makes a commission on the courts it books.
Courtesy of Sportime Currently live to players with more than 1,500 courts across over 150 facilities already signed on throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, CourtsApp plans to expand from Maine to Florida by the first quarter of 2026 before expanding market-by-market as club density increases, according to a company statement. Additional markets, including Southern California, Texas, and the Pacific Northwest, are expected to come online throughout 2026.
“CourtsApp was born from pure frustration,” Hornig, CEO of CourtsApp and an avid tennis and pickleball player, said in the statement. “For years, me and my friends struggled to find open courts in real time and near where I wanted to play. We wanted a simple, reliable solution that matched how people already book restaurants, travel, or fitness. Now, with CourtsApp, they finally have one.”
Pickleball has been consistently named the fastest-growing sport in the nation with an estimated 22.7 million players, an increase of more than 45 percent over the previous year. There are now more than 68,000 dedicated pickleball courts in the U.S., according to the company. In addition, the United States Tennis Association reported that 25.7 million Americans played tennis in 2024, an all-time high and 1.9 million more than 2023.
“Racquet sports are booming, but the technology that supports them has not kept up,” Daggett said. “Players expect the same ease they get everywhere else, and clubs need tools that help them grow. CourtsApp brings both sides together in a modern, intuitive experience that gets more people on the court, more often.”
Besides being an avid pickleball player, Hornig’s Great Neck-based real estate and development firm Hornig Capital Partners, has developed several of the sport’s newer facilities.
The company worked with Sportime on the $8 million renovation of its 200,000-square-foot Sportime John McEnroe Tennis Academy in Port Washington, expanding it to house 13 tennis courts and 12 pickleball courts.
The developer also worked on Sportime Pickleball facilities in Westbury, Armonk, Englewood, N.J. and Wayne, N.J.
Hornig, who calls CourtsApp the “OpenTable for courts and the Expedia of racquet sports,” says that beyond convenience, the app connects people,
helping friends meet to play, helping communities stay active, and making racquet sports more accessible to everyone.
“It is also a critical marketing tool for facility owners,” he said. “Most operators lack the funds and expertise to market effectively in today’s complex digital environment, and CourtsApp does this for them and more. Our goal is to get players on the courts and help clubs keep their courts full. It’s really a win-win scenario for all.”
The free app is available to download from the Apple App Store for iOS and the Google Play Store for Android. More information for players and facility operators can be found at courtsapp.com.
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Martina Navratilova spars after being questioned for opposing males in women’s spaces while supporting Dems
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Women’s tennis legend Martina Navratilova got into a brief social media spat with a low-profile user on X after he called out Navratilova for supporting Democrats while also being vocally opposed to letting biological male transgender people access women’s spaces.
Navratilova responded to a news report on a spa being forced to let a male access the women’s locker room as a result of a discrimination lawsuit.
“To say this is wrong is an understatement,” Navratilova wrote in response.
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Tennis legend Martina Navratilova during the trophy presentations, which she presented along with Chris Evert after the Women’s Singles Final on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the 2024 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on June 8th, 2024, in Paris, France. (Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Comedian Lou Perez responded to the tennis great, pointing out that Navratilova is a staunch supporter of Democrats and critic of President Donald Trump and other Republicans.
“You voted for this,” Perez wrote.
Navratilova responded, writing, “I voted against totalitarianism- nice try.”
Perez then responded with a screenshot of Navratilova’s own X bio, which reads, “voting blue despite the Dems stance on women’s sex based spaces.”
HIGH-RANKING DEMOCRATS ADMIT TO KNOWINGLY ABANDONING WOMEN
Former Tennis player Martina Navratilova reacts prior to the Men’s Singles Final match between Holger Rune of Denmark and Daniil Medvedev on Day Fourteen of the Internazionali BNL D’Italia 2023 at Foro Italico on May 21, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Navratilova confessed, “I agree with the Dems on just about every single issue but one- while I strongly disagree with Trump and his sycophants on every single issue but one. Ok?!?”
Perez then invited the tennis legend to his upcoming comedy show, to which Navratilova has not responded at the time of publication.
Navratilova has been a polarizing figure on social media for her conflicted support for liberals and opposition of Trump, as she regularly slams Democrats for allowing biological males in women’s sports.
Last December, she said she was “mad” that Republicans have tackled the nationwide controversy of trans athletes in women’s sports, instead of the Democrats.
“And I am so mad that the Republicans captured this issue – shame on all the elected Democrats who keep silent on this!!! #whataboutthewomen,” she wrote on X.
The tennis legend appeared at the Independent Women’s Forum’s “Take Back Title IX” rally in June to address the issue.
AOC RIPPED BY WOMEN’S SPORTS ACTIVISTS IN RESPONSE TO ‘TRANSGENDER AWARENESS WEEK’ POST
Martina Navratilova during a join press conference with Chris Evert of the USA, on Day 5 of the GNP Seguros WTA Finals Cancun 2023 part of the Hologic WTA Tour, on November 2, 2023, in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“Initially, being the Democrats and the women that we are for the most part, we in this group were trying to find every single possible way to include trans-identified men, males who identify as women, into women’s sports,” she said. “And the more we try to find a way to mitigate the advantage, to handicap, to somehow to include, the more we figured out it’s not possible. It’s not possible to do it in a fair way and here we are in a much different position.
“As I got deeper into the issue, I also saw the connection between women’s sex-based spaces and women’s sports – they are totally interconnected, and I’m sure the swimmers at Penn could tell you all about that. You heard about Lia Thomas, right?
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“Now, it’s, ‘Oh, you’re a homophobe.’ Go figure. I’ve been out since ’81, yeah, I’m a homophobe,” she said, rolling her eyes. “‘You’re a bigot, you’re a transphobe, you’re a Nazi, you’re a fascist, you’re a communist,’ everything and everything in between. And this is coming from the left. I am the left! My people are turning on me. They’re turning on us, women, who speak up for women’s sex-based rights.”
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Roger Federer elected to International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1st year of eligibility
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Well, this will come as no surprise to anyone who’s paid any attention over the past quarter-century: Roger Federer was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, the Rhode Island-based Hall announced Wednesday.
The first man to win 20 Grand Slam singles titles, and part of an era of unprecedented greatness with rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic — during what Federer termed “a golden time for tennis” — he was the only candidate to receive enough support in the player category for the Hall’s class of 2026. The Hall does not reveal voting results.
TV announcer and journalist Mary Carillo, who also was a player, was elected in the contributor category. The induction ceremony is in August.
“I’ve always valued the history of tennis and the example set by those who came before me,” Federer said. “To be recognized in this way by the sport and by my peers is deeply humbling.”
He is one of eight men with a career Grand Slam, collecting eight championships at Wimbledon, six at the Australian Open, five at the U.S. Open and one at the French Open.
“I didn’t predict I was going to have this many majors,” Federer once said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I was hoping to maybe have one, to be quite honest, at the very beginning of my career.”
Federer’s first Slam title came at the All England Club in 2003, and he broke Pete Sampras’ then-record for a male of 14 major titles by winning Wimbledon in 2009, defeating Andy Roddick 16-14 in the fifth set of the final. Federer claimed his 20th at the 2018 Australian Open.
“I don’t really feel like I’m playing for the records,” Federer once told the AP. “I play this game because I love it.”
His Grand Slam count eventually was surpassed by Nadal, who got to 22 before retiring last year at age 38, and Djokovic, who has 24 and is still active at 38.
With a terrific forehand and serve, an attacking, all-court style and footwork that made everything seem so effortless, Federer won 103 tournaments and 1,251 matches in singles, totals eclipsed in the men’s game only by Jimmy Connors in the Open era, which began in 1968.
Federer finished five years at No. 1 in the ATP rankings, spent a record 237 consecutive weeks and a total of 310 in the top spot, led Switzerland to the 2014 Davis Cup title and teamed with Stan Wawrinka for a doubles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics.
An ambassador for the game who often answered questions in English, French and Swiss German at news conferences, Federer played his last match at Wimbledon in 2021. He was a month shy of 40 at the time.
His retirement announcement came the following year; he bid farewell by playing doubles alongside Nadal at the Laver Cup, an event Federer’s management company founded.
Along the way, Federer established himself as a model for younger athletes such as Carlos Alcaraz, 22, the current No. 1 who owns six Slam trophies.
“The elegance he has shown on court, off the court — how he treated people, everyone; a really humble guy — everything he does, he does with elegance,” Alcaraz said. “I appreciate that. He took the game to another level … that’s what I admire the most.”
At the height of his powers, Federer reached a record 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals from 2005-07, winning eight. That dominance extended to appearing in 18 of 19 Slam finals; he also put together streaks of 23 semifinals and 36 quarterfinals at majors.
Djokovic has called those “results that didn’t seem human.”
According to the Hall, Carillo was the first woman to regularly commentate on tennis broadcasts and was a correspondent for HBO’s “Real Sports.” She won six Emmy Awards and three Peabody Awards and was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2018.
“I’ve been privileged to spend my career sharing the stories of this magnificent game,” Carillo said, “and if I’ve opened any doors along the way, it will make this day in August even more meaningful.”
Next year’s ballot will include holdovers Juan Martin del Potro and Svetlana Kuznetsova in the player category, while Serena Williams and Ash Barty, who both played their last matches in 2022, will be eligible for the Hall for the first time.
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Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich. More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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Roger Federer Elected to International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1st Year of Eligibility
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Well, this will come as no surprise to anyone who’s paid any attention over the past quarter-century: Roger Federer was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, the Rhode Island-based Hall announced Wednesday.
The first man to win 20 Grand Slam singles titles, and part of an era of unprecedented greatness with rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic — during what Federer termed “a golden time for tennis” — he was the only candidate to receive enough support in the player category for the Hall’s class of 2026. The Hall does not reveal voting results.
TV announcer and journalist Mary Carillo, who also was a player, was elected in the contributor category. The induction ceremony is in August.
“I’ve always valued the history of tennis and the example set by those who came before me,” Federer said. “To be recognized in this way by the sport and by my peers is deeply humbling.”
He is one of eight men with a career Grand Slam, collecting eight championships at Wimbledon, six at the Australian Open, five at the U.S. Open and one at the French Open.
“I didn’t predict I was going to have this many majors,” Federer once said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I was hoping to maybe have one, to be quite honest, at the very beginning of my career.”
Federer’s first Slam title came at the All England Club in 2003, and he broke Pete Sampras’ then-record for a male of 14 major titles by winning Wimbledon in 2009, defeating Andy Roddick 16-14 in the fifth set of the final. Federer claimed his 20th at the 2018 Australian Open.
“I don’t really feel like I’m playing for the records,” Federer once told the AP. “I play this game because I love it.”
With a terrific forehand and serve, an attacking, all-court style and footwork that made everything seem so effortless, Federer won 103 tournaments and 1,251 matches in singles, totals eclipsed in the men’s game only by Jimmy Connors in the Open era, which began in 1968.
Federer finished five years at No. 1 in the ATP rankings, spent a record 237 consecutive weeks and a total of 310 in the top spot, led Switzerland to the 2014 Davis Cup title and teamed with Stan Wawrinka for a doubles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics.
Along the way, Federer established himself as a model for younger athletes such as Carlos Alcaraz, 22, the current No. 1 who owns six Slam trophies.
“The elegance he has shown on court, off the court — how he treated people, everyone; a really humble guy — everything he does, he does with elegance,” Alcaraz said. “I appreciate that. He took the game to another level … that’s what I admire the most.”
At the height of his powers, Federer reached a record 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals from 2005-07, winning eight. That dominance extended to appearing in 18 of 19 Slam finals; he also put together streaks of 23 semifinals and 36 quarterfinals at majors.
Djokovic has called those “results that didn’t seem human.”
According to the Hall, Carillo was the first woman to regularly commentate on tennis broadcasts and was a correspondent for HBO’s “Real Sports.” She won six Emmy Awards and three Peabody Awards and was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2018.
“I’ve been privileged to spend my career sharing the stories of this magnificent game,” Carillo said, “and if I’ve opened any doors along the way, it will make this day in August even more meaningful.”
Next year’s ballot will include holdovers Juan Martin del Potro and Svetlana Kuznetsova in the player category, while Serena Williams and Ash Barty, who both played their last matches in 2022, will be eligible for the Hall for the first time.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Texas investigating USTA for possible violation of law banning biological males in women’s sports
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into the U.S. Tennis Association Texas League for a possible violation of state law that prohibits biological males from competing in women’s sports.
The probe comes as Republicans nationwide push to restrict transgender participation in female athletics, arguing it’s necessary to preserve fairness and safety in competition.
“We will defeat the radical left, which is obsessed with crushing the dreams of so many girls by allowing men to compete against women in sports,” Paxton said in a statement.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a probe into the U.S. Tennis Association Texas League for a potential violation of a state law against transgender inclusion in women’s sports. (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)
Paxton’s office issued a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) to the USTA Texas League, seeking documents and policies related to transgender athlete participation. The attorney general’s office says it wants to determine whether the organization’s practices violate the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act or other consumer protection laws.
“If USTA is allowing biological males in women’s matches and misleading players about who they are competing against, my office will take all necessary action within our power to defend Texas women and girls,” he continued.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) to the UTSA Texas league to determine if it violated the state law. (Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
According to Paxton’s office, the CID requests details on how players are informed about “delusional men competing under the guise of calling themselves ‘transgender’ competitors.”
The USTA has sued Paxton’s office, challenging the CID and its underlying claims.
The attorney general will review whether the league’s practices violate Texas’ Deceptive Trade Practices Act or other consumer protection laws. (Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Earlier this year, Paxton sued the NCAA over its transgender eligibility policy, which allowed biological males to practice with women’s teams but not compete. He accused the association of failing to fully comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order banning biological men from competing in women’s sports.
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Paxton’s aggressive legal campaign against transgender inclusion in women’s athletics has also targeted U.S. Masters Swimming and local school boards, part of a broader Republican effort to tighten enforcement of Texas’ gender-based athletic laws.
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Alcaraz withdraws from Davis Cup Finals because of hamstring injury
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MADRID — Carlos Alcaraz will go another year without fulfilling his dream of winning the Davis Cup for Spain.
The top-ranked Alcaraz said he’s heartbroken to withdraw from the Davis Cup Finals in Italy because of a hamstring injury on Tuesday.
The decision was recommended by doctors, he said.
“I’m so sorry to announce that I won’t be able to play for Spain in the Davis Cup in Bologna,” Alcaraz said on X. “I have an edema in my right hamstring and the medical recommendation is not to compete.”
He was hurt during last week’s ATP Finals and was diagnosed with muscle overload and swelling of his right hamstring.
Alcaraz said he was returning home with a “heavy heart.”
“I’ve always said that playing for Spain is the greatest thing there is, and I was really looking forward to helping us fight for the Davis Cup.”
Alcaraz made his Davis Cup debut in 2022 and has a 6-2 overall record, 5-1 in singles. Spain’s last triumph was in 2019.
He also didn’t play in the 2023 Davis Cup because of fitness issues. Last year, Alcaraz and Spain were eliminated in the opening round of the Final 8 at home in Malaga, spoiling the final match of Rafael Nadal’s storied career.
The 22-year-old Alcaraz has said he wants “to win the Davis Cup one day … because for me, it’s a really important, important tournament.”
He was set to lead Spain in Bologna on Thursday against the No. 4-seeded Czech Republic in the quarterfinals. The Czechs include top-20 players Jiri Lehecka and Jakub Mensik. They eliminated the United States in the qualifying round in September.
On Sunday, Alcaraz had already secured the year-end No. 1 ranking before losing to Jannik Sinner 7-6 (4), 7-5 in the ATP Finals. He also finished No. 1 in 2022, the youngest ever at 19.
This year he won the French Open and U.S. Open and has six grand slam titles.
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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From Andre Agassi to Aryna Sabalenka: tennis stars taking on the world of pickleball
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To many’s dismay, over the past few years tennis courts across the US, and the world, have been rapidly taken over by the pickleball court, a sport that you probably hadn’t heard of until a few years ago. Despite its invention in 1965, it wasn’t until the late 2010s when its popularity skyrocketed; and was subsequently named the fastest growing sport by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association from 2021 to 2024.
The sport is much easier to learn than tennis and relatively inexpensive, making it the perfect hobby for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to compete against each other in a fun yet competitive way. Pickleball has also grabbed the attention of many former tennis players who have aided in bringing the professional side of pickleball into the public eye, see some of them below.
Andre Agassi
This list has to begin with Andre, an 8-time Grand Slam winner, who completed the coveted achievement where a player must win all four majors, something only 13 other tennis players have done. He also won the Olympic gold medal in 1996. Andre participated in the first live airing of pickleball on ESPN in 2023 and in April 2025 he made his professional debut at the US Open Pickleball Championships, where he won alongside Anna Leigh Waters.
Eugenie Bouchard
© Getty ImagesEugenie Bouchard plays in a doubles match with John Isner Eugenie saw much success as a junior tennis player, winning her first professional title when she was 16, and she also achieved a career-high ranking of world no. 5 in 2014. In 2023, she was reportedly offered $1.5 million from the PPA (Professional Pickleball Association) to join the professional pickleball circuit, where she is currently considered one of the biggest pickleball stars.
John McEnroe
© Getty ImagesJohn McEnroe at Pickleball Slam 2 at Hard Rock Live John is another former world no. 1 tennis player and seven-time Grand Slam winner to make the shift to pickleball in recent years. John debuted in 1978 and officially retired from tennis in 1992. He pursued many passions after his retirement, having had a brief music career, working as a sports commentator, before joining Andre’s in ESPN’s first live airing of pickleball in 2023.
James Blake
© Getty ImagesJames Blake plays Pickleball James, a former world no. 4 tennis player, was an early investor in professional pickleball. He invested in Major League Pickleball (MLP) in 2021 and co-owns the MLP team the Milwaukee Mashers, making him one of the first tennis stars to make the move.
Aryna Sabalenka
© Getty ImagesAryna Sabalenka at the Hilton Rooftop Pickleball Event Currently world no. 1 in singles, Aryna hasn’t missed out on the fun of pickleball. In January 2025, Aryna played a casual game in the Hilton Rooftop Pickleball event in Melbourne, Australia, cementing pickleball’s relevance in the world of professional tennis.
Pickleball has proven itself to be an ideal sport for retired tennis players; so, who will be next? It probably won’t be Andy Murray, who retired in 2024, and who previously stated that he’s “not a fan.” Despite Andy not approving, it doesn’t look like pickleball’s growth will slow down anytime soon, and the sport that combines the best parts of tennis, ping pong and badminton will likely be around for many more decades to come.
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Coco Gauff revives her chances of advancing at WTA Finals by eliminating Jasmine Paolini
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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Defending champion Coco Gauff revived her chances of advancing at the WTA Finals with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Jasmine Paolini on Tuesday.
Gauff also improved her serving, hitting only three double-faults — far fewer than the 17 that she produced in her opening match, a three-set loss to Jessica Pegula.
“Definitely a turnaround from my first match,” Gauff said. “It’s the beauty of this tournament and to have another chance to prove yourself.”
Gauff next faces top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka to determine if she advances in the season-ending event for the top eight players, while Paolini was eliminated from contention with two losses.
Sabalenka leads the group after beating Pegula 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
Paolini is also playing doubles at the event with partner Sara Errani.
“I don’t think Jasmine was 100% today,” Gauff said. “Playing singles and doubles is not easy.”
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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