JUNE / JULY 2025 VOL.50 NO.3
12 GAUFF’S GLORY
Coco Gauff prevailed for a coveted Roland Garros title and a second Slam that elevated the American to an even higher plane.
FEATURES
26
MERCI, RAFA
46
JUMPING JACK
Highlighting his unparalleled history and deep connection to fans and rivals, Rafael Nadal was feted in a moving ceremony at Roland Garros.
50
UNITED GREATS OF AMERICA
With a thrilling surge to a world No.4 ranking, top Brit Jack Draper is within reach of emulating the feats of his idol Andy Murray.
Sweeping the first two Grand Slam titles, among a string of notable 2025 milestones, American women are proving a powerful force.
18 CARLOS JOINS THE GREATS
With his fi fth major title secured in astonishing style at Roland Garros, Carlos Alcaraz now firmly belongs in conversations on modern-day greats.
MANAGING EDITOR
Vivienne Christie
FOUNDING EDITOR
Alan Trengove
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Matt Trollope
Andrea Williamson
PHOTOGRAPHS Getty Images Tennis Australia
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54 AUSSIES ON CLAY: DEVELOPING GENERATION NEXT
Young Australian players are increasingly training and competing on clay, shaping the way the game is played in an historically fast-court nation.
57 SHAPING CHAMPIONS, CREATING COMMUNITY
Award-winning coach Greg Crump has built deep friendships and life-changing connections to wheelchair tennis in his near 40-year service to the sport.
58 THE SIT-DOWN: GARBINE MUGURUZA
Former world No.1 and two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza looks back - and forward – on a storied career.
64 BUILDING THE FOUNDATION
Emerson Jones follows a long tradition of Orange Girls learning lessons and forging connections with established members of the Australian Billie Jean King Cup team.
A NEW CHAPTER
Daria Kasatkina, now representing Australia, is embracing a fresh start – both on and off the court.
Famous
FOOTSTEPS
The inspirational connection that Carlos Alcaraz has long held with his legendary countryman, Rafael Nadal, extends far deeper than their shared nationality. As a young player in Spain, Alcaraz gained a special appreciation for the unique blend of humility, intensity and relentless fight that saw Nadal amass unparalleled records across multiple decades.
With his own dreams of greatness in the sport, Nadal’s example became a blueprint for success.
How fitting, then, that Alcaraz has already replicated Nadal in remarkable ways. With an unforgettable comeback against Jannik Sinner in the Roland Garros 2025 final, Alcaraz showcased many of the traits Nadal so famously embodied.
A second consecutive Roland Garros triumph – coupled with his 2022 US Open title plus 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon victories –saw Alcaraz became a five-time Grand Slam champion. Adding
even more synergy to his Nadal connection, at 22 years, one month and three days old, he was the exact age that his longtime idol claimed a fifth Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2008.
“I’m going to say that’s the destiny, I guess,” Alcaraz smiled. “I mean, it is a stat that I’m going to keep for me forever, winning the fifth Grand Slam at the same time as Rafa, my idol, my inspirations. It’s a huge honour honestly.”
Coco Gauff also replicated the path of a childhood hero with fascinating synchronicity as she claimed her second major title at Roland Garros. With her latest major triumph, the world No.2 emulated Serena Williams by saluting at the US Open, WTA Finals and Roland Garros by age 21.
“It means a lot,” the world No.2 told NBC in the days after her victory. “She’s the reason I picked up a racquet and have the belief that I do.”
Once inspired by superstars, Alcaraz and Gauff are now carrying that mantle. Doing so
with a deep respect for their childhood role models, they are also doing those legends proud.
The now-retired Nadal, whose 14 Roland Garros titles were celebrated in a moving ceremony on the first day of the tournament, was among the millions who watched the gripping men’s final on television.
“It was a match for the ages,” Nadal commented at a golf exhibition soon afterwards. “I’m very happy for Carlos. It was a spectacular final, very exciting. Ending up with the cup after Sinner was so close to taking it for so long... I’m very happy for him.”
At the opposite end, countless younger viewers were almost certainly dreaming of emulating those unforgettable Roland Garros victories. And just as a young Alcaraz and Gauff have done before them, they can draw on the role model qualities that have delivered such sparkling success.
Vivienne Christie editor@tennismag.com.au
“Winning the fifth Grand Slam at the same time as Rafa, my idol, my inspirations. It’s a huge honour honestly.”
CARLOS ALCARAZ
GLORY
From outside sole favourite status, Coco Gauff prevailed for a coveted Roland Garros title, and a second Slam that elevated the American superstar to an even higher plane. By MATT TROLLOPE
Roland Garros 2025 was yet another reminder not to discount Coco Gauff, oft-underrated despite her outstanding defensive skills, competitive instincts and bigmatch success.
She entered as the second seed and while among discussions of title favourites, she was rarely the main character.
Instead, Aryna Sabalenka had established herself as the undisputed No.1, winning Madrid and appearing undeniable as she chased a fourth major title.
Iga Swiatek’s campaign as three-time defending champion proved a revitalising tonic for her game; with statement wins she gathered steam and closed in on an historic fourth consecutive title.
Jasmine Paolini beat Gau in the Rome nal, arrived in Paris full of con dence, and targeted a second straight run to the nal.
Even Madison Keys, the reigning AO champion, began flattening opponents and building an impressive Slam winning streak deep into another major.
Gauff, meanwhile, had moments where the less-secure
parts of her game – second serve and forehand – came under scrutiny.
But she ultimately went undefeated in Paris, elevating her superstar status to an even higher plane with her latest Grand Slam victory.
She overcame Sabalenka in challenging conditions, winning 6-7(5) 6-2 6-4 despite trailing 4-1, 40-0 in the rst set.
With her 2023 US Open triumph – also over Sabalenka – she joins an illustrious Openera list of women representing America to claim multiple major titles. The others? Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Tracy Austin, Lindsay Davenport, Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati and Serena Williams.
This one proved extremely meaningful, at the venue Gau won the junior title in 2018 then su ered a sobering loss to Swiatek in the 2022 women’s nal.
“I think this one was just harder because you win one [Slam], and you just don’t want to get satis ed with just that one,” said Gau , now a sparkling 10-3 in tour-level nals.
“I also felt like this is one I really wanted, because I do think this was one of the tournaments
that when I was younger that I felt I had the best shot of winning. So I just felt like if I went through my career and didn’t get at least one of these, I would feel regrets.
“[After the 2022 final] I was doubting myself … especially my mentality going into that match. I was crying before the match and so nervous and literally couldn’t breathe and stuff. I was, like, ‘if I can’t handle this, how am I going to handle it again?’
“I just felt really ready today.”
Gau outlasted Keys in the quarter nals with superior
GLORY
GLORY
GREATS JOINS THE
With three championship points saved to seize a second Roland Garros title, and fifth Slam in total, Carlos Alcaraz now firmly belongs in conversations on modern-day greats. VIVIENNE CHRISTIE reports
This is heady company that Carlos Alcaraz is keeping. With an unforgettable charge to a second triumph in Paris, he became just the eighth man in Open era history to successfully defend a Roland Garros title. He joined Gustavo Kuerten and Rafael Nadal as only the third man to do so this century.
The second consecutive title, which followed victories at Monte Carlo and in Rome – both ATP Masters 1000 trophies –was far from the lone measure of Alcaraz’s rising status among modern-day greats.
In a nal for the ages, Alcaraz saved three championship points against world No.1 Jannik Sinner. Gaston Gaudio and Novak Djokovic are the only other men to save match points in a Grand Slam nal in the modern era, doing so at 2004 Roland Garros and 2019 Wimbledon respectively.
Combined with his triumph at the 2022 US Open and two victories at Wimbledon,
Alcaraz joined Roger Federer as one of only two men this era to win their first five Grand Slam finals. At 22 years, three months and one day old, he sat alongside Bjorn Borg and Nadal as the only players to amass that record at such a young age.
It is his countryman, of course, to whom Alcaraz is most readily compared. Since his start in tennis as a four-year-old in El Parma, Murcia, the Spaniard has named the 14-time Roland Garros champion as his idol.
And in a gripping 4-6 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6 [2) victory over Jannik Sinner in a championship match of the most astonishing quality, Alcaraz displayed many of the qualities that de ned Nadal’s legendary career.
While their playing styles di er – Alcaraz a ashy righthander, Nadal the explosive le y – there is no doubt the younger Spaniard is imbued with a similar ghting spirit.
But Nadal never had to ght
CHAPTER A NEW Daria Kas at kina
Thrilled with a return to form in her first Grand Slam representing Australia, Daria Kasatkina was embracing fresh opportunities both on and off the court. KRISTINA MOORE reports
There was warmth, candour and a healthy measure of good humour. When Daria Kasatkina was asked to expand on a bright new chapter of her tennis career at Roland Garros, it seemed a natural t.
“I felt super good, honestly, to step on the court as an Australian player,” smiled the 28-yearold, who a er 36 Grand Slam appearances was contesting her rst under the Australian ag.
“Also, to feel the support from the stands because I heard many times that Aussies were – I don't know if everyone who was screaming, ‘Aussie’ was from Australia, but I felt this support.”
Bolstered by warm sentiment on social media and from her fellow players, the overall spirit of positivity was arguably a factor in Kasatkina’s equal-best tournament performance this year.
With her creative style of play o en at its nest on the clay courts at Roland Garros, the 17th seed edged past Katerina Siniakova in three sets, wildcard Leolia Jeanjean and higherranked Paula Badosa, before her run ended in the fourth round against Mirra Andreeva.
Reminding many that her best Grand Slam results came at
Roland Garros – she was the girls' champion in 2014 and a maindraw semi nalist three years ago – Kasatkina could also erase the memories of a di cult few months in her career.
A er a personal-best performance at Australian Open 2025 with a fourth-round run, Kasatkina had won consecutive matches only once in her nine next tournaments.
“I felt a little bit at in the matches … when a person is struggling or having a little crisis, it’s tough to get out of this.” she admitted. “This week I felt back on track.”
As the last Australian standing in Paris, Kasatkina had notably channelled any pressure from her new status in the best possible way. “Changing the ag now, I
want to be better, I want to bring success being an Australian,” she related. “I think that’s a little bit of pressure, but I think it’s good. It’s also a motivation.”
There’s no shortage of supporters encouraging Kasatkina in her pursuit. “On social media I'm getting a lot of support from the Australians that they are so happy to welcome me, and they’re happy for me,” she smiled. “So, of course, this is kind of support which I honestly didn’t have before. It feels like it’s something new to me, but it feels so nice.”
It’s also in stark and gratifying contrast to the challenges she has faced in recent years. Born in the industrial city of Togliatti, Russia, the down-to-earth Kasatkina has been notably opposed to war in Ukraine. She is also an advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and proudly open about her long relationship with Natalia Zabiiako, a retired EstonianRussian gure skater. Following Roland Garros, Kasatkina was delighted to announce the pair’s engagement.
It added a happy o -court chapter to her new Australian allegiance. “The people outside of tennis, they were very happy for me because they knew the situation, how was tough for me,” said Kasatkina.
“A er all that happened, I just feel free with the wings … the main thing is that I can live my life now freely and happy. With that, the tennis will come.”
And so too will other fresh chapters for the 28-year-old.
A er basing herself in Dubai for several years, Kasatkina is excited to set up a new home in Melbourne – that city of choice helped by a long and close friendship with Victorian-based Daria Saville.
“She’s always asking ‘when are you moving?’, sending me the locations, the houses and everything. So yeah, she’s very
“Changing the flag now, I want to be better, I want to bring success being an Australian.”
DARIA KASATKINA
J U M P I N G JACK
With a thrilling rise to a peak No.4 ranking, top Brit Jack Draper is within reach of emulating the major-winning feats of his long-time idol Andy Murray.
JACKSON
MANSELL reports
witnessed Murray’s careerdefining moment firsthand –an experience that has forever inspired the South Londoner.
“Watching Andy win Wimbledon on Centre Court in 2013 was an experience that I will never forget,” he told Britain’s LTA. “I was only 11 at the time, but looking back, it was de nitely a moment that made me more motivated than ever to become a professional tennis player.”
Andy Murray’s Wimbledon 2013 title is widely regarded as one of the greatest feats in British sporting history.
After three consecutive semifinals appearances between 2009 and 2011 and a finals berth in 2012, Murray became the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to lift a singles trophy at his home Slam.
He inspired the next wave of British tennis players, proving that they, too, could live out their Grand Slam dream.
None more so than Great Britain’s rising star, Jack Draper.
An avid tennis fan, Draper
Given his upbringing, a tennis career seemed inevitable for the 23-year-old. Jack’s mother, Nicky, is a former junior British national champion who coached at the Sutton Tennis and Squash Club –where a two-year-old Draper rst fell in love with the sport.
“My mum was a tennis coach, and when she was coaching, my brother [Ben] and I would hang around trying to entertain ourselves,” Draper recalled.
“I quickly picked up a racquet and started hitting against the wall.”
Meanwhile, his father, Roger, played a role in Murray’s evolution as the face of British tennis through the “Blueprint for British tennis” strategy, implemented during his stint as the LTA Chief Executive between 2006 and 2013.
The plan focused on investing in talent identi cation, high performance and grassroots development to increase the depth of Britain’s elite players.
At the beginning of Roger Draper’s tenure, ve British players were ranked inside the ATP and WTA singles top 200, a number which has more than doubled in the last two decades. In 2006, it was Murray taking charge; now it’s Draper who is leading by example.
Draper made his biggest breakthrough at Indian Wells in March, with victories over four top-20 players delivering a rst
ATP Masters 1000 trophy.
It was a matter of beating the best to be the best for the young Brit, with his victims including Taylor Fritz and Carlos Alcaraz, who had combined for the past three Indian Wells titles. Draper ended the Spaniard’s 16-match winning streak in the Californian desert, the third-longest in tournament history.
“[It’s] de nitely a big moment for me, getting inside the top 10, and to win my rst Masters title just adds to my inner belief and my con dence,” said Draper, recalling his semi nal upset of Alcaraz as a signi cant turning point. “I hadn't felt that way on the court for a while, where I felt like my energy was sapped from the emotions of the match with Carlos and the environment and who I was playing.
“To put the level up on the court this week consistently, it’s one thing doing it in practice and saying you’re going to do it, but to be able to do it on the big stage, that’s de nitely a big moment for me.”
While some expected his level to dip o during the claycourt season, he again exceeded expectations. Draper went 12-4 on the red dirt in 2025, notably reaching the Madrid Masters nal and the nal 16 at Roland Garros.