CARLOS ALCARAZ DISMISSES TONI NADAL PITCH TO RETURN TO PAST
Carlos Alcaraz disagrees with Toni Nadal's call to slow down tennis. The world number one argues you cannot go "against evolution," defending the modern game's speed and power as natural progress.
Toni Nadal has sparked a renewed discussion regarding the direction of contemporary tennis. The renowned coach believes the sport might need to introduce a slower pace in order to safeguard players, reinstate tactical diversity, and lessen the emphasis on power.
Toni suggested a range of changes, such as utilising smaller rackets to help decrease ball velocity and opting for slower courts that encourage more strategic rallies instead of solely fast-paced exchanges. The escalating intensity of the game has pushed players to their limits and increased the risk of injuries.
Although Carlos Alcaraz, the current world number one, understands Nadal's perspective, he respectfully disagrees. The top players in the world expressed a clear stance against the notion that tennis should revert to a previous state.
Alcaraz views the shift from wooden rackets to modern graphite models and designs that favour speed as a natural evolution that cannot be undone. Going back on this journey would feel like disregarding the realities of the current game.
In Alcaraz's view, the present-day emphasis on speed and power is not an anomaly but rather an extension of an enduring trend. Even in the era of Rafa Nadal, a time Toni knows well, the game was already significantly faster than in earlier generations.
The advancements in technology and athleticism have further accelerated this evolution. The six-time major champion dismisses the idea of slowing down the game, emphasising the need for players to physically adapt, evolve their strategies, and embrace the current nature of the sport.
The world’s top player acknowledges the famous coach's worries but asserts that accepting the current tempo is vital for the sport and its identity. Therefore, Carlos sees no justification for reverting to outdated equipment or fundamentally changing court dynamics.
While Toni Nadal advocates for longevity, preservation, and careful adjustments, Alcaraz champions evolution, natural progress, and athleticism. The evolution of tennis will continue both now and into the future.
"To suggest such a change would be like taking a step backwards. Tennis began with wooden rackets, transitioned to metal and aluminium, and now we have various types that enable more spin. Previously, our shots were flatter, with more chop and less speed.
Over the years, during Rafa's era, we were already experiencing greater speed than in the past, and this trend has only intensified. We cannot resist evolution. We must be prepared physically for the pace of our game.
I would express that I disagree with Toni's proposal." Carlos Alcaraz stated.
MATTEO BERRETTINI GIVES ITALY CRUCIAL 1-0 LEAD IN DAVIS CUP
Matteo Berrettini wins his singles match, putting Italy one victory away from a third consecutive Davis Cup final. The defending champions beat Belgium in Bologna, spurred on by a home crowd.
NET WORTH: EMMA RADUCANU'S ASSETS SOAR IN 2025
Emma Raducanu ends her 2025 season ranked 29th, a rise from outside the top 50. The Brit, now a likely Australian Open seed, reflects on a year of progress and her role inspiring young players.
Even though Emma Raducanu's 2025 season did not end as well as she would have liked—she had to stop playing at the Wuhan Open because it was too hot, and then she decided to end her season after trying to play one more match in China—the British player has still had a good year overall.
Raducanu started the season ranked lower than 50th in the WTA Rankings but is now ranked 29th. She is very likely to be a seeded player for the Australian Open in January.
Even though she lost both of her matches against the world's top player, Aryna Sabalenka, at Wimbledon and Cincinnati, the 23-year-old said that she felt she could compete with some of the best players in women's tennis.
Even though her overall record for 2025 is not especially impressive—she won 28 matches and lost 22—she still managed to earn $1,450,476 in prize money.
Because of her earnings, her total career prize money reached $5,957,378, with almost half of that amount coming from her £2.5 million US Open victory in 2021.
Since that famous victory in New York, Raducanu has also been one of the most popular players on the WTA Tour, and the financial records of her company, Harbour 6, show that she is in good financial shape.
According to official UK Companies House records, Raducanu's business has a net worth of £8 million and current assets of £10.2 million. These numbers are from the 2023 financial reports, and they could be even higher when the 2024 numbers are included.
In part because of the encouragement she has given to future players, especially in her home country of Britain, Raducanu's financial success shows that sponsors still find her appealing.
After Raducanu's US Open victory, many young people started playing tennis for the first time. Speaking to Tennis365 at the Wuhan Open last month, she said she was happy to be an inspiration to young girls.
Raducanu said, "It's funny to think that I've had that kind of effect." It's nice to be reminded that you're inspiring younger kids to play. It is very easy to forget about that because you get so focused on your own world.
“But inspiring young people is a really important achievement for me, and it’s why I want to continue to set a good example on the court and behave well.
"I know that some players might sometimes get angry or lose control, and, inevitably, sometimes you won't feel good and you might not perform well.
"However, I always remind myself to try to present the best possible image because you never know who might be watching, and you don't want to set a bad example for the younger generation."
To be fully ready for her return to competition at the United Cup event at the end of December and then the Australian Open in Melbourne in mid-January, Raducanu has withdrawn from planned exhibition events in America that could have increased her financial wealth.