Italian tennis prodigy and former world No. 1
Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open due to an ongoing wrist issue, extending a layoff since April.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.
Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Masters as he continues to recover from an injury that forced him to quit the Barcelona Open in April.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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
The dress once worn by Princess Diana at the Serpentine fundraising dinner is expected to fetch up to $220,000 at Sotheby’s, London. The gown, by Christina Stambolian, has toured globally ahead of the December sale, with part of the proceeds supporting NHS Lothian Charity.
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.
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 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.
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.
Kylian Mbappé has left Nike after nearly 20 years and has signed with Swiss brand On, which has hired Thierry Henry as director of football. On has given Mbappé equity and will involve him in designing football boots and apparel; the company plans retail football boots in 2027 and will feature Mbappé as a global ambassador.
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.
Carlos Alcaraz saves two match points to defeat Taylor Fritz in a dramatic Laver Cup clash at the O2 Arena, as Team Europe edges ahead in London. De Minaur and a rising Rafael Jodar deliver key wins for Team World, while Agassi’s presence reshapes team dynamics.
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.
The Six Kings Slam tennis tournament is postponed due to logistical challenges as regional tensions prompt a wait-and-see approach ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup. Officials are monitoring the security situation and could reschedule further events if needed.
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.
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.
Briton Stojsavljevic has defeated former Grand Slam champion Sofia Kenin in Hong Kong, reaching the second round after a dramatic 6-3 4-6 6-4 victory. The 17-year-old Briton, ranked 411, overcame a late challenge to secure a notable win and will meet Zeynep Sonmez next.
Kimi Antonelli has become Formula 1’s youngest world champion after finishing third in Mexico City; Max Verstappen wins, with Hamilton second amid a dramatic race featuring crashes and a long red flag. Antonio’s triumph follows a season built on early support from Mercedes’ junior programme and a family-driven pursuit of racing excellence.