Welcome back to the Monday Tennis Briefing, where The Athletic provides insights into the week’s notable stories from the court.
This week, Naomi Osaka showcased her skills in Montreal, continuing her impressive comeback in 2025, while Ben Shelton and Flavio Cobolli had a tense moment in matching attire, illustrating the unique dynamics of tennis.
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Can Naomi Osaka Sustain Her Momentum in Montreal?
Does tennis have a version of soccer’s “new manager bounce?” Sometimes, clubs experience a boost in performance after changing coaches, and Naomi Osaka might be experiencing something similar. Last fall, she improved significantly after switching from Wim Fissette to Patrick Mouratoglou.
Despite facing injuries that limited her match play, Osaka entered the Canadian Open with a streak of close losses, often losing in decisive sets. Ahead of the tournament, she had lost six of her last eight matches in three sets. A noteworthy defeat was to Emma Raducanu, which led to her split from Mouratoglou due to communication issues between them.
Now, under the guidance of Tomasz Wiktorowski, Świątek’s former coach, Osaka has found her footing in Canada, securing four straight victories. Her latest win, a swift demolition of Anastasija Sevastova (6-1, 6-0), marked her first quarterfinals appearance at a WTA 1,000 event since returning to tennis in January 2024 after becoming a mother.
Ben Shelton and His Noteworthy Opponents
Ben Shelton has been thriving in 2025 with a 29-16 record. His only losses this year in Grand Slam events have been to top players Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, indicating a strong performance overall.
Interestingly, Shelton holds a perfect 6-0 record against Lorenzo Sonego and Brandon Nakashima, beating each multiple times. However, outside those matches, he’s had a tougher time against higher-ranked players. A recent match showcased his resilience as he rallied from behind to defeat Flavio Cobolli.
Despite the on-court drama following their match, where both players exchanged words, Shelton continues to work on overcoming his challenges against top-tier competitors, currently sitting at No. 7 in the ATP rankings with a 3-6 record against players in the top 10.
Progress for College Tennis Players?
While the U.S. legal system still has a long way to go in addressing the ban on college players earning prize money at pro tournaments, recent developments might signal progress. A federal judge recently granted class action status regarding a lawsuit filed by Reese Brantmeier, a student athlete from the University of North Carolina, and Maya Joint, a former Texas student athlete.
Both players had to forfeit substantial prize money earned during tournaments, including the U.S. Open, due to NCAA restrictions on amateurism. The lawsuit aims to challenge these limitations and could impact numerous athletes affected by similar rules, as noted by the court ruling, which could potentially involve over 12,000 players.
This legal advancement is encouraging for student-athletes hoping to earn recognition and compensation for their efforts in tournaments, paving the way for future changes.
📅 Upcoming Events
🎾 ATP
📍Toronto: Canadian Open (1,000) featuring Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev, Alexei Popyrin.
📺 UK: Sky Sports; U.S.: Tennis Channel 💻
🎾 WTA
📍Montreal, Canada: Canadian Open (1,000) featuring Victoria Mboko, Elena Rybakina, Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka.
📺 UK: Sky Sports; U.S.:
Let us know your thoughts on this week’s matches in the comments as the men’s and women’s tours continue!
(Top photo: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
