Rybakina, Kyrgios & Medvedev among players announced for World Tennis League

The action will not stop during the ATP and WTA off-seasons, with the World Tennis League's fourth edition scheduled from December 17th to 20th.

First played three years ago in Dubai, the last two editions were held in Abu Dhabi. The 2025 iteration will take place in Bengaluru, India, bringing high-quality action to a nation of almost 1.5 billion people.

The exhibition has a unique format. There are four teams, and each plays a men's singles and a women's singles, and two of a men's doubles, a women's doubles, or a mixed doubles against the others. The matches are only set long.

A final with the same format is then contested between the Top two teams. Although not to everyone's taste, it offers a unique opportunity for fans to enjoy tennis in a different way, introducing some to the sport.

Last year's line-up included Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Mirra Andreeva, and Elena Rybakina, providing a very strong core of WTA players for the mixed event. Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas were among the ATP players who featured.

Of those names, only Rybakina has been confirmed for 2025. The Kazakhstani is probably still basking in the high of winning her maiden WTA Finals title, defeating Sabalenka in the showpiece match.

Despite it being such a wonderful moment, Rybakina refused to take a photo with WTA CEO Portia Archer afterward. Although she did not want to speak about the reasons, it was almost certainly because of coach Stefano Vukov's suspension, which was later overturned on appeal.

Rybakina had mixed fortunes in her 2024 World Tennis League appearance. She beat the now-retired Simona Halep in singles and won a doubles match with Caroline Garcia, but had four defeats across her other singles and doubles efforts.

Nick Kyrgios, who also played in 2024, plans to return for 2025. The Australian's constant injury issues since the end of 2022 means his participation is never certain. However, the World Tennis League's format suits someone prone to physical issues.

The 2022 Wimbledon men's singles runner-up can use the World Tennis League as preparation for his battle of the sexes match against Aryna Sabalenka, which is scheduled on December 28th. Some do not like the concept, but it will undoubtedly draw a significant audience.

Sabalenka's close friend Paula Badosa is another player on the entry list. Once again, the Spaniard suffered from consistent injury problems this season after starting so strongly by reaching the Australian Open semifinals.

Daniil Medvedev will try to carry his improved form into the World Tennis League. The 2021 US Open men's singles champion ended a more than two-year trophy drought at the 2025 Almaty Open and was also a semifinalist in Beijing and Shanghai.

Medvedev caused controversy by committing to an exhibition in Russia from November 29th and 30th despite ATP and WTA events being banned there. The exhibition is also sponsored by Gazprom, which helps to fund Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Gael Monfils's appearance at the World Tennis League is guaranteed to be his last as a professional. The Frenchman previously announced that 2026 will be his final year before retirement.