NEW EPISODE: ATP Top 20 Season Recap
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Context-free soundbite: “And that’s the first time I ever saw Roger Federer play.”
This week on Served, Andy and JW review what went right and what went wrong for the ATP’s year-end Top 20. If you need a refresher on where things stand heading into the 2026 season, this is it! Plus: predictions!
📝 Programming note: No 5 Setter this Friday. Served will return next Tuesday with the WTA year-end Top 20 recap.
Watch this week’s full episode below, then come back here for the latest tennis headlines.
Three stories we love this week.
Tien Wins Next Gen ATP Finals
Learner Tien won the Next Gen ATP Finals in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, beating Alexander Blockx in straight sets. The runner-up last year, Tien became the first returning player to win the title.
Tien, who is coached by former world No. 2 Michael Chang, entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed and heavy favorite as the only player with an ATP Tour title to his credit. The American got off to a rocky start by losing to Spain’s Rafael Jodar in five sets after holding four match points. Then he dropped the first set in his next two round-robin matches. But from there, Tien ran the table, rattling off nine straight sets to take the title.
Rafael Nadal presented the trophy to Tien in his role as ambassador for Saudi Tennis Federation. The 20-year-old joins Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Stefanos Tsitsipas as Next Gen champions.
“It’s very cool to be adding my name to the list of previous winners. I think every player who has won this tournament has gone on to do very well, so it means a lot to be up there with those names,” Tien said.
Blockx, from Belgium, impressed with a blistering forehand that carried him through four wins, including a semifinal victory over his close friend Nicolai Budkov Kjaer of Norway.
“We have been speaking about the Next Gen for a long time. In September, we were talking: ‘Imagine if we made it to Jeddah and played each other there.’ So it is amazing to have been able to share this match with him. He is one of my best friends on tour, so it was a really nice Saturday for me,” Blockx said.
Tien took home $502,250, and Blockx doubled his 2025 prize money with $382,500. (ATP)
Wawrinka to Retire After 2026
Stan Wawrinka will hang up his racquet after next season. The 40-year-old announced the news on social media Friday.
“One last push. Every book needs an ending. It’s time to write the final chapter of my career as a professional tennis player. 2026 will be my last year on tour,” Wawrinka wrote on Instagram.
Wawrinka should be a lock for the Hall of Fame when he’s eligible for the first ballot in 2031. One hitch might be if Novak Djokovic winds up playing his last “significant” match in 2026, too. Wawrinka’s resume includes the 2014 Australian Open, 2015 French Open, 2016 US Open, 2014 Davis Cup for Switzerland and an Olympic gold medal in doubles with Roger Federer at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. He has won 13 ATP Tour titles and reached a career-high ranking of No. 3. In the trivia category, Wawrinka is the only player to beat each of the Big Four at the majors.
We’ll also remember the Stanimal for those shorts:
Wawrinka, currently No. 157, will start the 2026 season at the United Cup. (Tennis.com)
Australian Open Wild Card Watch
Speaking of Stan Wawrinka, he remains on the watch list for the dwindling Australian Open wild cards. The tournament handed out four more special entries over the weekend, and Wawrinka was not a recipient. Three more ATP wild cards remain.
Nick Kyrgios is also still sitting by the phone. The 30-year-old will make his comeback at the Brisbane International, starting January 5. The 2022 AO doubles champion is signed up to play the $1 Million 1 Point Slam pro-am during the pre-tournament festivities.
Australian Open wild card picture so far:
Who will make the main draw and who will have to rely on qualifying? (Australian Open)
Quick Hits
Naomi Osaka confirmed last week’s news that she is leaving her current agency, Evolve (Instagram)
Another big ban for match fixing: Pang Renlong of China received a 12-year suspension and $110,000 fine from the ITIA (Tennis.com)
Colette Lewis of Zoo Tennis has this month’s Orange Bowl wrap-up (Tennisrecruiting.net)
AlcaRero update: The Spanish press reports that Carlos Alcaraz’s team cut Juan Carlos Ferrero’s coaching salary and gave him 48 hours to review the contract (Marca)
Exhibitions, round two: World Tennis Continental Cup (Dec. 26–28), MGM Macau Masters (Dec. 27–28), Battle of the Sexes (Dec. 28)
Congratulations on baby number four, Anna Kournikova (Instagram)
Alex de Minaur cleans up (Esquire)
Have You Checked Out the Served 5 Setter?
Global action beyond tennis.
PICKLEBALL: Manufacturers and organizers are fighting back against counterfeit paddles. (The Kitchen)
BADMINTON: In last week’s Badminton World Tour Finals, women’s champ An Se-young tied the record for most titles in a calendar year with 11 championships in 2025, and men’s champ Christo Popov became the first Frenchman to win the title. (Olympics.com)
PADEL: The Premier Padel Tour released its 2026 calendar, expanding to 18 countries. (International Padel Federation)
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That De Minaur Esquire photoshoot … Quick! Someone cast the Demon in a Knives Out mystery!