Rising American sensation Iva Jovic on meeting Novak Djokovic again and the advice that she received from him: “I think he’s almost even kinder and even more attentive outside the cameras. It was amazing. He’s so intelligent and smart and really wants to help the younger generation. When Novak gives you advice, you follow it.” Iva is 10-2 this year and into her first Grand Slam R16. Boris Becker said Iva reminds him of Martina Hingis.
Every time an American tennis player, at the Australian Open, was asked political questions from a liberal agenda driven reporter, trying to bait them into bashing Trump, America, and ICE, every player (Keys, Fritz, Anisimova, Pegula) deflected or dismissed the question, except Coco Gauff. John Isner commented on X: “Popular opinion: Let’s ask tennis questions to the players at a tennis tournament. This is so lame.”
Nick Kyrgios won a match at AO! He and Leylah Fernandez edged Skupski and Krawczyk10-8 in the match tiebreaker. Leylah hit a return winner to seal the win in which they had to save three match points.
Carlos Alcaraz says his brother Alvaro will be promoted to a more important role on his coaching staff: “My brother is a very important person in my personal and professional life. He brings me many positive things that I need to perform better and well on the court and in tournaments. Now he’s going to take on more prominence alongside Samu. He knows how we operate and how the circuit works, and he knows a ton about tennis. Sometimes, he has opinions and a way of seeing things that bring a lot to me and to Samu. Happy to see him in the box, even more involved, and he brings me a lot.”
Yulia Putintseva says the crowd in her match against Zeynep Sonmez was disrespectful, ‘The guy started coughing just for my shot. I was like, ok now I’m not gonna lose… I was ready to fight until I die there. There’s always someone in favor and someone to cheer for. That’s what’s great about the sport. But today I think there were a lot of disrespectful moments, when they were screaming between my first and second serves. Screaming not even like really loud, like just to make me make a mistake. In the game I think it was 4-3, it was a big point, I opened the court very good, I take my forehand, and the guy just started like coughing just for my shot. I was like ‘Okay, now I’m not gonna lose.’ Like really. I was ready to take it all. I was ready to fight until I die there. What can I do? Some people have education of tennis and some of them not.”
Daniil Medvedev on facing Learner Tien in a R16 rematch from a year ago: “During the match they showed the score and usually I don’t look… I glimpsed and in this moment they were like ‘Tien [wins] 3 sets’ and I was like ‘okay’ I was 2 sets to love down and I was like ‘okay, if I win this one it’s gonna be 5 sets, it’s gonna be very tough and then I have Learner but it’s okay.’ The thing is, I kind of don’t like to play him, but he must hate to play me as well because all our matches I was serving for the match or something, it’s long brutal rallies… I’m gonna enjoy it because it’s gonna be a lot of shot making a lot of good defense from both of us.. so I’m gonna try to enjoy the game of tennis and of course try to do my best to maybe surprise him somewhere.”
Shocking news in Brazil Challenger. Luis Martínez and Cristian Rodríguez were detained in Brazil for racist acts. As can be seen in the livestream video, Martínez made a gesture imitating a monkey. Then, Rodríguez called a ball boy “macaco” (monkey). They face a possible prison sentence of up to five years. Martinez/Rodriguez lost the match 76 67 2-10.
21 year old Coco Gauff is now the highest paid female athlete in the world. Sportico listed her income last year in excess of $30m with more than $20m from endorsements alone. Gauff asserted this week in a press conference that it’s difficult for her as a black woman in the US. Is she falsely victimizing all black women as some kind of victims of white oppression?
AO · Daniil Medvedev · Iva Jovic
Steve · January 23, 2026 at 11:39 am
I loved how Putintzeva handled the rude crowd. I can’t think of a better way of handling it than trolling them with a custom dance as she did. LOL
The Solderling-esque Botic Van De Zandschulp has made it through to face Djokovic. Botic is 1 & 1 vs. the Serb.
Botic has been as high as #22 in the world, has made $5.6 million dollars yet has a losing record in singles at 112-113.
Cory · January 23, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Kozlov lost to Fassaro in a Portuguese Chellenger… but he’s looked really good this week. Fassaro had a will, a determinism, and imposed his will on the match. Coming forward often, grunting, taking control. But still a good result for Koz, hoping he can finally get his ranking back to 100-ish where he can get into some tour-level stuff again. And not have to grind out Q rounds at challengers.
Loving this AO scoop. Stan the Man!!! He’s getting slept on in the Fritz matchup. Stan may be mostly out of gas but he’s got a chance here. Crowd will be 90% for Stan.
Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2026 at 3:23 pm
Big fan of Putintseva and she was a fabulous Biofile, which we did at Miami Open. https://www.tennis-prose.com/articles/biofile-yulia-putintseva-interview/
Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2026 at 3:28 pm
Yes Kozlov had a strong week again, won two tough quali matches and a !r main draw. Passaro was just too good yesterday, hitting heavier, grunting, he controlled the rhythm and tone of the match for the most part but I felt Stefan let him off the hook a few times – up 3-1 in first set, some other chances. I think Cleveland is next. It is a superb AO but then again it always is, I can’t remember a dud AO. Always so many stories and intriguing developments. I’m feeling some Jimbo Connors 1991 vibes with Stan, he’s gaining confidence by the match and we all know when he reaches Stanimal Turbo gear he can dominate anyone including peak Djokovic.
Cory · January 25, 2026 at 12:09 pm
Scoop – Joker gets a huge break here not getting tossed around by Mensik! I think it saved Novak from a 4-5 setter. A huge rest he probably could use as he preps for these final few rounds. Probably won’t disturb his rhythm, he’s as focused as ever. Can’t wait! I can’t stand Sinner; like you once said he’s a robot. But doesn’t look like Sinner might be able to survive the later rounds, not sure about the injury/cramping? Exciting. Rooting for the Ruud boy, Darderi and Fritz tonight!
Scoop Malinowski · January 25, 2026 at 4:32 pm
For all the times the establishment has put roadblocks to stop Novak, he deserves this lucky free pass to QF. Not surprised he got it as Mensik adores Novak and AO stands to gain huge revenues with a prime time Novak QF. Sinner may be cramping due to steroids, it’s a common side effect. No word on if he has ever been tested since the double test failures.