The first full week of tennis has wrapped up, and with the Australian Open on the horizon, it’s time to evaluate which players are trending upward and which are facing challenges.
Stock Up: Hubert Hurkacz
After a seven-month hiatus due to his second knee surgery in two years, Hubert Hurkacz has made a strong comeback. He’s playing with agility and confidence, leaving opponents wary ahead of the Australian Open draw. Ranked 83, Hurkacz served 21 aces in his first two matches and narrowly lost to Alex de Minaur in the United Cup quarterfinals, where he still managed to fire off 19 aces.
Stock Down: Taylor Fritz
Taylor Fritz expressed concerns regarding ongoing knee issues, indicating he may need to step back if conditions do not improve. This sentiment is concerning for a player with a busy schedule, having played over 75 matches in the last three seasons. Additionally, he lost two of his first three matches at the United Cup, raising eyebrows.
Stock Up: Belinda Bencic
Following a successful season that saw her reach No.11 in the world and compete in the Wimbledon semifinals, Belinda Bencic is poised for further success. She’s yet to lose a match at the United Cup, remaining undefeated at 6-0 and showing promise for a potential Top-10 finish this year.
Stock Down: Jiri Lehecka and Jakub Mensik
Promising talents Jiri Lehecka and Jakub Mensik appear to be showing fatigue early this season. Lehecka withdrew from his match in Brisbane due to an ankle injury, while Mensik struggled with illness and lost two matches at the United Cup.
Stock Up: Zizou Bergs
After a rocky start against Zhang Zhizhen, Zizou Bergs rebounded impressively with back-to-back wins against Top-20 players. He made history by becoming the lowest-ranked player to achieve multiple Top-20 victories during a single edition of the United Cup.
Stock Down: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
After a solid 2025 season, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina began the new year with a loss, dropping his opening match in Brisbane as the No.2 seed to Brandon Nakashima, putting a damper on his otherwise promising start.
Marta Kostyuk
The Ukrainian player has made waves by securing back-to-back wins against Top-10 players, reaching the semifinals in Brisbane. Her victories over Amanda Anisimova and Mirra Andreeva mark her first hard-court Top-10 wins since 2023.
