WASHINGTON, December 9, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)
With the Australian Open entry lists revealed on Friday, of particular interest is the return of former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios. The mercurial Aussie will be making his first Grand Slam tournament appearance in more than two years.
According to tournament organizers, Kyrgios is entered using a protected ranking – No. 21 – after having been mostly sidelined with knee and wrist injuries since he reached the 2022 US Open quarterfinals. He is one of 10 Australian men entered in the first Grand Slam of the 2025 season.
Fresh takes from @NickKyrgios
See the changes he thinks could shake up tennis https://t.co/yDgmYFq7rj
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) November 22, 2024
During his downtime from pro tennis, Kyrgios has stayed close to the sport by being a pundit for both ESPN and Tennis Channel in the United States and the BBC in Great Britain.
Kyrgios recently announced he will make his return to the ATP Tour at the Brisbane International beginning Dec. 29 after playing only one ATP Tour match in more than two years, at Stuttgart on grass in June 2023.
Sinner’s most incredible year filled with tough times, too
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner revealed in a recent Esquire Australia interview that there was a period of time this year where he struggled to get close to people. “The people who knew me and watched me play knew there was something wrong with me,” he said.
Jannik Sinner for Esquire Australia. pic.twitter.com/vIgeV7IT3m
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) December 3, 2024
What Sinner was unable to talk about was an on-going doping investigation involving the 23-year-old Italian, which the International Tennis Integrity Agency later cleared him of any wrongdoing.
“It was a tough time,” Sinner admitted. “I couldn’t talk to anyone about it. I couldn’t vent or get help. All the people who knew me and watched me play understood that there was something wrong with me. I had sleepless nights, because even if you are certain of your innocence, you know that these things are complex. Everyone immediately told the truth and that allowed me to play. But at Wimbledon, I was white. And even afterwards, my feeling with people was fearful. I went into training at the Cincinnati clubhouse and thought, ‘How are they looking at me?’ I realized who my real friends are.”
Read the entire Jannik Sinner Esquire interview.
Zverev finishes at the top of the aces leaderboard
World No. 2 Alexander Zverev of Germany fired 797 service aces across 90 matches to lead the ATP Tour in aces this season, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
2️⃣ Masters 1000 titles
1️⃣ Grand Slam Final
Year-end No. 2️⃣Hats off to Alexander Zverev for an incredible 2024 season. Read https://t.co/FRdLr6D2BC‘s ATP Player of the Year Countdown:https://t.co/NzkKpqznxY
— TENNIS (@Tennis) December 3, 2024
Zverev’s previous high in one season was 749, which he hit in 2021. This is the first time he’s finished in first place. Last year’s leader, Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, struck 736 across 58 matches, which was second-best behind Zverev. Taylor Fritz of the United States was third with 725 aces in 74 matches.
A total of four players – Zverev, Hurkacz, Fritz and Ben Shelton of the United States (with 619 aces in 67 matches) – eclipsed 600 aces for the 2024 season.
Out and about at F1 Abu Dhabi
On Sunday, World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy was in Abu Dhabi for the Formula 1 season finale. He got to wave the checkered flag at the end of the race, too.
Hey Jannik!
World No. 1 ranked tennis star @janniksin joins us for the season finale in Abu Dhabi! #F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/HJtAfSQcn3
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 8, 2024
France’s Caroline Garcia was also on hand in the Abu Dhabi, her first F1 experience.
My first F1 experience!
Thank you @ROLEX for having us this weekend. An amazing experience pic.twitter.com/ETGABkaI7P
— Caroline Garcia (@CaroGarcia) December 8, 2024
By the numbers
With the start of Australian Open just five weeks away, it’s worth noting that every player in both the ATP and WTA Top 50 singles have entered the first Grand Slam of 2025.
Australian Open men’s entry list.
Australian Open women’s entry list.
“Quotable …”
“The results you see now are not sudden. They are the fruits of the hard work we have done over the past two years. I am the son of a chef, and I know that you don’t start cooking a good dish in a few minutes. You study, understand, try and try again, then the final dish will be good.”
– Jannik Sinner of Italy, from Esquire Australia interview, on his rise to the World No. 1 ranking.
