Italian tennis player; Grand Slam finalist and Davis Cup winner
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.
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.
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.
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.
Serena Williams has reunited with Carlos Alcaraz at the U.S. Open for mixed doubles, marking her first appearance on the New York hardcourt since 2022. The revamped format pairs star singles players with doubles specialists, a move that has drawn criticism for prioritising star power over specialists. The pair won their opening match but were eliminated from the later rounds, reflecting both Williams’ comeback and the format’s mixed reception.
At the US Open, Karolína Muchová and Jakub Menšík have won the mixed doubles title, with a renewed emphasis on singles players amid the revamped format. The event drew big crowds and featured high-profile appearances, including Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz, though several doubles specialists exited early.
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.
Muchova and Mensik clinch the mixed doubles title at the US Open, beating Bencic and Cobolli in a deciding 10-point tiebreak after saving two match points in the semi-finals. The duo wore matching maroon outfits and celebrated a first Grand Slam title for both players, continuing a strong pre-US Open run in women’s and men’s events.
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.
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.
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.
Zverev has reached the US Open final after beating Khachanov in straight sets, cementing his place in contention for a second Grand Slam title this year following his French Open triumph. Shelton's hopes of ending America's long drought remain alive with a looming final against the German.
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.
Europe has secured a 13-5 victory against Team World on the final day of the Laver Cup at the O2 Arena, extending Europe’s domination with a strong show of depth led by Zverev, Alcaraz and Cobolli/Mensik. Alcaraz’s late-day heroics and a dominant doubles pairings sealed the result as Europe clinched the trophy.