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<\/p>\nAt a time where speculation swirls around Australian tennis, a plot worth well north of one billion dollars proposes to revolutionise tennis as we know it. <\/p>\n
Plus, the absurd \u201cattachment\u201d hilariously aligned with the rise of Alex de Minaur\u2019s third-round opponent.<\/p>\n
Read all the Talking Points from Day 5 at the Australian Open.<\/p>\n
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UFC 325: Volkanovski vs Lopes 2 | SUN 1 FEB 1PM AEDT | For the first time in his storied career, UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will defend his championship in his home city of Sydney, in a rematch with Brazil\u2019s Diego Lopes. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.<\/a><\/p>\n BLUEPRINT FOR $1.5 BILLION PLOT THAT COULD REVOLUTIONISE TENNIS<\/p>\n The off-court power plays and plot lines have thickened with a report that foreign tennis dignitaries have boycotted the Australian Open in protest at a recent legal settlement.<\/p>\n After the fleet-footed Alex de Minaur and other leading stars<\/a> described why the world\u2019s best players are pushing the grand slam tournaments to open the coffers, talk has arisen of a mooted super tour partially modelled on one proposed by Tennis Australia a few years back.<\/p>\n According to The Telegraph in London, the Professional Tennis Players Association which recently reached an agreement with Tennis Australia in an anti-trust lawsuit has recommended a three-tier tennis ecosystem topped by a \u201cPinnacle Tour\u201d.<\/p>\n This would see the world\u2019s best players appear in only 16 tournaments per year, with prize money to rise by 16 events in the first year and with the top 100 players guaranteed $3.6 million by the tenth year of what would be a LIV style breakaway.<\/p>\n It is not dissimilar to the \u201cPremier Tour\u201d plan Tennis Australia devised a couple of years ago, which would see the best focus solely on the biggest events, presumably the majors, the Masters Series events and, perhaps, the United Cup. The inclusion of a Masters tournament in Saudi Arabia, which looks set to begin in 2028, would equate to 16 tournaments.<\/p>\n There is a significant difference, with the PTPA sending a blueprint of their plan to more than 20 international banking firms seeking \u201cexpressions of interest\u201d from potential investors.<\/p>\n If any of those equity giants opt to become involved, with an investment of A$1.5 billion a mooted amount, it would give the PTPA additional leverage in an ongoing suit.<\/p>\n The suit is ongoing against the other three grand slams bodies, along with the ATP, WTA and ITF Tours, but Tennis Australia has agreed to open its books to the PTPA lawyers in exchange for being exempt from the legal fees or damages.<\/p>\n A letter from the PTPA seen by foxsports.com.au refers to significant structural issues including a \u201cfragmented yet suppressive governance modal, a confusing and inaccessible calendar for fans, and player compensation artificially capped and well below industry peers.\u201d<\/p>\n The letter sent to potential investors in a new super tour declares that \u201cprofessional tennis has underperformed for years.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDespite ranking as the world\u2019s third most popular sport by global fan engagement, tennis ranks 11th commercially and significantly behind comparable sports,\u201d it reads.<\/p>\n Authoritative English journalist Simon Briggs has reported that officials from the French Tennis Federation opted out of coming to Australia after TA broke ranks in the PTPA suit.<\/p>\n The fracas comes at a time where speculation is swirling as to whether TA chief executive and Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley will depart<\/a> for a role leading the US Tennis Association.<\/p>\n ABSURD IMAGE BEHIND DEMON RIVAL\u2019S RISE<\/p>\n The Australian Open is less than a week old and Alex de Minaur finds himself in a familiar position<\/a> against a familiar \u2018foe\u2019.<\/p>\n That\u2019s Francis Tiafoe, a formidable foe, to be exact.<\/p>\n The world No.6 will seek to reach the second week of his home grand slam for the fifth straight time when he tackles the powerful American on Friday night at Melbourne Park.<\/p>\n De Minaur has been the standout star in Australian for the past four years following the retirement of Ash Barty and the injuries plaguing Nick Kyrgios and he stands alone again in men\u2019s ranks, with Maddison Inglis the sole remaining woman.<\/p>\n While the Aussies enjoyed a promising start to their home open, with 11 of the 21 main draw entrants progressing to the round two, the past two days have sobered the optimism.<\/p>\n The six-time grand slam quarterfinalist, however, will be positive with the manner with which he has progressed, though also mindful of the threat posed by a rival he has grown up with.<\/p>\n Australia’s Alex De Minaur hits a return to Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic during their men’s singles match on day four of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 21, 2026. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST \/ AFP)Source: AFP<\/p>\n As Tiafoe said, they have been mindful of the other\u2019s presence for a long time on the tour, with the Aussie winning their first meeting at the US Open way back in 2018.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, as far as a player, I\u2019ve known him for a while, known him for a long time,\u201d Tiafoe said. <\/p>\n \u201cHim and me, we\u2019ve played since we came on the scene. (We) got in the top 100 kind of around the same time. I mean, (I\u2019ve) seen him around for years. And now we\u2019re the older guys on the tour and now we\u2019re playing big matches against each other.<\/p>\n \u201c(It is) earlier for both of us that we would (have) liked, but I\u2019m happy to play against him. It\u2019s going to be fun against all these (Aussie) fans. I love playing on the big courts and now this is where the event really gets going. <\/p>\n \u201c(There is) only tough and good matches ahead and you have to rise to the occasion. He\u2019s going to come for me. I\u2019m going to come for him. Tennis is going to get (its) money\u2019s worth.\u201d<\/p>\n Tiafoe, first identified as a potential American star when profiled by The Washington Post as a 14-year-old, is a couple of years older than the Australian and possesses a little more pop.<\/p>\n But just as his heavily top-spinning forehand moves through the air with the trajectory of a rollercoaster, the 28-year-old\u2019s career has been a little more up and down than the Aussie.<\/p>\n Demon through despite dropping 1st set | 02:02<\/p>\n There is a contrast between the flashy Frances and the deadpan Demon. The latter has claimed 11 ATP Tour titles and a near certainty to reach the second week of majors.<\/p>\n The former has won only three tournaments but gotten closer to the major crown both crave.<\/p>\n Tiafoe has reached the semifinals of his home grand slam twice, setting New York alight with his booming serve and ferocious forehand, in 2022 and 2024, and has peaked at No.10.<\/p>\n After dipping down the rankings last season when posting a winning strike rate of just over 50 per cent, Tiafoe realised it was time for change, for the clock is ticking for him.<\/p>\n It is almost 25 years since an Australian man last won a major title, a drought de Minaur is determined to break, but the American absence from the winner\u2019s circle is almost as long.<\/p>\n Broad shouldered and even broader of smile, Tiafoe was tetchy with his lack of progress, with a quarterfinal run at Roland Garros a rare positive. Time to knuckle down.<\/p>\n He consulted with renowned American physiologist and biomechanist Mark Kovacs, who has worked across a number of sports and with stars including Madison Keys, for a tune up.<\/p>\n But that has flourished into a partnership with Kovacs tasked with harnessing Tiafoe\u2019s immense talent, but it is a relationship built on the American\u2019s full commitment.<\/p>\n