Tennis’s first Grand Slam of the year, staged at Melbourne Park
The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Asian Tour have formalised a multi-year alliance through 2029, with some events co-sanctioned again and pathways for Asian players to reach European and Challenge Tour events. The move follows LIV’s weakened position after Saudi funding shifts, and prompts reactions from players such as Rory McIlroy.
Wrist injuries are challenging for top players. Carlos Alcaraz’s ongoing tenosynovitis has forced him to withdraw from the Cincinnati Open. Experts say recovery varies, and longer absences can become permanent without proper rehab. Raducanu’s US Open absence adds another layer to the sport’s injury picture as players face intensified schedules and technology-driven impacts.
The WTA has instituted one-off mandatory gene-testing for all players to compete at the 2028 Olympics, aiming to distinguish biological sex from gender identity. Players including Sabalenka have supported the policy, while critics warn of privacy and rights concerns. The policy has drawn comparisons to other sports and sparked debate about transgender athletes in competition.
Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open due to an ongoing wrist issue, extending a layoff since April. His return remains uncertain as he targets the US Open, where he is the defending champion. Medical updates indicate tenosynovitis, with recovery potentially spanning weeks to months. The news affects his 2026 schedule and fans awaiting a comeback.
Australian Open organizers have announced a million-Australian-dollar top prize for next year’s tournament, confirming a return to a million-dollar purse. The event will be held at Melbourne Park from Jan. 17-31, with local amateur Jordan Smith winning the inaugural 1 Point Slam and inspiring a new qualifying event pathway for clubs nationwide.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati after consulting with doctors and his team, citing knee pain and the need to focus on the US Open. The move keeps him out of several key North American events as top players contend with injuries.
In the lead-up to the US Open, Elena Rybakina has recovered to win her Toronto quarterfinal and eyes a potential return to the top ranking, while Aryna Sabalenka suffers another setback as Bejlek upsets the world No. 1. American stars Gauff and Pegula also advance, setting up a heavyweight semifinal lineup.
Iga Swiatek has won the Canadian Open, her first title in 11 months, amid intense scrutiny at home. She has spoken about anger at critics and says she will keep growing, while praising her new coach Francisco Roig. The victory returns her to the top five.
Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek has upset world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Cincinnati, rallying from 5-1 down in the first-set tiebreak and saving two set points to win 7-6(7) 6-4. The result puts Elena Rybakina’s hold on the top ranking in jeopardy as she can replace Sabalenka at the summit by reaching the final.
Carlos Alcaraz has confirmed he will return to competitive tennis at the US Open after missing more than four months with a right wrist injury. The 23-year-old is seeded second at Flushing Meadows, where organisers have increased the total prize fund to a record $108m and will launch a grand slam player advisory council after the tournament.
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz have been given a wild card to the US Open mixed doubles main draw. The pair will compete in a revamped two-day, 16-team format with a $1 million prize. Williams is not planned to play singles, while Alcaraz is returning from a right wrist injury. The field also features other high-profile duos as the tournament reshapes its schedule.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the US Open because of a right knee issue. He has not played since winning Wimbledon and has been undergoing tests; his decision reshapes seeding and hands a clearer path to the title for rivals including Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and several top Americans.
Roger Federer has been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport after a storied career that included 20 Grand Slam titles. In the run-up, he has performed exhibition matches in New York, signaling a lasting legacy beyond competition and underscoring his impact on fans and the sport.
The ITIA has handed Markéta Vondroušová a four-year ban for denying a doping control at her home in December 2025. The ban is set to end on 21 June 2030. CAS is reviewing the appeal, with a hearing date not yet scheduled. Vondroušová maintains she has never doped and faced months of stress linked to the case.
The Williams sisters have been granted a wildcard to compete in the US Open doubles, reuniting after their last New York appearance in 2022. Serena has returned to tennis this summer and will not play singles, while Venus is entering singles and doubles as she pursues a continued comeback. The duo will begin their campaign in New York in early September, with the doubles final scheduled for 11 September.
Wawrinka has been granted a wild-card entry to the 2026 US Open after Patrick Kypson withdrew, allowing the 41-year-old to bid farewell on tennis’ biggest stage in New York.
Fery has claimed a 3-6 7-5 6-3 win in the North Carolina quarter-final, earning a first US Open semi-final berth since Wimbledon. He will meet James Duckworth in the last four after Duckworth defeated Fabian Marozsan.
Djokovic has been eliminated in the first round of a Grand Slam by Mariano Navone in a four hours and 36 minutes marathon match, marking his first early exit in a major since 2006 and continuing health-related struggles under humid conditions.
Novak Djokovic has reached the US Open round one but battles a serious health issue that has him vomiting and cramping. He says the condition is
The 17-year-old Frodin, who has a background in film as Serena Williams’ body double, is making her US Open singles debut after earning a wildcard via the USTA Girls’ 18s National Championships. She is facing Elena Rybakina in New York, with prior matches in qualifying and on the doubles side.
Naomi Osaka has continued her high-profile fashion storytelling at the US Open, wearing a basketball-inspired, Allen Iverson tribute outfit while advancing to the second round with a straight-sets win. The look blends Nike’s basketball theme with nods to Iverson, echoing past grand-slam entrances and building anticipation for further stylistic reveals.
Aryna Sabalenka has retained focus at the US Open, addressing questions about her schedule and off-court activities while stressing that training and mental strength drive her. She is preparing for the next rounds after a dominant performance, with rivals pushing for top rankings.
Coco Gauff has reached the fourth round in New York while Iva Jovic eyes another deep run, with both Americans standing in the way of a potential quarterfinal clash and a growing U.S. tilt at the tournament.
Influencers have been credentialed to cover the U.S. Open, doubling from last year. Disruptions during matches have drawn criticism from players and observers about etiquette and the balance between growing the sport and preserving on-court focus. Naomi Osaka and other stars say etiquette must guide fan coverage as attendance rises.
Top seed Alexander Zverev has beaten Luciano Darderi at Arthur Ashe, with other US Open results shaping the quarterfinals. Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina also advance, setting up late-stage clashes as players contend for titles amid injuries and form concerns.
Germany's Alexander Zverev has won his second Grand Slam title of 2026, defeating Ben Shelton in four sets at the US Open. The victory secures Zverev's status as a multiple major champion while extending the American wait for a homegrown winner.
British pair Skupski and Harrison claim the men's doubles title at the US Open, saving a championship point to beat Puetz and Krawietz in a deciding-set tiebreak. Townsend and Siniakova complete the women’s doubles career slam with a straight-sets win, while Siniakova becomes a perennial year-end No. 1 in doubles with more titles.
Elena Rybakina has moved to world No. 1 after defeating Aryna Sabalenka en route to winning the US Open final. Rybakina seals the top ranking while Sabalenka ends the year without a Grand Slam title, after a season of high drama and new milestones.
Elena Rybakina has won the US Open, defeating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 5-7 6-2 to become the new World No. 1. The victory caps a breakthrough year that included an Australian Open title and a Wimbledon triumph, while Sabalenka ends the season without a Grand Slam title. The outcome also ends Sabalenka’s long run atop the rankings and sets up a fresh chapter in their rivalry.
The DP World Tour has revised its 2027 calendar as the Ryder Cup moves Ireland-ward, prompting date shuffles for key events and a reordering of the European circuit’s calendar. Several tournaments relocate in the lead-up to the 2027 season, with Wentworth and other Rolex Series events affected along with national opens and Open Qualifying Series slots.
Investors are recalibrating portfolios as fresh data and ongoing policy updates push markets toward new equilibria. Experts say the changes will shape asset valuations, inflation expectations, and risk appetite in the near term.
Jannik Sinner has announced a course of treatment for inflammation in his knee, following his Wimbledon title. He will miss the remainder of the 2026 season as he prioritises long-term health, with Beijing and Shanghai’s outcomes shaping the race for world No. 1 as Alex Zverev closes in.