The Tennis Thread

[Cricket Warrior]

Draper out of season-opening event in Australia

British number one Jack Draper will miss the first event of the 2025 season with a hip injury but is "very positive" about competing at the Australian Open.

The 22-year-old cancelled a training camp with four-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz in Spain this week because of a "little bit of a niggle".

Draper says he has now been advised not to play for Great Britain in the United Cup team competition - starting against Argentina in Sydney on 30 December - and will also sit out the Davis Cup tie in Japan in late January.

The Australian Open starts in Melbourne on 12 January.


BBC

 

[FearlessRoar]

Wimbledon winner Purcell admits anti-doping breach​

Two-time Grand Slam doubles champion Max Purcell has been provisionally suspended after admitting a breach of anti-doping rules.

The 26-year-old has taken a voluntary suspension after admitting breaking International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) anti-doping rules relating to the "use of a prohibited method".

The Australian, who won the 2022 Wimbledon doubles championship alongside Matthew Ebden, is now provisionally banned from playing in, coaching at or attending any tennis event.

The ITIA did not detail the length of Purcell's ban but it was effective as of 12 December 2024.

"Time served under provisional suspension will be credited against any future sanction," the ITIA said

The provisional suspension could rule Purcell out of January's Australian Open in Melbourne, which starts on 12 January.

Tennis Australia say the ITIA have confirmed the breach related to a prohibited method "rather than the presence of a prohibited substance".

The ITIA charged men's world number one Jannik Sinner and women's world number two Iga Swiatek over breaches of its anti-doping programme earlier this year.

Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension after testing positive for a banned heart medication in August.

The 23-year-old Pole said the violation was not intentional.

Sinner twice tested positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March, which he denied knowingly using.

An independent panel accepted there was "no fault or negligence" on Sinner's behalf.

The Italian, 23, is awaiting the outcome of an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) over his exoneration.

Max Purcell: Wimbledon men's doubles champion provisionally suspended after anti-doping breach

Two-time doubles Grand Slam champion Max Purcell takes voluntary suspension after admitting anti-doping breach.

www.bbc.com

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Teenager Fonseca wins Next Gen ATP Finals title

Teenager Joao Fonseca beat American Learner Tien to be crowned the second-youngest winner of the Next Gen ATP Finals title.

The 18-year-old Brazilian, who was the youngest player in this year's competition and lowest ranked, overcame Tien 2-4 4-3 (10-8) 4-0 4-2 in Jeddah.

Only Jannik Sinner, in 2019, has lifted the title at a younger age than Fonseca, who won all five of his matches at the season-ending tournament for the top-ranked male players aged 21 and under.

The pair also met in the group stage on Thursday, with Fonseca, ranked 145th in the world, again coming out on top against his 19-year-old opponent.


BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Injured Halep withdraws from Australian Open

Simona Halep has withdrawn from Australian Open qualifying and will delay the start of her 2025 season after feeling pain in her knee and shoulder.

The former world number one, 33, received a wildcard from tournament organisers last week but said she felt discomfort after playing at the World Tennis League exhibition event in Abu Dhabi.

Halep was given a four-year doping ban that was reduced to nine months this year, and always maintained her innocence after being charged with two separate doping offences.

Now the former French Open and Wimbledon champion is trying to re-establish herself on tour, with injuries not helping her cause.

"After discussing with my team at length, we agreed it is sensible to delay the start of my season," the Romanian wrote on Instagram.

She will also miss next week's Auckland Classic, which is one of the main warm-up events for the Australian Open.

Australian Open 2025: Simona Halep withdraws from qualifying because of injury

Simona Halep withdraws from Australian Open qualifying and will delay the start of her 2025 season after feeling pain in her knee and shoulder.

www.bbc.com