As the 2025 Australian Open approaches, many of tennis’ biggest stars have begun their preparations for the upcoming season. Carlos Alcaraz, currently ranked No. 3 in the world, started his off-season training in Murcia after a busy few weeks. His time off included a Caribbean vacation followed by exhibition matches against Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe in the United States. Alcaraz won’t play any exhibitions in the Middle East and will head directly to Australia once his camp finishes. His first tournament of the year will be the Australian Open, as he hasn’t entered any pre-Open events.
Jannik Sinner, another top contender, has kept his off-season plans relatively private. After winning both the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup in 2024, he needed significant rest. Sinner spent some time in the Middle East attending a Formula One race before beginning his training in Dubai. Like Alcaraz, he has decided not to play any warm-up events and will be focusing solely on the Australian Open, where he aims to defend his title.
Novak Djokovic’s off-season activities have also been low-key, though he did make headlines with a trip to Argentina for Juan Martin Del Potro’s farewell match. Djokovic, like Sinner, attended a Formula One race in the Middle East but otherwise kept his preparations private. He is now working with new coach Andy Murray, and he will play a warm-up event in Brisbane before heading to the Australian Open. Djokovic has historically used warm-up events to fine-tune his game, helping him win the Australian Open four consecutive times between 2019 and 2023.
In contrast, Alexander Zverev has been more open about his training. The German star took his family to the Maldives, where he worked out daily in preparation for the new season. Zverev has been motivated to take his game to the next level after a strong 2024 season. While he won’t play in the Middle East, he will participate in the ATP Cup as his final tune-up before the Australian Open.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, and Casper Ruud have been spending their off-season in the Middle East, competing in the World Tennis League. Many players choose to prepare in the region because of its rare outdoor tennis conditions in sunny weather during this time of year. The Middle East serves as ideal preparation for players heading to Australia. All three players have been active on social media, providing fans with updates about their training and progress.
Australia’s top male player, Alex de Minaur, has also begun his preparations for the 2025 season. De Minaur finished 2024 strongly and has high hopes for the new year, with a big run at the Australian Open at the top of his goals. Currently in Monaco, de Minaur has been working on his signature skill—his movement—while also enjoying a brief break after winning the UTS Grand Final in London. De Minaur will first compete at the United Cup for Australia before heading to Melbourne for the Australian Open.
With the new season just around the corner, these stars are all preparing in different ways, each with their own approach to getting ready for the Australian Open. Whether through intense training, rest, or strategic warm-up events, they are all focused on achieving success in what is expected to be another thrilling tournament. Fans will eagerly watch to see how their off-season efforts translate into performance on the court.
