The first full week (plus a few days) of tennis is in the books, and the Australian Open is beckoning, with main draw action just over one week away. So, whose stocks are up and whose stocks are down?
Stock Up: Hubert Hurkacz
After missing seven months due to knee surgery – his second in two years – Hubert Hurkacz has returned to the tour with a vengeance. His moving like a young stallion and raining down aces with supreme confidence. The Pole, ranked 83, will be the player that nobody wants to see when the Australian Open draw is revealed next week. he
He served 21 aces in each of his first two matches, wins over Alexander Zverev and Tallon Griekspoor, and was just barely edged out by Alex de Minaur in three tight sets in the United Cup quarterfinals (Hurkacz fired another 19 aces in the match, though).
Stock Down: Taylor Fritz
Fritz talked to reporters about the fact that he didn’t have enough time during the off-season to completely rid himself of knee troubles. That’s scary when you have a player that has logged over 75 matches in each of the last three seasons, talking about the possibility of shutting it down if things don’t improve. Add to that the fact that Fritz lost two of his first three United Cup matches – to Sebastian Baez and Stefanos Tsitsipas – and you have yourself a red flag.
Stock Up: Belinda Bencic
Building on her comeback season, one that featured a rise all the way to No.11 in the world and trip to the Wimbledon semifinals, Bencic is looking like a player that is headed for the Top-10 this season. She’s been a tour de force in singles and doubles at the United Cup, going 6-0 overall through the quarterfinals – the perfect start to what could be another stellar year for the Swiss.
Stock Down: Jiri Lehecka and Jakub Mensik
We know they’re talented, and likely headed for the Top 10. But rising Czechs Jakub Mensik and Jiri Lehecka are already looking fatigued in the first week of the season and that isn’t a great sign. Lehecka was forced to abandon his Brisbane title defense in the round of 16 as he pulled out of his match with Sebastian Kora with an ankle injury. Mensik has battled illness and lost two out of three at the United Cup (to De Minaur and Zizou Bergs in straight sets).
Stock Up: Alexandra Eala and Iva Jovic
Two young guns that made a big impression on the WTA Tour last year are doing more of the same in Auckland this week. 18-year-old Iva Jovic and 20-year-old Alexandra Eala jumped out of the games quickly, both reaching the semis.
Stock Down: Sloane Stephens
Last year was miserable for 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens. She ended 2025 carrying a 12-match tour-level winning streak. It’s now 13 after Stephens fell to Mexico’s Renata Zarazua 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 in the first round at Auckland.
Stock Up: Stefanos Tsitsipas
A 2025 season plagued by back problems took Tsitsipas down to 34 in the world. In 2026, te former world No.3 is back and feeling fit, and it is showing in his tennis. Tsitsipas earned his first Top-10 win in 18 months against Fritz at the United Cup, and he’s already 3-0 on the year.
Stock Down: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
2025 was a super solid year for Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. He won 43 matches, reached four finals and started this year at No.14 in the world (a career-high). He also started the year with a loss, however, falling as the No.2 seed in Brisbane to Brandon Nakashima.
Stock Up: Zizou Bergs
After falling to Zhang Zhizhen in his first match at the United Cup, Bergs rebounded with back-to-back Top-20 wins, over No.5 Felix Auger-Aliassime and No.18 Jakub Mensik. Bergs became the lowest-ranked player – and the first outside the top 20 – to claim multiple ATP or WTA top 20 wins at a single edition of the United Cup.
Stock Down: PTPA
Without Novak Djokovic, one of its co-founders, the future of the PTPA does indeed look bleak. How will they fulfill their ambitious agenda without the GOAT at the helm?
Stock Up: Christian Harrison and Jakub Paul
They are far more unsung than their superstar doubles partners at United Cup (Harrison has been paired with Coco Gauff and Paul with Belinda Bencic), but give these two credit for showing off their doubles chops as each went 3-0 in their first three matches, and all six of the wins were in deciding rubbers.
Marta Kostyuk
The Ukranian has reeled off back-to-back Top-10 wins to reach the Brisbane semifinals. She took out Amanda Anisimova and Mirra Andreeva in straight sets to earn Top-10 wins at the same event on hard court for the first time since 2023.
