If it seems as though the 2025 professional tennis year started pretty much immediately right after 2024 ended, that’s because that’s exactly what happens in a sport where the offseason really does not leave players much time to be “off.” “I do, obviously, wish that the offseason was longer, 100%,” said 2023 U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff, who began her “year” by helping the American team win the United Cup title in Sydney, more than a week after that competition began on Dec. 27. When the Australian Open gets going Sunday morning in Melbourne (Saturday night EST), players will have tuned up by playing in various events that followed a period of practice and work in the gym that was longer for some than others.