Planning a comeback? Camila Giorgi train with Greek player, Sinner & Darderi team up in Dubai, as Lisicki returns to the court for charity

In a new Daily Dose of Social Media, the preseason grind shifts into high gear as the stars of the ATP and WTA tours prepare for 2026. Leading the way is newly crowned ITF World Champion Jannik Sinner, who has linked up with compatriot Luciano Darderi at the Mouratoglou Academy to sharpen his game. However, the biggest buzz comes from a retired star: Camila Giorgi has been spotted back on court with a top-200 player, sparking widespread speculation about a potential return to the tour.

While Sinner and others like Alexander Zverev and Sofia Kenin are deep in their training blocks, others are soaking up the final moments of relaxation. Stefanos Tsitsipas shares glimpses of a beach getaway before he faces the harsh reality of entering a Grand Slam unseeded for the first time in seven years. From intense practice sessions in Monte-Carlo to charity appearances in the Bahamas with Sabine Lisicki, here is what the tennis world is up to this time.

Jannik Sinner, the World No. 2, continues his preseason grind at the Patrick Mouratoglou Academy, where he has been joined by his compatriot Luciano Darderi—the current World No. 26 and a breakout star who claimed three ATP 250 titles in 2025.

The collaboration comes just as the 4-time Major champion was announced on Wednesday as the ITF World Champion, securing the award for the best male player of the season over ATP No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner is preparing for his return to the courts in a few weeks at the Australian Open, where he arrives as the two-time defending champion riding a 14-match winning streak at the venue. He will be hunting for his 5th Grand Slam title and a chance to close the gap on the No. 1 ranking, though he cannot add points to his total even with a title defense. Meanwhile, Darderi will face his first challenge of the year at the ASB Classic in Auckland starting January 12.

Former World No. 26 Camila Giorgi shared a series of photos returning to the tennis courts, hitting alongside Greek player Despina Papamichail (World No. 162). Is it just a friendly practice session, or is Giorgi plotting a return to the tour? That is the question fans are asking.

The Italian’s retirement, announced in May 2024, was shrouded in speculation and rumors. While she expressed gratitude for her career on social media, she faced a storm of legal and fiscal accusations in Italy, including alleged tax evasion and abandoning a rented villa near Florence with unpaid rent. Giorgi categorically denied these claims in a TV interview, calling them unfounded and blaming the issues on a former lawyer. Her return to the court, even for practice, has reignited interest in her story.

Former Wimbledon runner-up Sabine Lisicki was spotted with a racket in hand at the Mark Knowles Charity event, the Baha Mar Cup. The German star shared several photos from the weekend, where she played alongside tennis legends and current stars like John McEnroe and Jessica Pegula.

“All for a good cause to give back in the hopes as many children as possible can play a sport and pick up a tennis racket. Thanks for having us... winning the Celebrity ProAm alongside Matt Kuchar was unexpected and fun! For me personally I enjoyed being on the court and surrounded by my peers again. I missed it a ton!”

Alexander Zverev is another star deep in preseason work. The World No. 3 shared photos from the Monte-Carlo Country Club, his place of residence, as he prepares to lead Germany at the United Cup. Zverev will join compatriot Eva Lys in Group F in Sydney, facing a tough draw against two-time runners-up Poland (Hurkacz and Swiatek) and the Netherlands.

Training at the same location is Italian hero Flavio Cobolli. The young star was pivotal in the recent Davis Cup Finals, where Italy secured their third consecutive title. In the absence of Sinner and Musetti, Cobolli stepped up to win all three of his singles matches, including the clincher against Spain's Jaume Munar (1-6, 7-6, 7-5) to seal the trophy.

Meanwhile, in the United States, former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin is hard at work at the Evert Tennis Academy. The World No. 28 shared glimpses of her "off-season rainy edition" as she prepares for her favorite swing of the year. Kenin will kick off her season at the Brisbane Open and Adelaide International, two stacked WTA 500 events that will serve as the perfect tune-up for Melbourne, the site of her lone Grand Slam triumph so far.

While many are grinding, Stefanos Tsitsipas is enjoying a few final days of vacation. The Greek star shared photos from a beach getaway accompanied by his brother and doubles partner, Petros Tsitsipas. Stefanos finished the year as World No. 34, meaning he will likely enter the Australian Open unseeded for the first time since 2018. It will be his first main draw at a major without a number next to his name after 29 consecutive appearances as a seeded player.