Russian tennis star, former world No. 1, 23 ATP titles
Several ATP stars have withdrawn or stumbled through early rounds in Montreal, reshaping the Masters 1000 field.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.
Today’s updates have sharpened focus on ongoing policy shifts as officials face new pressures. The events have prompted immediate reactions and signal potential future changes.
OpenAI unveils a privacy-centric safety monitoring approach, while Anthropic maintains a 30-day data retention policy for its covered models, prompting enterprise concerns and competitive tension in the AI safety space.
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World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the US Open because of a right knee issue.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.
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 former U.S. Open champion has not been granted a wild card for the hard-court Grand Slam in his final year on tour. Wawrinka, 41, missed the U.S. Open’s main-draw wild-card list, following a career that included three Grand Slam titles and a brutal inner drive to a career Grand Slam. Fellow veteran Gaël Monfils received a wild card while ranking details kept Wawrinka at 125th. The story tracks the emotional arc of a final major appearance and the debate over wild-card equity.
Sabalenka has expressed concern over the smell of cannabis drifting onto Louis Armstrong Stadium during her third‑round win at the US Open. She has called for greater awareness around the stadium area as players continue their campaigns for a third consecutive title. Other top players are also advancing, with Alcaraz and Medvedev confirming progress to the fourth round.
Carlos Alcaraz has overcome a wrist injury to win his match in four sets, switching to a skin-tight vest to fix a wardrobe malfunction. He advances to the next round, with Medvedev, Pegula, and others also progressing; Djokovic suffers a shock first-round exit.
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.
Carlos Alcaraz has reached the US Open fourth round after beating Tommy Paul in straight sets, extending his majors winning run to 18. He faces Ben Shelton or Stefanos Tsitsipas next as he continues his comeback from a four-month wrist injury.
Frances Tiafoe fights back from two sets down to beat Michelsen in a dramatic US Open quarter-final, reaching the semi-finals for the third time in five years. The American will face either Alcaraz or Shelton in the last four.
Elena Rybakina has clinched the women's title, and Alexander Zverev has secured his second Grand Slam of 2026 at the US Open, capping a season-era shift as American hopes for a major title fade. The finals have underscored a year of dominant performances by top seeds and a changing competitive landscape.
The US Open is drawing attention for more than tennis this year as influencers in the stands are transforming the spectator experience. Longtime fans accuse content creators of disrupting play with ring lights and live filming, while organizers note growing engagement and a changing marketing landscape.
Alexander Zverev has claimed a second Grand Slam title at the US Open, defeating Ben Shelton in four sets to end American hopes for a homegrown champion since 2003. Shelton had reached the final amid historic firsts, including being the first Black American man in the New York final in 54 years.
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.
Djokovic leads Medvedev in the Beijing semifinal final stages after Medvedev is disqualified for hitting a ball into the stands, injuring a spectator. Djokovic will face Alex de Minaur in the final; Hurkacz retires in the other semi. Djokovic’s perfect China Open record remains intact.
Davidovich Fokina has defeated Zverev to reach the Shanghai Masters final, marking a major victory after a grueling match that featured late momentum shifts and fatigue concerns for the German. The Spaniard led 2-0 in the final set after clinching a 2-0 break, overcoming an exhausting schedule that has seen Zverev carry fatigue through the week.