The Australian Open 2025 - Here We Go

Well, here we are. Welcome to The Racket Report. 

The new 2025 season is in full swing and it felt the right time for me to take a big swing too. So here I am, starting a blog (who'd have thought I would ever do that?). I best introduce myself and tell you a little about me – I’m Ellie. A British, 20-something who loves all things tennis. I work full-time and dream of working in the world of tennis someday. In a world that can be gloomy and difficult, I feel it is incredibly important to find something to take you away from reality. Tennis does this for me. The constant catalogue of matches out there to watch brings me so much joy. Not to mention it feels like a television series with endless plotlines, characters and underlying themes (and these themes are usually plentiful).

A sport I have always loved, I have become rather obsessed with tennis over the last year or so, but unfortunately my close friends and family do not have as much of an interest as I do (aside from my mum, who listens to me waffle on-and-on about it). Thus the only logical thing to do was for me to start a blog, and get my thoughts, feelings and observations out into the world. So welcome, I am pleased you have found me and I am grateful you are here. I hope as I keep writing I can gather a slowly-growing community, where we can all discuss the latest news, talking-points and anything and everything else related to the sport we all love.

The focus of the blog will be both the ATP and WTA tour, with a sprinkling of the ITF and Challenger tours in there too when it feels worth discussing. Looking at draws, results, controversy, fashion, changes to the game, and whatever else in the current world of tennis I want to discuss.

With the season well underway already, it feels appropriate to discuss all things Australia, with the first Grand Slam of the season a mere 2 days away. The draws are set, players are (probably) raring to go and fans from across Australia and the world are preparing to take a trip to Melbourne Park in 30 degree heat. The first round draw is one of the best in recent grand slam memory. Multiple blockbuster matchups and potential shocks await, perhaps none more inviting for a Brit than the returning, and controversial, Nick Kyrios taking on rising British star Jacob Fearnley. At the time I write this, the schedules have not been announced, and I for one am praying this match is scheduled in the night session, or it could well be a 3am alarm for me. Kyrios started his comeback playing doubles with Novak Djokovic and anyone who saw it would agree it was hugely entertaining. And I don’t think we can doubt he will bring this vibe to the Aus Open - his home slam. Kyrios last played here in 2022, when he went on to win the men’s doubles title with close friend Thanasi Kokkinakis. However, his appearance this year could be in doubt, due to an abdominal strain he sustained in Brisbane. Even if Kyrios plays in Melbourne, will he be at 100% physically? And even if he is, the question moves to whether he can serve at his highest quality – undeniably his biggest weapon. Fearnley continues to be a slight mystery for me, having not seen many of his matches, so I am intrigued to see how he stands up to not only the powerful game of Kyrios but also the atmosphere against a home favourite who always attracts a vibe, be that pro or anti.

For me, a big question surrounds Emma Raducanu. As a Brit, I have defended Emma to the ends of the earth for a few years now when the media and the public has questioned her quality and commitment to the sport. I think she needs to treat 2025 as a start of a new chapter for her. Even though last season was an improvement for her regarding injuries and amount of matches played (31 in 2024, up from 10 in 2023), there was a lack of consistency throughout the season. A first round match up with Ekaterina Alexandrova, ranked 27 in the world, could be good for Emma if she can bring the aggressive, front foot tennis that has served her so well in her best moments. She needs to play freely with no fear or angst. Withdrawing from Auckland with a back niggle means she comes into Melbourne with a lack of matches under her belt, but could this mean she is feeling fresher than other players? Only time will tell…

I think we can all agree Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are the present and future of men's tennis. Sinner had a mixed end to the 2024 season, with a doping scandal looming over him while leading Italy to the Davis Cup title, looks to defend his maiden grand slam title. The Italian has been handed a kind draw, facing an out-of-sorts Nicolas Jarry in round one, and not facing anyone of particular danger until Fritz in the semi-final, as Rune and De Minaur will not intimidate an on-form Sinner (going by ranking and the projected ties). If Sinner can settle in the tournament quickly then I would imagine he will have an easy run - he is absolutely the favourite for the title in my eyes. Alcaraz heads into the tournament with a huge potential quarterfinal ahead of him - a matchup with Novak Djokovic who has beaten the Spaniard in their last two hard court meetings. Sinner and Alcaraz are in different halves of the draw, meaning a potential final between the two is on the cards. Let’s all keep our fingers crossed that they both get there, because it could be explosive and has ‘classic’ written all over it.

These are just a couple of players and draws I think are worth watching, but just for good measure, here are the others I would recommend keeping an eye on:

G Dimitrov (10) v F Fognini

A Rublev (9) v J Fonseca (Q)

S Tsitsipas (11) v A Michelsen

F Cobolli (32) v T Etcheverry

A Sabalenka (1) v S Stephens

C Gauff (3) v S Kenin

N Osaka v C Garcia

M Joint (WC) v J Pegula (7)

I will be back after all the first round matches are complete with my thoughts and views on the matches played, and any off-court news.

So, there it is. The first entry to Racket Report. I’m super excited to see how we can grow a community here, so I hope you will come back and read the next edition!

Until next time, keep serving! 

E x