As the offseason arrives between mid-November and early December, tennis stars traditionally take time off \u2014 often heading to the Maldives, where the weather remains idyllic. Over the past few years, players have even joked that the island feels like an extension of the Tour during this period.<\/p>\n
But not everyone is following the Maldives trend. Russian WTA star Anna Kalinskaya, currently ranked No. 33, opted for Hawaii instead. Sharing a series of sun-soaked photos on Instagram in a blue-and-black dress, she playfully noted the alternative destination, with fellow WTA player Priscilla Hon commenting: \u201cPlus it\u2019s not the Maldives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, after losing the WTA Finals title match to Elena Rybakina, joked about hurrying to the Maldives for some tequila, reflecting the lighthearted side of the offseason.<\/p>\n
Eubanks Confirms Retirement at 29<\/strong><\/p>\n On the men\u2019s side, Christopher Eubanks, 29, announced the end of his professional tennis career. The 2023 Mallorca champion reflected on his decision during an appearance on Andy Roddick\u2019s podcast, saying he had simply \u201creached a point\u201d where he was no longer chasing goals in tennis.<\/p>\n Eubanks, who had risen to the top 100 in 2023 and won his first ATP title in Mallorca, struggled with a wrist injury at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He spent most of 2025 on the Challenger Tour and ended the year ranked No. 266. \u201cI didn\u2019t miss tennis this time,\u201d he said. \u201cI couldn\u2019t find a reason to keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n Becker Weighs In on Zverev\u2019s Mental Struggles<\/strong><\/p>\n Tennis legend Boris Becker recently commented on Alexander Zverev\u2019s mental challenges affecting his performance. The German star, ranked No. 3, has struggled with consistency despite strong physical play, including a semi-final run in Paris and a narrow loss to Sinner in Vienna. Becker suggested Zverev might benefit from changing his support team to improve his mindset \u2014 advice that drew mixed reactions.<\/p>\n Off-Court Rivalries: Alcaraz and Sinner in Friendly Competition<\/strong><\/p>\n Off the court, tennis rivalries are proving to be more friendly. Jannik Sinner and world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz have faced each other six times this year, with Alcaraz winning four matches. Despite their on-court intensity, the two maintain a positive relationship. Sinner described their dynamic as \u201chealthy,\u201d with mutual respect between both players and their teams.<\/p>\n Summary: The tennis offseason sees stars like Kalinskaya taking playful digs at Maldives trips, veterans like Eubanks retiring, and ongoing rivalries, both competitive and friendly, shaping the sport\u2019s landscape.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As the offseason arrives between mid-November and early December, tennis stars traditionally take time off \u2014 often heading to the Maldives, where the weather remains idyllic. Over the past few years, players have even joked that the island feels like an extension of the Tour during this period. But not everyone is following the Maldives …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":50448,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,1],"tags":[81],"class_list":["post-50447","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-south-asia","category-sports-games","tag-headline"],"yoast_head":"\n