Tennis's Parisian grand slam at Roland Garros
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.
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.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the US Open because of a right knee issue.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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ben Shelton has advanced to his first Grand Slam final at the US Open after defeating Frances Tiafoe in a four-set thriller. He will face top seed Alexander Zverev, who also reached the final by overcoming Karen Khachanov in straight sets. The match culminates a weekend of standout American runs in New York.
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.
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.
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.
Britain has secured a place in the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna after a 3-0 aggregate victory over Ecuador. World No. 1 doubles duo Henry Patten and Neal Skupski clinched the decisive doubles rubber, while singles wins from Arthur Fery and Toby Samuel set up the winning margin in London.
Czech Republic has secured the Billie Jean King Cup, defeating Britain 2-0 to claim their 12th title. Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova led the charge, delivering straight-set wins for a dominant performance. Barbora Strycova marks her first win as captain, while Britain’s squad features rising players but falls short in Shenzhen.
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.
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.
Elina Svitolina has announced she is ending her five-year marriage to Gaël Monfils, citing the mental toll of Russia’s war in Ukraine and a need to rediscover herself. They share a daughter, Skaï, and say they will remain a family for their child. The couple have both acknowledged support for each other during the split.
Williams has been knocked out in the Guangzhou Open doubles semifinals, while her singles run ends in the first round. The 46-year-old American and her partner were defeated by Lilli Tagger and her partner as Williams continues a winless streak on tour.
In Basel, Viktor Vacherot has claimed the Basel title after a narrow win over Jiri Lehecka, sealing his first title of the year as Djokovic’s Basel campaign ends with a late setback. Struff’s upset win over Djokovic previously reshaped the Swiss Indoors landscape.
Emma Rybakina has withdrawn from the 2026 WTA Finals at Indian Wells, saying she is "not physically ready to compete" and will rest for the 2027 season. The WTA has cited a viral illness as the official reason. Marta Kostyuk will replace her in Group 1 and will open against Linda Noskova on Sunday.
The WTA has apologised after microphones on practice courts at Indian Wells livestreamed Jessica Pegula’s private comments about Mirra Andreeva. Chair Valerie Camillo has said the tour failed to notify players about active audio equipment, removed microphones from practice areas and taken down practice recordings ahead of the WTA Finals, which begin Sunday.