Every week, countless stories and news emerge in the tennis world that don’t always make headlines but are too intriguing to overlook. These can be on-court or off-court developments that go under the radar due to bigger storylines from the past week. This week, we had many interesting stories and news, all of which are featured in this edition.
Tennis News Weekly Roundup
Murray Reveals He Was Not Ready to Coach Djokovic
This week, Andy Murray opened up about his experience coaching Novak Djokovic, shedding light on the challenges he faced during their six-month partnership, which ended in May 2025. In a recent interview, Murray admitted to struggling with providing the technical feedback Djokovic sought, particularly on aspects of technique, as he felt unprepared for such demands given his limited coaching experience.
Murray said: “I would say that most ex-players are sort of weak at the technical side of the game. At times, Novak was looking for quite a lot of technical feedback, and it was something that I didn’t really feel comfortable with. So that was something that I definitely, if I was going to coach again in the future, I would want to work on and learn from someone who’s very good at that.”
Despite these challenges, Murray spoke positively about the experience, calling it a “unique opportunity” to learn from one of the greatest athletes in tennis.
Leylah Fernandez Looking for a Date
Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez recently made headlines by announcing on Instagram that she’s looking for a date during the upcoming National Bank Open in Montreal. In a playful video, the 22-year-old 2021 US Open finalist said she’s not a fan of dating apps and wants to meet someone in person for a one-hour date in her hometown. She humorously noted that any potential suitor might need to meet her father, who is also her coach, beforehand.
Whether this is a genuine call for a date or a promotional stunt is unknown, but it will be interesting to see who Fernandez picks.
Qinwen Zheng Underwent Arthroscopic Surgery
Olympic Champion and world No.6, Qinwen Zheng, announced via Instagram that she successfully underwent arthroscopic surgery on her right elbow to address persistent pain that had plagued her during training and matches for several months. Zheng said, “Despite trying various treatments to manage it, the discomfort never fully went away. After consulting with elbow specialists and discussing thoroughly with my team, we decided that arthroscopic surgery was the best option to fully resolve the issue.”
She was bothered this year and hasn’t quite been able to play her best. This surgery will keep her out for at least two months, if not for the rest of the season. The Chinese player has never missed a Slam in her career, but will most likely miss the upcoming US Open, where she was also set to play mixed doubles with Jack Draper.
Ons Jabeur Takes a Break from Tennis
30-year-old Ons Jabeur announced this week that she is taking an indefinite break from professional tennis to prioritise her mental and physical health. This decision comes after a difficult two-year period highlighted by persistent injuries and emotional stress, which have harmed her performance and happiness on the court.
Thank you for your support 🙏🏻❤️ pic.twitter.com/AiffrjDzU0
— Ons Jabeur (@Ons_Jabeur) July 17, 2025
Jabeur’s most recent setback was when she retired from her first-round match at Wimbledon against Viktoriya Tomova due to breathing difficulties. She was visibly emotional, crying into a towel during the match. Her game is a joy to watch, and her personality is incredibly charismatic. She has been a great ambassador of this sport, and hopefully, finds peace during her break and rediscovers her love for tennis.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
