Annual US tennis event on outdoor hard courts in Cincinnati
Serena and Venus Williams have received a wild-card entry to compete in the doubles at the Cincinnati Open, marking their first doubles pairing since the 2022 US Open. The event runs in Mason, Ohio, from early next week, with Venus also entering the singles draw.
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Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open due to an ongoing wrist issue, extending a layoff since April.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.
Several ATP stars have withdrawn or stumbled through early rounds in Montreal, reshaping the Masters 1000 field. Sinner, Alcaraz and Djokovic have skipped key events to safeguard their health, while others face injuries and upsets ahead of Cincinnati and the U.S. Open.
Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Masters as he continues to recover from an injury that forced him to quit the Barcelona Open in April. Tournament director Bob Moran has said organisers know Alcaraz is doing all he can to return; the US Open begins on August 30 and Alcaraz has not confirmed plans for lead-up events.
Draper has retired to begin again after a season hampered by a bone bruise. He has just lost in the Cincinnati Open first round, failing to convert six set points as Martin Landaluce has progressed to the next round. Critics say he is fighting fatigue and ongoing biomechanical changes.
Novak Djokovic has been eliminated at Cincinnati in hot, humid conditions after a grueling 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Thiago Tirante. The 39-year-old veteran has been dealing with a health issue and did not advance to the next round, with Tirante earning the biggest win of his career. Djokovic saved 13 of 15 break points but could not finish the match, leaving his Cincinnati run in doubt ahead of the US Open.
Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula will meet in the Cincinnati women’s final, the first all-American showdown there in 56 years, after Pegula defeats Swiatek and Gauff defeats Bejlek. On the men’s side, Frances Tiafoe faces Arthur Fils in a historic final—the first Cincinnati Masters 1000 final with two Black players. Winners will headline the US Open build-up.
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.
The four majors have unveiled a record prize pool and new player welfare measures, including a Grand Slam Player Council and a dedicated funding stream, in response to player protests over remuneration. The US Open will host the first implementation, with substantial increases across categories, and a $2 million allocation to a new player support programme.
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.
Carlos Alcaraz has returned from a wrist injury to play in the US Open, teaming with Serena Williams in the mixed doubles. The news follows his four-month absence from singles and Williams’ comeback after a hiatus. The event adds star power to the Open, with other high-profile partnerships and a large field across both singles and doubles.
The Guardian and AP News report that 22-year-old Frenchman Arthur Fils wins the Cincinnati Open, defeating Frances Tiafoe to become the first Masters 1000 final featuring two Black players. Fils overcomes a tense match, dominating late to capture his first Masters 1000 title and rising into the top ranks of the ATP race.
Aryna Sabalenka has faced a rough patch as she defends her US Open title, saying only that there is nothing for the public to explain about her form while she works to reset mentally. Coco Gauff is defending her status on and off the court, with her family managing ticket requests amid spotlight pressure. Filipino talent Rose Eala has surged to a career-best ranking and is drawing fans in New York.
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.
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.
British No. 1 Fery has fallen in the US Open first round to Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets, 6-3 6-3 7-5. The defeat follows his Wimbledon semifinal run and Winston-Salem final, with Musetti proving too strong on Grandstand. Fery is now focusing on recovery and future tournaments.
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.
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.
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.
Sinner has announced he will not play in the Beijing China Open this year due to a knee injury. He has not played since Wimbledon, and he is not ready to compete yet. Djokovic is set to headline the event while Sinner plans a return next year.