Welcome to the 16×19 Letter. Your bi-weekly dive into recent tennis news, trends, and more.
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Reilly Opelka recently came forward with jarring allegations—he claims ATP Tour Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi used a player to deliver a warning about long-term financial consequences if he didn’t withdraw from an ongoing lawsuit.
The identity of the player remains a mystery, but the message to Opelka was clear: withdraw or risk losing his pension and paying millions in legal fees.
Who: Pro Tennis Players Association (PTPA) vs ATP and WTA
Lawsuit Background: A group of tennis pros (PTPA) claims the ATP and WTA are suppressing player wages, disregarding player health, and committing antitrust violations.
Where: The lawsuit was filed in New York, London, and Brussels.
Players Involved: Novak Djokovic (Co-Founder, not named in lawsuit), Vasek Pospisol (Co-Founder), Nick Kyrgios, Reilly Opelka, and 8 others.
Key Issues in the Lawsuit:
“The governing bodies force us into unfair contracts, impose inhumane schedules, and punish us for speaking out. The legal actions taken today are about fixing tennis for today’s players and future generations.” — Vasek Pospisil
“The PTPA’s action is both regrettable and misguided, and we will defend our position vigorously in due course.” — WTA
New ATP Finance Policies
Guaranteed Minimum Income (Minimum Guarantee):
2025 Threshold Increases:
Income Protection Pillar:
Newcomer Investment Pillar:
Winner: ~$1.1M
Finalist: ~$585K
Semifinalist: ~$325K
Quarterfinalist: ~$180K
Round of 16: ~$95K
Round of 32: ~$55K
Round of 64: ~$30K
Round of 128 (if applicable): ~$18K
[Note: Rough Earnings Estimate Based]
At the Australian Open, Carlos Alcaraz not only debuted a new serve technique but also added five grams of lead tape to the neck of his racquet. “I was playing with quite a light weight for the pro tour. We said we’d try those 5 grams and it felt pretty good.”
My mind immediately jumps to power and topspin. And it definitely feels like Alcaraz is hitting the ball harder than ever. But you also have to wonder if it’s elevated his finesse game as well. I’m curious to see if he sticks with the lead tape and if he can set a personal record for most winners.
Keep an eye on Tsitsipas. He’s almost out of the Top 20. However, I do expect Tsitsipas to surge the second half of the season.
Why? He ended his longtime father-son coaching relationship in August of 2024. Almost immediately, Dimitris Chatzinikolaou stepped in to coach Tsitsipas. And Goran Ivanisevic will also step in following the 2025 French Open.
2. Alexander Zverev (+1)
3. Carlos Alcaraz (-1)
9. Holger Rune (+4)
10. Daniil Medvedev (-1)
13. Ben Shelton (+2)
15. Casper Ruud (-5)
16. Grigor Dimitrov (+1)
17. Francis Tiafoe (+1)
18. Stefanos Tsitsipas (-2)
Ostapenko was the big mover this week, beating #1 Aryna Sabalenka and #2 Iga Swiatek at the Stuttgart Open (Porsche Tennis Grand Prix). And here’s a stat that’ll make you look twice: Ostapenko is undefeated (6-0) vs Swiatek.
10. Emma Navarro (+1)
11. Elena Rybakina (-1)
17. Elina Svitolina (+1)
18. Jelena Ostapenko (+6)
19. Beatriz Haddad Maia (-2)
20. Liudmila Samsonova (-1)
21. Donna Vekic (-1)
Jelena Ostapenko’s run at the BMW Open was nothing short of impressive. She dictated play vs Sabalenka and Swiatek by using power and aggressive baseline shot making. As we approach the French Open, she’s a nightmare matchup in the 3rd or 4th round.
Ostapenko’s French Open Matchup Possibilities
3rd Round: Ostapenko likely faces a higher-seeded player between 10th and 16th. Maybe Emma Navarro, Elena Rybakina, or Amanda Anisimova.
4th Round: Ostapenko faces a player ranked between 5th and 9th in the fourth round. Likely someone with a well-rounded game like Coco Gauff or Jessica Pegula.
Quarter-Finals: Ostapenko faces a top 4 seed. Potentially Aryna Sabalenka or Iga Swiatek.
Just like that, Alexander Zverev is back on track with a much needed win at the BMW Open in Munich. I find it tough to fault his recent losses—they came against quality opponents. But where the criticism does feel warranted is in his inability to adjust tactics mid-match.
You have to wonder if a notebook might help Zverev, like we’ve seen Naomi Osaka and Mirra Andreeva use during changeovers. It’s not too common in the men’s game. It might be a strategic and stress management tool to reset when things start to spiral. Zverev’s body language shifts quickly, and you can feel the negative thoughts creeping in through your screen. It’s the kind of mental battle Djokovic spoke about on 60 Minutes.
“The difference between the guys who are able to be [the] biggest champions and the ones who are struggling to get to the highest level is the ability to not stay in those emotions for too long.” — Novak Djokovic
If he could make strategic adjustments in the moment and strength his mental ability to move past the negativity, would Zverev be the best player on tour right now?
Podcast: Rafa Nadal Interview | Served With Andy Roddick
Video: Berrettini vs Zverev — 48 Shot Rally
Video: Ballkids | Official Trailer
Video: “F*ck this sport, f*ck tennis, f*ck everything” — Novak Djokovic
Article: Carlos Alcaraz Returns to #1 Ranking, Passes Jannik Sinner
Article: New AI-Powered Ball Machine
Article: Pros Share Their Jet Lag Tips
Article: Agassi Playing at US Open Pickleball Tournament
Article: Roger Federer Announces “Casual” Return
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