Tennis News Roundup: Novak Djokovic’s quest to beat Alcaraz-Sinner leads him to Coco Gauff’s ex-coach; Gael Monfils reveals how retirement determination broke his father

Novak Djokovic employed Coco Gauff’s former coach, Mark Kovacs, to beat Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Gael Monfils mentioned telling his father about his impending retirement was extraordinarily tough.

A tennis insider opined that Alcaraz ought to have ready for the Australian Open within the offseason as an alternative of taking part in exhibition matches. Rennae Stubbs expressed her delight at Gauff turning into the face of the WTA’s cope with Mercedes-Benz. Jack Sock and Steve Johnson named Jelena Ostapenko and Yulia Putintseva to their ‘naughty list’ on account of their on-court conduct.

On that observe, let’s discover the tales of the day:

#1. Novak Djokovic provides Coco Gauff’s former coach to his workforce

Novak Djokovic is gearing up for the 2026 Australian Open, the place he goals to win his report twenty fifth Grand Slam title. His greatest problem will likely be overcoming Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who’ve divided the final eight Majors amongst themselves.

Thus, Djokovic has just lately roped in biomechanics knowledgeable Mark Kovacs, who has additionally labored with Coco Gauff, Sloane Stephens, John Isner, and Madison Keys. The Australian efficiency knowledgeable is the co-founder and CEO of the International Tennis Performance Association (ITPA).

The Serb completed the 2025 season because the World No. 4 with a 39-11 report. He received a few ATP 250 titles this yr in Geneva and Athens. An damage compelled him to withdraw from the ATP Finals in Turin final month.

#2. Gael Monfils reveals his dialog along with his father about retirement

On October 1, Gael Monfils introduced that he’ll retire on the finish of the 2026 season. The Frenchman, who turned professional in 2004, received 18 of his 33 matches in 2025, along with his thirteenth profession title coming on the ATP 250 Auckland Open.

During a current dialog with RTL, the 39-year-old weighed in on his determination, saying:

“I still love tennis. But now it’s more about age, recovery. I have a family now, and other responsibilities. Performances are much harder to string together. These are simply natural things for any athlete. At some point, there is an end.”

Monfils additionally spoke about his father, Rufin, who has most likely been his greatest supporter since day one.

“For 40 years, my father has been driven by his son who wanted to play tennis from a very young age. Announcing my retirement to my father was definitely the hardest part. I even told him that it wasn’t easy to tell him,” he added.

Nevertheless, the previous World No. 6 mentioned his father “understood very quickly” that each athlete has to maneuver on in some unspecified time in the future. Gael is married to tennis participant Elina Svitolina, they usually welcomed their daughter, Skai, in 2022.

#3. Tennis insider unimpressed with Carlos Alcaraz chasing cash throughout offseason

Carlos Alcaraz completed his 2025 season on the ATP Finals final month and has participated in a number of exhibition occasions since. He will play one other exhibition match with Jannik Sinner in Seoul, South Korea, on January 10.

However, Steve Flink, a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has expressed his displeasure on the Spaniard’s obvious lack of seriousness. Appearing on the “Court-Side with Beilinson Tennis” podcast, Flink mentioned Alcaraz ought to have ready for the upcoming Australian Open, the place he has but to win.

“Carlos has by no means proven us his finest type in Australia… I don’t assume Ferrero and his workforce are very eager on Carlos spending his low season taking part in exhibition matches. He has each proper to take action, however he has his complete life to earn cash. He has a lot time to fill his checking account that I believe it might have been wiser for him to not take part in these tournaments final yr,” he mentioned.

Alcaraz received eight titles this season, together with two Majors, and completed because the year-end No. 1.

#4. Rennae Stubbs displays on Coco Gauff turning into the face of the WTA-Mercedes-Benz deal

Last week, Mercedes-Benz introduced that it might splash $50 million into the WTA Tour yearly, beginning in 2026. Moreover, Coco Gauff was declared the face of the 10-year deal.

Serena Williams’ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, has shared her pleasure for Gauff. Speaking on “The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast,” actor-writer Caitlin Thompson mentioned (19:22):

“Massive hats off and congratulations to the WTA Tour because that is a huge turn of events and Coco has been tapped as the face of this, which you cannot get a better brand ambassador, probably can’t really get a better human and obviously somebody who really transcends the sport to be your brand ambassador.”

Stubbs replied:

“So Coco. I really feel like a G-Wagon is arising into her driveway actual quickly. For certain.”

#5. Ex-American gamers name out Jelena Ostapenko, Yulia Putintseva for his or her earlier on-court conduct

Jelena Ostapenko and Yulia Putintseva just lately made it to former gamers Jack Sock and Steve Johnson’s ‘naughty lists,’ respectively.

After her second-round loss to Taylor Townsend at this yr’s US Open, Ostapenko questioned Taylor’s ‘class’ and ‘training.’ Putintseva, however, obtained flak for seemingly misbehaving with ballkids on the 2024 US Open.

Speaking on the most recent episode of the “Nothing Major” podcast, Sock mentioned:

“I’m going to go with Jelena Ostapenko. Sometimes she gets into it on the court with some people like kind of just a little whiny.”

Johnson recalled Putintseva’s actions with the ball children, saying:

“(For me) it’s Yulia Putintseva. She always just seems to be in controversy as our folks across the pond would say. Yeah, she’s got the staring at the ball kid. She just, you don’t do anything to the ball people out there, ball kids, ball adults. Like treat those people. You got to treat them fully with respect. You can’t dog those people while you’re out on the court. So, I don’t like that.”