Check back soon for all the latest local and international tennis news.
January (updated 5.1.26)
Happy New Year everybody! 2026 has started with a bit of a freeze, but once the ice and snow have retreated I’m sure that we shall all be out playing and keeping faithful to our resolutions to keep fit in 2026. Don’t forget that statistics show that tennis players live longer than ordinary people.
As mentioned in the renewal letter, we have not been able to enter a team into the Weald League of late and so, if anyone is interested in representing the club, please let us know. We hope to return to competitive tennis in 2026. Matches typically take place at weekends and result in a friendly and enjoyable encounter with neighbouring clubs.
The WTA Final had a surprise winner in Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, who beat World no. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, taking the second set tie-break 7-0. Elena also takes home one of the biggest ever prizes in tennis, male or female, of over $5,000,000
Jannik Sinner, won the ATP final, beating his great rival Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets. Britain’s Henry Patten, partnering Harri Heliovaara (Finland) won the Men’s Doubles title. Italy won the Davis Cup for the third year in a row, beating Spain in the final. However, the crazy scheduling, just a few days after the ATP Finals, greatly diminished the event, with only one top ten player competing in the finals.
The tennis year ends with Carlos Alcaraz at no. 1, followed by Jannik Sinner. Jack Draper is the UK’s no. 1 at 10th, followed by Cameron Norrie at 27th. Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool are the World’s top doubles pair, the first time this has been achieved by an all-British team. Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) is the no. 1 woman, followed by Iga Swiatek, from Poland. Emma Raducanu is the top Brit at 29th, followed by Sonay Kartal at 70th.
2025’s Grand Slam Winners were: Australia:- Sinner & Madison Keys France: Alcaraz & Coco Gauff Wimbledon: Sinner and Swiatek USA: Alcaraz & Sabalenka
Cash/Glasspool won the Wimbledon Men’s Doubles and Patten/Heliovaara took the Aussie Men’s Doubles title.
The year ended with the somewhat dubious “Battle of the Sexes” in which Nick Kyrgios defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3
The New Year started badly for both the British no. 1’s with Jack Draper pulling out of the Australian Open with a long-term arm injury and Emma Raducanu pulling out of her first match in the United Cup (however, GB managed to beat Japan without her).
Things are going better for 45-year-old Venus Williams, who recently got married for the first time (Serena gave her a yacht as a wedding gift) and she has been given a wild card for the Australian Open, which starts on 18th January. World no. 4 Coco Gauff is also happy; for the 3rd year in a row she is the top earner in women’s sport. $31 millions came her way in 2025, only $8 million of which was in prize money. Not bad for a 21-year-old. Ten out of the fifteen the top earning sportswomen are tennis players and they are likely to get richer with the signing of a lucrative 10-year sponsorship deal with Mercedes.
We are particularly interested in recruiting female members to the Club Committee.
Hartfield is going to be the centre of world attention this year, with the centenary of the publication of the first Winnie-the-Pooh book. Treats are promised, starting soon, at the Pooh Corner shop and Cafe and don’t forget to drink the beloved bear’s health on Winnie-the-Pooh Day on 18th January.
A Wizard of Oz panto will be on from 29th January to 1st February in Forest Row, featuring David Jinks, who played King Caspar in the recent St. Mary’s Live Nativity.
If you have any news, or would like to comment on any of the above, I would be delighted to hear from you at madden47@hotmail.com.
Thanks,
Bernie M.
Hartfield Tennis Club 