Whilst for many it is the off-season right now, tennis action will soon move back into full swing in the coming weeks with exhibitions continuing to take place giving top stars the opportunity to get back into match practice over the festive period.This includes over the next week as it begins a week after the season concludes. Jack Draper, Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, Naomi Osaka are all in action in some way or another in the coming weeks as well as Aryna Sabalenka who will play in the Battle of the Sexes exhibition against Nick Kyrgios.
Albeit the move especially by some including Alcaraz to play these events could come under some flack and criticism given that he and also the likes of Swiatek, Draper and Rybakina have all spoken out at some juncture or another about the rigours of the tour and the lack of an off-season.
Northern Palmyra Trophies Exhibition – 29-30 November
The first exhibition in the coming week is the Northern Palmyra Trophies Exhibition in Russia albeit it is controversial as it is bankrolled by Gazprom, a state-backed energy company that is believed to be financially aiding Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine.
This is currently the only event that takes place in Russia on either tour and is ran by Formula TX who previously ran the St Petersburg Ladies Trophy and other events in the past when the ATP and WTA visited the country. Players are allowed to play it though despite protestation from others. This year it will see Daniil Medvedev, Karen Khachanov, Veronika Kudermetova, Yulia Putintseva, Alexander Bublik, Anastasia Potapova and Diana Shnaider involved. As well as Tallon Griekspoor and Mikhail Youzhny being advertised. Griekspoor is one of the only players not of Russian origin but is believed to be dating Anastasia Potapova.
Thanasi Kokkinakis infamously played this last year too and was did so despite Tennis Australia publicly denouncing it. But it will still take place.
UTS Grand Final – December 5-6
Then it is onto a familiar format to begin the first week of December as the UTS Grand Final will take place. Alex de Minaur, Jack Draper, Andrey Rublev, Tomas Machac, Adrian Mannarino, Casper Ruud, Francisco Cerúndolo and David Goffin all feature in this event.
It will be the first tournament that Jack Draper will play since the US Open after shutting down his season early due to injury. UTS has different rules with matches turned into four quarters of eight minutes. £1,394,000 is on offer overall and it sees unique rules designed to differentiate tennis and keep the players on their toes.
Racquet at the Rock and Miami Tennis Invitational – December 7-8Then it is onto a spate of exhibitions in the States. A Racquet at the Rock begins proceedings in New Jersey. Carlos Alcaraz, Frances Tiafoe, Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula will play on December 7 in two best of three singles matches and a mixed doubles.
Jessica Pegula, Carlos Alcaraz, Amanda Anisimova head onto Miami afterwards alongside Joao Fonseca with two full singles matches and a 10-point mixed doubles match at the loanDEPOT Park, home of the Miami Marlins.
The Garden Cup – December 8
It is a different line-up entirely the same night with a double dose of exhibition action as Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka, Nick Kyrgios and Tommy Paul headline Madison Square Garden.
Used to benefit the International Tennis Hall of Fame, it sees two singles matches and a mixed doubles and will be the first time no doubt unless they team together that Kyrgios and Sabalenka will face off before their Battle of the Sexes.
Tennis Premier League India – December 9-14
Then it’s onto India for two tournaments. Firstly Luciano Darderi, Arthur Rinderknech, Corentin Moutet, Alexandre Muller and Damir Džumhur will all play in the Tennis Premier League in India.
Matches have a 25 point format with a combination of both India’s best players and a series of top 100 players on the ATP Tour. Matches have a 25-point format which they claim makes it more exciting and accessible especially to the Indian audiences.
World Tennis League – December 17-20
Daniil Medvedev, Rohan Bopanna, Magda Linette, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Denis Shapovalov, Yuki Bhambri, Elina Svitolina, Maaya Revathi, Nick Kyrgios, Dakshineswar Suresh, Marta Kostyuk, Ankita Raina, Gaël Monfils, Sumit Nagal, Paula Badosa and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty will play at the World Tennis League the week after.
It will be held in Bengaluru with four franchises owned by different top figures from India in Falcons, Hawks, Kites and Eagles. Typical of any team event but it’s four sets and round robin.
Macau Tennis Masters – December 27-28
Li Na and Conchita Martinez lead Mirra Andreeva, Alexandra Eala, Shang Juncheng, Jack Draper and Jakub Mensik in Macau in an exhibition that last year took place on Christmas Day.
This time it’ll be on December 27-28 and includes singles, doubles and mixed doubles with two captains leading the way.
Battle of the Sexes – December 28
Then it is onto the highly contentious Battle of the Sexes which will take place in UAE and harks back to the Billie Jean King v Bobby Riggs game of 1973 with different rules, court sizes and social media trash talk this time between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios.
“I have a lot of respect for Nick and his talent, but make no mistake, I’m ready to bring my A-game,” said Sabalenka.
“I’m proud to represent women’s tennis and to be part of this modern take of the iconic ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match.”
Continental Cup Shenzhen – December 26-28
Then finally it is Europe v Rest of the World in Shenzhen as Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina lead the World Tennis Continental Cup in Shenzhen. The full line-up is Iga Swiatek, Flavio Cobolli, Arthur Fils, Belinda Bencic, Andrey Rublev, Wang Xinhyu, Elena Rybakina and Zhang Zhizhen who face off from Boxing Day until December 28.
Most also head to either United Cup or Brisbane in the week after so it is good preparation for that.
AloJapan.com