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Rublev too good for Sinner at Canadian Open

World number one Jannik Sinner was knocked out of the Canadian Open in the quarter-finals by Russia's Andrey Rublev.

The world number eight won 6-3 1-6 6-2 against the Italian top seed in a rain-interrupted match in Montreal.

Sinner struggled with an injury to his right hip and the 22-year-old frequently massaged the area, which could be a concern to him with the US Open starting in a fortnight's time.

"It was a really great match of mine. Jannik is an amazing player and he has played unbelievably for two years. I was just hoping I would be able to fight with him," the 26-year-old said.

Rain wiped out Friday's play so both men had played their last-16 matches earlier in the day, with Sinner defeating Chile's Alejandro Tabilo 6-4 6-3 and Rublev seeing off American qualifier Brandon Nakashima 6-2 6-2.

Rublev will face another Italian, Matteo Arnaldi, in the semi-finals after he beat Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-4 7-5.

In the women's tournament in Toronto, defending champion Jessica Pegula beat fellow American Peyton Stearns 6-4 7-5 to reach the semi-finals.

Pegula will play Diana Shnaider in the last four after she won 4-6 6-1 6-4 against fellow Russian Liudmila Samsonova.

Amanda Anisimova of the United States - who returned to tennis at the end of 2023 following a ninth-month break because of mental health issues - upset Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 6-2.

Anisimova will face Emma Navarro, who defeated another American Taylor Townsend 6-3 7-6 (7-5).

The US Open in New York starts on 26 August.

BBC
 
Popyrin wins maiden Masters 1000 title in Montreal

Alexei Popyrin beat world number six Andrey Rublev in the final of the Canadian Open on Monday to claim his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal.

Popyrin, 25, is the first Australian since former world number one Lleyton Hewitt at Indian Wells 21 years ago to lift a Masters 1000 trophy.

He defeated Rublev 6-2 6-4 in 90 minutes, denying the Russian his second Masters title of the season after winning the Madrid Open in May.

In the women's tournament in Toronto, defending champion Jessica Pegula defeated fellow American Amanda Anisimova 6-3 2-6 6-1.

It was a surprise victory for Popyrin, who entered the tournament ranked 62nd and beat five top-20 opponents during his run to the final.


BBC
 
I don't feel like I'm in my body – Osaka

Former world number one Naomi Osaka says she does not "feel like I'm in my body" following her return to tennis after a maternity break.

Japan's Osaka returned to the WTA Tour in January after the birth of her first child, daughter Shai, in July 2023.

Since then, the four-time Grand Slam champion has struggled to rediscover her best form and been unable to advance past the quarter-finals at any tournament.

"My biggest issue currently isn't losses though, my biggest issue is that I don't feel like I'm in my body," Osaka, 26, wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.

"It's a strange feeling, missing balls I shouldn't miss, hitting balls softer than I remember I used to. I try to tell myself, 'It's fine you're doing great. Just get through this one and keep pushing.' Mentally it's really draining through."

Osaka was defeated by American Ashlyn Kreuger in the second round of qualifying for the Cincinnati Open on Monday.

"I've played a handful of matches this year that I felt like I was myself and I know this moment is probably just a small phase from all the new transitions (clay, grass, clay, hard), however the only feeling I could liken how I feel right now to is being post-partum," she said.

"That scares me because I've been playing tennis since I was three, the racket should feel like an extension of my hand."

Despite failing to reach the third round of a Grand Slam this year, Osaka has shown she can still compete with the best players - pushing current world number one Iga Swiatek all the way in a second-round thriller at the French Open in May.

However, she said she does not understand "why everything has to feel almost brand new again".

"This should be as simple as breathing to me, but it's not," she added.

"I genuinely did not give myself grace for that fact until just now."

Osaka is set to play at the US Open, where she is a two-time champion, later this month.

BBC
 
Boulter knocked out of Cincinnati Open in first round

British number one Katie Boulter lost nine games in a row as she was beaten 2-6 6-0 7-5 by Magda Linette in the Cincinnati Open first round.

Boulter broke Linette twice in the opening set to take the lead but Poland's world number 43 responded in impressive fashion.

Linette dominated the second set - dropping just eight points - to 'bagel' her British opponent in just 25 minutes.

The Pole then powered into a lead at the start of the third set, earning her fourth-straight break of serve to move 3-0 up.

Boulter, the world number 30, clawed her way back into contention to level the set at 4-4 and saved two match points at 5-4.

But she was unable to save a third match point on her next service game as Linette booked her spot in the second round, where she will face either Wang Xinyu or Liudmila Samsonova.


BBC
 

Draper battles back in first round at Cincinnati Open​


Jack Draper had to battle back from 4-2 down in a deciding set tie-break to beat Jaume Munar in the first round of the Cincinnati Open.

British number one Draper won 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-5) against the Spanish qualifier and will face Greek ninth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the next round.

The 22-year-old came through despite an injury concern late in the deciding set - calling for the physio when he was 6-5 up to receive treatment for an abdomen problem.

He looked to be struggling in the early stages of the tie-break but finished strongly to seal victory with the second of three match points.

Tsitsipas beat Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6 6-4 6-3, while world number one Jannik Sinner progressed with a 6-4 7-5 victory against American qualifier Alex Michelsen.

Top seed Sinner will face Australian Jordan Thompson in round two.

British duo Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart were both knocked out in the first round.

Boulter was beaten 6-2 0-6 5-7 by Poland's Magda Linette, while qualifier Dart was defeated 6-4 0-6 1-6 by Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.

Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek needed three sets to overcome qualifier Varvara Gracheva in the first round.

World number one Swiatek, who is also top seed, breezed through the opening set, before being taken to a tie-break in the second. She eventually booked her spot in the second round 6-0 6-7 (8-10) 6-2.

Players are preparing for the US Open - the final major of the season - which begins on 26 August in New York.

Source: BBC
 
Draper fights back to beat Tsitsipas in Cincinnati

British number one Jack Draper fought back from a set down to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas and reach the Cincinnati Open third round.

Tsitsipas, ranked 11th in the world, broke for 5-4 in the deciding set, but Draper won 12 of the last 17 points to wrap up a 3-6 6-4 7-5 victory.

"In general my grit, my determination and attitude won me the game today, so I am very proud of that," Draper, the world number 28, said in his on-court interview.

The 22-year-old will face Norwegian seventh seed Casper Ruud or Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime next.

Tsitsipas, a former runner-up at the Australian Open and French Open, was playing in his first tournament since stopping his coaching partnership with his father Apostolos.

In the opening round of the women's event, defending champion Coco Gauff was beaten 6-4 6-2 6-4 by Kazakh world number 34 Yulia Putintseva.

"I feel like I have to work on consistency, overall," Gauff, 20, said.

The US Open champion will lose her world number two spot to Aryna Sabalenka, who claimed a comfortable 6-3 6-4 win against Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto.

Fourth seed Elena Rybakina failed to convert two match points before Canada's Leylah Fernandez progressed with a 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 victory.

Men's world number four Alexander Zverev defeated Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-2, while sixth seed Andrey Rublev saw off China's Zhizhen Zhang 6-4 6-3.

BBC
 
British number two Norrie withdraws from US Open

British number two Cameron Norrie has withdrawn from the US Open because of the forearm injury which also prevented him playing in the Olympics.

Norrie, 28, says he plans to take some rest and recharge, and added on Instagram that he “can’t wait to get back to competing”.

With Andy Murray’s retirement, Jack Draper and Dan Evans are currently the only British men in the main draw in New York.

The final Grand Slam of the year starts on 26 August.


BBC
 
Draper earns controversial win as Alcaraz loses

Jack Draper beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in controversial circumstances at the Cincinnati Open as Carlos Alcaraz smashed his racquet during a defeat by Gael Monfils.

Draper emerged a 5-7 6-4 6-4 winner, despite Auger-Aliassime arguing with the umpire that the Briton should not have been awarded the final point of their last-16 match.

The Canadian claimed the ball had hit the frame of Draper's racket and then the floor on match point, saying his opponent "shanked it on the floor", though the umpire disagreed.

Auger-Aliassime eventually conceded defeat, although replays appeared to back up his claim.

"I was too busy looking at him," said Draper during his on-court interview following the match.

"I didn't see what happened. I looked at the umpire straight away to see if he called a double bounce or not.

"As a player, I'm trying to focus on what I'm doing. I can't make that call if I'm not 100%.

"I said, when the supervisor came on, that if it was a double bounce and that he saw it clearly then I would have 100% replayed the point."

Auger-Aliassime faced Draper having beaten Casper Ruud 6-3 6-1 earlier in the day in a match delayed by rain.

Draper, who will play Holger Rune in the quarter-finals, added: "We've had a long battle out here and it would be ultra unfair on Felix if the match was won in that kind of way.

"I really couldn't make that call myself because I really didn't see it."

Draper beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the previous round and, in response to the match point controversy, the Greek posted a message on social media, external saying, "oh my".

He added: "I don’t think I have ever seen a shot like this."

Analysis - VAR expanded at US Open

Tennis correspondent Russell Fuller

There should be much less chance of a repeat of what happened in this match at the upcoming US Open - as the video review system is being expanded to cover eight courts.

Players will be allowed up to three incorrect challenges per set, and once the chair umpire has received the best angles available on their tablet, they will be able to rule whether there is clear enough evidence to overturn a decision.

The video will also be shown on the big screens within each court.

"That now covers almost 75% to 80% of the singles matches, and up to 50% of the doubles," US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster said earlier this week.

The worst match in my career - Alcaraz

Alcaraz was beaten 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 by France's Monfils in a second round match carried over from the previous day because of rain.

The 21-year-old Spaniard, who has won the French Open and Wimbledon titles this year, smashed his racquet after failing to break Monfils, 37, in the third set.

"I felt sometimes that I wanted to break the racquet," said Alcaraz. "It never happened before, because I could control myself in those situations, in those feelings.

"Most of the time I could control myself and it could go better in the matches or in the situation that I've been feeling before.

"Today, I couldn't control myself, because, as I said, I was feeling that I was not playing any kind of tennis."

The match resumed in a second set tie-break which Monfils won before claiming the decider for victory.

"I felt like it was the worst match that I ever played in my career," said Alcaraz.

"I couldn't play. Honestly, I've been practicing really well here in this tournament. The previous days, I was feeling great, hitting the ball clear, moving well. I don't know what happened.

"I don't know how I felt like this, but I couldn't control myself. I couldn't be better. So this match, it was impossible to win."

Monfils went on to play Rune later on during the same day and was beaten 3-6 6-3 6-4 by the Dane.

Meanwhile, women's world number one Iga Swiatek made it into the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals with a comfortable 6-2 6-2 win against Marta Kostyuk.

She will play Mirra Andreeva, who beat Italy's Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini 3-6 6-3 6-2.

"I'm happy I was solid. I was disciplined with all the things that I wanted to take care of," said Swiatek.

Aryna Sabalenka secured a 7-5 6-2 victory against Elina Svitolina, while Jessica Pegula won a delayed second-round match against Karolina Muchova 5-7 6-4 6-2 before beating Taylor Townsend 6-2 6-3 in her second match of the day.

BBC
 
Rune ends Draper's Cincinnati run in quarter-finals

Jack Draper's run at the Cincinnati Open ended in the quarter-finals as he was beaten in straight sets by Denmark's Holger Rune.

The British number one had come from a set down to win his previous two matches, but the 22-year-old was unable to repeat the feat against the 15th seed.

Rune won 6-4 6-2 after taking his chance on the only break point of the first set, which put him 3-2 up.

The Dane broke again at the start of the second set and saved three break points, seizing his only other opportunity on Draper's serve in the 11th game before serving out for victory.

Rune, 21, will play Frances Tiafoe in the last four after Hubert Hurkacz retired from their quarter-final because of a calf injury after losing the first set.

Top seed Jannick Sinner of Italy avenged last week's defeat by Andrey Rublev in Montreal, winning 4-6 7-5 6-4 to set up a semi-final against Alexander Zverev, who beat Ben Shelton 3-6 7-6 7-5.

The women's world number one Iga Swiatek of Poland beat Mirra Andreeva 4-6 6-3 7-5 and will next face third seed Aryna Sabalenka, who beat Liudmila Samsonova 6-3 6-3.

Home hope Jessica Pegula saw off the challenge of Leylah Fernandez 7-5 6-7 7-6 and will meet Paula Badosa, who cruised to a 6-3 6-2 win against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

BBC
 
Sabalenka beats Swiatek to reach Cincinnati final

Aryna Sabalenka defeated world number one Iga Swiatek for the first time this season to reach the Cincinnati Open final.

The pair had met twice before in 2024, in the finals of the Madrid Open and the Italian Open, but Sabalenka had lost both.

On Sunday, after failing to convert nine match points, Belarusian Sabalenka, who will become the world number two on Monday, finally got the better of her rival 6-3 6-3.

The match was also the first time Sabalenka, 26, had beaten Swiatek, 23, in straight sets.

"It sounds like I broke the wall finally," Sabalenka, who is now in her first Cincinnati Open final, said when asked how being a finalist sounded.

"I'm super happy. After such a tough battle against Iga, I'm super happy with the win."

She will play the winner of the other semi-final between American Jessica Pegula and Spain's Paula Badosa in Monday's final.


BBC
 
Sinner beats Zverev to reach Cincinnati Open final

World number one Jannik Sinner overcame Alexander Zverev in a three-set thriller to reach the final of the Cincinnati Open.

It took top seed Sinner three hours and seven minutes to seal a 7-6 (11-9) 5-7 7-6 (7-4) semi-final victory.

The 23-year-old Italian had lost all four of his previous matches against German Zverev but battled through a hip problem to advance to the final.

Sinner will face American Frances Tiafoe on Monday at about 23:00 BST for the chance to win his fifth ATP tour title this season.

Tiafoe, 26, defeated 15th seed Holger Rune of Denmark 4-6 6-1 7-6 (7-4) in the other semi-final.

Following his gruelling game with 27-year-old Zverev - which was interrupted by rain - Sinner said he still has work to do in terms of his fitness.

"The physical aspect, of course, I have to improve, because if I want to win Grand Slams or a bigger title I have to be, for sure, more in shape," he said.

"But I just tried to stay there mentally, which I'm very proud of - and let's see what's coming [on Monday]."

Sinner is aiming to win his second major championship this year when the US Open starts on 26 August in New York.

After losing the opening set on a tie-break, Zverev took the second set before going 5-4 up in the third.

However, Sinner rallied to win three of the next four games to force another tie-break where he broke world number four Zverev's serve twice on his way to victory.

"Sometimes you have to play a bit with the gut feeling. And I think this today was my strength," Sinner said.

"It was a good match, I think for both of us. He served very, very well so I can be very proud."


BBC
 
Sabalenka wins first title since Australian Open

Aryna Sabalenka won her first title since January's Australian Open by powering past Jessica Pegula in the final of the Cincinnati Open.

The Belarusian needed 76 minutes to wrap up a 6-3 7-5 victory for the 15th title of her career and her sixth at WTA 1,000 level.

The result ended a nine-match winning streak for American Pegula, who defended her Canadian Open title last week.

"This trophy means a lot, it is a really big achievement, especially coming after injury, with this fear of getting injured again," Sabalenka, who missed Wimbledon with a shoulder injury, said in her courtside interview, broadcast by Sky Sports.

"My team did everything they could to make sure I felt as good as I can and I am proud of myself I was able to handle all of those emotions."

Sabalenka, who will replace Coco Gauff as the new world number two, cruised through the first set after getting the break in the fourth game.

She suffered a slight blip when serving for the title at 5-4 in the second set as sixth seed Pegula broke back to level.

But the two-time Grand Slam champion recovered, striking again before and serving out the win and blowing kisses to the crowd in celebration.

The 26-year-old, who defeated world number one Iga Swiatek in the semi-final, will return to action at the US Open which starts on 26 August.


BBC
 
Sinner beats Tiafoe to win Cincinnati Open title

World number one Jannik Sinner beat Frances Tiafoe in straight sets in the Cincinnati Open final to claim his fifth title of the season.

The 23-year-old Italian, who has been struggling with a hip problem, won 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 against American Tiafoe.

After securing the first set on a tie-break, top seed Sinner wrapped up his latest trophy in one hour and 37 minutes.

"It was a very difficult week, tough week. I'm very happy about today's match," he said.

Sinner is the youngest men's champion in Cincinnati since Britain's Andy Murray won the tournament in 2008 at the age of 21.

He added: "It was very tough mentally. Had such an amazing run here, and I tried to do my best today. We both were quite tired from the semi-finals."

Sinner started the year by securing his maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January. He then followed his Melbourne success with final victories in Rotterdam, Miami, and Halle.

After his triumph in Ohio on Monday, Sinner turns his attention to the US Open - the final Grand Slam of the year - which starts on Monday at Flushing Meadows.

"Now, for sure, it's important to recover, to be ready for New York," he said.

"This is our main goal here for this US swing."

BBC
 
World number one Jannik Sinner has been cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for a banned substance in March

The Italian tested positive for low levels of a metabolite of clostebol - a steroid that can be used to build muscle mass - during Indian Wells.

A further sample taken eight days later also tested positive for low levels of the same metabolite. A provisional suspension was automatically applied but, as Sinner challenged it successfully, he was able to keep playing.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) carried out an investigation which found Sinner was inadvertently contaminated with the substance by his physiotherapist.

The physiotherapist had been applying an over-the-counter spray available in Italy to a cut on his own hand.
He had then carried out treatments on Sinner, resulting in inadvertent contamination.

The ITIA accepted the explanation and that the violation was not intentional. Sinner was cleared of fault or negligence by an independent tribunal last week.

He will, however, lose the ranking points from Indian Wells, where he was beaten in the semi-finals by eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz.

“I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me," Sinner said in a statement. "I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I continue to comply with the ITIA's anti-doping programme. "I have a team around me that are meticulous in their own compliance."

Clostebol is often found in products to treat swelling and irritation. It is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of prohibited substances.

Australian Open champion Sinner will be the top seed at the US Open, which begins on Monday.

Source: BBC
 
GB's Harris and Miyazaki win in US Open qualifiers

Britain's Billy Harris and Lily Miyazaki are through to the second round of qualifying at the US Open.

Harris, who played in the main draw of a major for the first time at Wimbledon in July, held off Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerundolo to clinch a 6-3 2-6 7-5 win.

Earlier, Miyazaki claimed a 6-2 6-4 victory over Dalila Jakupovic of Slovenia.

The 28-year-old won three qualifying matches in New York last year to make her main draw debut a Grand Slam.

Oliver Crawford fell to a 6-4 6-4 defeat by the USA's JJ Wolf, while Jan Choinski and Fran Jones play later on Tuesday.

They will attempt to join Harris and Miyazaki, along with fellow Britons Heather Watson, Paul Jubb and Sonay Kartal, who all won on Monday, in the second round.

Watson takes on second seed Aliaksandra Sasnovich on Wednesday, while Jubb faces Finland's Otto Virtanen and Kartal plays Simona Waltert of Switzerland.

BBC
 
Sinner 'worn down physically and mentally' by investigation

Jannik Sinner has been worn down "physically and mentally" by the investigation into his positive tests for a banned substance, says the world number one's coach Darren Cahill.

The Italian twice tested positive in March for clostebol - a steroid that can be used to build muscle mass - but was cleared of fault or negligence by an independent tribunal last week.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) found Sinner was inadvertently contaminated with the substance by Giacomo Naldi, his physiotherapist.

Since first alerted about the doping violations in early April, Sinner has won tournaments in Halle and Cincinnati and become world number one for the first time in his career.

"I guess if you are not a Jannik fan, you may not see too much difference in what he has been doing the last few months because he has still been playing quite well," Cahill told his ESPN colleague Chris McKendry.

"But if you are a Jannik fan, you would have seen a big change in his body language, physicality on the court, his excitement to be on the court - he’s struggled and I think it’s worn him down physically and mentally.

"He got tonsillitis, which is the reason why he missed the Olympics.

"I just want to stress that he’s maybe the most professional young man that I have ever had the chance to work with. He would never ever intentionally do anything, and he’s in a situation that is incredibly unfortunate."

The World Anti-Doping Agency told BBC Sport it "will review this decision carefully" before deciding whether to appeal - an approach it takes in all such cases.

Some players have taken to social media to claim Sinner has been treated differently because he is the world number one.

And 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Chris Evert says she believes the authorities do protect top players.

"They're going to keep certain things secret if you're a top player because they don't want the press, the player doesn't want the press," Evert said on a conference call before ESPN’s US Open coverage.

"I do think there's some [more] protection there than if you were Joe Smith, ranked 400 in the world."

Sinner's lawyer has denied his client received special treatment.

"It’s perfectly reasonable to wonder that, but I think it’s actually the reverse," Jamie Singer told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Because he was such a superstar, the ITIA took it exceptionally seriously. But it was independent tribunals making those decisions, and that’s the critical piece here - nobody within tennis decided this, independent judges decided this.

"It’s had a huge impact on him. He’s been a different character over the summer, he’s been much more introverted.

"Jannik personally never did anything wrong. This is a mistake the physio made, and so he’s living with all of this scrutiny because a physio made a mistake."


BBC
 
Kartal & Miyazaki one win from US Open main draw

Britons Sonay Kartal and Lily Miyazaki are through to the final round of US Open qualifying, but there were defeats for Heather Watson and Paul Jubb.

Kartal, who has never reached the main draw in New York, beat Switzerland's Simona Waltert 6-3 6-2.

That was followed by Miyazaki's comeback 1-6 6-2 6-2 victory over Liechtenstein's Kathinka von Deichmann.

However, Watson was beaten 6-1 6-4 by second seed Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus while Jubb lost 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 to Finland's Otto Virtanen.

Billy Harris, Francesca Jones and Jan Choinski are all in qualifying action later on Wednesday.

Players must win three matches to make the main draw of the US Open, which begins on Monday.

Jack Draper and Dan Evans are the only British men already in the singles draw, while Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu and Harriet Dart are in the women's.


BBC
 
Raducanu faces Kenin in US Open first round

Emma Raducanu will face fellow Grand Slam winner Sofia Kenin in the Briton's first US Open appearance for two years.

Raducanu memorably triumphed at the US Open as a teenage qualifier in 2021, becoming the first British woman for 44 years to win a major singles title.

She lost in the first round in 2022 and missed last year's tournament after having wrist and ankle surgery.

The 21-year-old faces a potentially tricky task against American Kenin, who won the Australian Open in 2020 and reached the French Open final in the same year.

Katie Boulter, the British women's number one and 31st seed, will start against an as-yet unconfirmed qualifier, while Harriet Dart faces Chloe Paquet of France.

In the men's draw, Jack Draper faces China's Zhang Zhizhen, with Carlos Alcaraz potentially waiting in the third round.

Dan Evans, the only other British man to gain direct entry into the main draw, faces 23rd seed Karen Khachanov of Russia.

Four other Britons - Sonay Kartal, Lily Miyazaki, Billy Harris and Jan Choinski - are set to compete in the final round of qualifying.

The US Open takes place from 26 August to 8 September.


BBC
 
Raducanu faces Kenin in US Open first round

Emma Raducanu will face fellow Grand Slam winner Sofia Kenin in the Briton's first US Open appearance for two years.

Raducanu memorably triumphed at the US Open as a teenage qualifier in 2021, becoming the first British woman for 44 years to win a major singles title.

She lost in the first round in 2022 and missed last year's tournament after having wrist and ankle surgery.

The 21-year-old faces a potentially tricky task against American Kenin, who won the Australian Open in 2020 and reached the French Open final in the same year.

Katie Boulter, the British women's number one and 31st seed, will start against an as-yet unconfirmed qualifier, while Harriet Dart faces Chloe Paquet of France.

In the men's draw, Jack Draper faces China's Zhang Zhizhen, with Carlos Alcaraz potentially waiting in the third round.

Dan Evans, the only other British man to gain direct entry into the main draw, faces 23rd seed Karen Khachanov of Russia.

Jan Choinski reached the main draw for the first time with a hard-fought 6-0 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (12-10) win over American Maxime Cressy.

However, three other Britons - Sonay Kartal, Lily Miyazaki and Billy Harris - all lost in the final round of qualifying.

The US Open takes place from 26 August to 8 September.


BBC
 
Four Britons one win from US Open main draw

Britons Billy Harris, Jan Choinski, Sonay Kartal and Lily Miyazaki won their second-round qualifying ties to move one win away from reaching the US Open main draw.

Harris claimed a comfortable 6-1 6-3 victory over Bolivia's Murkel Dellien, while Choinski was a set and a break up when French-Monegasque player Valentin Vacherot retired injured.

Earlier, Kartal beat Switzerland's Simona Waltert 6-3 6-2, while Miyazaki fought back to win 1-6 6-2 6-2 against Liechtenstein's Kathinka von Deichmann.

There were defeats, however, for Heather Watson, Paul Jubb and Francesca Jones.

Watson was beaten 6-1 6-4 by Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich while Jubb lost 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 to Finland's Otto Virtanen.

Meanwhile, Jones was losing 6-4 4-1 against Japan's Ena Shibahara when the Briton was forced to retire through injury.

Harris, Choinski and Kartal have never played in the main draw in New York but are now just a win away from the tournament which begins on Monday.

Jack Draper and Dan Evans are the only British men already in the singles draw, while Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu and Harriet Dart are in the women's field.


BBC
 
Sinner parts with physio & fitness coach after investigation

Jannik Sinner says he is no longer working with physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi and fitness trainer Umberto Ferrara following the investigation into his positive tests for a banned substance.

The world number one twice tested positive for clostebol - a steroid that can be used to build muscle mass - in March.

The Italian was cleared of fault or negligence by a tribunal last week, with the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) finding Sinner had been inadvertently contaminated with the substance by Naldi.

Naldi had been applying an over-the-counter spray - given to him by Ferrara - to a cut on his own hand before then carrying out treatments on Sinner.

"I want to start with [saying] that they have been a huge part for my career," Sinner said in a news conference at the US Open on Friday.

"We made an incredible job, bringing a lot of success and then having a great team behind me.

"Now, because of these mistakes, I'm not feeling that confident to continue with them.

"I was struggling a lot in the last months. Now I was waiting for the result, and now I just need some clean air."


www.bbc.com

US Open 2024: Jannik Sinner parts with physiotherapist and fitness coach

Jannik Sinner says he is no longer working with physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi and fitness trainer Umberto Ferrara following the investigation into his positive tests for a banned substance.
www.bbc.com
 
Difficult to have integrity questioned - Draper

British number one Jack Draper says he had a "difficult" time after having his integrity questioned following last week's Cincinnati Open.

The 22-year-old beat Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in controversial circumstances when the umpire failed to spot the ball hitting the floor as Draper struck it.

Replays appeared to back up Auger-Aliassime's argument that the ball had hit the frame of Draper's racket and then the floor on match point - but there was no replay technology available at the event.

Draper insisted he had not seen it happen and "would have 100% replayed the point" had it been called.

Speaking to BBC Sport before the US Open begins on Monday, Draper admitted the criticism he faced had been hard.

"It's slowly moving on," he said. "It was difficult for four or five days afterwards - it was the first time I've experienced criticism and [had] my integrity questioned as an athlete.

"For me it's one of the most important things to be honest, do the right thing, be a good person - more than just a good tennis player."


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US Open: Britain's Jack Draper on 'difficult' time after shot controversy and coach split

British number one Jack Draper says he endured a "difficult" time after having his integrity questioned following a controversial win.
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Gauff starts US Open defence with routine win

Defending champion Coco Gauff says she is treating this year's US Open as a "victory lap" after comfortably beating Varvara Gracheva in her opening match.

Gauff, 20, began her title defence with a 6-2 6-0 victory in just 66 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The American beat Aryna Sabalenka in last year's final to win her first Grand Slam and followed that by reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open and French Open this year.

But she has struggled for form recently, losing in the third round of the Paris Olympics before suffering early exits at tournaments in Cincinnati and Toronto.

Gauff said the past few weeks have "been a little bit tough", but she believed her performance against Gracheva was "the best tennis I have played in a while".

She added that a fan's comment on her TikTok account had helped change her perspective coming into the US Open.


BBC
 
Thiem's Grand Slam career ends in US Open first round

Dominic Thiem's Grand Slam career came to an end in the US Open first round as the former New York champion lost to Ben Shelton on Monday.

Austria's Thiem won his sole major at Flushing Meadows in 2020, coming back from two sets down to beat Alexander Zverev.

However, he struggled badly with a wrist injury afterwards and announced in May that this would be his last year on the tour.

Thiem lost 6-4 6-2 6-2 to Shelton, and the two shared a warm embrace at the net before Shelton gestured to the Arthur Ashe crowd to show some appreciation for his opponent.

There was no crowd present when Thiem lifted the trophy four years ago because of Covid-19 restrictions, but the 30-year-old thanked those who came out to watch this time around.

He was given a framed collage of his best US Open moments in an on-court presentation afterwards.

"It's actually a really important moment for me because I had my greatest success of my career here on this court, in a weird 2020 in very strange and different circumstances," Thiem told the crowd.

"Unfortunately I had this success without any of you, so that was an amazing moment, but on the other hand pretty sad.

"I'm super happy that I got the chance to play my last US Open and I can spend some time with you guys, just to say thank you and to make the time up from what we missed four years ago."

German fourth seed Alexander Zverev and 2022 finalist Casper Ruud were among the winners on the first day's play in New York.


BBC
 
Boulter reaches second round after US Open 'battle'

British number one Katie Boulter found her rhythm to fight back and win her US Open first-round match against Belarusian qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

Boulter, who is seeded 31st, came through to win 5-7 6-2 6-1 in New York on Tuesday.

An edgy start saw the 28-year-old Briton lose serve three times in the opening set before settling down to take control.

"It's not easy coming out here to play your first round against someone who has been top 30 - she knows how to play tennis," Boulter, who reached the third round last year, told Sky Sports.

"I knew it would be a battle, she's played three matches on these courts."

Fellow Britons Jack Draper, Dan Evans and Emma Raducanu are hoping to join Boulter in the second round when they play later.

British men's number one Draper, who is seeded 25th, takes on China's Zhang Zhizhen as the post-Andy Murray era begins in the men's singles.

Former world number one Murray retired after the Olympic Games last month, when he played alongside Evans in the doubles.

Evans, 34, faces Russian Karen Khachanov as he aims to find joy in a difficult year, which has brought wins in just four singles matches on the ATP Tour.

Raducanu, 21, aims for her first win at the US Open since lifting the 2021 title when she plays American Sofia Kenin.


BBC
 
Osaka wins on emotional US Open return

An emotional Naomi Osaka made a triumphant US Open return by beating Jelena Ostapenko in a blockbuster first-round match.

Japan's Osaka is a two-time champion at Flushing Meadows, winning the first of her four Grand Slam titles in New York in 2018 and repeating the feat in 2020.

She missed last year's tournament after giving birth to daughter Shai but watched from the crowd, which reignited her desire to compete.

The former world number one faced a tough task against Latvian 10th seed Ostapenko, but came through 6-3 6-2 in just 63 minutes.

Osaka covered her face with her towel as she cried tears of joy and relief after the win, and became emotional again in her on-court interview.


BBC
 
Sinner avoids early US Open exit with comeback win

Top seed Jannik Sinner battled back against American Mackenzie McDonald to avoid a surprise first-round exit at the US Open.

The Italian was playing his first match since it emerged he had been cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for a banned substance earlier this year.

Sinner, whose coach said he was "physically and mentally" worn down by the investigation, found himself a set and a break down after a poor start on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

But he found his footing midway through the second set and it was plain sailing from there for the 23-year-old.

Sinner said the overall response to news that he had tested positive twice for a banned substance was "not bad".

"The response from fans, I feel it has been great - throughout when the news came out, in the practice sessions, there was a lot of support, which I'm very glad and happy about that," Sinner said in a news conference.

Asked about the reaction from other players he said: "I cannot control the players' reaction, and if I have something to say to someone, I go there privately, because I'm this kind of person."

Earlier on Tuesday, Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered an early US Open exit for the seventh year in a row as the 11th seed lost to Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first round.


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US Open 2024 results: Jannik Sinner beats Mackenzie McDonald, Stefanos Tsitsipas suffers early exit

Top seed Jannik Sinner avoids a early US Open exit in his first match since being cleared after testing positive for a banned substance in March.
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Evans earns stunning win in US Open's longest-ever match

Britain's Dan Evans produced an astonishing comeback to win the longest match in US Open history as he beat Russia's Karen Khachanov in five hours and 35 minutes.

Evans, 34, was 4-0 down in the decider but somehow found the mental and physical strength to win 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 6-4.

BBC
 
Evans earns stunning win in US Open's longest-ever match

Britain's Dan Evans produced an astonishing comeback to win the longest match in US Open history as he beat Russia's Karen Khachanov in five hours and 35 minutes.

Evans, 34, was 4-0 down in the decider but somehow found the mental and physical strength to win 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 6-4.

In a tense finale, Russian 23rd seed Khachanov saved two match points before hitting the third into the net.

Evans broke into a beaming smile before slumping exhausted into his chair.

Both players deservedly received standing ovations from an engrossed and entertained crowd on a packed outside court at Flushing Meadows.

"I just tried to keep fighting – at 4-0 I thought I was out," Evans told Sky Sports.

"I’ve got a bad headache now. It was a hell of a match. I just want to go to bed."

Earlier, British number ones Katie Boulter and Jack Draper moved into the second round after contrasting styles of victories.

Boulter, seeded 31st, fought back from an edgy start to win 5-7 6-2 6-1 against Belarusian qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

A short time later in New York, 25th seed Draper cruised through when Chinese number one Zhang Zhizhen retired with a knee injury as the Briton led 6-3 6-0 4-0.

But fellow Briton Emma Raducanu, champion here in 2021, lost her first-round match to Sofia Kenin.

Elated Evans earns reward after 'horrible' year

Out of form this season, and trying to avoid dropping out of the world's top 200, Evans battled valiantly in sweltering conditions.

He appeared to be running out of steam as Khachanov threatened to move 5-0 ahead in the decider, but held off three break points and reduced the deficit to 4-3.

Evans fed off the support of a raucous crowd to earn a victory which will live long in the memory.

"I felt a little sorry for myself, but got myself going because I didn’t want to go out of another Slam without a fight and with a whimper," said Evans after the victory, which was his first at a major this year.

"I could see he was struggling a bit and tried to grab a game at a time."

Each set was a battle of attrition with lengthy games and multiple break opportunities, all lasting over an hour:

  • Set 1 - 68 minutes
  • Set 2 - 67 minutes
  • Set 3 - 72 minutes
  • Set 4 - 67 minutes
  • Set 5 - 61 minutes
With both players gasping for breath, Evans secured victory in a match which surpassed the previous US Open record - set by Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang in the 1992 semi-finals - by nine minutes.

Evans has endured a chastening year, having won just four ATP Tour matches going into the final Grand Slam of the season.

That dire form, combined with the decision not to defend the title - and ranking points - he won in Washington last year in order to play doubles with the retiring Andy Murray at the Olympics, caused Evans to plummet out of the world's top 175.

Beating Khachanov is a reward for his perseverance - and his generosity to Murray.

"I’ve had a horrible year. I knew I had put the work in but not enough because I was a bit hurt," Evans added.

"I like to think I got a bit of luck at the end [against Khachanov]. I nearly blew it but I'm really happy.

"It was amazing at 4-2, it really started to get going. I don’t know how many Brits were there, but it seemed like the whole place wanted me to win."

Evans has around 48 hours to recover before playing Argentina's Mariano Navone in the second round on Thursday.

Boulter and Draper through in contrasting wins

Boulter has leapt up the rankings after a strong 18 months, and is now aiming to reach the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time.

But coming into the US Open, Boulter admitted she was not as prepared as she might have been for the hard courts after playing at the Olympics on the Paris clay.

It meant she had just three completed matches on hard courts before starting her campaign at Flushing Meadows.

"There are always going to be moments where you're arriving late at a tournament or rushing around or changing surface," said Boulter, who reached the third round last year.

"Those things can definitely throw you off. But it is important to stay realistic in these moments."

Boulter will next play Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on Thursday.

Draper, 22, has long been seen as the British successor to Murray at the top end of the men's game.

Having won his first ATP title at Stuttgart in June, the left-hander is aiming to go even further on the sport's biggest stages as the post-Murray era begins at the US Open.

Draper, who reached the fourth round last year in a career-best performance, dominated his service games in a confident start before taking advantage of the towering Zhang's fitness issues.

Breaking for a 3-2 lead put him charge of the opening set and, with Zhang twice needing treatment, he remained focused to win 13 of the final 14 games.

Draper's reward is a second-round match against Argentina's Facundo Diaz Acosta.

BBC
 
Former champion Raducanu out in US Open first round

Emma Raducanu says she wants to play more matches before Grand Slam tournaments after losing to Sofia Kenin in the US Open first round.

Britain's Raducanu, who lost 6-1 3-6 6-4, was searching for her first victory in New York since unexpectedly winning the title in 2021 as a teenage qualifier.

She fell in the first round in 2022 and missed last year's tournament as she recovered from wrist and ankle surgery.

Raducanu played just one tournament between Wimbledon in July and the US Open, reaching the quarter-finals in Washington earlier this month.

The 21-year-old fought back tears in a news conference after her loss to fellow Grand Slam champion Kenin and said she felt "sad" and "down".

She said she would "learn from it" and "manage my schedule slightly differently" for future Grand Slams.

"I would like to play more matches," Raducanu told BBC 5 Live.

"I wouldn't probably still play every single tournament leading up, but I would probably play more than I did this time.

"It's a lesson to learn for next year."

Raducanu admitted afterwards that she lacked some match sharpness against Kenin.

"I got off to a bit of a slow start, but did really well to fight back in sets two and three and there wasn’t much in it," Raducanu said.

"I think I worked my way into the match pretty well, but at this level you can’t really afford to have a slow start of the set and start from a set down.

"I know when I have a lot of matches, just like every player, you feel really good, you feel like everything's automatic.

"I can learn from it and manage my schedule slightly differently."

After an injury-plagued 2023, Raducanu returned to the tour in January and reached the second round of the Australian Open.

She skipped the clay-court French Open to focus on being fit for the British grass season - a decision that seemed to have paid off when she made an impressive run to the Wimbledon fourth round.

"I think I've made progress considering where I was at the start of the year - I didn't play for seven months," the world number 71 added.

"I had a month of December training after three surgeries so I think to climb back into the top 100 was a really good achievement."

Kenin comes out on top of 'rollercoaster' champion clash

After fending off two break points in the first game, Raducanu's serve was constantly under pressure from Kenin, who reeled off five games in a row to take the opening set.

Raducanu made a statement by breaking early in the second with a series of bruising forehand winners, but Kenin responded immediately to level at 1-1.

As the British number two grew into the match, Kenin's frustrations came to the fore and she angrily swiped a ball away right before Raducanu broke for a 3-2 lead.

Raducanu struck again at 5-3 to force a decider and made a confident start to the third set while her opponent's unforced error count mounted.

Yet it was the American who made the first breakthrough and, after being just two points away from victory on Raducanu's serve, Kenin closed out the win on her first match point.

"It was a rollercoaster match," Kenin said afterwards. "Emma is such a tough player and she played some great tennis. I'm just super happy to have won."

Like Raducanu, Kenin has struggled for form since winning the Australian Open in 2020 and reaching the French Open final in in the same year.

She will face title contender Jessica Pegula next after the sixth seed beat Shelby Rogers 6-4 6-3.

BBC
 
Wimbledon champion Krejcikova out of US Open

Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova suffered another early exit from the US Open, losing her second-round match in straight sets to Romanian qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse.

Krejcikova became a two-time Grand Slam champion in July by adding the Wimbledon title to her triumph at the 2021 French Open.

The 28-year-old reached the quarter-final on her main-draw debut at the US Open in 2021, but has since failed to get past round two in New York.

Eighth seed Krejcikova saved a set point on her own serve at 5-2 down and broke world number 122 Ruse at the next opportunity, only to then tamely drop her next service game to lose the first set 6-4.

Krejcikova served for the second set at 5-4 but Ruse, who struck the ball confidently throughout, broke the Czech twice in quick succession to complete a 6-4 7-5 win in one hours and 45 minutes.

Victory for Ruse sent the 26-year-old through to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career, at the 10th time of asking, and she sank to the floor in celebration after Krejcikova went long with a backhand on match point.

She will face 26th seed Paula Badosa of Spain in round three, with Badosa a 6-3 7-5 winner over American Taylor Townsend.

Former US Open finalist Madison Keys was another early winner on day three, defeating Australian teenager Maya Joint 6-4 6-0 in 62 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium, and the 14th seed will face Belgium's Elise Mertens next.

Later, defending champion Coco Gauff takes on Germany's Tatjana Maria in the opening match of the evening session on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka, Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, Victoria Azarenka, Daria Kasatkina and Elina Svitolina are among the other seeded players in second-round action on day three.

Harriet Dart, one of two British players through to round two of the women's singles, takes on 19th seed Marta Kostyuk from Ukraine.


BBC
 
Sinner and Alcaraz overcome early wobbles at US Open

World number one Jannik Sinner and four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz were both given scares in their US Open first-round matches.

Italy's Sinner lost the first set before regrouping to beat American Mackenzie McDonald 2-6 6-2 6-1 6-2 on the second day's play in New York.

The Italian was playing his first match since it emerged he had been cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for a banned substance earlier this year.

Alcaraz, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, overcame a scrappy second set to see off Australian qualifier Li Tu 6-2 4-6 6-3 6-1.

The pair, whose rivalry is tipped to be one to watch over the next few years, could meet in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows.

Earlier on Tuesday, Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered an early US Open exit for the seventh year in a row as the 11th seed lost to Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first round.

But last year's runner-up and 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev brushed off a middling second set to beat Dusan Lajovic for his 30th match win in New York.


BBC
 
World number one Jannik Sinner outclassed Alex Michelsen in straight sets to reach the third round of the US Open.

Italy's Sinner beat the American 6-4 6-0 6-2 for his 50th victory of the year.

Australian Open champion Sinner is playing at his first tournament since it emerged he had been cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for a banned substance earlier this year.

The 23-year-old will play Australian wildcard Chris O'Connell in the third round in New York.

Sinner had wobbled against American Mackenzie McDonald in the first round on Tuesday, losing the first set before rallying to triumph 2-6 6-2 6-1 6-2 at Flushing Meadows.

Against Michelsen on Thursday he had no such trouble. After coming out on top of a first set with several trades of breaks, Sinner did not look back, wrapping up a dominant victory in one hour 39 minutes.

"[I'm] very happy," said Sinner, who beat world number 49 Michelsen in the second round of the Cincinnati Masters earlier this month.

"He's a very tough opponent. We played each other in Cincinnati a week ago. I knew what to expect, he knew what to expect a little."


Elsewhere, seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz was knocked out in a 7-6 (7-2) 6-1 7-5 defeat by Australian Jordan Thompson.

Another seed soon fell as American 16th seed Seb Korda was beaten 6-4 6-2 6-4 by Czech Tomas Machac.

Machac will play Belgium's David Goffin or France's Adrian Mannarino - who play later on Thursday - in the third round.

Source: BBC
 
Boulter stunned in 'horrendous' second-round defeat

British number one Katie Boulter was knocked out of the US Open second round in a "horrendous" straight-set defeat by Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

Boulter, the 31st seed, started strongly in the opening set, breaking first before Bouzas Maneiro found her footing.

The world number 74 stormed into the lead in the second set and held off a late surge to close out a 7-5 7-5 victory.

Boulter was heard saying "everything was horrendous" to her team at the side of the court.

The 28-year-old has leapt up the rankings after a strong 18 months, but she has yet to reach the second week of a Grand Slam.

Coming into the US Open, Boulter admitted she was not as prepared as she might have been for the hard courts after playing at the Olympics on the Paris clay.

She had just three completed matches on hard courts before starting her campaign at Flushing Meadows.

Meanwhile, Bouzas Maneiro was ranked outside the world's top 150 at the start of the year and had played just one Grand Slam main draw match.

The 21-year-old has hit an impressive run of form, beating defending champion Marketa Vondrousova on the way to reaching the third round of Wimbledon before retiring injured against eventual winner Barbora Krejcikova.

She will play sixth seed Jessica Pegula or former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the third round, who play later on Thursday.


BBC
 
Swiatek storms past qualifier to reach third round

Top seed Iga Swiatek breezed into the third round of the US Open with an emphatic win over Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara.

The five-time major winner dropped just one game against Shibahara, who managed to hold serve early in the second set to avoid a dreaded 'double bagel'.

Swiatek, 23, didn't face a single break point as she wrapped up the 6-0 6-1 in 65 minutes.

BBC
 
Alcaraz stunned by Van de Zandschulp in US Open upset

Third seed Carlos Alcaraz suffered a seismic second-round exit at the US Open with a thumping defeat by unseeded Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.

Alcaraz was bidding to become the third man in history after Rod Laver and Rafael Nadal to win the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in the same calendar year.

But the Spaniard never recovered from a shaky start against world number 74 Van de Zandschulp, who triumphed 6-1 7-5 6-4 for the highest-ranked win of his career.

The defeat ends Alcaraz's 15-match winning run at Grand Slams.

"I think my level stayed at the same point all the match, and it wasn't enough to win the match or to give myself the chance to get into the match or try to give myself chances," said Alcaraz.

"I didn't feel well hitting the ball. I think I made a lot of mistakes. When I wanted to come back or I think I wanted to come back, it was too late."

The 21-year-old made 27 unforced errors throughout the match while Van de Zandchulp made 21.

"He didn't make a lot of mistakes that I thought he was going to do so I was confused a little bit," Alcaraz said. "I didn't know how to manage that."

Alcaraz, who won silver at the Paris Olympics after losing to Novak Djokovic on 4 August, says he needed a longer break before going to Flushing Meadows.

"I came here with not as much energy as I thought that I was going to come with. But I don't want to put that as an excuse," he said.

Earlier, world number one Jannik Sinner outclassed American Alex Michelsen 6-4 6-0 6-2 for his 50th victory of the year.

Australian Open champion Sinner is playing at his first tournament since it emerged he had been cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for a banned substance earlier this year.

The crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium were reduced to silent disbelief when Van de Zandschulp dropped just one game en route to winning the first set.

A below-par Alcaraz seemed to have found his rhythm after breaking back early in the second set, but he lost serve again at 5-5 before his Dutch opponent doubled his advantage.

The three-time major winner looked perplexed as he headed off court for a time-out, wagging a finger towards his player's box and shaking his head.

Alcaraz found his smile again when he broke back to level the third set at 3-3, but Van de Zandschulp continued to unleash superb winners and clinched the crucial break at 5-4 before serving out the victory with a clinical love hold.

"I am a little bit lost for words, it's been an incredible evening for me," said Van de Zandschulp, who reached the quarter-finals in New York in 2021.

"I think from point one here today I believed [I had] a chance."

The 28-year-old will play British number one Jack Draper in the third round.

Sinner eases through to third round

Sinner had wobbled against American Mackenzie McDonald in the first round on Tuesday, losing the first set before rallying to triumph 2-6 6-2 6-1 6-2 at Flushing Meadows.

Against Michelsen on Thursday he had no such trouble. After coming out on top of a first set with several trades of breaks, Sinner did not look back, wrapping up a dominant victory in one hour 39 minutes.

"[I'm] very happy," said Sinner, who beat world number 49 Michelsen in the second round of the Cincinnati Masters earlier this month.

"He's a very tough opponent. We played each other in Cincinnati a week ago. I knew what to expect, he knew what to expect a little."

The 23-year-old will play Australian Chris O'Connell in the third round in New York.

Elsewhere, Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev entertained the crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium in a 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-5) win against Hungary's Fabian Marozsan.

"The match today, I felt like I was at an Italian restaurant - it was so noisy," Medvedev said in an on-court interview at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Meanwhile, seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz was knocked out in a 7-6 (7-2) 6-1 7-5 defeat by Australian Jordan Thompson.

It is the sixth successive year that Poland's Hurkacz has exited the US Open in the second round.

Another seed soon fell as American 16th seed Seb Korda was beaten 6-4 6-2 6-4 by Czech Tomas Machac, who will play Belgium's David Goffin in the third round.

There was also an upset for Frenchman Arthur Fils, the 24th seed, who was defeated 7-5 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-4 by world number 143 Gabriel Diallo of Canada.

But there was better luck for Australian 10th seed Alex de Minaur, who beat Finland's Otto Virtanen 7-5 6-1 7-6 (7-3) to set up a third-round meeting with Britain's Dan Evans.

American 14th seed Tommy Paul progressed after his Australian opponent Max Purcell retired in the third set when Paul was leading 7-5 6-0 1-0.

BBC
 
'My heart dies every time I lose' - Osaka after US Open exit

Two-time champion Naomi Osaka said it feels like "my heart dies every time I lose" after her US Open comeback ended in a second-round defeat by Karolina Muchova.

Japan's Osaka, who won the title in 2018 and 2020, missed last year's tournament after giving birth to her daughter Shai.

The 26-year-old claimed her first top-10 victory in over four years when she beat Jelena Ostapenko in the first round.

However, she could not topple Czech Muchova, losing 6-3 7-6 (7-5) after squandering three set points to force a decider.

"It's a little rough because I do take these losses really personally. It's like a dramatic word, but I feel like my heart dies every time I lose," she said.

"I've been trying to be more mature and learn and talk more about them."

Osaka, who also won the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021, spoke before the US Open about not feeling "like I'm in my body" since her return from maternity leave.

She returned to the WTA Tour in January, but has not gone beyond the quarter-finals of any event - losing in the second round of Wimbledon and in the French Open this year, while she fell at the first hurdle at the Australian Open.

Despite the early exits, the four-time major winner said 2024 had been a "learning year".

"It's been a little difficult because obviously I can only gauge how I'm doing by results. Like, I feel faster. I feel better, but I lost in the second round. So it's a little rough," the former world number one said.

"But, also, it's been fun playing a lot of tournaments. It's been a commitment for sure, but I've been able to go to different cities that I've never been to."

'Cherry on top' for Muchova

Having lost the first set, Osaka - to the delight of the New York crowd - was just one point away from taking Muchova to a third set.

But she missed all three set-point opportunities and threw her racquet down in disgust as her opponent levelled at 5-5.

In the tie-break, Osaka let a two-point advantage slip and gifted Muchova the victory when she slammed a simple forehand wide.

The 2023 French Open runner-up described her win over Osaka as "the cherry on top".

Muchova reached the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows last year before suffering a wrist injury that would require surgery and keep her sidelined for 10 months.

"This year, the biggest win for me is that I could play again. I'm really grateful I am able to play tennis and I made it here," Muchova said.

She will face Anastasia Potapova in the third round after the Russian defeated American Varvara Lepchenko.

BBC
 
Champion Gauff comes from behind to beat Svitolina

Defending champion Coco Gauff came back from a set down to beat Ukrainian Elina Svitolina and reach the fourth round of the US Open.

American third seed Gauff’s bid to become the first woman to defend the title since Serena Williams in 2014 is still alive after a hard-fought 3-6 6-3 6-3 victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

Svitolina earned the first break of the match in the eighth game when she superbly broke to love after Gauff’s backhand could only find the net.

A nervous silence then fell on the main show court at Flushing Meadows and Gauff could be heard saying to her team “I’m missing so much in the net”.

Three-time Grand Slam semi-finalist Svitolina, 29, then followed-up the break of serve with a hold to love to secure the first set.

After saving a break point, Gauff set up the first of her own in the sixth game of the second set and converted it with a brilliant cross-court forehand winner.

With her confidence boosted and the crowd behind her, Gauff then held serve to take firm control of the second set.

After a Svitolina hold, Gauff served out the set to love to force a decider, letting out a huge roar in front of her home crowd.

The 20-year-old American continued her momentum by breaking Svitolina’s serve twice to surge into a 4-1 lead.

After failing to convert three match points Gauff eventually secured the win with her fourth, screaming to the crowd in delight.

She will take on the winner of the match between American Emma Navarro and Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk for a place in the quarter-finals.


BBC
 
Evans runs out of steam, but Draper into US Open last 16

Great Britain's marathon man Dan Evans ran out of steam in a third-round defeat by Alex de Minaur at the US Open, but Jack Draper reached the last 16 with victory over Botic van de Zandschulp.

Draper's side of the draw in New York had been blown open by Carlos Alcaraz's defeat by Dutchman Van de Zandschulp in the previous round and the British number one made the most of the initial opportunity with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 win.

But there was disappointment for Evans as his first-round win against Karen Khachanov in the longest match in US Open history finally took its toll.

Having fought hard to level the match at one-set all, the 37-year-old's energy rapidly faded and he needed a medical timeout as De Minaur won 12 games in a row for a 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 6-0 6-0 victory.

"I'm not one to retire unless I can't walk. I want to give Alex the win - I think he deserves to take the win," Evans told BBC afterwards.

Australia's 10th seed De Minaur said he appreciated his opponent battling through the pain until the very end.

"The first thing we should show is a lot of respect to Dan, he's the ultimate competitor," De Minaur said in his on-court interview.

"He could have easily pulled out, the body was obviously not feeling well but he stayed out there and tried his best. I really appreciate it."

De Minaur will face fellow Australian Jordan Thompson in the fourth round.

The winner of that match could face 25th seed Draper in the quarter-finals, with the Briton needing to beat Czech Tomas Machac if he is to reach the last eight of a major for the first time.

Evans leaves US Open with slice of history

Before the US Open, Evans had failed to win two successive matches on the ATP Tour this year.

But after beating Khachanov in five hours and 35 minutes, he moved past Argentina's Mariano Navone in straight sets in the second round.

However, the fatigue appeared to catch up with him on Louis Armstrong Stadium as his impressive run at Flushing Meadows petered out in disappointing fashion.

Evans was looking increasingly weary when he found himself serving for the second set after breaking at 4-4.

But he failed to see the job through, and used valuable energy to win the resulting tie-break.

That effort appeared to cost him dearly in the third set as he required medical attention for an issue with his hip.

With nothing left to give, Evans was jeered by some of the crowd as De Minaur sped through the fourth set in 18 minutes, dropping just two points.

"The irony of it [being booed] is that I was staying on the court for them, but I’ve had worse, I’ll survive," said Evans.

However, many fans recognised the Briton's achievement in winning the longest match in US Open history and he left the stadium to a standing ovation.

Evans added: "It's been a long week. I played good tennis today and unfortunately my hip was problematic in the end but I leave with fond memories of New York for another year."

Draper takes chances in wide open draw

In muggy conditions at Flushing Meadows, where Draper repeatedly used ice packs on his neck and blasted himself with an air conditioning unit at changeovers, the Briton was cool and clinical against a weary-looking and error-prone opponent.

He had come into the match without dropping serve at the tournament so far and he raced into an early 4-1 lead before being pegged back when he was broken for the first time in the seventh game.

But he immediately broke back to love and served the set out, albeit in faltering fashion when he needed a fifth set point to finally seal it.

Left-hander Draper got the key break in the seventh game of the second set and this time clinched the set more emphatically with an ace.

A double-fault at the start of the third summed up the day for world number 74 Van de Zandschulp, who just could not find the same level of consistency he had displayed in his brilliant victory over four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz.

Draper had said before this match that he would be trying to be "more aggressive in certain moments" following a series of narrow defeats earlier this year, but he never really needed to be against an opponent who racked up 38 unforced errors and looked to be struggling physically towards the end.

Draper feels 'very different' to last year's injury-hit season

A fourth-round appearance at a Grand Slam is an opportunity that Draper is relishing after a "tough year" with injuries in 2023 that left him considering his future in the sport.

Draper made an impressive run to the last 16 in New York last year, but he said that he had been still "really struggling" with a shoulder injury he had sustained on his French Open debut a few months earlier.

The same issue caused Draper to miss that year's entire grass-court season, including his home Slam at Wimbledon.

The 22-year-old credits a return to his old fitness trainer, Steven Kotze, as the reason behind his clean bill of health in 2024.

"I feel very different now," Draper added.

"I'm not waking up every day worried about playing five sets. I have so much more confidence in my mind and my body through experiences of playing on the tour now this year consistently."

The Briton, who is at a career-high ranking of 25 and won his first ATP title in June in Stuttgart, now has a chance to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final in a draw that is shorn of 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic as well as Alcaraz.

BBC
 
Dimitrov defies early Rublev anger to win in five sets

Grigor Dimitrov reached the US Open quarter-finals for the first time since 2019 with a five-set victory over Andrey Rublev, whose angry outbursts threatened to mar an enthralling match in New York.

Bulgaria's Dimitrov won the first two sets before surviving a comeback attempt from his Russian opponent to seal a 6-3 7-6 (7-3) 1-6 3-6 6-3 victory.

The ninth seed, who made the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows five years ago, will face Frances Tiafoe or Alexei Popyrin in the last eight.


BBC
 
Navarro beats Badosa to reach first Slam semi-final

American Emma Navarro moved into the first Grand Slam semi-final of her career by beating Paula Badosa in straight sets at the US Open.

Navarro, 23, was cheered on by the majority of fans in the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday, with Spain's Badosa struggling to cope in the partisan atmosphere as she lost 6-2 7-5.

Badosa produced two double-faults in her first service game to help Navarro take an early advantage, and also gifted two more double-faults in the eighth game as the American eased to the opening set.

However, Badosa, 26, fought back and looked in control at 5-1 - and a double-break - up in the second set.

She twice served for the set, but, at times looking on the verge of tears, the 26th seed's game fell apart, with Navarro clinching six games in a row to progress.


BBC
 
Fritz beats Zverev to end quarter-final heartache

Taylor Fritz ended his run of Grand Slam quarter-final disappointment by beating Alexander Zverev to reach the US Open semi-finals.

The American 12th seed had lost all four of his previous matches at this stage of a major but edged out 2020 runner-up Zverev 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3).

He roared in delight as Germany's Zverev pulled the final ball wide before holding his arms aloft to take the acclaim of the crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The win keeps alive Fritz's bid to become the first American men's singles champion at Flushing Meadows since Andy Roddick in 2003.


BBC
 
Tiafoe sets up all-American semi-final against Fritz

Frances Tiafoe set up a US Open semi-final against Taylor Fritz to guarantee there will be an American man in the singles final in New York for the first time in 18 years.

Andy Roddick was the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title when he triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2003.

Roddick was also the last American man to reach a US Open final, having lost to Roger Federer there in 2006.

But the wait for a home finalist will soon be over after Fritz ended his run of Grand Slam quarter-final disappointment by edging out Alexander Zverev 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3).

The ever-entertaining Tiafoe then advanced when opponent Grigor Dimitrov was forced to retire injured.

Tiafoe led Dimitrov 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 4-1 when the Bulgarian, hampered by an apparent hamstring injury, ended the match.

"I didn't want to end it like that, for me or the crowd. But Friday is going to be one hell of a day," 20th seed Tiafoe said.

"It's the biggest match of mine and Taylor's life."

It is a third major semi-final for Tiafoe and a first for Fritz, who had lost all four of his previous matches at this stage of a major.

He roared in delight after battling past German fourth seed and 2020 runner-up Zverev earlier on Tuesday.

"Today just felt different," Fritz, 26, said.

"I really felt like it was my time to go a step further. It's only fitting I'm doing it here on this court, at the Open, in front of this crowd."

Fritz's victory followed New Yorker Emma Navarro beating Paula Badosa to reach the semi-finals of the women's singles.

Fritz's breakthrough victory

This has proved to be Fritz's breakthrough moment in his 33rd Grand Slam appearance.

He lost to Novak Djokovic in the US Open quarter-finals in 2023, fell in the last eight at Wimbledon in 2022 and July this year and suffered defeat in the Australian Open quarters in January.

After sharing two tight sets, the crucial moment came deep in the third when Zverev looked to have the momentum, having recovered an early break.

He missed a straightforward backhand on break point at 4-4 which allowed Fritz to hold and then the fourth seed offered up three forehand errors to fall 0-40 behind.

Zverev held off those three set points but Fritz eventually broke through at the fifth attempt.

Fritz, who also beat Zverev from two sets down at Wimbledon this year, was able to neutralise the German's booming first serve and remain the more solid with the finish line in sight while hitting powerful serves of his own.

He gained the initiative in the fourth-set tie-break by taking the first point on the Zverev serve and won a gruelling 24-point rally for the second break and a 5-2 lead.

Fritz faltered momentarily, pushing a nervous forehand wide, but Zverev offered up two more errors to seal the result.

Zverev said afterwards it was the most angry and disappointed he had felt after a match in a "long time".

“I played terrible," said Zverev, who was unusually flat in the final set and complained about his racquet throughout as he chased a first Grand Slam title and a third US Open semi-final.

"I just have no answers right now. He played quite a good match. I did nothing to deserve to win.”

On the prospect of an all-American semi-final against Tiafoe, Fritz said: "I know the crowd would really want to see me play Frances so we get an American in the final. That could be crazy."

Britain's Jack Draper is among those remaining in the top half of the draw. He plays Alex de Minaur in the quarter-final on Wednesday.

Cruel end for Dimitrov as Tiafoe advances

Tiafoe’s previous Slam semi-final appearance was also in New York, where he so often produces his best tennis by feeding off an animated crowd, while his dynamic, attacking style helps ratchet up the volume further.

Roared on by a partisan crowd, Tiafoe was on the front foot immediately to put pressure on the Dimitrov serve.

The first break came midway through the opening set and there was little jeopardy as the American closed it out.

Dimitrov had been oddly passive and quickly went a break down in the second but, urged on by coach Jamie Delgado, he backed his shot-making and was rewarded.

He rescued the break and an electric end to the second set saw the pair go shot for shot in the tie-break.

It came to an almost comical conclusion as, having earned three set points, Dimitrov double-faulted twice, only for Tiafoe to hand him the third with a double fault of his own.

The match remained in the balance until an injury to Dimitrov suddenly turned it into a procession.

With his opponent clearly struggling, Tiafoe professionally and respectfully stuck to the task at hand before a tearful Dimitrov admitted defeat.

"Obviously, it's not the way I wanted to get through but being in another semi-final here is incredible," Tiafoe said afterwards.

BBC
 
Muchova overcomes illness to reach US Open semis

Czech Karolina Muchova overcame illness to reach her second consecutive US Open semi-final with a 6-1 6-4 win over Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Muchova left the court after wrapping up the first set with ease, ran off court at 2-1 and again at 3-2 in the second and was seen by the doctor and physio at 4-3.

The unseeded 28-year-old, who only returned to action in June after having wrist surgery in February, will face either top seed Iga Swiatek or American sixth seed Jessica Pegula for a place in Saturday's final.

"It was a weird match," said Muchova. "I had some problems I don't want to comment on but I had to keep running to the bathroom and back.

"Sorry if it disturbed anyone but I had no other choice."

Haddad Maia also had problems and seemed to be in tears before receiving treatment from the doctor at 5-3 down in the second set.


BBC
 
Draper downs De Minaur to reach US Open last four

Jack Draper’s breakout run at the US Open reached new heights as the Briton fought his way past Alex de Minaur to reach a first Grand Slam semi-final.

The 22-year-old showed all of his youthful talent along with grit and determination to win 6-3 7-5 6-2.

He received treatment for a leg problem early in the second set, while Australian 10th seed De Minaur seemed hampered by injury issues of his own.

But Draper, playing his first match on the famous Arthur Ashe Stadium, was by far the better player as he became the first British man to reach the last four in New York since Andy Murray's title win in 2012.

He will play either world number one Jannik Sinner or 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals on Friday.


BBC
 
Pegula stuns top seed Swiatek to make US Open semis

Jessica Pegula stunned world number one Iga Swiatek at the US Open to secure her place in a long-awaited first Grand Slam semi-final.

American Pegula had lost her past six major quarter-finals but she overwhelmed Polish top seed Swiatek 6-2 6-4 in New York.

She will face Karolina Muchova on Thursday for a place in the final after the Czech beat Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1 6-4.

"I've been [to the quarter-finals] so many freaking times but I kept losing," Pegula said.

"Finally - finally - I can say I'm a semi-finalist. Thank you to the crowd, you carried me through that last game.

"To do it at prime time against the number one player in the world - it's crazy, but I knew I could do it."

Pegula's success caps a strong showing for Americans at their home Grand Slam, with compatriot Emma Navarro facing Aryna Sabalenka in the other semi-final.

There is also guaranteed to be an American man in the singles final, with Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe meeting in the last four on Friday.

It was an uncharacteristically lacklustre performance by 2022 winner Swiatek, who made 41 unforced errors as she struggled to control her forehand in particular.

By contrast, Pegula was locked in from the start and broke in the opening game, courtesy of a Swiatek double fault.

Another gave Pegula her second break to go 3-0 up in a flash and she proceeded to take the first set in just 37 minutes.

The 30-year-old New Yorker continued to delight her home crowd, with her crisp, accurate groundstrokes keeping the pressure on Swiatek.

There was an improvement from Swiatek in the second set and, having been broken again, the Pole hit back immediately.

But Pegula kept up the pressure and secured the decisive break at 3-3 before she pressed on towards victory.

Nerves finally emerged as Pegula served for the match but she converted her third match point to secure a place in the semi-finals.

BBC
 
Sinner beats Medvedev to set up Draper semi-final

World number one Jannik Sinner beat former champion Daniil Medvedev in a topsy-turvy US Open match to set up a semi-final against Jack Draper.

Italy's Sinner was a 6-2 1-6 6-1 6-4 winner over the Russian fifth seed in New York.

Sinner, who won the Australian Open in January, and Medvedev were the only two major champions left in the men's draw and the match between them was highly anticipated.

However, the pair were unable to find their best tennis at the same time.

Medvedev, a beaten finalist at Flushing Meadows last year and in 2019, hit six double-faults and sprayed 57 unforced errors

While Sinner was not at his most accurate, he was far superior on serve, closing out victory in two hours and 39 minutes.

Sinner will now face his occasional doubles partner Draper in Friday's semi-final.


BBC
 
Pegula fights back to set up US Open final against Sabalenka

Home favourite Jessica Pegula staged a stunning comeback to set up an enticing US Open final against world number two Aryna Sabalenka.

American Pegula came back from a set, break and break point down to see off Karolina Muchova 1-6 6-4 6-2 and reach a first major singles final.

She will now face Sabalenka, who powered into the final for the second year in a row with a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) victory over American Emma Navarro 6-3 7-2.

The Belarusian is the first women's player since the great Serena Williams in 2019 to reach back-to-back singles finals at Flushing Meadows.

Sabalenka will be greeted by a wall of noisy support for New York-born Pegula on Saturday - but she already has experience in that area, having jokingly admonished the crowd for cheering for Navarro.

"Well now you're cheering for me, it's a bit too late," Sabalenka said as she began her post-match interview.

"It really means a lot and even though you guys were supporting her still I had goosebumps for you cheering."

Having previously promised to buy the crowd drinks if they cheered for her, Sabalenka joked: "Margaritas for everyone!"

Pegula had previously lost her past six major quarter-finals before beating world number one Iga Swiatek on Thursday, and she followed that up with a battling victory over Muchova.

"I came out flat but she was playing unbelievable, she made me look like a beginner," Pegula said.

"I was about to burst into tears because it was embarrassing, she was destroying me.

"I don't know how I turned that around, honestly."

Sabalenka puts memories of past to rest

Poland's Swiatek is the player at the top of the world rankings, but arguably Sabalenka is the best hard-court player in the world.

Always a powerful player, Sabalenka struggled for years with her serve, ultimately deciding to work with a biomechanics expert to cut down the number of double faults.

That helped her win two Australian Open titles, but this year has seen her move up a gear mentally, able to block out the crowd noise and shrug off errors and momentum swings better than usual.

Her easy power was on show against Navarro - she hit 34 winners to the American's 13 - but she also made the same amount of unforced errors.

The two traded early breaks before a pounding Sabalenka forehand gave her a 4-2 lead and, after seeing off a break back point, she served out the first set.

She was merciless on Navarro's second serve, again going an early break up, but as the finish line came into sight, Sabalenka's nerves showed and she was broken when serving for the match.

However, her quality showed in the tie-break, with the second seed reeling off seven points in a row to see off Navarro.

Afterwards, Sabalenka said she thought back to last year's final, where she was visibly distracted by the noisy support for Gauff.

"I had really tough lessons here in the past. I wasn't ready, then I got emotional, then I just couldn't handle the crowd," Sabalenka said.

"I'm still hoping to hold that beautiful trophy."

Pegula shows trademark grit to reach final

Pegula has ground her way up the rankings over the past few years, culminating in her reaching a much-wanted Slam final.

It has not been easy - she has been asked questions for years about her quarter-final struggles, having previously reached the last eight of every major but failing to kick on in six attempts.

She split with long-term coach David Witt at the start of the year before struggling with injury, with a neck and back problem disrupting her clay-court season.

Pegula has also had little joy at the Slams, missing the French Open and losing in the second rounds of the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

She was superb against an off-colour Swiatek earlier in the week to put her quarter-final hoodoo behind her - but she started terribly against Muchova, much to the shock of the crowd.

Watched by her family, including her father, Terry, who owns the Buffalo Bills, Pegula sprayed errors around the court, with Muchova winning 19 of the final 23 points to rattle through the opener.

It looked as though the Czech, a beautifully deft player, would rout Pegula when she broke serve in the first game of the second set and backed it up for a 2-0 lead.

Pegula then found herself 30-40 down on serve and staring at a double break deficit, before Muchova missed a routine volley and momentum swung back towards the American.

Urged on by the crowd, the two traded breaks, before Muchova produced her worst tennis of the match to be broken and send proceedings to a decider.

Although Muchova upped her level, Pegula was dialled in, rarely missing from the baseline, and she claimed a crucial early break before advancing as her opponent speared a shot long.

BBC
 
Sick Draper loses to Sinner in dramatic US Open semi-final

Britain's Jack Draper threw up on court during a dramatic US Open semi-final defeat where world number one Jannik Sinner ultimately proved a step up in class.

The 22-year-old British number one's breakout run at a Grand Slam tournament was ended in a 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 defeat in New York.

In the biggest match of his fledgling career, 25th seed Draper caused problems for Sinner in a tight first set.

But, as the contest became more physical in the second set, a peaky-looking Draper vomited and was unable to inflict enough damage on Sinner's serve.

The third set quickly got out of control for Draper, who looked spent as he wearily hugged his good friend Sinner after the Italian moved into his first US Open final.

"First of all, me and Jack know each other very well - it was a very physical match. I tried to stay there mentality. It was tough," said Australian Open champion Sinner, who is aiming for the second major title of his career.

Sinner, 23, will go on to face either 12th seed Taylor Fritz or 20th seed Frances Tiafoe, who meet in an all-American semi-final later on Friday.


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Fritz ends 15-year American wait for male Slam finalist

Taylor Fritz became the first American man in 15 years to reach a Grand Slam singles final as he beat compatriot Frances Tiafoe in a five-set US Open thriller.

Fritz fought back to beat his good friend Tiafoe 4-6 7-5 4-6 6-4 6-1 under the lights in New York.

Andy Roddick was the last American man to win a major singles title, having triumphed at the US Open in 2003.

Roddick was also the last American man to reach a Grand Slam singles final - at Wimbledon in 2009 - as well as being the last to reach a US Open final in 2006.

Fritz will face world number one Jannik Sinner in Sunday's final at Flushing Meadows.

The 12th seed had previously never made it beyond the quarter-final of a Grand Slam in four attempts.

"He overwhelmed me at the start and I was freaking out a little," Fritz, 26, said.

"I did all I could to stay in it. If I hadn't have done that, I'd regret it forever."

It is a second semi-final loss in two years for Tiafoe, who was beaten by eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz at the same stage in 2022.

There could also be an American champion in the women's singles final when Jessica Pegula takes on Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday.

Fritz enjoyed a positive start in front of a packed house on Arthur Ashe, breaking Tiafoe at the first opportunity to race into a 3-0 lead.

But Tiafoe, one of the sport's most engaging players, readjusted, winning six of the following seven games to wrap up the first set.

Fritz was much more competitive in the second set, dropping just one point on serve before breaking Tiafoe as he attempted to force a tie-break.

However, any momentum was soon ripped away from Fritz.

Tiafoe broke in the opening game of the third and his powerful serve, combined with some impressive athleticism, saw him take a two-sets-to-one lead.

However, the pressure told. Serving at 4-5, Tiafoe double faulted twice to slip from 40-15 to deuce, before two wild errors gifted the set to Fritz.

Tiafoe struggled to regain his intensity, with Fritz charging into a 4-0 lead before his opponent, willed on by the crowd, regained a break.

However, it was not enough, with Tiafoe immediately going 0-40 down on serve to be broken straight back, and Fritz confidently served out the win.

BBC
 
Sabalenka holds off Pegula to win first US Open title

Aryna Sabalenka won her first US Open title as she put the disappointment of last year's final behind her to hold off home hope Jessica Pegula.

Sabalenka was seen smashing her racquet on the floor of the locker room after losing the Flushing Meadows showpiece to Coco Gauff in 2023.

However, 12 months on, the Belarusian second seed earned redemption in New York, dropping to the floor in celebration after clinching a thrilling 7-5 7-5 win over Pegula.

It is a third Grand Slam singles trophy for Sabalenka after she successfully defended her Australian Open title in January.

It also continues her dominance on hard courts, with the win over Pegula extending Sabalenka's unbeaten run on the surface at major tournaments to 14 matches.

"I'm speechless right now. It's always been a dream of mine and finally I got this beautiful trophy," Sabalenka said.

The 26-year-old ran up to her player's box to celebrate the victory, hugging her team and jokingly slapping the head of her strength and conditioning coach Jason Stacy, who had a replica of Sabalenka's tiger tattoo printed on the area.

"If you're really working hard sacrificing everything for your dream, you're going to get it one day," she added.

"I'm just super proud of myself. I never say that but I'm super proud of myself.

"I'm super proud of my team that no matter what, we were able to go through it and get all those beautiful trophies."

For sixth seed Pegula, the wait for a first major title goes on.

Playing in a first Grand Slam singles final, the 30-year-old was buoyed by a partisan crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium and made a late surge to halt Sabalenka.

But Sabalenka fought back from a 5-3 second-set deficit before wrapping up victory in one hour and 53 minutes to claim 2,000 ranking points and $3.6m (£3.04m) in prize money.

Sabalenka back on track after disrupted season

After losing to Gauff in last year's final, a tearful Sabalenka admitted she had struggled to deal with the crowd, later saying the noise was so loud it "blocked my ears".

The atmosphere was no different this time around, with Pegula receiving the majority of the support from the packed 23,000-seater stadium.

There were times when Sabalenka looked like the occasion would again get the better of her as she hit 34 unforced errors and five double faults.

Once the type of player who failed to keep her emotions in check, she has taken active steps to strengthen her mentality, including working with a psychologist, to become one of the most consistent competitors on the WTA Tour.

With injuries disrupting her season - she struggled with a stomach problem at the French Open before a shoulder issue ruled her out of Wimbledon - Sabalenka has got back on track with successive titles after beating Pegula in the final of last month's Cincinnati Open.

"I wish she would have at least let me get one set. We had a tough match in Cincinnati a few weeks ago and she's one of the best in the world," Pegula said.

"She's super powerful and isn't going to give you anything, she can take the racquet out of your hand."

Sabalenka's victory in New York sees her become the first player to win both hard-court Slams in the same year since Angelique Kerber in 2016.

Sabalenka holds her nerve to see out win

Sabalenka and Pegula arrived at Flushing Meadows as the two most in-form players, with each having won a WTA 1,000 tournament last month.

Pegula appeared to be brimming with confidence as she started aggressively and surprised Sabalenka by striking the first blow early in the opening set.

But Sabalenka broke back immediately before powering her way through the next three games.

The two-time Australian Open winner faltered, however, when trying to serve out the set and Pegula put a finger to her ear, demanding more noise from an already-raucous crowd, as she refound her rhythm to level the opener at 5-5.

The pair grew frustrated as the first set came to a crescendo, with both hitting their racquets angrily off the floor before Sabalenka - after missing four set points - closed it out at the fifth time of asking.

Keen to avoid a repeat of last year's final, which she lost after winning the opening set, Sabalenka steamrolled through the first three games of the second set.

But roared on by her home crowd, Pegula battled her way back, breaking twice to take a 5-3 lead before the big-hitting Sabalenka slammed on the brakes.

BBC
 
Sinner storms past Fritz to win first US Open title

World number one Jannik Sinner stormed past Taylor Fritz to win the US Open and secure a second Grand Slam title of the year.

Italy's Sinner, who won his first major title at the Australian Open in January, held off a late charge from American 12th seed Fritz to win 6-3 6-4 7-5.

It comes just 19 days after it was revealed he had been cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for a banned substance in March.

Sinner, 23, held his arms aloft and looked up to the sky as he became the first player since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win his first two Grand Slam titles in the same season.

He is also the first Italian man to win the singles title at Flushing Meadows.


BBC
 

Sinner savours US Open win after 'difficult' build-up​


Jannik Sinner says it "means so much" to win the US Open after a "very difficult" period following the controversy over his positive tests for a banned substance.

The world number one stormed past American Taylor Fritz in Sunday's final to claim his second Grand Slam of the year.

It was revealed six days before the tournament began that Sinner had been cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for low levels of a metabolite of clostebol - a steroid that can be used to build muscle mass - in March.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruled the Italian was inadvertently contaminated with the substance by Giacomo Naldi, his physiotherapist.

"This title means so much because the last period of my career was not easy," the 23-year-old said.

"It [the investigation] was and still is on my mind. It's not that it's gone, but when I'm on court, I try to handle the situation the best possible way.

"I'm happy how I handled this one. I'm just excited to have this trophy with me."

Sinner subsequently parted ways with the physio and his fitness trainer - but questions remained about whether Sinner's case had been handled differently to those of other players because of his status as world number one.

Sinner added he felt "more pressure" in New York than he did when he won his maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.

"Here it was difficult because also the pre-tournament circumstances weren't easy," Sinner said.

"I felt like that I have grown, you know, match by match and that my confidence level went higher and higher at some point."

This is the first year since 2002 that one of the 'Big Four' - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray - have not won a Grand Slam title.

Instead, Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have stolen the limelight, sharing the four majors in 2024 and leading the way for tennis' next generation of men's singles players.

Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli told Sky Sports she believes the pair could "win 15 to 18 Grand Slams each".

"It's extraordinary how this happens time and time again where you worry where the future of the game is going to go," former British number one Annabel Croft told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"The future is in such safe hands with Carlos and Jannik."

French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz, 21, is one of only four players who have been able to beat Sinner so far in 2024.

However, Sinner has won 55 of his 60 matches this season and claimed six titles - twice as many as Alcaraz.

The Spaniard, who suffered a surprise second-round exit in New York, congratulated Sinner on his latest victory on Instagram, adding: "You deserve it".

Sinner said it is "nice to see" new champions like himself and Alcaraz emerging in the sport.

"I feel like the new generation, we push each other," he told ESPN.

"I always have players who are going to make me a better player, because there are going to be times where they beat me.

"Then you have to try to find a way how to win against certain players."

www.bbc.com

US Open 2024: Jannik Sinner says title 'means so much' after 'very difficult' build-up

Jannik Sinner says it "means so much" to win the US Open after a "very difficult" few months in the build-up to the Grand Slam.
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British Davis Cup captain Leon Smith says he is yet to make a decision whether US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper will play in the nation's tie against Finland on Wednesday

Draper, 22, arrived in Manchester on Tuesday lunchtime and is set to practice with the squad later on.

British men's number one Draper produced the best performance of his career by reaching the last four in New York.

His run came to an end when he lost to Italian world number one Jannik Sinner - who went on to win the title - in the semi-finals on Friday.

Draper was sick on court during the match, afterwards putting that down to psychological stress of the occasion.

"It’s just a question of figuring out where he is at with his energy, how much tennis he can play over the course of the week," said Smith.

"But if he’s good to go, he’s good to go. If he’s not I’ve got every faith in those sitting beside me now."

Draper leads new-look Britain in post-Murray era

The British team, without Andy Murray for the first time since his recent retirement, has a different feel for the Davis Cup Finals group stage event.

Dan Evans and Neal Skupski, who memorably teamed up to secure a "bonkers" doubles victory which put Britain through to the eight-team knockout stage in Manchester last year, remain in the squad alongside Draper and provide experience.

But Billy Harris - a late-bloomer who has just moved to a career-high 101st in the world aged 29 - and 28-year-old Wimbledon doubles champion Henry Patten could be handed debuts.

British number two Cameron Norrie is missing through the arm injury which ruled him out of the recent US Open.

Smith praised Draper's commitment to playing for his nation despite the short turnaround from his exploits in New York.

"He is really excited to come here but we have to get him on the practice court, see how he’s doing, assess him," added Smith, speaking on Tuesday before Draper linked up with the squad.

"Ultimately I’ll make the call on that.

"I have to select the team to do what is best, not just for tomorrow, but also we have really important matches at the weekend as well.

"We just have to weigh up risk versus reward a little bit.

"We have four guys here who are more than capable of going out tomorrow if that’s required and doing a really good job."

Smith's squad face Finland, Argentina and Canada in the round-robin event at Manchester's AO Arena.

The top two teams progress to the eight-nation finals which will be held in Malaga between 19-24 November.

Source: BBC
 
Britain to make late call on Draper's Davis Cup involvement

British Davis Cup captain Leon Smith says he is yet to make a decision whether US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper will play in the nation's tie against Finland on Wednesday.

Draper, 22, arrived in Manchester on Tuesday lunchtime and is set to practice with the squad later on.

British men's number one Draper produced the best performance of his career by reaching the last four in New York.

His run came to an end when he lost to Italian world number one Jannik Sinner - who went on to win the title - in the semi-finals on Friday.

Draper was sick on court during the match, afterwards putting that down to psychological stress of the occasion.


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Jack Draper: Great Britain yet to make decision over his 2024 Davis Cup involvement

Captain Leon Smith says he is yet to make a decision on whether US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper will play in Britain's Davis Cup tie against Finland.
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Harris secures British win on Davis Cup debut

Debutant Billy Harris and veteran Dan Evans ensured Great Britain's quest to reach the Davis Cup knockout stage started strongly - even without the rested Jack Draper.

Harris and Evans won their singles matches to guarantee a team victory in the best-of-three Group D tie against Finland.

Evans, 34, won 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 against 703rd-ranked Eero Vasa to put the hosts 1-0 ahead in Manchester on Wednesday.

That meant late bloomer Harris, who used to drive to low-level tournaments in a van before earning his first ATP Tour win last year aged 28, had the chance to clinch victory for Britain.

Harris made the most of the opportunity with a confident 6-4 7-6 (7-4) win over Otto Virtanen, earning an unassailable 2-0 lead.

US Open semi-finalist Draper celebrated from the sidelines, having sat out this opening tie following his exploits in New York over the past fortnight.

British men's number one Draper arrived in Manchester on Tuesday lunchtime and, after watching him practise, British captain Leon Smith decided he needed longer to recover.

The 22-year-old left-hander could return for the round-robin ties against Argentina and Canada later this week.

Britain are aiming to finish in the top two of Group D and secure a place in the Davis Cup Finals last eight in Malaga later this year.

Despite Britain already winning the Finland tie, Evans and Neal Skupski still had to play a doubles match.

They went into it knowing that the difference between Britain beating Finland 3-0 and 2-1 could be crucial when it comes down to deciding who progresses later in the week.



BBC
 
Draper unable to inspire Britain in Davis Cup defeat

Jack Draper could not inspire Great Britain to a Davis Cup comeback win over Argentina as his first match since reaching the US Open semi-finals ended in defeat.

The British number one was given an electrifying ovation in Manchester but the mood flattened as he went on to lose 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 against Francisco Cerundolo.

Draper’s defeat means the host nation, who trail 2-0 in the best-of-three tie, missed the chance to reach the Davis Cup Finals knockout stage at the earliest opportunity.

British team-mate Dan Evans was beaten 6-2 7-5 by Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the first singles match earlier on Friday.

Leon Smith’s squad, who beat Finland on Wednesday, would have progressed with two wins from their opening two ties.

Instead, they are likely to need to beat Canada on Sunday in what could be a nerve-shredding contest.

Britain’s defeat means Group D has been blown wide open and, with Argentina playing Finland on Saturday, any of the four nations could still finish in the top two.

Only two teams from the Manchester group will progress to the 'Final Eight' event which takes place between 19-24 November in Malaga.


BBC
 
Osaka splits from coach Fissette

Former world number one Naomi Osaka has parted ways with coach Wim Fissette.

It comes after she admitted to being frustrated with recent results following an early exit from the US Open last month.

The Japanese tennis star began working with the Belgian in 2020 and has had two stints with him.

Osaka, 26, won two of her four Grand Slams - the 2020 US Open and 2021 Australian Open titles - with Fissette in her corner.

"Four years, two Slams and a whole lot of memories. Thanks Wim for being a great coach and an even greater person. Wishing you all the best," Osaka wrote on Instagram.

Fissette rejoined Osaka when she returned to tennis in January following the birth of her daughter in July 2023.

However, Osaka has reached the quarter-finals in only two of the 16 tournaments she has played following her 15 months away, and has not gone past the second round of a Grand Slam.

"It's been a little difficult because obviously I can only gauge how I'm doing by results," she said after exiting the US Open last month.

"I feel faster. I feel better, but I lost in the second round. So it's a little rough.

"I feel like I'm working way harder than I've ever worked in my life, so it needs to turn into something."

Fissette has worked with Kim Clijsters, Simona Halep, Johanna Konta, Angelique Kerber, Victoria Azarenka and others in a celebrated coaching career.

In Fissette's mind, he and Osaka were on the verge of achieving something special in her comeback season.

"We were very close to a breakthrough," he wrote in an Instagram post.

"When you do the right things and keep hearing from peers you are in the right direction, it's tough not quite getting it yet. As the coach, you keep trusting the process, knowing the lessons are getting you closer to the trophies.

"After the US Open, Naomi decided to move forward with a new path. I accepted it knowing we close this second run with more good memories and gratitude for building her way back."

BBC
 
GB's Kartal claims maiden WTA title in Tunisia

British number four Sonay Kartal held off the nerves to clinch a maiden WTA title with a straight-set victory over Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova in the final of the Jasmin Open in Tunisia.

The 22-year-old won 6-3 7-5 and will move into the world's top 100 for the first time on Monday.

After dominating her higher-ranked opponent in the middle of the match, Kartal lost three consecutive service games with success in sight, before eventually settling herself to serve it out.

Sramkova, number 136 in the world, fired long for a 39th unforced error of the match to hand the Briton her landmark victory on the first of two championship points.

"I've played some of my best tennis this week, had some of my best wins," said Kartal, after coming through qualifying and dropping just one set in the tournament in Monastir.

"I feel like each match I've grown and grown. I tried so hard to put the occasion and the score behind me."

Both women were playing in their first final at this level and Kartal warned beforehand that the player who handled the occasion best would come out on top.

After an early wobble, dropping her serve in the opening game, she showed the greater tactical acumen to exert control.

Kartal won the final three games of the opening set and opened a 4-1 lead in the second before her serve started to let her down, albeit under intense pressure from a resurgent Sramkova.

She overcame that pressure, breaking her 27-year-old opponent a total of four times in a second set that lasted 71 minutes, eventually sealing the win in just under two hours.

"I started the year with the goal of being top 150, so now I have passed that," added Kartal, who was 298 in the world before reaching the third round of Wimbledon this year.

"I'm just trying to end the year in the top 100."

Elsewhere, Britain's Jacob Fearnley, 23, won his third title in four months on the Challenger Tour, beating 27-year-old Frenchman Quentin Halys 0-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 in Rennes.

He is now expected to rise to 129 in the world, up 396 places since graduating from Texas Christian University in May.


BBC
 
GB's Davis Cup Finals hopes over as Evans & Draper lose

Great Britain's Davis Cup Finals hopes are over after Dan Evans and Jack Draper both suffered defeats against a strong Canadian team.

Leon Smith's side needed to beat Canada 3-0 in Manchester to progress to November's knockout stages in Malaga.

But their fate was sealed early on Sunday, with Evans' 6-0 7-5 loss to Denis Shapovalov meaning GB will finish outside the top two in Group D.

That was followed by British number one Jack Draper losing 7-6 (10-8) 7-5 to Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Evans said afterwards he was thinking "long and hard" about ending his Davis Cup career.

Britain's captain Smith said he would talk to Evans about his Davis Cup future "in a couple of days".

"I've done it for 14 years and he has been in the majority of the squads, played huge important ties and won some amazing moments," Smith added.

Evans did not return for the doubles match, with debutant Henry Patten partnering Neal Skupski to a 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 consolation win against Gabriel Diallo and Alexis Galarneau.

Canada, the 2022 champions, advance along with Argentina, who booked their place in the final eight with a 3-0 win over Finland on Saturday.


BBC
 
Boulter & Raducanu in GB team for Billie Jean King Cup

Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu have both been named in the British team for November’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals.

Harriet Dart, Heather Watson and doubles specialist Olivia Nicholls complete the five-woman team for the competition in Malaga from 13-20 November.

GB qualified for the knockout stage courtesy of an unlikely win over France on an indoor clay court in Le Portel in April.

Raducanu - in just her second appearance for her country - levelled the tie by fighting back to beat Caroline Garcia on the opening day.

After Boulter had beaten Clara Burel in the first Saturday singles match, Raducanu won the tie for GB by beating Diane Parry in a third-set tie-break.


BBC
 
Raducanu battles to win over Stearns at Korea Open

Emma Raducanu earned a hard-fought win in a "tough" match against Peyton Stearns in the first round of the Korea Open in Seoul.

The Briton, who is number 70 in the world, was playing her first match since her opening-round US Open exit and emerged a 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) victor against her 48th-ranked American opponent after two hours and 43 minutes.

"I'm proud to have made it through to the next round. It was tough and very humid," said Raducanu.

"It was a tough match to get through. I haven't played many matches in the last few months.

"Peyton is a really good player in good form so I'm really pleased."

Raducanu started strongly by breaking Stearns in the opening game and, despite losing the next game on her serve, again broke her opponent to lead 2-1.

It was a sign of things to come as there were eight breaks of serve in a fluctuating first set, which Raducanu eventually won on a tie-break after 74 minutes.

Both players saved break points in the second set before Raducanu took one to lead 5-3.

However, in keeping with the match, she was broken when serving for the match, while Stearns also failed to hold her serve when 6-5 up.

The match went to another tie-break which Raducanu won to secure victory, after a second set lasting 89 minutes.

Raducanu will play China's Yue Yuan, who is 40 in the world rankings, in the next round.

BBC
 
Watson beaten by Kostyuk at Korea Open

Heather Watson is out of the Korea Open following a straight-sets defeat by Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk in Seoul.

The 32-year-old qualifier, ranked 183rd in the world, lost 6-2 6-2 in the second round.

World number 18 Kostyuk, 22, will meet Russian Diana Shnaider, 20, in the quarter-finals after sealing a straightforward victory.

British number two Emma Raducanu earned a hard-fought win against American Peyton Stearns on Tuesday and will play China's Yue Yuan for a place in the last eight.

Watson, who last month failed to qualify for the US open main draw, responded immediately after losing serve in her opening game - but Kostyuk won five of the next six games to take the opening set.

The Briton, whose opening victory over China's Jia-Jing Lu was only her third main draw win this season, could not mount a fightback as Kostyuk raced to victory with a double break in the second set.

BBC
 
Gauff splits with coach Gilbert

American world number six Coco Gauff has ended her partnership with coach Brad Gilbert just two weeks after what she described as a "disappointing" US Open title defence.

Gauff, 20, won the first major of her career in New York last year under Gilbert's guidance.

But she lost in the fourth round to fellow American Emma Navarro this year.

"Coco, at just 20 years young, your future is incredibly bright, and I wish you nothing but continued success ahead," Gilbert, who also coached former Grand Slam champions Andre Agassi, Andy Murray and Andy Roddick, wrote on X.

"I'm excited for the next chapter in my coaching career."

Gauff hired Gilbert to work alongside Spanish coach Pere Riba after a chastening first-round exit at Wimbledon last year.

That led to a turnaround in fortune as Gauff won 18 of her next 19 matches in her home hard-court swing, leading to title victories in Washington, Cincinnati and New York.


BBC
 
Raducanu reaches Korea Open quarter-finals

Great Britain's Emma Raducanu moved through to the quarter-finals at the Korea Open by beating China's Yue Yuan in straight sets.

Raducanu, 21, seized control of the match by winning six successive games to wrap up the opening set and then take charge of the second.

The 2021 US Open champion, ranked 70th in the world, eventually took her seventh match point to win 6-4 6-3 and reach the last eight in Seoul.

Raducanu will play Russian top seed Daria Kasatkina or American Hailey Baptiste for a place in the semi-finals.

Yue, the world number 40, recovered an early break in the opening set but Raducanu landed another blow in the ninth game before taking her first set point on serve.

Having come from 4-3 behind in the first set, Raducanu maintained her momentum at the start of the second, establishing a 3-0 advantage with a quick-fire double break either side of holding serve to love.

The Briton's charge to the finish line was slowed as Yue reduced the deficit to 3-2; but, with her opponent growing in confidence, Raducanu saved a break point to hold serve in a crucial sixth game.

After breaking Yue's serve for a third time in the set, Raducanu was unable to take any of her first five match points as she attempted to serve out the contest, before Yue clinched her fourth break point in an epic eighth game.

Unfazed, Raducanu recovered from that frustration to complete a hard-fought victory on Yue's serve.

BBC
 
Wimbledon expansion given planning boost

The All England Club has received a boost to its plans to build 39 new tennis courts on Wimbledon Park.

Officers at the Greater London Authority (GLA) have recommended the Deputy Mayor should grant conditional planning permission at a public hearing next Friday.

Merton Council approved the plans, but the proposal was referred to the GLA after Wandsworth Council rejected the scheme last November.

Officers say the proposal complies with most relevant planning policies and there are "no material considerations that are considered to justify the refusal of consent".

They admit there will be a loss of open space, and harm to protected Metropolitan Open Land, but conclude the "balance is clearly in favour of" approving the scheme.

The All England Club's plans include 39 new tennis courts and an 8,000-seater stadium on Wimbledon Park.

The extra courts would allow Wimbledon qualifying to take place on site - in line with the other three Grand Slams - and the All England Club has also promised to create a new 23-acre public park in the spirit of the original design of landscape architect Capability Brown.

There has been local opposition from groups such as Save Wimbledon Park, which fears the area will become a "huge industrial tennis complex".

The full planning hearing will take place at City Hall in London on Friday, 27 September, with a decision possible later the same day.

The decision rests with Jules Pipe, the deputy mayor of London, as the Mayor Sadiq Khan excused himself from the process having publicly expressed his support for the plans in 2021.

The deputy mayor's decision may not signal the end of the process. Angela Rayner - the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government - could also decide to call the application in, and hold a fresh planning hearing.

The Minister will have seven days, from the moment the decision is communicated to her, to consider her options.

Fleur Anderson, the MP for Putney, says she is "extremely disappointed" by the recommendation.

"These plans are not right for our community and are damaging for the environment, with industrial scale development and permanent loss of access to our park," she said in a statement co-signed by two local politicians.

The All England Club believes the plans will "deliver one of the greatest sporting transformations for London since 2012".

"The land that we propose to enhance has been used as a private members' golf course for well over 100 years and, as a core part of this project, we will create 27 acres of beautiful new parkland, free for the public to access and enjoy," said the AELTC chair Deborah Jevans.



BBC
 
Raducanu retires injured against Kasatkina in Korea

British number two Emma Raducanu retired from her Korea Open quarter-final against Daria Kasatkina with a foot injury.

Raducanu struggled with the issue in the previous round against Yue Yuan and continued to look uncomfortable in the opening exchanges against the Russian top seed.

The 21-year-old needed a medical time out after the fifth game and decided she could not continue after losing the opening set 6-1.

Kasatkina will play compatriot Diana Shnaider or Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk in the semi-finals, which will take place later on Saturday after rain postponed play on Friday.

BBC
 
Team Europe edge out Team World to win Laver Cup

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz sealed a straight-set win against American Taylor Fritz to lead Team Europe to a 13-11 victory at the Laver Cup in Berlin.

Team World had led 11-7 going into the penultimate match in the first-to-13 competition.

But with three points available for each win on day three, German Alexander Zverev's 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 10-5 win over American Frances Tiafoe reduced World's lead to a single point and forced a deciding match.

Alcaraz, who criticised the congested tennis schedule on Saturday, completed the thrilling comeback with a 6-2 7-5 triumph.


BBC
 
Injured Raducanu withdraws from Beijing Open

Emma Raducanu has pulled out of this week's China Open in Beijing because of a foot injury.

The 21-year-old Briton had to retire injured from her Korea Open quarter-final in Seoul on Saturday because of the issue.

Raducanu's name appeared in the Beijing draw when it was released on Monday before she withdrew shortly afterwards.

"I sprained some ligaments in my foot which unfortunately need some more time to heal," she wrote on X.

"It means I can't play in Beijing but I hope to be back competing as soon as I can."

The world number 54 was due to face a qualifier in the first round, with Chinese fifth seed Zheng Qinwen potentially waiting in the next round.

In Seoul, Raducanu took a medical timeout after five games against Russia's Daria Kasatkina and decided to stop after losing the opening set.

The British number two, who famously won the 2021 US Open as a teenage qualifier, is next scheduled to play in Wuhan, China on 7 October.


BBC
 
Injury-hit Cilic creates ATP history with comeback title

Former US Open champion Marin Cilic became the lowest-ranked player to win an ATP Tour title with an emotional victory at the Hangzhou Open.

Croatia's Cilic, who started the tournament at 777th in the world, has spent the majority of the past two seasons out with a knee injury which required multiple surgeries.

Given a wildcard to play in Hangzhou, the former world number three had not won an ATP Tour match in 22 months before this week.

On Tuesday, just four days before his 36th birthday, he beat home favourite Zhang Zhizhen 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-5) to lift the title.

"It has been a difficult period for me - I lost my ranking and I didn't play too much," said Cilic, who reached a career-high ranking of third in 2018.

Cilic had the latest surgery on his right knee in May, saying it was the "best option" to help overcome the problem and return to court.

He played just two matches in 2023 and another four times at the start of this season.

The comeback began on the Challenger Tour - the tier below the main ATP events - in August before stepping up a level again over the past week in China.

Cilic hit 18 aces and won 42 of 50 first-service points (84%) against 43rd-ranked Zhang.

In his post-match speech, the 2014 US Open champion dedicated the victory to his family - including his wife and two children - for their support during the low moments.

"Everybody at home has been with me in this difficult period, working day by day, believing and pushing me, giving me strength and spirit," Cilic said.

"I'm happy to make this victory, not just for me, but for them. For everyone there is a small piece of this trophy."

On the back of winning a 21st title of his career, Cilic will rise 404 places in the rankings to 373 next week.


BBC
 
Alcaraz qualifies for Nitto ATP Finals

Carlos Alcaraz is the third player to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals, which will be held at Inalpi Arena in Turin from 10-17 November.

The Spaniard joins Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev in the field, leaving five singles spots remaining at the prestigious season finale. The 21-year-old has earned his place at the event for the third consecutive year. He did not compete in 2022, the year he claimed ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours, due to injury.

Alcaraz doubled his major titles count this season, emerging victorious at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. The Spaniard became just the sixth man in the Open Era to win the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double in the same year, joining Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Alcaraz also lifted the fifth ATP Masters 1000 trophy of his career at Indian Wells and earned a silver medal in singles at the Paris Olympics. He owns a 43-9 record for the season.

Last year, Alcaraz made his Nitto ATP Finals debut by reaching the semi-finals. He defeated Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev in group play to advance to the last four, where he fell to eventual champion Djokovic.


www.atptour.com

Carlos Alcaraz qualifies for Nitto ATP Finals | ATP Tour | Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz is the third player to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals, which will be held at Inalpi Arena in Turin from 10-17 November.
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Alcaraz says 'a lot of players' agree after schedule 'going to kill us' comments​


Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday doubled down on his criticism of the demands of the tennis calendar, saying "a lot of players" agree with him and "we have to do something about it".

The four-time Grand Slam champion last week said at the Laver Cup that the schedule is "going to kill us," adding his voice to the growing number of players speaking out.

The 21-year-old Spaniard is in action this week at the China Open, his 15th tournament of the year.

"I've seen and I've heard a lot of players complain about the schedule, about the calendar as well," he said.

Not among them is world No 1 Jannik Sinner, who made light of the issue when he spoke to reporters in Beijing on Tuesday.

"The schedule is quite long obviously these years. But we players, we can still choose what to play and what not to play," said the Italian, who this month won the US Open for his second major crown.

Addressing those comments, Alcaraz conceded that "it's about different feelings in every person", but added: "So I'm talking about myself, that the schedule, it's been so tight since the first week of January till the last week of November.

"We have to talk about it ourselves and we have to do something about it."

Alcaraz, the second seed, faces France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in his opening match in the Chinese capital.

Top seed and defending champion Sinner plays Chile's Nicolas Jarry.

Novak Djokovic is not in Beijing while world No. 2 Alexander Zverev pulled out.

supersport.com

Alcaraz says 'a lot of players' agree after schedule 'going to kill us' comments | SuperSport

Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday doubled down on his criticism of the demands of the tennis calendar, saying "a lot of players" agree with him and "we have to do something about it".
supersport.com supersport.com
 
Britain's leading men's doubles player Joe Salisbury has split with long-time partner Rajeev Ram after winning four Grand Slam titles together

Salisbury, 32, and American veteran Ram started playing together six years ago, becoming world number ones and forging one of the most successful partnerships.

The pair won their first major at the 2020 Australian Open in their second season together.

Further success came at the US Open, where they won three consecutive titles in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

"Joe and I had some amazing wins, some epic matches and moments, and some gut-wrenching losses," said 40-year-old Ram.

Neither player has publicly outlined the reasons for bringing their partnership to an end.

The pair started the 2024 season by winning an ATP 250 title in Adelaide, and reached the final of the Montreal Masters - a ATP 1000 event - in August.

But they could not add to their trophy haul and did not go beyond the quarter-finals in any of the four Grand Slam events this year.

The pair are ranked as the 11th best team in the world this season.

Their final tournament as a team was the US Open where, as three-time defending champions, they lost in the third round.

Source: BBC
 
Draper beats Bellucci to reach Japan Open last 16

Britain's Jack Draper is through to the Japan Open last 16 following a straight-set win over Mattia Bellucci.

World number 20 Draper beat the Italian 6-4 6-2 for his first victory since defeat by Jannik Sinner in the US Open semi-finals earlier this month.

The victory marks a return to form for the 22-year-old after a disappointing Davis Cup in Manchester where he lost his two singles matches.

Draper was beaten in straight sets by Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo and Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime as Great Britain failed to reach the knockout stage.

After edging the first set against world number 103 Belluci in Tokyo, Draper pulled away in the second as he opened up a 5-1 lead before seeing out victory.

Draper will play Polish second seed Hubert Hurkacz on Friday.

Elsewhere, Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas lost 4-6 6-1 6-2 to American Alex Michelsen.

American fifth seed Tommy Paul beat Italy's Matteo Arnaldi 6-3 6-2, while Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka edged Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 7-6 (7-5) in a match that lasted three hours and 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, British number three Harriet Dart lost 7-5 4-6 1-6 in the first round of the China Open against Denmark's Clara Tauson.

BBC
 
Controversial Wimbledon expansion plan approved

Wimbledon's controversial plans to build 39 new tennis courts on protected open land opposite the All England Club has been approved.

The All England Club wants to build the courts, including an 8,000-seat stadium, on Wimbledon Park.

Jules Pipe, the Deputy Mayor of London, decided that "significant" community and economic benefits of the scheme outweigh the harm.

Local residents and politicians fighting the proposal are now running out of options, but could still apply for a judicial review.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has the power to hold a fresh planning hearing, but has made clear in a letter seen by BBC Sport that the application "should be determined at a local level".

The development will allow Wimbledon qualifying to take place on site, in line with the other three Grand Slams.

According to All England Club chair Deborah Jevans, it would prevent the Championships "falling behind the other Grand Slams".

"Clearly we are very, very pleased - it has been a long journey to this point," Jevans told BBC Sport.

"Equally there is a journey to go through before we start to build.

"Our ambition, if everything falls into place, is that we could see tennis balls being hit on that site between 2030 and 2033."

There has been strong local opposition from groups such as Save Wimbledon Park, which fears the area will become a "huge industrial tennis complex".

Jeers were heard from members of these groups when Pipe's decision was announced at London's City Hall on Friday.

Wimbledon qualifying is currently held around three and a half miles away at Roehampton's Community Sports Centre.


BBC
 
Draper upsets Hurkacz, advances to Tokyo QFs

Jack Draper continued to make his mark against the ATP Tour's top stars in 2024 by downing second seed Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-4 on Friday at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships.

Draper, at a career high of World No. 20 after reaching his maiden major semi-final at the US Open, clinched his third win in four matches against Top 10 opponents by defeating Hurkacz in Tokyo. The 22-year-old built on his momentum from New York by winning 76 per cent of his first-serve points to defeat the World No. 8 in one hour and 24 minutes.


www.atptour.com

Jack Draper upsets Hubert Hurkacz, advances to Tokyo QFs | ATP Tour | Tennis

Jack Draper continued to make his mark against Top 10 opponents, downing second seed Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-4 on Friday to advance to the quarter-finals at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships.
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Wada appeals against Sinner doping exoneration​

The World Anti-Doping Agency has appealed against the decision to clear world number one Jannik Sinner of blame after he twice tested positive for a banned substance.

Wada said last month's ruling by an independent tribunal to find the Italian had no fault or negligence was "not correct under the applicable rules".

It has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) and says Sinner should be banned for "between one and two years".

Sinner, 23, is currently playing Roman Safiullin in the last 16 of the China Open in Beijing.

The case had been presented to a tribunal by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

Sinner was cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for low levels of a metabolite of clostebol - a steroid that can be used to build muscle mass - during the Indian Wells tournament in March.

The ITIA said its process was run according to Wada guidelines but respected its right to appeal against the decision.

He was provisionally suspended but challenged the decision and was able to continue playing.

Sinner's defence said he was inadvertently contaminated by the banned substance by his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi.

The ITIA accepted Sinner's explanation that Naldi had applied an over-the-counter spray - widely available in Italy - which contained clostebol to treat a cut on Sinner's hand.

The tribunal ruled that Sinner was not to blame, but stripped him of his ranking points and prize money for reaching the Indian Wells semi-finals.

He has since stopped working with Naldi.

Sinner won the US Open in New York this month, 19 days after he was cleared.

Source: BBC
 
Jack Draper was forced to retire injured during Sunday's Japan Open quarter-final against France's Ugo Humbert.

Having lost the first set in Tokyo 7-5, British No 1 Draper received treatment for an abdominal complaint early in the second and, at 2-1 behind, could no longer continue, bringing his tournament run to an end.

SKY
 
Boulter loses to Gauff in China Open third round

Katie Boulter is out of the China Open after suffering a straight-set defeat by Coco Gauff on Sunday.

The British number one was beaten 7-5 6-2 by the world number six, who progresses to the fourth round in Beijing.

The 20-year-old American went 5-2 up in the first set before Boulter, 28, found her rhythm, winning three games on the bounce to level the match.

After a hold from the 2023 US Open champion, Boulter saved two set points but she double-faulted before sending a forehand wide to hand Gauff the first set after 50 minutes.

Gauff broke Boulter's serve before going 4-1 up in the second set. Boulter, the world number 34, then saved one match point but Gauff broke her serve again to clinch the set inside 35 minutes.

Gauff will face Japan's Naomi Osaka or compatriot Katie Volynets for a place in the quarter-finals, as she aims to reach her second final of the year after defending her Auckland Classic title in January.



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