American tennis icon, 7-time major winner, Olympic gold medalist
Howard Fendrich, a veteran AP tennis writer who has covered Grand Slams and Olympics since 2002, has died at Johns Hopkins Hospital after a cancer diagnosis this year. Colleagues, players and friends have paid tribute, noting his kindness, deep reporting and influence on tennis journalism.
Serena Williams has decided to compete in Wimbledon singles after a late wild card choice, following her doubles return earlier this month. She has been contemplating the move and is facing questions about her future at the sport as she eyes a final Wimbledon chapter.
WeWard has launched Walking Mode, a feature that locks social apps until users meet a walking goal. The feature aims to promote activity and reduce screen time. Venus Williams funds the project, with the app reporting 30 million users in 29 countries and a 25% increase in walking time on average.
Wimbledon updates unfold as top seeds face shocks and schedule changes. Alexandra Eala has upset Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina exits in a tight finish, and Elise Mertens advances, reshaping the women’s draw as Centre Court hosts key matches.
The Williams sisters are competing at Wimbledon. Serena has returned to singles and is addressing a knee injury; Venus is playing doubles alongside Kevin Krawietz. Their schedule places doubles on show courts after singles, as organizers balance recovery time with competition.
Serena Williams has withdrawn from doubles at Wimbledon after injuring her right knee in her singles comeback. She posted on Instagram that she is heartbroken and grateful to organizers; a gruelling match preceded the withdrawal. Venus Williams will team with Kevin Krawietz in doubles as their return together at Wimbledon proceeds while Williams recovers.
Two Czech finalists are set to compete in Wimbledon 2026 after dramatic semi-finals. Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova have reached the final, with Noskova defeating Marta Kostyuk and Muchova surviving a battle with Coco Gauff to claim a spot in the showpiece. The weekend promises a first-time Wimbledon women’s champion from the Czech Republic.
The Memphis WTA 250 sees top seed Alexandrova withdraw from a three-hour match against 16-year-old Kristina Liutova in extreme heat, handing Liutova her debut- win while Venus Williams falters elsewhere; other first-round results unfold.
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.
Filipina tennis prodigy Clara Eala has won the Washington Open, becoming the first Filipina to claim a WTA singles title. She defeated Jessica Pegula in a rain-disrupted final that stretched over two days, after rallying from a first-set deficit to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-0. The victory follows a season where she toppled multiple top-10 players and has sparked a surge of national support.
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.