Remembering all of your favourite athletes on the ATP and WTA tennis tours can be challenging, with players coming from all corners of the world to compete in events like the Australian Open.
It is only natural that commentators and fans will get it wrong occasionally, especially with many Brits, Americans and Aussies finding eastern European names a challenge to pronounce.
However, there are some big names that people have been saying incorrectly for a very long time.
Thankfully, the players themselves have recorded the correct way to say their names on the ATP and WTA websites.
Here are some of the superstars that you might be shocked to learn you have been saying wrong all along…
Rafael Nadal in action during his first round match at the Australian Open grand slam tennis tournament at Melbourne Park
Rafael Nadal
To be fair, the great Nadal has been called Rafa [RAH-FA] for so long that his full name is not widely used any more. However, over time, it has become acceptable for commentators and sports fans to pronounce his full name Rafael incorrectly.
Most commentators put a heavy emphasis on the middle part of the name, saying RA-FAY-AL – like the famous painter.
But that’s not how the name is pronounced in his native Spanish. The middle part of his name has less emphasis on it and lacks the ‘ay’ sound.
At full speed, the difference is nuanced. But the correct way to say Rafael is RA-FAHL, not RA-FAY-EL.
Think you know how to say Novak Djokovic like a Serbian? Guess again – the grand slam legend (pictured practising at Melbourne Park this week) has warned his name is difficult to get right
Novak Djokovic
When you have won 21 grand slams and presided over a period of dominance, you would think people would get your name right. But the great Djoker is constantly having his surname pronounced incorrectly by fans and commentators alike.
It is fairly common to pronounce his surname as JOCK-O-VITCH, but that is incorrect. In the proper Serbian language, his name is pronounced JOE-KO-VITCH.
‘It’s not easy to pronounce,’ Djokovic has said previously.
‘Let’s say I appreciate the effort that people put into it to pronounce it properly.’
Iga Swiatek of Poland is seen in action against Jule Niemeier of Germany during their first round match at the Australian Open on Monday
Iga Swiatek
She has three grand slam titles to her name and has rocketed to world No.1 in the absence of retired Australian superstar Ash Barty, but people are still getting Polish sensation Iga Swiatek’s name wrong.
The 21-year-old recently took to Instagram to set the record straight, and the result is not quite as straightforward as you might think.
There are actually two different ways to say her name, the traditional Polish way [Słitek], or the English way. She is happy with either, although in her words ‘Polish is better’.
In English, her surname is commonly pronounced SVIER-TEK or a variation of that. But the full and correct pronunciation of her name is EE-GAH SH-VEON-TICK.
Here’s a hint on how to say Danish teenage star Holger Rune’s last name propertly: it does not rhyme with ‘tune’
Holger Rune
Holger Vitus Nødskov Rune has been ranked as high as No.10 in the world and the Danish star will be looking for a big year on tour in 2023. The 19-year-old has enormous potential and is tipped to be one of the big guns to dominate once the likes of Nadal and Djokovic call it a day.
On first glance, his name seems pretty straighforward to pronounce with many saying HOL-GAH ROON. However, in correct Danish, you pronounce his surname ROON-EH.
Naomi Osaka pulled out of the Australian Open after falling pregnant
Naomi Osaka
Unfortunately for tennis fans – but joyously for her – Osaka was a late omission from the Aussie Open due to the fact she is set to welcome her first child into the world.
Many might be asking why she would be on a list like this, after all neither of her names appears particularly challenging. However, numerous fans have pronounced her surname OH-ZARKA, when the proper Japanese pronunciation is OH-SAH-KA.
If you have been saying it wrong, don’t feel too bad. It is part of a common quirk of the English language called intrusive R pronunciation that sees people naturally and instinctively put an ARR sound between vowels, mostly across two words but sometimes across two syllables.
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates with the championship trophy after defeating Casper Ruud of Norway to win the US Open men’s singles crown last year
Carlos Alcaraz
Another boom young player with a big future and a name that people can’t seem to pronounce correctly, Alcaraz may have been ruled out of the Australian Open, but the man dubbed the next Nadal has a huge future and already has a grand slam title under his belt after claiming the 2022 US Open.
While his name may seem simple, they say it differently in Spain. US and Aussie commentators often say his last name AL-CAH-RAZ or AL-CAH-REZ which seems phonetically correct. But the correct way to say his name is AL-CAH-RATH. Carlos is just pronounced like your vehicle has been stolen, CAR LOSS.