To mark the end of another exciting season, ATPTour.com unveils our annual ‘Best Of’ series, which will reflect on the most intriguing rivalries, matches, comebacks, upsets and more. Today we highlight some of the most memorable off-the-field moments from this season.
The action on the court may make headlines, but the ATP Tour is about much more than just serves, sets and sporting success. A host of the world’s top stars enjoyed a host of exciting off-court experiences during the 2025 season, reminiscent of the wider spectacle of the tennis merry-go-round.
ATPTour.com recaps some of the best off-court moments of 2025.
[ATP AWARDS]
Djokovic to coach Murray: no injuries please!
Novak Djokovic started his 2025 season with a victory on New Year’s Eve in the opening round of the Brisbane International presented by ANZ. The Serbian was promptly asked to reveal the whereabouts of his then coach and great former rival Andy Murray, who was reportedly only due to arrive Down Under for the Australian Open later that month.
“He is skiing at the moment. He has a ski trip with the family. I send my love to the whole Murray family,” Djokovic confirmed in his on-court interview after the match in Brisbane. “I hope he doesn’t get injured skiing before he comes to Melbourne. That wouldn’t be great.”
Djokovic needn’t have worried as Murray quickly responded to his accusation with a reassuring, tongue-in-cheek post on X:
I’m taking on some huge slopes as you can see, but no injuries yet? https://t.co/fqdBbMzNZJ pic.twitter.com/4E5QUYUOQc
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) December 31, 2024
From volleys to Vogue
The crossover between tennis and fashion reached new heights in 2025. In March, fast-rising lefties Ben Shelton and Jack Draper appeared in an issue of Vogue Magazine, with the iconic fashion publication labeling the pair as “Two Princes.”
Ben Shelton takes part in a photo shoot for Vogue Magazine. Photo credit: Theo Wenner/Vogue
Meanwhile, another well-known fashion publication, GQ, got into action at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals, where it held a photo shoot with six of the qualified players at a hotel in central Turin.
A group photo from the Nitto ATP Finals GQ photo shoot. Photo credit: John Russo
The Sinner’s Divine Moment with Pope Leo XIV
In May, Jannik Sinner marched to his first final at his home ATP Masters 1000 event, the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Perhaps Sinner felt especially inspired by the clay of Rome in the aftermath of his meeting with the newly elected Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City.
When in Rome…
Jannik Sinner met Pope Leo XIV this morning?
?: Vatican Media#IBI25 pic.twitter.com/tYg7fCN3zx
— Internazionali BNL d’Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 14, 2025
Leo XIV was not the only iconic figure with whom Sinner crossed paths in 2025. In June, the then No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings released a song with the famous Italian tenor Andrea Boccelli, entitled Polvere e Gloria (Dust and Glory).
Golf greats… and golf blunders
ATP Tour stars past and present tried golf in 2025, apparently with mixed success. While many tennis players seem to have no trouble adapting their skills to excel at golf, ATP No. 1 Club members Alcaraz (“I’m not that good”) and Murray (“I know, I know, I’m terrible at golf”), who played a round together shortly before Wimbledon, both determined to ‘manage expectations’ when asked about their abilities with the club in hand.
Perhaps Alcaraz and Murray could benefit from joining us for the next ‘Fedal’ golf day… Legendary Lexus ATP Head2Head rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal took to the fairways together in Mallorca in July, while Alcaraz could also simply go to the locker room and ask Casper Ruud for advice: the Norwegian is a fanatic of the sport and is widely recognized as the best golfer on the ATP Tour.
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer played golf together at the Pula Golf Resort in Mallorca in July. Photo credit: Rafa Nadal Academy
No man is an island… except Alcaraz?
Golf wasn’t the only off-court activity Alcaraz enjoyed this season. The Spaniard, who ended the year with ATP Year End No. 1 presented by PIF Awards, took time to visit a landmark in San Francisco ahead of the 2025 Laver Cup.
Alcaraz toured Alcatraz Island, home to the world-famous former prison that has become one of San Francisco’s most visited tourist attractions. The Spaniard managed to escape the island in time to take the lead in Team Europe’s Laver Cup match, but it is Team World that will keep the event’s trophy under lock and key until next year after securing an impressive 15-9 victory at Chase Center.
Carlos Alcaraz on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco prior to the Laver Cup. Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup
Earlier this year, Alcaraz had made another, slightly different, island trip following his stunning three-point championship victory against Jannik Sinner in the Roland Garros final. For the second year in a row, the Spaniard flew to Ibiza to enjoy a June holiday with friends: “The craziest thing was probably staying out very late,” Alcaraz said later. “I danced a little, but nothing more than what a normal person would do.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]
#Sinner #meets #Pope #Alcaraz #Alcatraz #offfield #moments