With multiple showings at the business end of majors, Ben Shelton can move forward knowing his best is still to come.
FEATURES
12
TEENS
Jakub Mensik and Mirra Andreeva are among young stars changing the landscape on tour.
30
COUNTING THE BLESSINGS
With heady highs and dispiriting lows shaping his tennis journey, Matteo Berrettini is now deeply grateful for his time on tour.
41
SEMINAL MOMENTS
Turning points come in many forms as star players transform their careers through dedication, strategy and determination.
18 GREEN AND GOLDEN
The foundation for Kimberly Birrell’s rise to new career heights are built on the strength of her bonds with Australian idols and contemporaries.
MANAGING
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Dan Imhoff DESIGN
Australian Tennis Magazine is published by TENNIS AUSTRALIA LTD, Private Bag 6060, Richmond, Vic 3121. Email: editor@tennismag.com.au
Distributed by Ovato
Printed in Australia by Ive
The views expressed in Australian Tennis Magazine necessarily those held by Tennis Australia. While the utmost care is taken in compiling the information contained in this publication, Tennis Australia is not responsible for any loss or injury occurring as a result of any omissions in either the editorial or advertising appearing herein.
47 SIMONA SAYS GOODBYE
Former world No.1 and two-time major champion Simona Halep has called time on her glittering career.
50 ROD LAVER ARENA TURNS 25
Twenty-fi ve years since the AO centre court was named after Rod Laver, we look back on some unforgettable moments.
62 THE SIT-DOWN: COREY GAUFF
Corey Gauff shares some experiences of guiding daughter Coco in her star rise.
67 REMEMBERING FRED STOLLE
A tribute to Fred Stolle, one of the great players and characters in Australian tennis.
22
FLICK THE SWITCH
Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka and other Grand Slam stars show how one momentous match win has the potential to unlock a career-altering trajectory.
BOUNCING BACK
Battle-scarred yet far from broken by career-threatening injuries, Paula Badosa is rediscovering the joy as she makes her way back to former heights.
CHAPTERS New
In the cyclical world of professional tennis, change is a reliable constant. There’s always a new season, new surface, new challenges for established performers and fresh contenders vying to take their place. That theme of transition seemed more pronounced in the rst quarter of 2025. By the end of March, more than 20 WTA and ATP tournaments had welcomed new champions. Only four events – the Australian Open, Marseille, Doha and Rio de Janeiro – featured defending or return champions, all of them on the ATP Tour.
Exciting player rsts were another sign of a new chapter in the sport. Alexandre Muller, Joao Fonseca, Tomas Machac and Jakub Mensik have all li ed their maiden pro-level trophies this season. And in claiming the
biggest prize on o er at WTA and ATP 1000 level, Mirra Andreeva (pictured above) and Jack Draper each made their top-10 debuts.
Talented young performers provided the biggest talking point of all.
In joining that upper echelon before her approaching 18th birthday, Andreeva joined the likes of Martina Hingis, plus Venus and Serena Williams, in the record books.
She was the youngest player and one of only two teens (alongside Australia’s Maya Joint, at No.81) in the WTA top 100. Mensik, Fonseca and Learner Tien are among that elite top-100 group in the men’s game.
Even the stars those newcomers challenged were impressed. Aryna Sabalenka was warm in her congratulations a er Andreeva emerged victorious from their Indian Wells nal.
“She got the right team much earlier [than me], and that's why she's so successful right now,” said the world No.1, noting how the positive in uence of Andreeva’s family and coach Conchita Martinez contrasted to the early stages of her own career. “It’s nice to see and I’m happy for her.”
Mensik was similarly feted a er he beat Novak Djokovic, his long-time idol, in the Miami nal. It marked a rst ATP title for the 19-year-old, who joined the Serbian superstar for a training block in Belgrade soon a er Mensik appeared in the Australian Open 2022 boys’ nal.
“To see his development and evolution is really great, amazing,” said Djokovic. “I could see back then already that three, four years ago that he’s going to be one of the top players of the world. I’m super glad that he's using the
potential that he has, because he's got the complete game.”
As we explore those breakthrough achievements in our special “turning points” issue of Australian Tennis Magazine we’re equally buoyed by new highs for our Australian stars.
Kimberly Birrell has not only debuted in the world’s top 100 this season but charged to a careerhigh No.61 ranking. The popular Queenslander is quick to credit the idols and contemporaries who have helped her rise.
The spirit of camaraderie shows how established players provide a foundation for the game's next generation. The most exciting thing about new chapters, perhaps, is that they are shaped by the narratives that came before.
Vivienne Christie editor@tennismag.com.au
Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic Tennis Superstars
With multiple showings at the business end of Grand Slams among his early career highlights, Ben Shelton can move forward with confidence that the best is still to come. DAN IMHOFF reports.
BREAKING OUT Ben Shelton
Ben Shelton’s timeline indicates it all began at a Grand Slam level on Court 10 at Flushing Meadows.
That was where the cavalier young American – the best US college player at the time whose sudden success prompted a hasty decision to turn professional – made his major debut in 2022.
It was there before his home fans that he contested and lost his first five-set match to Portugal’s Nuno Borges, but his first trip outside the States for Australian Open 2023 months later soon left a bigger impression.
A maiden Grand Slam quarter nal in his Melbourne Park debut was beyond the then 20-year-old’s wildest dreams and one match on that whirlwind run stood out.
“I think the match against [Alexei] Popyrin is going to stay with me for a while,” he said following a four-set defeat to
compatriot Tommy Paul in the last eight. “The atmosphere on John Cain [Arena] – probably one of the cooler matches that I’ve been a part of, kind of like a Davis Cup feel – I’d say that's one memory on court that will stick with me for a long time.”
Popyrin had just played the match of his life to stun Shelton’s compatriot Taylor Fritz and overwhelmingly had the crowd in his corner again when he returned to the most boisterous stage on the precinct for the pair’s third-round encounter.
Shelton, who did not drop a set and earned high praise for his potential from the Australian, had played in more hostile environments in college tennis cauldrons but still had to pinch himself at what he faced and overcame that day.
“There were de nitely a few times today. The matches I played before were on a little smaller courts and not as big of crowds, so I wasn’t as wideeyed,” he said at the time.
“But de nitely a few moments today where I was looking around, like, ‘Wow, this stadium is pretty packed’. It was unbelievable, kind of hard to describe. I de nitely wouldn't have thought that I would be here in this moment six months ago, four months ago.
“So hopefully I can be on that court again or one of the other great stadiums they have here.”
BIG ARENAS BECKON
The win earned Shelton the right to make his Rod Laver Arena debut, which he lost to the more experienced Paul in four sets. Two years later, experience and expectations had risen in line with his achievements, and he earned the right to return to the main arena in January for his second Australian Open quarter nal.
Victory over 16th seed Lorenzo Musetti in the third round – back on John Cain Arena, where he sealed that career-shaping win over Popyrin – preceded a gritty last-16 clash against French veteran Gael Mon ls, who worked the crowd in his favour before retiring injured in the fourth set.
This time, seeded 21st against surprise Italian Lorenzo Sonego, Shelton was the favourite and while somewhat below his best, he set a showdown against reigning champion and world No.1 Jannik Sinner.
It made him just the second le -hander a er Rafael Nadal to have reached the semi nals
special that we’re all BIRRELL
GREEN
Kimberly Birrell was modest in her response when asked how it felt at the time to become Australia’s top-ranked woman.
The Queenslander said it didn’t actually change a lot for her, and instead gave a shout-out to many of her fellow Aussies when discussing the milestone on a recent episode of The SitDown podcast.
“It’s been cool to, I guess, be reminded of it in a few interviews and take a minute to just appreciate where I’m at because as a kid,”she said. “If you had have said that I would be ranked the highest in Australia, I just probably wouldn’t have believed it or I just would have been so amazed.
The foundations of Kimberly Birrell’s rise to new career heights are built on the strength of her bonds with Australian contemporaries MATT TROLLOPE
and idols. reports
there are now ve Aussie women inside the top 100. Saville is also knocking on the door, poised to make it six a er sitting at world No.108 in the week of 31 March.
It’s an Australian women’s tennis surge that has lled Birrell with joy, and bodes well ahead of the nation’s Billie Jean King Cup quali er tie in April against Colombia and Kazakhstan.
“I’ve represented Australia in BJK Cup a few times now, and I just have the best time every single time, and it’s such an honour to represent Australia and to wear the green and gold,” she said. “So to be able to do that in April, and then to have it in Brissy,
in what’s basically my home town, will be absolutely amazing. I think I can speak for all of the girls that I hope we can bring some really good tennis and keep doing what we do on court and make everyone proud.
“I think it’s really special that we’re all great mates o court, and all the girls are such good people, and people I genuinely want to be around all the time – it’s not hard when we get to be together as a team.
“Obviously there’s been quite a few injuries within our female cohort within Australia, so I’m not comparing myself to the other girls. And I know that Dasha [Saville] and Ajla [Tomljanovic], when they’re back playing at their best, they’re going to be ranked well inside the top 100.”
Since that interview, Tomljanovic – as predicted – and teenage talent Maya Joint have reached the top 100 with Birrell, who peaked at world No.62 a er a sizzling start to 2025. Russian-born Daria Kasatkina has also entered the conversation, with the world No.12 now representing Australia. Together with Olivia Gadecki,
“Honestly, we probably wish we could do it more often because we have such a great time when we get the chance to [represent Australia together].”
A quick scan of Birrell’s social media proves just how strong the bond runs between Australia’s elite women players. Whether it’s on the training court, in doubles, out for dinner during tournaments, on the Newcombe Medal Blue Carpet or when attending concerts or weddings, the joy when they all come together is clear.
“As an individual sport, tennis can get pretty lonely, and particularly coming from Australia, we live pretty far away from the rest of the world and we don’t get the chance to come home too often between tournaments,” Birrell explained. “So I think we all sort of look for that camaraderie, not just within the BJK Cup weeks
BOUNCING BAC K Paula Badosa
Battle-scarred yet far from broken after a career-threatening injury, Paula Badosa is finding the joy as she makes her way back to her former heights. By DAN IMHOFF.
It didn’t take long for the light-hearted gibes to recommence a er Paula Badosa’s maiden Grand Slam semi nal ended in defeat to good friend Aryna Sabalenka.
No sooner had world No.1 Sabalenka nished her on-court interview celebrating her third straight Australian Open nal berth and promising an allexpenses-paid shopping spree for her beaten “tour soulmate” in January, than footage emerged of the pair sharing a laugh beneath Rod Laver Arena.
It was a moment few but the closest of tour companions would entertain so soon a er such a loss with so much on the line.
“[I told her] that it was really unfair for me that she played this level today,” Badosa grinned. “I was expecting, of course, a good level, but maybe not that much.
“But no, she came to say that she played three semi nals before she won a [Grand Slam] title. She was very proud of my improvement lately, especially with all I’ve been through.
“So we were just joking around … Look, if I have to lose against somebody, of course I want to lose against world No.1 and against Aryna.”
The Spaniard’s career-best campaign at a major was her strongest validation yet that she
was right not to have thrown in the towel last season, despite doctors’ advice that her playing days were numbered following a serious back stress fracture.
Even as recently as May she was on the brink of calling it quits once and for all, frustrated she was nowhere near her former level and languishing at world No.140.
“I had very negative feedback from doctors about my back and then physically I wasn’t seeing
“That’s what drives me, motivates me. I wasn’t in that level.
“I was thinking a lot what to do in the future but also, I wanted to give it a shot to end the season and let’s see how it goes. It went very good so I’m really proud of myself how I fought through all that process.”
WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN
The lowest point came during her home tournament on clay in Madrid last May.
Still in pain, her back was not responding as well as hoped, and she had already taken two of a maximum three cortisone injections just to enable her to compete.
It prompted a shake-up of her team – a return to her tness coach and nutritionist from three years earlier and new doctors.
myself at the same level,” she told Australian Tennis Magazine
“I’m a talented player but I think I need my physical[ity] to play. I’m a very explosive player so when that’s not there and I’m a little bit slower I think my level drops a lot.
“I always say, all my respects to all the players but, for me being ranked 70, 80, 90 doesn’t make me happy. I want to play on Centre Court, I want to play against the best players in the world.
“I wasn’t seeing myself where I wanted to be,” she said. “A er that, I decided to make a few changes in the team. I thought here we’re going to start from zero, you’re out of the top 100 now.
“Let’s start building and let’s see if things come. The talent is there but physically I needed to get on point, let’s say, and slowly it started coming.”
Within months, Badosa’s level had already improved enough during last year’s US hard-court swing to convince her to keep playing.
“You want to prove yourself and you sometimes need results to show that.”
PAULA BADOSA
MATTEO BERRETTINI
COUNTING BLESSINGS the
With both breathtaking highs and dispiriting lows shaping his tennis journey, Matteo Berrettini is now deeply grateful for simply competing at the highest level.
By VIVIENNE CHRISTIE
Armed with a blazing serve, whipping forehand and seemingly endless stores of charisma, there was an undeniably dazzling quality as Matteo Berrettini fired up his stylish weapons to achieve early professional milestones.
From a first career title, at Gstaad as a 22-year-old in 2018, Berrettini progressed to a maiden Grand Slam semifinal appearance at the 2019 US Open, the first Italian man to do so in 35 years.
The highs – along with passionate fans and lucrative sponsors – kept coming as he charged to the Wimbledon final in 2021, making him the first player from his nation to progress to a singles decider at The Championships. Following another Grand Slam semifinal appearance at Australian Open 2022, he peaked at a career-high ranking of world No.6.
It was hard to dispute the glamorous appeal as Berrettini combined those career heights with off-court pursuits such as modelling assignments for designer fashion label Hugo Boss and a Met Gala appearance.
The foundations for success, however, were built on qualities considerably more solid – as Berrettini, now 29, has demonstrated in overcoming
MATTEO BERRETTINI
“I’m appreciating the journey, I’m appreciating every single day.
challenge after challenge in more recent chapters of his career.
“Last year [2023] was really, really tough, one of the worse years of my career and my life as well,” he admitted in Shanghai last season. “When you’re not able to do your job and what you like to do, then it’s always a struggle.”
Those struggles for the Italian came on multiple fronts, several of them overlapping. After sustaining an injury in a fourth-round run at Indian Wells in 2023, he required emergency right hand surgery, sidelining him for the entire clay-court swing that season.
Berrettini recovered to win consecutive grasscourt titles at Stuttgart and Queen’s but on the eve of returning to Wimbledon as defending finalist, a positive Covid test forced his withdrawal.
The physical challenges continued. After the US
Open, he abandoned his 2023 season due to a ruptured ankle ligament. A new foot injury thwarted his return at AO 2024.
It was a series of events that, unsurprisingly, saw the Italian question his ability to remain on tour.
“Unfortunately, since I was really young, I got injured a lot. But when I was younger, I had this energy of just ‘I’m going to do anything in my power to come back and feel stronger and be better’,” he explained to Australian Tennis Magazine in January.
“And then, for the first time in 2023, after I broke my ankle, I felt like I didn’t have that energy to come back anymore. So, I started to question, ‘Am I going to be able to do it?’”
As hard-gained stores of resilience kicked in, so too did the critical support of
Berrettini's closest supporters.
“I was really lucky because people around me they never doubt this, they always told me that I could’ve done it, I just had to find the energy inside me,” he added. “So I trusted them, and I kept going, and that’s what I proved to myself. I think once again, I proved [to] myself that I could come back.”
Indeed, the positive outlook proved priceless as Berrettini, despite the delayed start, constructed a transformational 2024 season. With titles in Marrakech, Gstaad and Kitzbuhel – along with his fifth appearance in a grass-court final in Stuttgart – the Italian climbed from No.154 in March to No.34 by season’s end. With that turnaround, he earned ATP Comeback of the Year honours.
Alongside the public recognition for the hard work he’d invested in his career rebuild, another reward for Berrettini was profoundly more personal. Having faced the possibility that a pro-playing career could be taken away, he developed a deep sense of gratitude for his time on tour.
“I was talking to my family a few days ago about how now I’m obviously more wise about my tennis life, and I appreciate the moments more,” Berrettini explained.
“When you’re younger, you just want to get better, stronger, you want your ranking to be higher, you don’t really pay attention to details or what is happening around you.
“Now I’ve been there, I’m appreciating the journey, I’m appreciating every single day. Some days, I know they’re going to be tough; some days are going to be better, but it gives you this knowledge of yourself into the career that only time can give to you.”
Ma eo Berre ini FAST FACTS
BORN 12 April 1996, Rome, Italy
LIVES Monte Carlo, Rome
HEIGHT 196 cm
FAMILY Father Luca, mother Claudia, brother Jacopo
STARTED PLAYING At age four
CAREER TITLES 10
CAREER PRIZE MONEY
USD $13,084,798
CAREER HIGH RANKING No.6 (January 2022)
CURRENT RANKING No.27
OFF-COURT Supports ActionAid, a charity that fights against poverty and injustice.
DID YOU KNOW? Berrettini, who also competed in swimming, football and judo as a child, became passionate about tennis at age eight after brother Jacopo (who has also competed on the ATP Tour) begged him to play.
