October is normally when the Tennis season begins to wind down, but this month has seen a lot of history made on tour. Valetin Vacherot made headlines and broke many records as he won in Shanghai and Jannik Sinner returned to World #1 after only a month off the top; also winning $6,000,000. On the women’s side, the final tournaments of the year saw the WTA final eight for the year-end championship in Riyadh confirmed.
Gael Monfils
At the start of the month, the fan favourite announced he’s going to hang up his racket at the end of the 2026 season. There’s no doubt he has kept the tennis world entertained over his career with flair in abundance.
Although he’s never won a major honour, there’s no doubt people will be sad to see him go. Hopefully, he gets one last match on Chatrier at Roland Garros 2026- Tennis’ answer to a player ‘the streets won’t forget’.
WTA Beijing 1000
Amanda Anisimova won her 2nd 1000 level tournament of the season when she defeated Linda Noskova in the final; this win sees her sat 4th in both the world and the race rankings, securing her place at the year-end finals. As for Noskova, she moves up to 17th in the rankings, but her race to Riyadh is over.
ATP Shanghai 1000
By far, the best tennis story of the year, maybe even of the last ten years. Valentin Vacherot- ranked 204th prior to Shanghai, took home the title by defeating his own cousin, Arthur Rinderknech in the final. As you’d expect, the Shanghai draw was filled with most of the top-ranked players.
Carlos Alcaraz was the only notable omission, so to have a final contested between the 204th rank and a player floating around the 50s is unheard of. On their way to the final, the two cousins took out many high-ranked players such as Bublik, Zverev and even Novak Djokovic to make history in the final, being the first time two cousins have ever met at a final of this level. Vacherot also became the first Monegasque to win an ATP title by beating his French cousin 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
WTA Wuhan 1000
Coco Gauff won her 2nd title of the season when she defeated Jessica Pegula in the Wuhan final. Gauff and Pegula were both the unsuccessful semi-finalists in Beijing but, the 21-year-old ran out the winner this time round in China.
The Six King’s Slam
Whilst the Six King’s Slam isn’t worth any ranking’s points, it’s surely one the players look forward to due to the prize money on offer. As part of Saudi Arabia’s ‘Riyadh Season’, this tournament is invite-only for the players.
This year’s line-up consisted of: Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsisipas (who replaced the injured Jack Draper) and Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz and Djokovic were given byes to the semi-finals, and the quarter-finals consisted of Taylor Fritz and Jannik Sinner making quick work of Zverev and Tsisipas respectively. Alcaraz and Sinner would then record straight sets victories over their semi-final opponents, setting up a final where they’d compete for $6,000,000.
The money went the way of Sinner, getting revenge over his rival, beating him in straight sets.
The 250s
This month saw many 250s across the globe. Here’s a quick rundown of the winners and losers:
ATP Almaty 250
Danil Medvedev won his first title since 2023, defeating Couretin Mouset 7-5, 4-6. 6-3 in the final.
ATP Stockholm 250
Casper Ruud defeated Ugo Umbert 6-2, 6-3 in the final. World #10, Holger Rune, was also in the headlines, suffering an ACL injury, which looks like it could keep him out for a majority of next season. Within the same month, Rune has posted online that he’s already back in training- albeit only by hitting balls while sat down.
ATP Brussels 250
Felix Auger-Aliassime continues his charge to Turin, capturing another title by beating Jiri Lehecka 7-6, 6-7, 6-2 in the final. FAA then sat 9th, with weeks remaining to seal his last eight place at the year-end finals.
WTA Osaka 250
Leylah Fernandez won her 2nd title of the season, beating Tereza Valentova 6-0, 5-7, 6-3 in the final.
WTA Ningbo 250
Elena Rybakina defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova, coming back to win 3-6, 6-0, 6-2. This moves Rybakina up to 7th at the tail end of the women’s race to Riyadh.
WTA Guangzhou 250
Ann Li sealed only the second title of her career, and at the highest level, beating qualifier Lulu Sun 7-6, 6-2 in the final. This moves her up to a career high 33 in the rankings.
Saudi Arabia Master’s 1000
In off court news, the ATP announced they are introducing another Master’s 1000 tournament, to take place in Saudi Arabia, commencing in 2028. Further details such as where in Saudi Arabia, or when it takes place are yet to be revealed. The biggest rumour for when on the calendar it will take place is either in February, or as a warmup tournament prior to the Australian Open.
World #3, Alexander Zverev has been outspoken against the tournament, saying that the ATP needs to shorten the season, rather than adding more tournaments. Zverev said that adding more events will only cause a “riot from top players”.
The ATP have also said that the tournament will not be a mandatory one on tour.
WTA Tokyo 500
Belinda Bencic won her second title of the season, defeating Noskova in the final 6-2, 6-3, This moves her up to 11th in the rankings.
ATP Vienna 500
Jannik Sinner defeated Alexander Zverev in a meeting of the top seeds in Vienna. Sinner took the match 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to win his fourth title of the season.
ATP Basel 500
Joao Fonseca defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 6-4. ADF’s hunt for his first tour level title goes on, becoming the first player ever to achieve $10,000,000 in prize money before winning a title. 19-year-old Fonseca claims the biggest title yet of his career. He also became the first ever Brazilian player to reach an ATP 500 final.
The final sees both players move to their career high rankings (ADF 15, Fonseca 28). With Fonseca cracking the top 30 for the first time, at the same age as Roger Federer.
ATP Paris 1000
The final Master’s 1000 of the year took place in Paris, with Jannik Sinner defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final 6-4, 7-6, returning him to world #1. This was Sinner’s first Master’s 1000 of the year as rival, Carlos Alcaraz was eliminated in the first round by Cam Norrie. The star of Shanghai, Valentin Vacherot, reached the quarter final, meaning he moved into the top 30 after starting the month outside the top 200. En route to the final, FAA defeated names such as Vacherot and Bublik putting him in a great position to qualify for Turin, whilst Sinner made quick work of Zverev in the semi-final, beating him 6-0, 6-1.
WTA Race to Riyadh
With the women’s year-end finals starting on November1st, the line-up has now been confirmed. The top eight women of the year are as follows: Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina, Madison Keys & Jasmine Paolini. 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva misses out by only six points.
Player of the Month- Valentin Vacherot
This couldn’t have gone to anyone else really, Vacherot started the month outside the top 200 and ends in ranked 30. He proved his historic Shanghai win wasn’t a fluke by making the Quarterfinals in Paris, registering 10 consecutive wins at Master’s 1000 level, in a month culminating in one of the best underdog stories in tennis history. Unsurprisingly, after his move of over 170 rankings, also means he’s mover of the month too.
