NEW EPISODE: Holger Rune Analyzes the ATP, Australian Open Watch Guide & More
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Context-free soundbite: “When I reached my career high [ranking], actually, it was possibly the worst moment of my life.”
Happy Slam season, Chuckers!
The Australian Open has officially started, and it’s time to settle in for three solid weeks of tennis mania. A new episode of Served just dropped today, and here you can find a rundown on what to watch Down Under this week, plus a few sleeper stories that could come into play at the Happy Slam.
Scroll on for the new episode, Served’s Australian Open coverage schedule and how to enter our Bracket Challenge before first ball.
New Episode Out—Holger Rune Joins the Show!
Andy and Producer Mike break down the year’s first title winners, then Andy goes one-on-one with World No. 13 Holger Rune for a candid conversation about life inside the ATP’s top echelon and the Dane’s Achilles rehab. Plus, who won the Tsonga–Mouratoglou feud?
Four stories we’re following this week.
The Australian Open Watch Guide
Qualifying rounds and Opening Week shenanigans kicked off Monday in Melbourne, and three tour events are in progress. Here’s the rundown of what to watch, plus Served’s upcoming coverage.
Australian Open
Qualifying—ongoing through Thurs., Jan. 15
Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini exhibition—Tues., Jan. 13
Alexander Zverev and Lorenzo Musetti exhibition—Tues., Jan. 13
$1 Million 1-Point Slam pro-am—Wed., Jan. 14
Elina Svitolina and Amanda Anisimova exhibition—Wed., Jan. 14
Draws—Thurs., Jan. 15
Carlos Alcaraz and Alex de Minaur exhibition—Thurs., Jan 15
Jannik Sinner and Felix Auger-Aliassime exhibition—Fri., Jan 16
Battle of the No. 1s exhibition—Sat., Jan. 17
Main Draw Day 1—Sun., Jan. 18
🎤 ESPN announced changes to its broadcasting crew, and Danielle Collins has joined Tennis Channel Live
Aussie Summer Swing
Adelaide International (WTA 500, ATP 250)—ongoing through Sat., Jan. 17
ASB Classic, Auckland (ATP 250)—ongoing through Sat., Jan. 17
Hobart International (WTA 250)—ongoing through Sat., Jan. 17
Kooyong Classic
Men’s and women’s exhibitions in Melbourne
Jan. 13-15
Served Coverage This Week
Love All with Kim Clijsters and Blair Henley—Wed., Jan. 14
Q&Andy—Thurs., Jan 15
Served Australian Open Draw Special—Fri., Jan. 16
Served’s Bracket Challenge contest—opens Fri., Jan. 16 (register now)
Quick Served episodes—daily beginning Mon., Jan. 19
Milos Raonic Announces Retirement
Canada’s most successful player, Milos Raonic, has called it a career. Formerly No. 3 in the world, the Missile retires as the highest-ranked Canadian ever in singles and the only man to reach a major singles final.
Raonic turned pro in 2008, won eight titles and made the Wimbledon final in 2016, losing to Andy Murray. Then a decade of injuries set in and slowed his career. The 35-year-old played his last match at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
“He changed the landscape of tennis in Canada, and his influence on Canadian players and programs will be felt for many years to come.” —Gavin Ziv, Tennis Canada CEO
Next career: wealth advisor? (Tennis.com)
Tennis Loses a Favorite Journalist
Damian Kust, an independent tennis reporter from Poland, passed away last week, to the dismay of many of the sport’s insiders and players. The news posted to his X account drew 7.2 million views.
The 26-year-old made a name for himself as a passionate chronicler of the ATP Challenger Tour, “covering the unsung heroes,” in his words, for Cracked Racquets, Last Word Tennis and Tenis by Dawid. Kust succumbed to an autoimmune disease. Served sends its condolences to his family, friends and legions of loyal readers.
Sleeper Stories From Week 1
Andy kicks off the show this week by reviewing the latest winners and headlines, including Alexander Bublik’s Top 10 debut and the extension of our favorite tennis stat. Can you guess what it is? Hint:
Here are three under-the-radar stories that could have an impact on the Australian Open.
Coleman Wong pulls off an upset in Hong Kong. The 21-year-old became the first native son to win a main-draw match in Hong Kong when he beat World No. 40 Gabriel Diallo. A product of the Rafael Nadal Academy, he’s a good bet to be an AO media darling and early-round disruptor. He’s into the second round of qualifying.
Belinda Bencic returns to the Top 10. The 28-year-old is the first mother since Serena Williams to achieve the feat. She went 9-1 (and 5-0 in singles) at United Cup and shot to the top of the AO dark-horse list.
Hsieh Su-Wei and Jelena Ostapenko win their first title. The doubles team made two Slam finals last year but came up empty-handed. In Brisbane, they won their first tournament as a team. Can the fan favorites make a major breakthrough in Melbourne?
Quick Hits
Justice was served when Stan Wawrinka received an Australian Open men’s wild card.
Tennis’s answer to Olympic breakdancer Raygun went viral.
The ATP Store launched Monday with pieces from Lacoste, Dunlop, Waterdrop and, most notably, tennis lifestyle brand Palmes Society.
Stars! They’re just like us, whiffing easy balls (see second slide) ➡️
Have you checked out Served’s new shows?
Global action beyond tennis.
PICKLEBALL: The AO Pickleball Slam, a pro tournament, returns for a second year at the Australian Open, Jan. 24–26. Jannik Sinner and Naomi Osaka are scheduled to play an exhibition. (Australian Open)
PADEL: World No. 1 Arturo Coello signed with On Running, marking the brand’s first major commitment to padel. Coello will wear On clothing and apparel and develop products. (Sporting Goods Intelligence)
SQUASH: At the Karachi Open, Amina Orfi of Egypt defeated Sivasangari Subramaniam of Malaysia, and Mohamad Zakaria of Egypt beat countryman Aly Abou Eleinen in a 100‑minute thriller. (The Squash Site)
BADMINTON: At the Malaysia Open, Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand won his first Super 1000 title when World No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China retired from the final. An Se‑young of Korea beat Wang Zhiyi of China. (Olympics.com)
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