Archive of posts filed under the Pro Tennis News category.

Reason why Alexander Zverev can't disappoint in Toronto

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Alexander Zverev

In recent days, fans and insiders have wondered if Alexander Zverev and Toni Nadal would start a stable collaboration in the second half of this season. The German ace has been training at Rafael Nadal's Academy in Manacor in the recent period, being intent on changing something after his premature elimination at the Wimbledon Championships. 

However, Uncle Toni has too many commitments and does not want to constantly travel around the world, which is why he gave the champion from Hamburg the chance to practice in his Academy whenever he needs to.

The former world number 2 is not going through a particularly brilliant phase of his career, especially after the defeat against Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open final at the beginning of the year. Sascha believed he was ready to finally lift a Grand Slam trophy, but that match against the current world No.1 showed him how far he is still from the top two players in the ATP rankings.

Since then, Alexander has fallen into a very serious crisis and it is no coincidence that he has won only one title so far in the season (in Munich). 

Zverev will play in Toronto

Everyone expects a reaction from Zverev already during the American tournaments, with particular reference to Toronto and Cincinnati before the US Open at the end of the summer.

It's no secret that Sascha will have a huge chance in Canada, considering that most of the top players won't be in Toronto. The prestigious Canadian tournament lost world number 1 Jannik Sinner, world number 2 Carlos Alcaraz, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and young English star Jack Draper.

The German player will have a bye in the first round and will make his debut directly in the second round against Bonzi or Walton.

Music on course? Westwood says he’s comfortable with LIV Golf’s new vibe

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experienced golfer

Lee Westwood is currently playing at LIV Golf UK, and after the second day the experienced golfer finished with five strokes under par, 66.

The 52-year-old has been playing great lately, and it seems that with such performances many paths are opening up for him. Westwood has repeatedly emphasized his satisfaction with LIV Golf, the vision of this Tour, as well as his ambitions for the future.

Although there are some shortcomings, such as the lack of OWGR ranking points, optimism remains high among LIV officials and players.

In a media interview, Westwood, however, emphasized the music that was playing on the golf course yesterday, stressing that he has no problem with it.

Regardless of the fact that he is an experienced golfer, Westwood admits that his persona is open to change and adaptation. 

Lee is someone who puts an accent on innovations in the world of golf.

“Seemed appropriate, right?

Am I comfortable with it? Yeah, I don’t mind change and adapting. It’s people in general that don’t like change and adapting. People are used to the traditions and staying in their ways, their comfort.

But all sports have to adapt and change. I think golf is doing a great job of it through LIV, yeah.“- he said, as quoted by the Golfing Gazette.

Lee's future

Westwood has played solidly this season with 3 top 40 finishes, 3 top 25 finishes, and 1 top 10 finish. 

An experienced golfer can be delighted with this kind of performances, and there is no doubt that he will give his maximum to use the momentum. 

Regardless of his advanced age, his hunger and desire for success can be an example to others. 

He has a bright future ahead of him, and it will be interesting to see whether he can be a serious threat to his opponents at LIV Golf in the coming weeks.

Watch: Carlos Alcaraz is back to practice ahead of Cincinnati and US Open

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Carlitos

The first half of the 2025 season gave Carlos Alcaraz five titles – in Rotterdam, Monte Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros and Queen's respectively – while he missed out on his third win in a row at the Wimbledon Championships due to a deluxe version of Jannik Sinner, who defeated him on the iconic Centre Court to become the first Italian ever to win the world's most famous tournament.

The 22-year-old Spaniard can be very satisfied with how he reacted to the difficulties of the beginning of the year, when he was unable to express his best tennis and had also had a small crisis after the shocking elimination against David Goffin in the second round of the Miami Open.

The five-time Grand Slam champion has made no secret of the fact that he will give his best in the second half of 2025 to return to the top of the ATP rankings, knowing that his top rival Sinner will have to defend many more points than him from Cincinnati onwards.

Both Carlos and Jannik will skip the Toronto Masters 1000 which begins next week and will return to action directly in Ohio, where Alcaraz's run in 2024 had already ended in the second round due to the fatigue accumulated at the Paris Olympics.

Alcaraz practices

Like all the other top players, the champion from Murcia also took a little vacation after the Championships and recently returned to practice at the 'La Manga Club'.

The world number 2 knows that he has to change something from the past, as his level dropped significantly in the second half of the year in both 2023 and 2024. After winning his second Wimbledon title last season, Carlitos has not expressed his best level and has only triumphed at the Beijing ATP 500 by beating Sinner in an epic final.

It's no secret that the Spanish star's main goal is the US Open, which kicks off on August 24 in New York.

Jack Nicklaus surprises content creator with humility and kindness

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DOS games

Jack Nicklaus is an icon of golf and the man who made many people fall in love with this sport. There are many who often have prejudices about golf icons, believing that most of them are actually arrogant and cold. 

But that is obviously not the case. 

Golf content creator Matt Scharff had the opportunity to record a video of Jack Nicklaus on his YouTube channel, and his words after the recording speak volumes about the greatness of Nicklaus. 

Scharff admits that it is somewhat strange to be in the company of such a legend who marked an era of golf. 

The popular creator had many topics with Nicklaus, carrying only positive emotions from this conversation.

“He’s a bro! When you meet a legend like that we are all very nervous. We are just 20 year old kids, we are literally all like we should not be here. What are we actually doing here? Getting to film Jack and talking to him at lunch. Ordering what he is ordering. We talked for a long time and spent so many hours with him. He shared so many different stories, I wrote them all down in my notes so I could tell my kids about it later."- he said, as quoted by The Golfing Gazette.

Matt Scharff  shares his impressions

The famous creator was amazed by the modesty of this golfer and his desire to play a round of golf. 

Nevertheless, Nicklaus pointed out that he was sorry because they could not play at Muirfield, feeling that Jack had a great desire, and that his words carried a deep sincerity.

“You would think when you meet someone like that he is going to be a certain way. When you meet someone very high up there in their craft, you expect them in your mind to be a certain way and act a certain way.."

Scharff revealed that they had plenty of topics to talk about, and Nicklaus was quite open to sharing some interesting details from his career. This kind of meeting remained deeply engraved in the memory of Scharff, who hopes to have several more opportunities for the same.

Carlos Alcaraz has made unusual decision for him: all the details

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Barcelona

The last three and a half months have been particularly intense for Carlos Alcaraz, who has played numerous tournaments and has always reached at least the final. The world number 2 only missed the Mutua Madrid Open due to a small physical problem, while in the other events in which he participated he reached the end lifting the trophy in Monte Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros and Queen's (not forgetting the final in Barcelona).

The 22-year-old Spaniard also reached the final act at the Wimbledon Championships for the third year in a row, but failed to triumph this time as he was defeated in four sets by his top rival Jannik Sinner. There is no doubt that the five-time Grand Slam champion has used a lot of energies this part of the season and needs to recharge his batteries now, which is why he has decided to skip the Canadian Open, which begins in Toronto later this month.

Since the former world number 1 had not played in Canada last year either, he would have had the chance to gain points on Sinner in the ATP rankings and get closer to the first position. The Italian ace will not be present in Ontario either, and both will be back in action in Cincinnati next month.

Alcaraz is more mature

Carlitos reached the final in Ohio in 2023, losing to Novak Djokovic at the end of an epic challenge, while in the last edition he was eliminated by Gael Monfils already in the second round. The former world No.1 will not have to defend as many points even at the US Open, the tournament where he won his first Major title in 2022, as he was eliminated in the second round last year.

In a recent interview with 'La Gazzetta dello Sport', the Spanish star did not hide that one of his goals in the second half of the year is to dethrone Sinner and return to the top of the ATP rankings. However, his choice to skip Toronto certifies a higher maturity than in the past combined with the awareness of having to change something.

Dominic Thiem is surprised by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

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Carlos Alcaraz

As of the start of the 2024 season, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have become the two new leaders of the men's tour and it is no coincidence that they have shared the last seven Grand Slam titles. The Italian ace triumphed in Melbourne in 2024 and 2025, at the 2024 US Open and at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, while the Spaniard prevailed at Roland Garros in 2024 and 2025 and at Wimbledon in 2024.

Jannik and Carlos are able to express a level that is clearly superior to that of all the other players and – at the moment – it is not clear who can stop their rise. The top two players of the ATP rankings have faced each other in the final in both Paris and London this year, and fans are already dreaming of a new chapter in their rivalry taking place in New York at the end of the summer.

Their matches are simply epic and the recent Roland Garros final is destined to be remembered as one of the best of the modern era, as well as being the longest in the history of the French Slam. The star from Murcia prevailed in the fifth set after canceling three match points in a row, completing one of the most impressive comebacks in recent tennis history.

Thiem is speechless

During a long interview, former Austrian ace Dominic Thiem – who had to leave tennis due to a serious wrist injury – discussed this electrifying rivalry: "Their matches are always very balanced and spectacular, they have raised the level of the sport and are taking it to another dimension. Jannik and Carlos play at an impressive speed and move very well. No one expected that two such champions would emerge immediately after the Big 3."

The 2020 US Open winner also added: "Both are much superior to their opponents today, but it can happen that they lose too. I don't know if they're going to win every Grand Slam tournament in the next few years, but there's no doubt that they're one step ahead of everyone today."

Washington: Daniil Medvedev sweeps Yibing Wu, sails into QF

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Australian Open Men's singles final

Daniil Medvedev enjoyed a relaxed day at the office at the ATP 500 event in Washington. The 2019 finalist faced Yibing Wu in the third round and scored a convincing 6-3, 6-2 triumph in 69 minutes.

The Russian fired 11 aces and barely lost a point after landing in the first serve. He dropped six points in eight service games and kept the pressure on the other side. 

Yibing played well to pass the qualifying stage and earn two main-draw wins. However, he stood no chance against the former world no. 1, struggling on serve and return and hitting the exit door.

The Chinese dropped half of the points hi his games and played against 13 break points. Wu did a fine job in denying nine. However, he got broken four times and propelled Medvedev through. 

Daniil landed 18 winners and 13 unforced errors. He had the upper hand in service winners and from the baseline, outplaying his rival in the shortest and more advanced rallies en route to a comfortable victory. 

Yibing squandered game points in the first game of the duel and placed a forehand wide to suffer an early break. They served well in the next seven games, and Medvedev held at love in game eight with a forehand crosscourt winner for 5-3.

Wu played another loose service game and faced issues while serving to stay in the set. He sprayed a forehand error, losing serve for the second time and allowing Daniil to wrap up the opener in 31 minutes.

Daniil Medvedev & Yibing Wu, Washington 2025

Daniil Medvedev & Yibing Wu, Washington 2025© Stream screenshot

 

The Chinese denied five break points at the beginning of the second set. However, he played a terrible forehand in the fourth game to suffer a break and push his rival closer to the finish line. 

Wu saved three more break points in the sixth game, remaining within one break deficit and extending the battle. Medvedev held at 15 in game seven for 5-2 and made a push on the return in the next one. 

The Russian welcomed the rival's loose forehand, providing another break and sealing the deal in under 70 minutes.

Jannik Sinner joins Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal in rare Novak Djokovic Major feat

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accomplished player

Jannik Sinner has dominated men's tennis since the second part of 2023. The Italian ended the season ranked 4th and with his first victory over Novak Djokovic at the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals.

Jannik shifted his game to an even higher level since 2024, embracing a 99-9 run and adding four Major titles to his tally. Three trophies came over the 24-time Major champion Novak Djokovic, and the latest secured Sinner's place in the record books.

The Italian defeated the Serb at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, becoming the third player with victories over Djokovic on all three surfaces at Majors, joining Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on the exclusive list.

Rafael Nadal started with early wins over Novak in Paris and London. The Spaniard completed the feat in the 2010 US Open final, securing a hard-court victory over the Serb and accomplishing a Career Grand Slam at 24.

Roger Federer bested Djokovic in the opening stages of their rivalry on hard courts. The Swiss delivered a memorable win over an in-form rival in the 2011 Roland Garros semi-final and completed the circle a year later in the Wimbledon semi-final. 

Thirteen years later, Jannik Sinner joined the ultimate legends following his dominant streak against the Serb. Last year, the Italian bested the Serb 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 in the Australian Open semi-final. 

Novak Djokovic & Jannik Sinner, Australian Open 2024

Novak Djokovic & Jannik Sinner, Australian Open 2024© Stream screenshot

 

Jannik faced no break points and left Novak behind in three sets to emerge at the top. This June, they met in the Roland Garros semi-final. It was a tight battle, and the younger player prevailed 6-4, 7-5, 7-6. 

The young gun saved five of six break points and provided three breaks over the veteran to emerge at the top. The veteran missed a chance to extend the battle, giving his best but ending his run in the last four. 

A month later, they battled in the Wimbledon semi-final. This time, the Italian overpowered the Serb 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 for a place in his first Wimbledon final. Thus, Sinner completed his wins over the most accomplished player of all time on all three surfaces at Majors within a year and a half!

Jannik Sinner & Novak Djokovic, Roland Garros 2025

Jannik Sinner & Novak Djokovic, Roland Garros 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Jannik has been nearly untouchable at Majors since the start of 2024, winning four titles from seven tournaments. The Italian has been the finalist at the previous four Majors, embracing a 27-1 score and writing history books. 

Sinner's consistent dominance over Djokovic on the most notable scene signals a shift in power at the top of men's tennis. Alongside Carlos Alcaraz, the Italian has conquered the previous seven Majors, establishing the new dynasty and entering the record books.

With the US Open approaching, Jannik will try to extend his brilliance at hard-court Majors.

The level of tennis has risen too high for Novak Djokovic: all the details inside

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Belgrade

Novak Djokovic's goal of winning his 25th Major title by the end of the 2025 season will not be easy to achieve, as only the US Open scheduled in New York at the end of the summer is missing. The Serbian legend has indeed raised his level in Grand Slam tournaments, where he has defeated excellent players and reached the semifinals on all occasions (in Melbourne, Paris and London), but he has not given the feeling that he can make tennis history once again.

The collective feeling is that the two current leaders of the men's tour – Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz – are superior to Nole at this stage of his career and it will be very tough for the former world No. 1 to beat them in a best-of-five-set match at 38 years old.

The veteran from Belgrade wants to become the oldest ever to win a Grand Slam title by uncorking the record from Ken Rosewall, but time is running out and Novak will also have to hope for some luck in New York in about a month.

Djokovic expected to return to action in Cincinnati

Djokovic is enjoying some vacation in Croatia right now and has been spotted alongside former Real Madrid footballer Luka Modric, while a few days ago he announced that he will not participate in the Toronto Masters 1000 which starts later this month.

In a recent interview with 'Gol', his former coach Goran Ivanisevic – who has just finished working with Stefanos Tsitsipas – gave his honest verdict on Nole's chances of shocking the world for the umpteenth time: “When you’re not 100 percent with Sinner… and even when you are, your chances aren’t great,” said the 2001 Wimbledon winner.

I thought Novak could do it, but unfortunately he wasn’t completely ready. Djokovic is the greatest tennis player of all time, but what these two are doing is another level of tennis.”

Novak's next tournament is expected to be the Cincinnati Masters 1000, where he triumphed in 2023 for the last time.

Washington: Ben Shelton aces his way through. Frances Tiafoe is next

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ATP Tour

Ben Shelton produced a statement victory in the third round of the ATP 500 event in Washington. World no. 8 faced Gabriel Diallo in the third round and notched a dominant 6-3, 6-2 victory in 61 minutes.

The 4th seed dominated from start to finish, making the difference with his booming initial shot and outplaying the Canadian in every department. Shelton took 22 points more than his rival.

Ben blasted 16 aces and as many service winners, dropping six points in nine service games and facing no break points. Diallo felt the pressure and cracked under it. 

The lower-ranked player struggled behind the second serve and got broken three times from four chances offered to his rival. The American landed 22 winners and seven unforced errors. 

They split the 14 most extended points, and a left-hander dominated those up to four strokes, building a 47-25 advantage. The home favorite provided five comfortable holds in the first set. 

He made a push on the return in the second game and caused the rival's mistake with a sharp return for an early advantage. Ben fired an ace in the third game and forged a 3-0 advantage after only eight minutes. 

The 4th seed held at love for 4-1 and landed a service winner two games later to maintain the advantage. Diallo served well after that early setback. He held in game eight to reduce the deficit to 5-3 and prolong the battle.

Ben Shelton, Washington 2025

Ben Shelton, Washington 2025© Stream screenshot

 

However, Shelton painted an ace in game nine for a hold at love and 6-3 in half an hour. The Canadian hit a double fault in the third game of the second set, losing serve and moving closer to the exit door.

The American closed the next game at love, you guess, with an ace, and made another push on the return at 3-1. He cracked a forehand down the line winner for a break point and converted it with another forehand winner that sent him 4-1 in front. 

Shelton held with an unreturned serve in the sixth game, moving 5-1 up and serving for the win at 5-2. A left-hander sealed the deal with an ace, racing over the top and arranging a thrilling clash against Frances Tiafoe.

Washington: Emma Raducanu recovers from deficit in each set to reach semfinal

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Anna Kalinskaya

Emma Raducanu made her first semifinal of the year but it came all but an easy way after the British tennis star came from a break down in each set to beat Maria Sakkari 6-4 7-5 in the Washington quarterfinal.

Playing against former world No. 3 Sakkari, Raducanu made a slow start and lost the opening two games. But with three breaks in the remainder of the first set, the 2021 US Open champion managed to overturn the deficit and bag the opener.

After blowing a break in the first set, Sakkari also claimed a break in the sixth game of the second set and went on to open a 5-2 lead. But just when it seemed that their match would go three sets, the British tennis star won the next five games in a row to overturn the deficit once again and complete a two-set win.

In the Washington semifinal, Raducanu will battle against either No. 4 seed Clara Tauson or Anna Kalinskaya.

What Raducanu admitted after beating Sakkari?

After getting the job done against Sakkari in two sets, the 2021 US Open winner admitted that she didn't feel well at all after falling down by a break in the second set and that she just hoped the match wouldn't go three sets.

“I think you get to a point where you’re so tired that you don’t really know what you’re doing anymore, and I think maybe that helped. I just really had to be smooth and conserve energy. I was also thinking if this goes to three sets, I don't know how I’m going to do it. So just happy I toughed it out," the 22-year-old admitted after beating Sakkari.

For Raducanu, this is her first Washington semifinal. In her first two Washington appearances that came in 2022 and 2024, the Briton concluded her run in the quarterfinal.

Sinner, Alcaraz, Djokovic, Draper Out of Toronto

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World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz will be Toronto top seed.arm injury

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Sunday, July 20, 2025
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty

A quartet of talented contenders have stepped out of Toronto.

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz, Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic and Indian Wells champion Jack Draper have all withdrawn from this month's National Bank Open in Toronto.

Tennis Express

Sinner dethroned two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz to win his maiden Wimbledon crown earlier this month.

News of Alcaraz's withdrawal, reported by the Spanish outlet Marca, came after the tournament announced that Sinner, Djokovic and Draper had pulled out.

Draper, who picked up an arm injury after Wimbledon, will also miss Cincinnati. 

There has been talk that the ATP's committment to making Masters 1000 two-week events has dampened the enthusiasm of some of the tour's top players to play both. What formerly required a two-week commitment now requires over three weeks. 

Home players should enjoy strong support in Toronto, however. 

Three Canadians are ranked inside the ATP's Top 40 and earned direct entry into the main draw.

Montreal’s Félix Auger-Aliassime, currently representing Canada in Hopman Cup, will be making his eighth appearance at the NBO. The 28th-ranked Auger-Aliassime reached the 2022 quarterfinals.

No. 30 Denis Shapovalov, who won his second title of 2025 in Los Cabos last night, will also make his eighth appearance at the event. Shapovalov famously upset Rafael Nadal en route to the 2017 semifinals.

Big serving Montreal native Gabriel Diallo will play the Canadian Masters for the fourth time.

“Canada, I can't wait to be back at home and playing in front of all of you at this year's National Bank Open presented by Rogers,” said Félix Auger-Aliassime. "The atmosphere and fans in Toronto are always amazing, and it's not something I take for granted.

"I'm going to give it everything I've got, and I hope that we can go on a deep run together!”

Zheng Qinwen Undergoes Right Elbow Surgery

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"This is just a short break, and I see it as a necessary step toward a better version of myself on court," Olympic gold medal champion said.arthroscopic surgery

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Sunday, July 20, 2025
Photo credit: Zheng Qinwen Instagram

Zheng Qinwen is recovering after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on her right elbow.

The Olympic gold-medal champion said on social media she's been suffering from elbow pain in recent months.

Tennis Express

"Over the past months, I’ve been dealing with persistent pain in my right elbow during training and matches. Despite trying various treatments to manage it, the discomfort never fully went away," Zheng wrote in an Instagram post. "After consulting with elbow specialists and discussing thoroughly with my team, we decided that arthroscopic surgery was the best option to fully resolve the issue.

"Yesterday, I underwent the procedure successfully, and I’m grateful to have it behind me."

It is uncertain when the former Australian Open finalist can return though Zheng said she envisions "just a short break."

"Now begins the recovery journey. Over the next few weeks and months, I’ll be focusing entirely on rehab—doing everything I can to come back stronger and healthier," Zheng said. "This is just a short break, and I see it as a necessary step toward a better version of myself on court."

The world No. 6 reached the quarterfinals or better in six of her last eight tournaments.

A Rome semifinalist, Zheng reached the Roland Garros quarterfinals and Queen's Club semifinals bowing to Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova before she suffered a first-round loss to Katerina Siniakova at Wimbledon.

"Why Not?" – Legendary Venus Williams Speaks Ahead of Citi Open Return

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The American icon doled out wisdom and inspiration in her pre-tournament press conference at the Citi Open. America

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday July 20, 2025

Venus Williams, 45, has a lot of reasons to move beyond professional tennis and take advantage of the many creative and entrepreneurial opportunities are now available to her. But she could not resist the pull to test herself against the sports’ elite at least one more time this week at the Mubadala Citi Open in Washington, D.C.

Tennis Express

Williams, who was granted a wild card into the main draw and will face American Peyton Stearns in her first match since the 2024 Miami Open, explains her decision to play as follows: “Why not?”

The American icon spoke to the media in a pre-tournament press conference on Sunday and doled out wisdom at a rapid clip.

“It's incredible,” she said, beaming from the podium, as she was asked what it felt like to inspire America’s next generation of talent. “Actually, that was not what I thought would happen in my life as a young person. I wanted to play the game, be a champion. I loved the game so much, I didn't realize that it would be so much bigger than myself, and seeing these young women doing positive things with their life, winning tournaments, inspiring the next generation too. It's like I could have never imagined that.”

She finished the declaration with a very Venus sentence:

“It's like icing on the cake, cherries on top, with the nuts and all the fixings. You know, it's beautiful.”

Did she miss tennis? Is that why she’s returning this week? Not necessarily.

“I'm not a person that misses a lot,” she said. “I have so much I'm doing off of the court that kept me so busy that I don't know if I had time to miss anything, but I do know that when I went to Wimbledon this year, I was there for a day, and it was so beautiful and exciting, and I remembered all the times that I had, of course, the adrenaline, all those things, I think just the pure fun of playing the game, the fun of the challenge, overcoming – when you play, you have to overcome so many challenges, your opponents, the conditions, a lot of times you have to overcome yourself.

“Those things are very exciting. So I think maybe just the challenge of it all.”

Williams may want to catch a wild card at the US Open, but as she said numerous times during her press conference, she prefers to keep her cards tight to her vest.

“I'm just here for now, and who knows, maybe there's more,” she said. “Like I said, I hold my cards close, but at the moment I'm focused just on this, and I haven't played in a year. There's no doubt I can play tennis, but obviously, coming back to play matches, it takes time to get in the swing of things.”

Which takes us to our next question. Can she be effective on the tennis court, at her age, after so many health issues? Williams has not won a match since 2023 in Cincinnati, and she has won just six of 26 matches since the start of 2021.

Not that it really matters to fans who just want to catch a glimpse of this legend up close and personal, but Williams feels she has what it takes to play winning tennis.

“I definitely feel I'll play well. I'm still the same player. I hit big,” she said with a smile. “This is my brand. So it's about hitting big and actually putting it in. So this will be my effort. Put it in the court. That's my main goal.

More important, is being a part of the game that she loves, and continuing to fly the flag for women’s tennis. Remember that Venus played a pivotal role in garnering equal prize money for women at Wimbledon nearly two decades ago. She’s been championing the women’s game ever since, and she’s not ready to stop – at least not yet.

“I always felt a big responsibility towards promoting tennis and also promoting women’s sports. I think that this generation can't forget that women, we still have lots to fight for and having an example to set is so important.

“And of course, I'm in love with tennis, so to have the opportunity, to have this platform, to promote the game, even now, is a great opportunity.”

Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka to Play US Open Mixed Doubles

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Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter will partner in new US Open mixed doubles format.Alex de Minaur Donna Vekic

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Monday, July 21, 2025
Photo credit: Four Seasons

Venus Williams will celebrate the 25th anniversary of her maiden US Open crown returning to play Flushing Meadows.

Former world No. 1 Venus will partner good friend Reilly Opelka in next month's US Open Mixed Doubles event, the USTA announced today.

Tennis Express

The 45-year-old Venus is set to play her first pro match in 16 months in Washington, DC this week.

A quarter century ago, Venus Williams defeated Lindsay Davenport 6-4, 7-5 to capture her first US Open singles crown. Venus successfully defended the US Open in 2001 when she defeated younger sister and 1999 champion Serena Williams 6-2, 6-4 in one of the most-widely viewed US Open women's finals.

Proving the couple that plays together, stays together, Australian No. 1 Alex de Minaur will partner fiancee Katie Boulter at the US Open.

"Yeah, we're definitely going to be keen to try and play if they allow us to and if they want us to," de Minaur told the media at Queen's Club last month. "If that's an option, then we'll definitely be up for it."

One of tennis' top glamor couples announced their engagement on December 23rd on social media.

Earlier this season, de Minaur shared earning "big bucks" to pay for the wedding is one of his driving forces on court these days.

“Realistically, what's driving me at the moment is trying to earn some big bucks for this wedding budget,” De Minaur told Tennis Channel in April. “That's the only thing on my mind—trying to win as many matches as I can, because I've started to look at venues and it's expensive. I can tell you that.”

Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who have reportedly endeded their relationship, are no longer on the US Open Mixed Doubles entry list.

Given the US Open Mixed Doubles champions will earn $1 Million for capturing the 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles crown, that could be even more motivation for de Minaur and Boulter to join forces in Flushing Meadows and cover their wedding budget.

In total, 25 teams have now entered the event.

The competition will take place during US Open Fan Week on Tuesday, August 19, and Wednesday, August 20, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, with $1 Million in prize money being awarded to the winning team.

Though Fan Week remains free, fans will need to buy tickets to watch the US Open Mixed Doubles.

The entry window will close on July 28th at 12:00 ET, at which time the top eight teams with the best combined singles ranking at the time will officially be in the field/draw via direct acceptance.

The remaining eight teams will be determined via wild card and announced on a date to follow.

The entry list for the 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship includes the following teams:

Emma Navarro and Jannik Sinner
Amanda Anisimova and Holger Rune
Jessica Pegula and Tommy Paul
Jasmine Paolini and Lorenzo Musetti
Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz
Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev
Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe
Aryna Sabalenka and Grigor Dimitrov
Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud
Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev
Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz
Belinda Bencic and Alexander Zverev
Olga Danilovic and Novak Djokovic
Taylor Townsend and Ben Shelton
Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori
Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios
Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur
Donna Vekic and Hubert Hurkacz
Gaby Dabrowski and Felix Auger-Aliassime
Demi Schuurs and Tallon Griekspoor
Katerina Siniakova and Marcelo Arevalo
Desirae Krawczyk and Evan King
Su-Wei Hsieh and Jan Zielinski
Iva Jovic and Jenson Brooksby
Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka

“In our initial discussions about reimagining and elevating the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship, we wanted to find a way to showcase the world’s best men and women competing with and against one another, and we were confident that we would be able to get the top players in the game excited about this unique opportunity,” said Lew Sherr, CEO and Executive Director, USTA. “Seeing the teams that have already put their names on the entry list makes us all incredibly excited.

"It shows that the players are behind what we are trying to do, and we know that the fans will love it.”

Recovering from Surgery, Zheng Qinwen Out of US Open

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Olympic gold-medal champion officially withdraws from US Open.arthroscopic surgery

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Monday, July 21, 2025
Photo credit: Zheng Qinwen Instagram

Zheng Qinwen has withdrawn from the US Open.

The Olympic gold-medal champion is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on her right elbow and will be sidelined as she heals from surgery.

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Frenchwoman Leolia Jeanjean moves into the US Open main draw with Zheng's departure.

Zheng reached the US Open quarterfinals last September losing to eventual-champion Aryna Sabalenka.

The Chinese power player's Flushing Meadows quarterfinal result was part of a strong surge to end the season that saw Zheng reach three finals in her last five tournaments of 2024 as she lost to Sabalenka in the Wuhan final, defeated Sofia Kenin to win the Tokyo title and reached the final of the WTA Finals in Riyadh bowing to Coco Gauff.

"Over the past months, I’ve been dealing with persistent pain in my right elbow during training and matches. Despite trying various treatments to manage it, the discomfort never fully went away," Zheng wrote in an Instagram post over the weekend. "After consulting with elbow specialists and discussing thoroughly with my team, we decided that arthroscopic surgery was the best option to fully resolve the issue.

"Yesterday, I underwent the procedure successfully, and I’m grateful to have it behind me."

It is uncertain when the former Australian Open finalist can return though Zheng said she envisions "just a short break."

"Now begins the recovery journey. Over the next few weeks and months, I’ll be focusing entirely on rehab—doing everything I can to come back stronger and healthier," Zheng said. "This is just a short break, and I see it as a necessary step toward a better version of myself on court."

The world No. 6 reached the quarterfinals or better in six of her last eight tournaments.

A Rome semifinalist, Zheng reached the Roland Garros quarterfinals and Queen's Club semifinals bowing to Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova before she suffered a first-round loss to Katerina Siniakova at Wimbledon.

For Sale: Maria Sharapova's California Home

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You can buy the former world No. 1's home, but it will cost you.Birmingham Classic

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Saturday, July 19, 2025
Photo credit: Corleve-Mark Peterson

Maria Sharapova played her final professional match in 2020. The former world No. 1 remains a big winner this year.

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In addition to her impending induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame this summer, Sharapova stands to cash in big on the sale of her California home.

DFS Classic
Photo credit: Josh Bustos/Wall Street Journal

Tennis fans, you can now buy Sharapova's Manhattan Beach, California home, but it will cost you.

The tennis superstar has listed her custom-built home, featuring Japanese-inspired landscaping for $24.95 Million, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The 38-year-old Sharapova is selling her California home because she's spending more time working and living in Europe.

The five-time Grand Slam champion has been in a relationship with British businessman Alexander Gilkes since 2018. On July 1, 2022, Sharapova gave birth to the couple's son.

Sharapova was recently in London during Wimbledon for an appearance on behalf of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Rune Working with Andre Agassi Ahead of Citi Open

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The pair will reportedly spend three days together, according to a report by Stephanie Myles. Andre Agassi

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday July 19, 2025

Holger Rune and Andre Agassi are spending some quality time together at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C.

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According to Stephanie Myles of Open Court, who shot the below video, the pair are to spend three days together prepping for the ATP 500 event.

According to Myles, the pair will spend three days together in the hopes that Rune can gain some insight from the eight-time Slam champion

The Dane has had both good and bad moments this season. Famously, he defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the Barcelona final. But he's only 22-14 on the season with the one title. He reached the round of 16 at the Australian Open and Roland-Garros, but lost in the first round at Wimbledon.

Agassi has been on the scene a bit in recent months, commentating for TNT at Roland-Garros for four days, and appearing on the Andy Roddick First Serve Podcast for an in-depth interview.

Ons Jabeur Presses Pause on Tennis Career

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"Deep down, I haven't felt truly happy on the court for some time now," Ons Jabeur said in announcing her break from tennis.2023 Wimbledon

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Friday, July 18, 2025
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport

Ons Jabeur is stepping away from tennis.

In an effort to strengthen her physical and mental health, the three-time Grand Slam finalist is pressing pause on her tennis career.

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A series of injuries has derailed Jabeur and drained the joy of playing from her.

Last month, Jabeur played through qualifying and knocked off 2024 Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini en route to the Berlin quarterfinals. Jabeur lost to 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the quarterfinals, then fell in back-to-back first-rounders, to Maya Joint at Eastbourne and to world No. 111 Viktoriya Tomova at Wimbledon. Jabeur retired from her Wimbledon opener after trailing 6-7, 0-2.

"For the past two years, I've been pushing myself so hard, fighting through injuries, and facing many other challenges," Jabeur posted on Twitter. "But deep down, I haven't felt truly happy on the court for some time now.

"Tennis is such a beautiful sport. But right now, I feel it's time to step back and finally put myself first: to breathe, to heal and to rediscover the joy of simply living."

Former world No. 2 and two-time Wimbledon finalist Jabeur, who had left wrist surgery earlier in her career, has been beset by injuries in recent years. Jabeur shut down her 2024 season last August after suffering a shoulder injury.

Nicknamed the "Minister of Happiness" for her joyful disposition on court, Jabeur conceded she's struggled to find pleasure playing tennis this season.

The 30-year-old Tunisian started the 2025 season reaching the Brisbane quarterfinals bowing to Mirra Andreeva 6-4, 7-6. Jabeur went on to reach back-to-back quarterfinals in Abu Dhabi and Doha. Since then, she's struggled posting a 3-9 record in main-draw, Tour-level matches.

A highly-skilled shotmaker and one of the Tour's most popular players, Jabeur will be missed for her unique style and fan-friendly personality.

Genie Bouchard to Retire from Tennis in Montreal This Month

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The 2014 Wimbledon finalist will give the Genie Army one last battle in her hometown.Billie

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Friday, July 18, 2025
Photo credit: USTA/US Open

Genie Bouchard will return to her hometown to close the curtain on her tennis career.

The 31-year-old Bouchard, who was born in Montreal, will play her final professional tournament at the National Bank Open in Montreal later this month.

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Bouchard made history as the first Canadian to reach a Grand Slam singles final at the 2014 Wimbledon where she lost to Petra Kvitova.

In a spectacular 2014 season, Bouchard also reached semifinals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros.

In Melbourne, Bouchard's success inspired a slew of fans, the self-proclaimed "Genie Army" to support her throughout her matches. Bouchard won her lone Tour-level singles title at the 2014 Nurnberg and reached a career-high ranking of No. 5 on October 20, 2014.

"You’ll know when it’s time. For me, it’s now," Bouchard wrote in an Instagram post announcing her retirement. "Ending where it all started: Montreal."

A series of injuries issues and her lawsuit against the USTA following a fall in the training room of the US Open derailed Bouchard's career.

Bouchard suffered a concussion from that fall and later sued the USTA, which reached a settlement with the Canadian star. Financial terms of that settlement were not disclosed. Bouchard had sought millions of dollars after suffering the concussion.

The fall came before Bouchard's scheduled US Open fourth-round match vs. Roberta Vinci and the concussion she suffered forced her to withdraw from the Open. Vinci went on to shock Serena Williams, denying her Grand Slam quest, and reached the 2015 US Open final where she lost to compatriot and good friend Flavia Pennetta.

Meanwhile, Bouchard never again reached the Grand Slam heights she had attained before the concussion.

The 2012 Wimbledon girls' champion has been active on the pickleball circuit in recent years and has done some commentary for Tennis Channel. Bouchard has recently been training with coach Noah Rubin for her farewell tournament.

A long-time member of the Canadian Billie Jean King Cup squad, Bouchard represented Canada in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Bouchard blazed a trail for Canadian women's tennis. Following Bouchard's success, Canadian Bianca Andreescu beat Serena Williams to win the 2019 US Open crown. Two years later, compatriot Leylah Fernandez fought into the final bowing to Emma Raducanu.

An aggressive baseliner, Bouchard remains a popular presence with fans. A recent video of Bouchard training with coach Noah Rubin posted by Matthew Calvis of Tennis Insiders has racked up nearly 50,000 views as of today.

Still, injuries and Bouchard's inability to expand on her power-based game style limited her success on Tour in recent years.

Currently ranked No. 1078, Bouchard will play Montreal on a wild card. She's scheduled to play on either Sunday, July 27th or Monday, July 28th, depending on the outcome of the official draw which will be held on Saturday, July 26, at 11 a.m.

"Few athletes have left as profound a mark on Canadian tennis as Genie [Bouchard] has throughout her extraordinary career,” said Gavin Ziv, Chief Executive Officer, Tennis Canada. “As one of the very first players to ever be part of the National Tennis Centre presented by Rogers in Montreal, she achieved things that many thought would be impossible for Canadian players.

"Her career highlights, which include a Wimbledon final appearance and a Billie Jean King Cup championship, are nothing short of extraordinary and were a true catalyst for the development of tennis in our country. She’s been and still is an incredible ambassador for our sport and, on behalf of Tennis Canada, I want to thank her for everything she’s done. We wish her continued success in the next chapter of her career.”

The Genie Army can reconvene to see their favorite player launch one more battle before her hometown fans. 

Aryna Sabalenka, Citing Fatigue, Pulls out of Montreal

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The World No.1 is choosing rest at the moment. Amanda Anisimova

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday July 16, 2025

Aryna Sabalenka will take a little more time before she starts her North American hard court season. The American announced that she’ll skip the National Bank Open in Montreal, citing fatigue.

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She joins Paula Badosa [injury] on the sidelines, which means that Caty McNally and Moyuka Uchijima will enter the main draw.

“I’m looking forward to kicking off the North American hard-court swing, but to give myself the best chance for success this season, I’ve decided it’s in my best interest to skip Montreal,” a statement from Sabalenka read.


No.1-ranked Sabalenka recently lost in the semifinals at Wimbledon, falling to Amanda Anisimova, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. The three-time major champion is 47-9 on the season with three titles, but has yet tot win a major.

The National Bank Open will move to a 12-day tournament this year, taking place from July 25 to August 6, with main draw play commencing on the 27th.

Sinner and Cahill a Go for 2026?

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The Italian won a bet, and he wants to make his Aussie coach pay up. analyst

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday July 15, 2025

In January of this year, we reported that Jannik Sinner and Darren Cahill would not be working together after the 2025 season. On Sunday we learned that the split might be as clean as anticipated.

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Asked about the future of the duo after Sinner won his maiden Wimbledon final on Sunday, Cahill seemed to hint that the partnership might not be ending. "I don't want to answer this," Cahill responded. "You know what? You just need to ask Jannik that."

Sinner wasn’t asked in English, but in the Italian section of his press conference the question was put to him.

"We made a bet before the final: I told him that if I won, I could choose whether he could stay or not at the end of the year. Now the choice is mine!” the 23-year-old Italian said.


Hard to tell if he was serious or not, but he has laid out a potential plan which would allow Cahill to continue coaching and advising from a distance.

“If I choose to stay with him, he probably won't travel so much anymore, that's normal,” Sinner said. “I've always told him I'd like to have him in Australia, because things are going well. Plus, the season is still long, there are still so many tournaments to go, and I'll see him a lot more… But I won the bet, now we'll see!”

It makes sense in a lot of ways, and not only in Australia. Cahill is contracted to work at the Grand Slams as an analyst, so he’s already there at the four biggest tournaments. Why not continue to tap one of the greatest coaching minds that the sport has ever seen?

“I've always looked for an honest person, who gives me so much not only on the tennis court, but also in life outside, both in success and disappointment,” Sinner added.

Swiatek's Wimbledon Triumph, By the Numbers

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The Pole is the only active woman to have reached major finals on all three surfaces. Ashleigh Barty

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday July 15, 2025

Iga Swiatek was not known as a formidable grass-court player ahead of Wimbledon. Boy, did she ever change the narrative, as she went on a run for the ages to earn her sixth major title and first at Wimbledon.

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Join us for a quick look inside the numbers of Iga’s latest triumph.

1 – Swiatek is the first Polish player to win a Wimbledon singles title in the Open Era.

2 – The Polish juggernaut dropped just two games across her semifinal and final rounds, which is the fewest in Open Era Grand Slam history.

3 – With a perfect 6-0 record in Grand Slam finals, Swiatek is the third player in Open Era history to have won her first six major finals, joining Monica Seles, 6, and Roger Federer, 7.

35 – Swiatek dropped just 35 games to win the title — the fewest since Martina Navratilova in 1990.

8 – Swiatek is the eighth woman in the Open Era to win Grand Slam singles titles on all three surfaces, joining Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Hana Mandlikova, Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Ashleigh Barty.

She is the only current active WTA player who has even reached the final at a Slam on all three surfaces.

100 – The Pole’s victory in the final was her 100th Grand Slam match-win in singles. She has lost just 20 of her Grand Slam matches to date, and is the fastest player to reach 100 wins since Serena Williams did it in 116 matches in 2004.

Swiatek is now a perfect 6-0 in Grand Slam singles finals — and she has beaten six different opponents in each of those finals.

6-0, 6-0 – She became the second woman in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam final with a 6-0 6-0 scoreline. Steffi Graf defeated Natasha Zvereva without losing a game in the 1988 Roland Garros final.

See the 2025 US Open Player Entry Lists

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Player entry lists are based on the July 14 ATP and WTA rankings. Alexander Shevchenko

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday July 15, 2025

The US Open has released the men's and women's singles entry lists for the 2025 US Open.

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Click the links to view the full entry lists: Men's Singles | Women's Singles

World No. 1s and reigning US Open singles champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner lead their respective fields, with 18 total former Grand Slam singles champions, including 10 former US Open champions on the list.

The United States leads all nations with 30 players (16 women and 14 men) earning direct entry into the tournament.

Nine players are using special or protected rankings, including Petra Kvitova (No. 14), Nick Kyrgios (No. 21) and Sorana Cirstea (No. 37).

Both the men's and women's entries were based on the July 14 rankings. The women's cutoff was No. 99 Mayar Sherif, while the men's cutoff was No. 101, Alexander Shevchenko.

Main draw play begins on August 24 in Flushing Meadows, while qualifying week kicks off on August 18.

ESPN Wimbledon Audience Spikes for QF and SF

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ESPN reports its Wimbleson quarterfinals and semifinals most viewed in six years.Amanda Anisimova

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Photo credit: Jon Buckle/ROLEX

Wimbledon quarterfinal and semifinal matches were ratings winners for ESPN.

ESPN reports the most viewed Wimbledon quarterfinals and semifinals of the past six years, the most viewed Ladies’ semifinals in a decade and the most viewed Wimbledon Day One ever on ESPN platforms.

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ESPN stats from Wimbledon coverage:

The Finals:

Sunday’s Gentlemen’s Championship between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz averaged 2.9 million viewers, +31% vs. 2024 The viewership peaked at the end of the match with 4.0 million viewers.

The match only (excluding trophy ceremony and post-match analysis) averaged 3.2 million viewers, +26% vs. last year’s match.

The Finals, Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s, coverage averaged 2.2 million viewers, +19% vs. 2024

The Saturday’s Ladies’ Final averaged 1.3 million viewers

The match only (excluding trophy ceremony and post-match analysis) averaged 1.9 million viewers, up +18% vs. last year’s match. This was a lopsided match, with Iga Świątek delivering a dominant performance over Amanda Anisimova.

Semifinals:

The audience across both the Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Semifinals was the most viewed of the past six years Semifinals coverage averaged 1.1 million viewers, +33% vs. 2024.

The July 10 Ladies’ Semifinals

This was the most viewed Ladies’ Semifinals in a decade (the 2015 edition featured Serena Williams), with No. 13 Anisimova defeating No. 1 Sabalenka and No. 8 Swiatek’s victory over Belinda Bencic.

Viewership averaged 897,000, +31% vs. 2024.

The July 11 Gentlemen’s Semifinals This was the most-viewed Gentlemen’s Semifinals in six years, and featured No. 2 Alcaraz vs. No. 5 Fritz and No. 1 Sinner vs. No. 6 Djokovic (the 2019 edition featured Nadal and Federer). Viewership averaged 1.3 million, an increase of 34% vs. 2024.

Quarterfinals: The July 8 and 9 Quarterfinals on ESPN and ESPN2 were the most viewed in six years Viewership averaged 488,000 viewers, +25% vs. 2024.