Stan Wawrinka Retires from Professional Tennis After Basel Farewell Loss

Wawrinka Ends 24-Year Career with Emotional Home Farewell in Basel

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka retired from professional tennis after losing to Jiri Lehecka 7-5, 7-6(2) in the first round of the Swiss Indoors Basel — his final match of a 24-year career in front of his home crowd. The 41-year-old former world No. 3 won 16 ATP titles, including the Australian Open (2014), French Open (2015), and US Open (2016), defeating the world No. 1 in each of those finals. Wawrinka turned professional in 2002 and had announced the previous December that 2026 would be his last season on tour.

Source updated - 2026-10-28

Alexander Zverev Saves Four Match Points to Beat Martin Landaluce in Vienna

Zverev Saves Four Match Points, Beats Landaluce in Vienna

Top seed Alexander Zverev saved four match points to defeat 20-year-old Martin Landaluce 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(11) in a three-hour, five-minute first-round match at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, Austria. Zverev converted his fifth match point to conclude a 24-point third-set tiebreak after Landaluce had held firm at 6-5 to force it. The win keeps Zverev's hopes of securing the year-end world No. 1 ranking alive; he will claim that spot if he wins his next match to reach the quarter-finals.

Source updated - 2026-10-27

Elena Rybakina Wins Ningbo Open for Tour-Leading 4th Title of 2026

Rybakina claims 4th title of 2026 as world No. 1 in Ningbo

Elena Rybakina defeated Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 6-2 to win the BNB Ningbo Open (WTA 500) in China and claim her tour-leading fourth title of 2026, joining the Australian Open, Stuttgart, and the US Open. The world No. 1 extended her winning streak in Ningbo to eight consecutive matches and recorded her 53rd tour-level win of the season. Rybakina broke Fernandez's serve twice in each set and did not drop her own serve, completing the final in 1 hour and 16 minutes.

Source updated - 2026-10-25

Marta Kostyuk Retires at Ningbo Open; Karolina Muchova Clinches Final WTA Finals Spot

Kostyuk injury retirement hands Muchova last WTA Finals berth

Marta Kostyuk retired from her second-round match at the WTA Ningbo Open on Wednesday after losing the first set to Ekaterina Alexandrova, citing a recurrence of a wrist injury that had already forced her to miss the Billie Jean King Finals in September. Her retirement mathematically secured the last spot at the season-ending WTA Finals in Indian Wells (November 8-15) for Karolina Muchova, who was not competing in Ningbo. Kostyuk had needed to reach the final in Ningbo to block Muchova from qualifying. The WTA Finals field is now complete.

Source updated - 2026-10-21

Davidovich Fokina rallies from set down to win Shanghai Masters in all-Spanish final

Davidovich Fokina wins Shanghai Masters title from set down vs Jodar

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina rallied from a set and a break down to defeat compatriot Rafael Jodar 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 in an all-Spanish final at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on October 18, 2026, claiming his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title and the biggest win of his career. The 27-year-old Spaniard extended his winning streak on Chinese soil to 10 matches and claimed his third ATP Tour title of 2026, having also won in Mallorca and Chengdu earlier this year. Jodar, the 12th seed and a #NextGenATP star, was the runner-up in what was his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Davidovich Fokina.

Source updated - 2026-10-18

Djokovic Rallies to 31-0 at China Open Equaling Nadal Record

Djokovic Extends Perfect China Open Record to 31-0

Novak Djokovic recovered from a first-set loss to defeat Chinese wild card Bu Yunchaokete (World No. 104) 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 in the second round of the China Open in Beijing, extending his unbeaten tournament record to 31-0. The 39-year-old Serb required a medical timeout for his torso during the match — the second consecutive match he needed treatment — before turning the tide in a 7-2 tiebreak and pulling away in the third set. The win equals Rafael Nadal's 31-0 start at Roland Garros, the best single-tournament unbeaten record for a player at a major or premier event. Djokovic, who last played in Beijing in 2015, is next scheduled to face either Alexander Zverev or Shang Juncheng in the quarterfinals.

Source updated - 2026-10-02

Alcaraz Saves Three Set Points to Advance at Japan Open

Alcaraz reaches Japan Open R2 after three-set comeback win

Defending champion and top seed Carlos Alcaraz saved three set points in a tight opening set and let a 4-2 second-set lead slip before running away with the decider to beat Alex Michelsen 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-1 in the first round of the ATP 500 Japan Open in Tokyo. Alcaraz now has won all six matches he has played at the Ariake Coliseum and is chasing a title defence that would make him the first player to successfully defend the Japan Open since Pete Sampras in 1993 and 1994. The Spaniard's ATP 500 winning streak was also extended to 17 consecutive matches. Michelsen, ranked No. 34, forced the decider thanks in part to a fortunate netcord winner in the second set.

Source updated - 2026-10-01

Davidovich Fokina Reaches Chengdu Open Final with Comeback Win

Davidovich Fokina Into Chengdu Final After Comeback Victory

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina advanced to the Chengdu Open final on September 28 with a three-set comeback victory over qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 at the ATP 250 tournament in China. The second-seeded Spaniard, playing his first tournament since Umag in July, had won all of his previous matches without dropping a set before being taken to three sets by the big-hitting Basilashvili. He is one win away from claiming a second ATP Tour title of the 2026 season; the final is scheduled for September 29 in Chengdu, with Hubert Hurkacz defeating Denis Shapovalov in the other semifinal.

Source updated - 2026-09-28

WTA Singapore Open 500 Final — Fernandez vs. Gibson

Fernandez faces Gibson in WTA 500 Singapore Open final

Leylah Fernandez (Canada, No. 6 seed, world No. 31) meets unseeded Australian Talia Gibson (world No. 63) in the final of the WTA 500 Singapore Open at OCBC Arena, with the title match scheduled for Sunday September 27. Fernandez reached the final by defeating top seed Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals and coming from a set down to beat No. 5 seed Maja Chwalinska 1–6, 6–4, 6–2 in the semis. Gibson, who had never previously won a main-draw match at a WTA 1000 event before this season, advanced via walkover after her semifinal opponent Tatiana Prozorova withdrew under the WTA's concussion protocol. A victory for either player would be a career-defining result at this level of the tour.

Source updated - 2026-09-27

Leylah Fernandez Wins WTA 500 Singapore Open for Sixth Career Title

Fernandez Claims Singapore Open Title Beating Gibson 7-5 6-0

Leylah Fernandez of Canada won the WTA 500 Singapore Tennis Open on September 27, 2026, defeating first-time finalist Talia Gibson of Australia 7-5, 6-0 in 1 hour and 38 minutes. Fernandez reeled off the final nine games of the match to secure her sixth career WTA title and her first of the 2026 season. Her run to the title included a quarterfinal upset over top seed Mirra Andreeva (6-2, 7-5) and a comeback semifinal win over Maja Chwalinska. Fernandez entered the tournament ranked No. 31 as the sixth seed.

Source updated - 2026-09-27

2026 Laver Cup Day 1 – Team Europe Leads 3-1 at The O2

Team Europe Takes 3-1 Lead Over Team World on Laver Cup Day 1

The 2026 Laver Cup opened at The O2 Arena in London on September 25 with Team Europe taking a 3-1 lead over Team World. Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik combined to win the evening doubles match, while Casper Ruud and debutant Rafael Jodar earned singles victories for Europe. Brandon Nakashima provided Team World's only point with a three-set win over Mensik in the day session. Team Europe, which lost to Team World 15-9 in San Francisco in 2025, is looking to reclaim the trophy across the three-day event running through September 27.

Source updated - 2026-09-25

WTA Singapore Open Quarterfinals Underway

Singapore Open WTA 500 Reaches Quarterfinals

The WTA 500 Singapore Open is in its quarterfinal stage on September 24, with the tournament running September 21–27 at hard courts in Kallang, Singapore. The draw features Storm Hunter (Australia) and Desirae Krawczyk (USA) in doubles action, with singles players including Xinyu Wang (CHN) and Talia Gibson (AUS) competing for a semifinal berth. The $1.2 million event is part of the late-season WTA calendar as players accumulate ranking points ahead of the year-end WTA Finals. Order of play released September 23 confirms center court action beginning at 11:00 AM local time.

Source updated - 2026-09-24

Zverev Wins 2026 US Open Men's Singles

Zverev wins US Open for second 2026 Grand Slam

Alexander Zverev defeated No. 8 seed Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 in the men's final at Arthur Ashe Stadium on September 13 to claim his second Grand Slam title of 2026, having also won the French Open in June. He became just the fourth man in the Open Era to win his first two major titles in the same season, joining Jimmy Connors (1974), Guillermo Vilas (1977), and Jannik Sinner (2024). Shelton was bidding to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick in 2003, and had earlier eliminated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal that finished at 3:33 a.m. — the latest ending in US Open history. Zverev posted a 25-2 record across all major matches in 2026.

Source updated - 2026-09-13

2026 US Open Men's Final: Zverev defeats Shelton

Zverev wins US Open for 2nd Slam of 2026

Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 in the US Open men's singles final on Sunday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, claiming his second Grand Slam title of 2026 after also winning Roland Garros in June. Zverev becomes only the fourth man in the Open Era to win his first two Grand Slam titles in the same calendar season. Shelton, the No. 8 seed, had threatened a comeback by winning the third set, but Zverev opened the fourth with a decisive break and won 13 of the last 14 sets in their head-to-head. The win extends the wait for an American men's Grand Slam champion to 23 years since Andy Roddick's 2003 US Open title.

Source updated - 2026-09-13

Alexander Zverev Wins 2026 US Open Final Over Ben Shelton

Zverev claims second 2026 Grand Slam title at US Open

Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton 6-3 7-6(2) 5-7 6-2 in the US Open men's singles final on September 13 to claim his second Grand Slam title of 2026 following his French Open win in June. Zverev became only the fourth man in the Open Era to win his first two Grand Slam titles in the same calendar year. Shelton reached a career-high world ranking of No. 4 after his run to the final but was unable to end the 23-year drought for American men at the US Open. Shelton subsequently withdrew from the Laver Cup on September 17 to prioritise Davis Cup duty for the United States.

Source updated - 2026-09-17

Rybakina Wins 2026 US Open Women's Singles

Rybakina beats Sabalenka for third major and second of 2026

Elena Rybakina defeated two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the US Open women's final on September 12 to claim her third Grand Slam title and second of the 2026 season, having also won the Australian Open. She became the sixth women's player since 1988 to win both hardcourt majors in the same year, and moved to WTA world No. 1 for the first time — the first Kazakhstani player to top either the ATP or WTA rankings. Sabalenka and Rybakina were also the first pair of women's singles players to contest both hardcourt major finals in the same year since Steffi Graf and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in 1994. A notable ceremony moment saw Maria Sharapova present the trophy to the winner, 20 years after Sharapova's own US Open victory.

Source updated - 2026-09-13

2026 US Open Women's Final: Rybakina defeats Sabalenka

Rybakina wins US Open for 3rd Grand Slam title

Elena Rybakina defeated two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the US Open women's singles final on Saturday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, claiming her third Grand Slam title and first US Open crown. The result denied Sabalenka the chance to win three consecutive US Open titles and snapped her 20-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows. Rybakina, who also beat Sabalenka in the 2026 Australian Open final, ascends to world No. 1 in Monday's rankings. Her second Grand Slam win over Sabalenka in a single calendar year underlines a dominant head-to-head on the sport's biggest stages.

Source updated - 2026-09-12

US Open Men's SF: Shelton Defeats Tiafoe in All-American Historic Match

Shelton beats Tiafoe to reach first US Open final

No. 8 seed Ben Shelton defeated No. 11 seed Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in the US Open men's semifinals on Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The victory sends Shelton to his first career Grand Slam final, where he will face top seed Alexander Zverev on Sunday. The match was the first-ever Grand Slam semifinal to feature two Black American men, and the winner became the first Black American man to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972. An American man winning the title would end a drought stretching back to Andy Roddick in 2003.

Source updated - 2026-09-11

US Open Women's SF: Sabalenka and Rybakina Set Up Grand Slam Final

Sabalenka and Rybakina advance to US Open final

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka defeated No. 3 Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the first women's semifinal, while No. 2 Elena Rybakina came from a set down to beat No. 4 Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the second. Sabalenka is chasing a historic US Open three-peat, a feat accomplished only by Chris Evert and Serena Williams, and is in her fourth consecutive US Open final. By reaching the final, Rybakina displaced Sabalenka from the world No. 1 ranking. The final is scheduled for Saturday, September 12 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Source updated - 2026-09-12

Sabalenka and Rybakina Advance to US Open Women's Final

Sabalenka Downs Pegula; Rybakina Beats Gauff to Reach US Open Final

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the first US Open women's semifinal on September 10, advancing to her fourth consecutive US Open final as she bids for a three-peat. In the second semifinal, Elena Rybakina — who became the new WTA world No. 1 by reaching the last four — overcame Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 after dropping the first set. Saturday's final pits the old No. 1 against the new No. 1, with Rybakina seeking her first US Open title and Sabalenka gunning for a third consecutive title at Flushing Meadows.

Source updated - 2026-09-10

Shelton Stuns Alcaraz in Latest US Open Finish Ever

Shelton Upsets Alcaraz in 3:33 AM US Open Thriller

No. 8 seed Ben Shelton defeated defending champion and No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7) in a US Open quarterfinal that finished at 3:33 a.m. ET — the latest conclusion in tournament history. The match lasted four hours and 28 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium in front of a crowd that stayed to the end. It was Shelton's first career win over a top-5 Grand Slam seed, ending Alcaraz's streak of four consecutive Grand Slam finals. Shelton advances to a semifinal against fellow American Frances Tiafoe, guaranteeing an American man in the last four for the first time in years.

Source updated - 2026-09-09

Shelton Defeats Alcaraz in Latest-Ever US Open Finish

Shelton Stuns Alcaraz in 5-Set QF Thriller

No. 8 seed Ben Shelton defeated defending champion and No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7) in a US Open quarterfinal that ended at 3:33 a.m. ET — the latest finish in tournament history. The four-hour-28-minute match was Shelton's first career win over Alcaraz in three meetings and snapped Alcaraz's streak of four consecutive grand slam finals appearances. Shelton advances to face fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals, guaranteeing an American man in the US Open final for the first time since 2003. The match set records for latest finish and drew widespread coverage from ESPN, CNN, NBC News, Al Jazeera and the ATP Tour.

Source updated - 2026-09-09

Tiafoe Rallies from Two Sets Down to Reach US Open Semis

Tiafoe Completes Rare Two-Set Deficit Comeback

No. 11 seed Frances Tiafoe came back from two sets down to defeat unseeded compatriot Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(6) in four hours and 38 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium. It was the first comeback from two sets down in a US Open men's quarterfinal since Roger Federer in 2014. Michelsen had been the only player in the draw not to drop a set across six rounds before this match. Tiafoe is now the only American man to reach the US Open semifinal three times since 2000, alongside Andre Agassi.

Source updated - 2026-09-09

US Open 2026 Quarterfinals Set With Alcaraz and Sabalenka Featured

Alcaraz and Sabalenka Headline US Open Quarterfinals

Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka are both into the quarterfinals, which run September 8 to 9. Alcaraz is already the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam and, should he win back-to-back titles at Flushing Meadows, would become the only man in the Open Era to successfully defend major titles on all three surfaces. In the men's draw, Alcaraz plays Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe faces Alex Michelsen — guaranteeing an American men's semifinalist — while Sabalenka faces Linda Noskova and Jessica Pegula plays Emma Navarro. Sabalenka is chasing a third straight US Open title , having already won the tournament in 2024 and 2025. On the men's side, three Americans — No. 8 Ben Shelton, No. 11 Frances Tiafoe, and unseeded Alex Michelsen — are in the quarterfinals, guaranteeing the US at least one men's semifinalist.

Source updated - 2026-09-08

Blockx Becomes First Belgian Man to Reach US Open Quarterfinals

Blockx Makes Belgian History at US Open

21-year-old Alexander Blockx defeated No. 24 seed Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 on Monday to become the first Belgian man in history to reach the US Open quarterfinals, doing so in his debut appearance at Flushing Meadows. Playing through a rib injury requiring mid-match treatment, Blockx is only the fourth Grand Slam appearance of his career to reach a major quarterfinal and the youngest Belgian Grand Slam quarterfinalist in the Open Era. He had already upset No. 5 seed Flavio Cobolli in the third round, with his next challenge against Karen Khachanov awaiting in the quarterfinals.

Source updated - 2026-09-08

Alexander Blockx Upsets No. 5 Flavio Cobolli at US Open

Blockx shocks Cobolli in US Open third round

Source updated - 2026-09-05

Francisco Cerundolo Comes Back to Beat Taylor Fritz in Five Sets

Cerundolo rallies from two sets down to upset Fritz

Source updated - 2026-09-05

Alcaraz Advances to US Open Third Round in Comeback Win

Alcaraz reaches R3 in first match back after 4.5-month wrist injury

Carlos Alcaraz returned from a four-and-a-half-month wrist injury layoff — which cost him both the French Open and Wimbledon — to reach the third round of the 2026 US Open with a 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 come-from-behind win over Portugal's Jaime Faria on September 2. The seven-time Grand Slam champion, who won the 2026 Australian Open before his injury, said he felt no pain in his wrist and tested his body over four sets. Alcaraz is the defending US Open champion, having won the title in both 2022 and 2025. His return has been the central storyline of the tournament's first week.

Source updated - 2026-09-02

Jannik Sinner Withdraws from US Open with Right Knee Injury

World No. 1 Sinner out of US Open with knee injury

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew from the 2026 US Open before the tournament began due to a right knee injury, leaving the men's draw without the top-ranked player. His absence elevated Alexander Zverev to the top seed and opened the bracket for other contenders, including Americans Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe. Sinner was the reigning Australian Open champion and had been the clear favorite to contend for the title. His withdrawal marks a significant blow for the tournament and sets the stage for a possible first American men's champion since 2003.

Source updated - 2026-09-11

Djokovic Falls to Navone in US Open First Round

Djokovic loses US Open first round for first time ever

Novak Djokovic (No. 4 seed) lost to Argentina's Mariano Navone 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in the first round of the 2026 US Open in a marathon lasting 4 hours 36 minutes. The defeat snapped Djokovic's 78-match first-round winning streak at Grand Slams — the longest in Open Era history for either tour. It was his first first-round exit at the US Open (was 19-0) and his first major first-round loss since the 2006 Australian Open. The loss will also drop the 39-year-old out of the ATP Top 10 for the first time since July 2018, and extends his Grand Slam title drought to 12 consecutive events.

Source updated - 2026-08-31

Tsitsipas Upsets No. 10 Seed Fils in US Open First Round

Tsitsipas beats Fils from set and break down at US Open

Stefanos Tsitsipas (ranked 53rd and unseeded) produced a major upset at the 2026 US Open, defeating 10th seed Arthur Fils 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-4 on Day 2. Fils arrived in New York on a six-match winning streak having just claimed the Cincinnati Masters 1000 title, and held a 5-0 head-to-head record over Tsitsipas including a 6-0, 6-1 rout in March. Tsitsipas was a set and a break down at 5-3 in the second but broke back, took the tiebreak 7-3, and dominated the final two sets. He finished with 50 winners. It was his first top-10 win at a major since 2022, and Tsitsipas attributed the turnaround to splitting from his father as coach.

Source updated - 2026-09-01

US Open 2026 Day 2: Alcaraz Returns After Four-Month Wrist Injury

Alcaraz Makes Return at US Open Day 2

Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending US Open champion ranked No. 2 in the world, began his title defence on Monday August 31 after a four-month absence due to a right wrist injury that forced him to miss both the French Open and Wimbledon. Day 1 on August 30 featured women's world No. 1 and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka opening against Camila Osorio, alongside two-time winner Naomi Osaka. The 2026 US Open is offering a record $108 million in total player compensation, the largest prize package in tennis history. Alcaraz's return is the headline storyline of the fortnight after his 22-3 start to the season before the injury.

Source updated - 2026-08-31

Djokovic Falls to Navone in US Open First Round

Djokovic Loses US Open Opener for First Time Since 2006

Novak Djokovic, 39, was eliminated from the US Open after a five-set first-round defeat to Mariano Navone, losing 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a match that lasted 4 hours and 36 minutes. The result snapped Djokovic's 78-match win streak in the opening round of Grand Slam events — the longest such streak by any man in the Open Era since 1968. The last time Djokovic lost in the first round of a Grand Slam was more than 20 years ago at the 2006 Australian Open, and he had never previously lost before the third round at the US Open. With the defeat, Djokovic dropped out of the ATP Top 10 for the first time since July 2018. The loss means the 2026 US Open is the first Grand Slam since the 2003 French Open not to feature Djokovic, Roger Federer, or Rafael Nadal in the second round.

Source updated - 2026-08-31

Djokovic Beaten by Navone in US Open First Round; 78-Match Win Streak Ends

Djokovic Falls in First Round at US Open

No. 4 seed Novak Djokovic lost 7-6(5) 5-7 4-6 6-2 6-1 to world No. 49 Mariano Navone in the first round of the 2026 US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium, his first Grand Slam first-round defeat since the 2006 Australian Open. The match lasted 4 hours and 36 minutes and was the longest opening-round match of Djokovic's Grand Slam career. Djokovic was visibly ill, vomiting courtside multiple times, and the defeat ends his record-setting streak of 78 consecutive Grand Slam first-round wins. The result also means Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal are all absent from a Grand Slam second round simultaneously for the first time since 2003. Navone, 25, won 11 of the last 12 games to secure the biggest victory of his career.

Source updated - 2026-08-31

Zheng Qinwen Qualifies for 2026 US Open Main Draw After Injury Absence

Olympic Champion Zheng Qualifies for US Open After Injury Comeback

Reigning 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen qualified for the 2026 US Open main draw on Friday, Aug. 28, defeating Elena Pridankina 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 in the final round of qualifying at Flushing Meadows — her first Grand Slam qualifying appearance since the 2022 Australian Open. The 23-year-old Chinese star had fallen to No. 121 in the WTA rankings following injury-plagued 2025 that included elbow surgery and a lengthy recovery. The qualifying win completed a three-match run through the 128-player qualifying draw. Zheng's emotional reaction after the match was widely shared on social media.

Source updated - 2026-08-28

Stan Wawrinka Receives US Open Wild Card for Final Grand Slam Farewell

Wawrinka Gets Last-Minute US Open Wild Card

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, who is retiring at the end of 2026, received a wild card for the US Open after initially being left off the list — a saga that gripped the tennis world for nearly a week. The 41-year-old was granted entry after Patrick Kypson withdrew with injury, giving him a farewell appearance at the site of his 2016 title win over Novak Djokovic. Wawrinka confirmed the US Open will be his final Grand Slam before retiring at the Swiss Indoors in Basel in October or November. The reversal drew significant coverage from fans and pundits who had criticised the initial snub of a former champion in his farewell season.

Source updated - 2026-08-30

Casper Ruud Back Problem Resurfaces Ahead of US Open

Ruud back concern clouds US Open build-up

Casper Ruud's back problem, which forced him to retire mid-match at the Cincinnati Masters on August 16, resurfaced during US Open qualifying week practice at Flushing Meadows. Reports published August 26 noted his serve was visibly restricted during mixed doubles play, where he and partner Diana Shnaider lost their second-round match. The back complaint is considered the primary issue affecting the three-time Grand Slam finalist as he prepares for the US Open main draw beginning August 30.

Source updated - 2026-08-26

Arthur Fils Wins Cincinnati Open for First Masters 1000 Title

Fils beats Tiafoe 6-3 1-6 6-0 for first Masters 1000 crown

Arthur Fils of France defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 on August 23 to claim his first ATP Masters 1000 title at the Cincinnati Open. It marked the first time two Black players had ever met in an ATP Masters 1000 final, and ended France's 12-year wait for a Masters 1000 champion. Fils, 22, is the youngest French winner at this level and improved to 10-0 in three-set matches in 2026. Coco Gauff also won the women's title the same day, defeating compatriot Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 for her second Cincinnati crown.

Source updated - 2026-08-23

Arthur Fils Wins First ATP Masters 1000 Title at Cincinnati Open

Fils claims maiden Masters crown in Cincinnati

Arthur Fils defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 in the Cincinnati Open men's singles final on August 23 to claim his first ATP Masters 1000 title. Fils, 22, dominated the deciding set with a bagel after losing the second, ending France's 12-year wait for a Masters 1000 champion since Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2014. He becomes only the third Black man to win a Masters 1000 title and will jump to a career-high ranking of No. 11. The win, coming after Fils missed extensive time with a back injury in 2025, was his fifth ATP Tour title and second of 2026. He heads to the US Open seeded 10th.

Source updated - 2026-08-24

Coco Gauff Wins Second Cincinnati Open Title in First All-US Women's Final in 56 Years

Gauff wins Cincinnati for the second time with all-US final

Coco Gauff defeated fellow American Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 on August 23 to win her second Cincinnati Open women's title and first title of 2026. The final was the first all-American women's final at Cincinnati since Rosie Casals beat Nancy Richey in 1970. Gauff joins Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka as the only women to win the Cincinnati title twice in the Open Era. Both top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina failed to reach the final, with Sabalenka falling to unseeded Sara Bejlek in the Round of 16. Gauff heads into the US Open with momentum, having won her first Grand Slam at the US Open in 2023 after also winning Cincinnati that year.

Source updated - 2026-08-24

2026 US Open Begins Qualifying in New York

2026 US Open qualifying underway at Flushing Meadows

The 2026 US Open officially began its qualifying rounds on August 23-24 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens, New York, with the main draw starting August 30 and the tournament running through September 13. The tournament is the final Grand Slam of the year and carries the full slate of singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events. Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz are confirmed for the mixed doubles draw via wildcard, one of the headline storylines of the event. Aryna Sabalenka leads the women's singles market at +225, followed by Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina. The men's field is notable for Jannik Sinner's absence.

Source updated - 2026-08-24

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz Awarded 2026 US Open Mixed Doubles Wildcard

Williams and Alcaraz team up for US Open mixed doubles

The USTA announced on August 22 that Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz have been awarded a wildcard into the 2026 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship. It will be Williams' first appearance at the US Open since 2022, where her singles run was widely seen as the final match of her career before she stepped away from tennis. Williams returned to competitive tennis in summer 2026, playing at Wimbledon and Cincinnati before confirming the US Open mixed doubles entry. The mixed doubles main draw begins Tuesday August 25, with the winning pair sharing $1 million. The pairing is one of the most high-profile storylines heading into the year's final Grand Slam.

Source updated - 2026-08-22

Jannik Sinner Withdraws from 2026 US Open with Knee Injury

World No. 1 Sinner out of US Open with right knee injury

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner announced on August 21 his withdrawal from the 2026 US Open due to an ongoing right knee injury sustained after defending his Wimbledon title. Sinner had already missed the Masters 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati. His absence marks his first Grand Slam withdrawal since his 2019 debut and makes Alexander Zverev the new top seed at Flushing Meadows. Carlos Alcaraz moves to No. 2 seed; the main draw begins August 30 with a record $108 million prize pool.

Source updated - 2026-08-21

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner Withdraws from 2026 US Open with Knee Injury

Sinner Withdraws from US Open with Knee Injury

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner officially withdrew from the 2026 US Open on August 21 due to an ongoing right knee injury, marking his first missed Grand Slam tournament since 2019. Sinner had won Wimbledon in July but has been sidelined since, missing the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open while receiving treatment in Monaco. His absence makes it three consecutive Grand Slam events in which at least one of the top two men's players — Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz — sat out due to injury. Alexander Zverev moved to the top seed at Flushing Meadows as a result. Sinner, who holds a 44-3 match record in 2026, aims to return for October's Asian hard-court swing in Beijing and Shanghai.

Source updated - 2026-08-30

Carlos Alcaraz Confirms Return from Wrist Injury at US Open

Alcaraz returns from 4-month wrist injury to defend US Open title

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz confirmed on August 20 that he will compete at the 2026 US Open, ending a four-month absence due to a right wrist injury. Alcaraz had withdrawn from the Barcelona Open in April and missed the French Open, Wimbledon, and both North American hard-court events. The Spaniard is seeded No. 2 at Flushing Meadows and bids to become the first man to repeat as US Open champion since Roger Federer won five straight from 2004-08. The main draw begins August 30.

Source updated - 2026-08-20