Archive of posts tagged the Wimbledon

Gauff Kick-Starts Serve, Wins Cincinnati Opener

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By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, August 10, 2025
Photo credit: Internazionali BNL d’Italia Facebook

Coco Gauff kick-started her Cincinnati return gearing up her serve to post a revenge win.

The reigning Roland Garros rolled through 16 of her last 19 service points stopping Wang Xinyu 6-3, 6-2 to roll into the Cincinnati Open third round.

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“It feels great to be back in Cincinnati; obviously two years ago I won,” Gauff said. “And set me up for a great two weeks in New York. So it means a lot to me, this tournament, and I was very happy just to see the site and the improvements and we’re back here in Cincy.”

The second seeded Gauff avenged a 6-3, 6-3 loss to Wang she suffered on the grass of Berlin in Juneā€”and did it by resetting after early serve struggles.

Five games into the match, a frustrated Gauff gifted the break to Wang with three double faults, dropped her Head racquet to the court and kicked it toward her court-side seat.

That rare show of exasperation grounded Gauff, who found the range and rhythm on serve.

After spitting up eight double faults in her first three service games, Gauff did not hit a double fault the rest of the match, won 20 of her last 23 service points and snatched three of the last seven games at love.

“I think just taking my time and remembering the things you worked on in practice,” Gauff told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj of finding her serve. “And just try not to fall into the same old patterns and it’s definitely difficult in the moment. It’s a work in progress.”

Exploiting Wangā€™s deep return positionā€”and the world No. 37ā€™s struggles to land forehand returnsā€”Gauff beat Wang for the second time in three meetings.

The second-ranked American will try to sustain this Cincinnati revenge tour against hard-hitting Dayana Yastremska, who upset Gauff in the Wimbledon first round, 7-6(3), 6-1. 

The Gauff serve was in the spotlight on a steam Cincinnati afternoon today.

Gauff coughed up 43 double faults in three Montreal matches, including a career-high 23 doubles in a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(2) win over compatriot Danielle Collins.

The 2023 Cincinnati champion was haunted by double fault ghosts in the first game today. Gauff clanked a couple of double faults but fended off two break points holding to open. 

Double fault demons devoured Gauff as she served at 3-1. After her seventh double fault, Gauff slammed a racquet to the court. Double fault No. 8 ended the game and ignited an irate Gauff into that rare racquet slam and kick of frustration.

Venting her angst seemed to settle Gauff who broke right back for 4-2.

Wang stamped her first hold of the match at love to close the gap to 3-5. 

Serving for the set, Gauff exploited the Chinese playerā€™s forehand return drawing successive errors off that wing then spinning a clean crosscourt forehand snatching a one-set lead after 41 minutes.

Itā€™s a testament to Gauffā€™s mental strengthā€”and the rest of her gameā€”that she overcome eight double faults, two full games worth of doubles, yet still only permitted three games winning the set.

The Delray Beach-born Gauff trains in the heat and humidity of South Florida. Playing on a sweltering day with temperatures soaring to 90 degrees with 46 percent humidity, Gauff showed no signs of fatigue.

In fact, Gauff got stronger as the match progressed. She ran off 14 consecutive points on serve seizing a 4-2 second-set lead.

Playing with taping on her right calf, Wang inexplicably continued to target Gauffā€™s backhand wing and struggled to control her own wayward forehand. A Wang double fault and netted half-volley gave Gauff a love break for 5-2. 

The second seed drew a series of errors closing in 70 minutes.

Earlier, Rome champion Jasmine Paolini overcame late-set nerves and a tough Maria Sakkari 7-6(2), 7-6(5).

Credit Sakkari for battling back from 1-5 down in the first setā€”and fighting off four set points with Paolini serving at 5-3ā€”to force the first tiebreaker. 

Lifting her level in the breaker, Paolini drew five Sakkari errors to go up 6-2. On her fifth set point, the 2024 Wimbledon finalist fired a diagonal forehand for a one-set lead.

Paolini, who squandered a match point bowing to Elina Svitolina in the Roland Garros round of 16, was coming off a brutal Montreal loss where she failed to convert match point in a 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(6) loss to qualifier Aoi Ito, who bamboozled the Italian with slice forehands in the deciding tiebreaker.

Racing to a 6-0 lead in the second-set tiebreaker today, Paolini was in prime position for a match ending backhand volley only to bunt it in the tape. The ball dribbled back on her side then Sakkari firing winners and saving five match points to close to 5-6 in the breaker.

All that good work dissipated when Sakkari double faulted on the sixth match point and Paolini breathed a big sigh of relief.

ā€œYes, Iā€™m sorry for her but I was like please make the double, I have to be honest because it was a really tough tiebreaker,ā€ Paolini told Tennis Channelā€™s Steve Weissman afterward. ā€œIt was 6-0 and a volley over the net and I miss it in the net. I was trying to make the right choices, but I have to say she played well. 

ā€œI was like come on Jasmine donā€™t worry you won six points in a row she won five points in a row itā€™s normal. But at the same time I was like come on please make a double fault.ā€

Alcaraz Denies Dzumhur in Cincinnati Adventure

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By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, August 10, 2025
Photo credit: Cincinnati Open Facebook

A month after Jannik Sinner dethroned Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, the world No. 2 renewed his rivalry with the top-ranked Italian driving the ball deep on an Ohio golf course.

Today, Alcaraz launched his Cincinnati return teeing off in the opening set before hitting himself into deep rough.

Ultimately, Alcaraz used every club in his bag to defeat Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 in his Cincinnati Open opener.Ā 

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In his first match since losing to Sinner 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the Wimbledon final, Alcaraz showed little rust in the first set, fell into a sloppy hole in the second set then broke twice in the decider to deter a tough Dzumhur.

This was Alcarazā€™s first hard-court match since his surprising three-set loss to David Goffin in his Miami Open opener.

Alcaraz converted five of 10 break points vs. the 5ā€™9ā€ Dzumhur, but didnā€™t save any of the three break points he faced, littered 44 unforced errors and suffered some concentration lapses. Alcaraz netted a few drop shots, built a 4-1 lead in the final set only to double fault and muff a serve and volley to hand the break back in the seventh game. Credit a tough Dzumhur, who took a set off two-time Roland Garros champion Alcaraz in Paris this year, for fighting all the way through.

Still, despite his mis-steps, Alcaraz drilled a deep forehand return then exploited his opponentā€™s lone double fault of the day to break back for 5-3.

Serving for the third round, Alcaraz unleashed a 131 mph blast and closed in one hour, 41 minutes.

After the hand shake, Alcaraz trotted back on the court and erupted in a ā€œVamos! Vamos!ā€ scream expressing both excitement and relief. 

The reigning Roland Garros champion scored his ATP-best 49th win of the season setting up a third-round clash with either Hamad Medjedovic or Tallon Griekspoor. 

Alcaraz grew up looking up to tennis heroes Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

In the opening set, the Spaniard paid tribute to seven-time Cincinnati champion Federer featuring the Swiss Maestroā€™s famed SABR attack. Alcaraz ran down a challenging drop shot to earn set point in the seventh game.

Then the explosive Alcaraz recalled SABR taking a full sprint up to a second-serve return successfully forcing the error to score his third break and seize a one-set lead after just 29 minutes of play.

Though Alcaraz was in free flow through the first set he crashed in the second.

The five-time Grand Slam champion coughed up 17 unforced errors in the second set  infusing Dzumhur with confidence and aggression.

In a sloppy fourth game, Alcaraz botched a volley, netted a forehand then ballooned a forehand drive well long gifting Dzumhur the break and a 2-1 lead. 

The 33-year-old Bosnian ran off 12 of 13 points in one stretch wrapping a pair of love holds around that break for a 3-1 lead.

Struggling to win points off his second serve, Alcaraz pushed a routine volley long as Dzumhur scored his second straight break for 4-1.

Pumping his fist to his box, the world No. 56 backed up the break for 5-1. Alcaraz made successive return errorsā€”his 16th and 17th of the setā€”as Dzumhur seized the second set to force a decider.

Alcaraz breezed through a love hold for a 2-1 lead in the decider. Then the pair produced a highlight reel game. 

The speedy Alcaraz ran down a drop shot, dabbed a stretch volley then turned with his back to net sprinted back to the baseline and clubbed a tomahawk forehand pass extending the fourth game to deuce. Drilling a diagonal forehand gave Alcaraz the break and a 3-1 lead.

Dabbing a drop shot, Alcaraz extended the lead to 4-1 and seemed to be in total command.

But a defiant Dzumhur kept battling and Alcaraz betrayed his cause with some wayward shotmaking as the grew tighter again.

The Dzumhur double fault on break point gave Alcaraz a crucial 5-3 lead and he took care of business in the final game. An adventurous up and down win that sends the Spaniard into round three.

Jimmy Connors identifies 'worrying' thing about Novak Djokovic ahead of US Open

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Alexei Popyrin

Jimmy Connors believes Novak Djokovic could still make a run for the US Open main glory but the former eight-time Grand Slam champion admits he is "worried" over the Serb not playing a single match leading up to the final Major of the year.

After losing in straight sets to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinal – in a match where he appeared to be bothered by a leg injury he picked up a round earlier – the current world No. 6 decided to skip the Toronto Masters. Last week, the 38-year-old also pulled out of the ongoing Cincinnati Masters.

The moment Djokovic withdrew from Cincinnati, that meant he would enter a second Grand Slam in a row without playing any official tournaments leading up to it. During this past grass swing, the former world No. 1 played only one exhibition match in Hurlingham before going to Wimbledon.

Connors: One thing worries me… I wish Djokovic went to Cincinnati and played a few matches there

"You can’t count him out. The only thing that is worrying me, is I wish he would go to Cincinnati and just go and play two or three matches. That is the only thing that worries me that he left Wimbledon in the semis, which was a pretty good result, but he didn’t play in that match like he wanted to and lost in three straight. Then to take two and a half months off, he has a family, going on vacation and getting away. But you never know," the American tennis legend said on the Advantage Connors podcast.

Djokovic not playing much before a Grand Slam isn't anything unusual – he did it many times in the past and you know how that usually went for the Serb. However, it has been a completely different story the past two years with the rise of Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. 

Last year, Djokovic stunningly lost in the US Open third round to Alexei Popyrin, but he was tired and exhausted following his Paris Olympics win. This year, the 38-year-old Serb is at least guaranteed to enter the last Grand Slam of the year fresh.

Carlos Alcaraz reflects on Wimbledon loss to Jannik Sinner: 'I left the court happy'

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All England Club

World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz will chase his first Cincinnati crown. The 22-year-old hit the practice court in Ohio with his trademark energy and perspective, leaving the recent setback behind and chasing new titles.

The five-time Major champion reflected on a key moment from earlier this summer – his first loss in a Major final at Wimbledon to Jannik Sinner. After winning the first five Major finals, Carlos ended on the losing side for the first time. 

Jannik lost the opener but earned a well-deserved 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory, avenging the Roland Garros heartbreak. Despite the defeat, the Spaniard found reasons to leave the court with pride and joy.

Alcaraz entered the final with a 5-0 score in the title match, a remarkable feat for any player. However, he acknowledged the fact he had to lose a Major final at some point, like every other player.

As he walked off Centre Court without his third consecutive Wimbledon trophy, the 22-year-old felt pride instead of frustration. The Spaniard recognized the need for improvement but described his defeat as part of a natural progression.

The setback has not dampened Alcaraz's drive. Instead, with a grounded mind and a growing hunger to evolve and become one of the ultimate tennis champions, he is focused on what lies ahead.

Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2025

Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2025© Facebook – Wimbledon

 

His next goal? Cincinnati and US Open titles and the ATP throne taken away from Jannik Sinner! The hard-court season unfolds, and Carlos brings with him the lessons from the All England Club. 

They are not a burden but fuel for the journey forward. After performing a miraculous escape in Paris, the Spaniard could not provide similar performance in London. 

He claimed the opener before Sinner bounced back and claimed the next three sets with a single break in each, outplaying his greatest rival and providing his first loss in Major finals.

Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2025

Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz, 2025© Stream screenshot

 

"I want to win every final I play, especially at Majors. I lost to Jannik at Wimbledon, but left the court happy and proud. I smiled and thought that I had to lose a Major final at some point, like everyone else.

I have to make many improvements from the title match in London, but I felt good right after the match. I had to be grateful for everything I have achieved, and reaching the Wimbledon final is always great.

I lost it, but I still felt proud and happy with everything I did," Carlos Alcaraz said. 

Naomi Osaka confesses what happened to her after Wimbledon amid deep Montreal run

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Anastasija Pavlyuchenkova

Naomi Osaka says she was so disappointed after Wimbledon to the point where her expectations simply disappeared and finds it ironic that she is now enjoying her best run of the year.

In early July, Osaka made a promising start to her run at The Championships and easily made it past her opening two matches. In the Wimbledon third round, the former world No. 1 was a set away from reaching her first Grand Slam second week since the 2021 Australian Open but then allowed Anastasija Pavlyuchenkova to come back from a set down and beat her. The four-time Grand Slam champion looked absolutely crushed in her presser and even said it was hard for her to find any positives.

A month later, Osaka is through to the semifinal of the WTA 1000 tournament in Montreal, where she is due to meet Clara Tauson. This is the Japanese's first WTA 1000 semifinal since she finished as runner-up at the 2022 Miami Open.

Osaka: I was really disappointed after Wimbledon… I kind of let go of my expectations

"I'm really happy. I'm also really excited. I don't know. It's kind of interesting, because I told people this before, but like, obviously after Wimbledon, I was really disappointed. Then I just kind of let go of my expectations, and now we're here. So I find it kind of ironic, but I'm happy about it," the world No. 49 admitted.

By reaching the Montreal semifinals, Osaka will rise at least 20 spots on the updated WTA rankings list on Monday and be ranked at No. 29. That means she will be a top-30 player for the first time in years.

"I feel a lot more at peace with myself and what I want to do in this part of the season," the four-time Grand Slam winner noted.

It remains to be seen if Osaka can continue her fine form and beat Tauson to reach the Montral title match.

Raducanu Hires Francisco Roig as New Coach

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By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Photo credit: Mubadala Citi DC Open Facebook

Emma Raducanu has hired Franciso Roig in an effort to continue a renaissance season.

The 2021 US Open champion has hired Rafael Nadal’s former coach through the end of the 2025 season, PA News Agency reports.

2017 US Open

The 57-year-old Spaniard was a long-time coaching member of Nadal’s team, later coached Matteo Berrettini and has experience coaching on the WTA Tour as well. Roig, who reached a career-high rank of No. 60 on the ATP Tour, also coached 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens.

Roig succeeds Mark Petchey, who had been coaching Raducanu on an informal basis since the Miami Open. Tennis Channel analyst had agreed to work with Raducanu through the end of the grass-court season, but could not commit to coaching her full time because of his television commentary obligations.

Working with Petchey, who previously coached Andy Murray, Raducanu registered some of her best results in years.

The 22-year-old Raducanu reached quarterfinals at Miami and Queen’s Club and was a semifinalist in Washington, DC. Working with Petchey, Raducanu applied her athleticism and found the joy in her tennis.

The 33rd-ranked Raducanu has defeated former Grand Slam champions Naomi Osaka and Marketa Vondrusova in recent months and led world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka by a break in both sets before bowing 7-6(6), 6-4 in the Wimbledon third round.

After that match, Raducanu said she hoped to continue working with Petchey, but understood his position.

“Yeah, it’s very difficult. He obviously also has his commentating commitments,” Raducanu said at Wimbledon. “He agreed to kind of help me until the end of Wimbledon and then we kind of see from there because he gave up some work to work with me here, which I really appreciate and I’m grateful for.”

The challenge Roig faces is encouraging Raducanu to continue to apply her athleticism, all-court skills and versatility, particularly against big hitters, who can overpower her. Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova crushed Raducanu 6-2, 6-1 in Montreal playing bold first-strike tennis.

Still, Raducanu should be encouraged with the strides she made working with Petchey that prompted No. 1 Sabalenka to make a bold assertion about the Briton.

“I cannot predict anything, but I definitely sure that, maybe not in a month, but maybe a bit longer period, but she definitely going to get back in top,” Sabalenka said after her Wimbledon win over Raducanu. “She’s fighting. She’s playing much better.

“She’s more consistent. I can see that mentally she’s healthy. I think that’s really important. Yeah, I’m pretty sure she’s getting there.”

Novak Djokovic skips Cincinnati Masters, extends his break

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Carlos Alcaraz

Three-time champion Novak Djokovic will not compete at the upcoming Cincinnati Masters. The 24-time Major champion withdrew from the seventh Masters 1000 event of the season for the seventh straight year.

Thus, Novak will head to to New York without matches on hard court this summer, mirroring his last year's schedule. Novak will not chase his 41st Masters 1000 crown and the first since the closing stages of 2023.

The veteran decided to spend additional time with his family before returning for the season's final Major at the US Open, replacing the court with sun and entertaining time at sea. 

The decision raised questions about Djokovic's will to compete in New York at 100%, especially after missing nearly two months. However, the Serb has often shown he can find top form quickly, relying on his disciplined preparation and vast experience.

Novak has not played since the Wimbledon semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner. At this stage of his career, the 38-year-old prioritizes longevity and peak performance over chasing ranking points. 

Novak Djokovic, Cincinnati 2023

Novak Djokovic, Cincinnati 2023© Stream screenshot

 

Djokovic's last match in Cincinnati came in the 2023 final when he defeated Carlos Alcaraz in three hours and 49 minutes, defending a match point and prevailing in one of the most memorable Masters 1000 final ever!

The 38-year-old is 26-9 in 2025, reaching three Major semi-finals and lifting his 100th ATP title in Geneva. His best result at a Masters 1000 level came in Miami, reaching the final and losing to Jakub Mensik in two tie breaks after an intense battle.

Tauson Stuns Swiatek in Stirring Montreal Win

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By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, August 3, 2025
Photo credit: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty

A crackling Clara Tauson drive sent Iga Swiatek sprawling into a split behind the baseline.Ā 

Dictating with her serve, Tauson displaced the powerful Pole with deep drives stunning Swiatek 7-6(1), 6-3 to score one of her biggest career wins in Montreal.

Australian Open

Itā€™s been a tournament of upsets and weā€™ve seen two of the biggest in the last two days. 

Canadian wild card Victoria Mboko shocked top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 last night.Ā 

Tonight, Tauson sent the second-seeded Swiatek packing to set up an appealing quarterfinal clash vs. Australian Open champion Madison Keys.Ā 

Earlier, the sixth-seeded Keys saved a pair of match points conquering Karolina Muchova, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, to book a quarterfinal spot at the Omnium Banque Nationale quarterfinals. 

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A calm Tauson denied seven of nine break points snapping Swiatekā€™s nine-match winning streak with a superb display of power-based baseline tennis. Apart from a sloppy tiebreaker, Swiatek did not play poorly, Tauson just took it to her when it mattered most.

The 16th-seeded Tauson handed the Wimbledon winner her first defeat since she fell to Jessica Pegula in the Bad Homburg grass-court final in June. 

One of the WTA Tourā€™s most commanding servers, Tauson showed tonight sheā€™s much more than a big server. Tauson dotted all areas of the service box to set up her fierce forehand, hit her two-handed backhand with bold intent and while sheā€™s not nearly as quick around the court as the speedy Swiatek, the 22-year-old Dane anticipated the direction of the Poleā€™s shots and often beat her to the punch. Perhaps thatā€™s because Tauson faced Swiatek at Wimbledon, falling in straight sets at the round of 16 last month. 

Tonight, Tauson broke in the third game then backed up the break with a love hold for 3-1.

Though Swiatek earned double break point in the sixth game, Tauson dug in with defiance and fought off four break points during a punishing 14-point game. Tauson held firm for 4-2. 

Two games later, the six-time Grand Slam champion earned triple break point. Swiatek was on the verge of breaking again only to see Tauson tame the threat with a five-point surge to hold for 5-3. 

Cruising through her own service games, Swiatek threw down a strong hold at 15 for 4-5 then tightened the screws on Tausonā€™s serve in the 10th game. 

When the Dane served for the set, Swiatek finally broke through at 15 to level 5-all. 

The tiebreaker was even after two points when Tauson lifted her level racing through six points in a row seizing a one-set lead. 

A tough Tauson saved seven of eight break points in that opening set and repeatedly hurt her opponent with the wide serve.

Swiatek would have been wise to drop back a bit deeper behind the baseline to give herself more time on the returnā€”and at least give Tauson a different sightline on serve. 

Catching her toss a few times, Tauson was decisive on serving direction as she won eight of the first 10 points on her serve in the second set. Belting deep drives, Tauson broke at 15 for a 3-1 second-set lead. 

Tauson slashed successive aces sealing a 7-6, 4-1 lead after one hour, 33 minutes of play. 

The six-time Grand Slam champion made a push holding in the sixth game then scoring her second break to cut the gap to 3-4. 

Unfazed, Tauson continued torching first strikes and exploited the Poleā€™s fifth double fault to break back for 5-3. 

Serving for one of her biggest career wins, Tauson did not flinch and when Swiatek netted a final backhand, Tauson broke into the wide smile to cap a well-deserved win.

Coco Gauff confesses one mistake she probably made after Montreal run ends in R16

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Canada

Coco Gauff made an honest admission following her Montreal exit as the American tennis star admitted that she probably should have played in Washington and tried to kickstart her summer on hard courts in the United States capital.

After losing in the Wimbledon first round, Gauff went a full month without playing a match. This week, the world No. 2 returned to action by kicking off her North American hard-court swing at the WTA 1000 in Montreal. In Canada, the two-time Grand Slam champion heavily struggled with her serve and rhythm, but still managed to clinch ugly wins over Danielle Collins and Veronika Kudermetova before world No. 87 Victoria Mboko handed her a 6-1 6-4 loss.

Across her three matches played, Gauff served 43 double faults and committed over 100 unforced errors. After the Mboko loss, the reigning French Open winner was asked if she had an idea why it was so hard to find her game and rhythm in Montreal.

Gauff: Deciding to practice over playing in Washington maybe wasn't the right decision…

"I don't know. That's a good question, honestly. I felt like in practice I was playing well the last few weeks just practicing. I decided to take some time off and not play DC to actually focus on that, and maybe that wasn't the right decision. Maybe it was better to get more matches under my belt. But you know, it's the first tournament on the hard court season, so I'm hoping that in Cincy and in New York I can find that rhythm," the world No. 2 explained.

In four days, the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati is starting. While Gauff's Montreal run wasn't an impressive run, the 21-year-old still got some matches under her belt and that's a positive thing.

Cincinnati is a special place for Gauff, who lifted her maiden WTA 1000 crown in front of her home fans two years ago.

Anisimova Annihilates Raducanu in Dominant Montreal Performance

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By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 1, 2025
Photo credit: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty

The rematch was a mismatch.

Crackling highly charged drives, Amanda Anisimova jolted Emma Raducanu backward like a woman stricken by surges of static electricity.

In a brilliant performance of power tennis, Anisimova routed Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 in a 64-minute thrashing to roll into the Montreal round of 16.

Amanda Anisimova

It was Anisimova’s first win over Raducanu in three meetings as she avenged a 6-1, 6-3 loss to the talented Briton in front of home fans in Miami in March.

In that match, Anisimova was bothered by a left wrist issue.

Tonight, Anisimova strong-armed Raducanu with disarming drives from the first point.

The Wimbledon finalist whipped deep strikes persistently pushing Raducanu corner to corner. Anisimova broke twice in a row charging out to a 4-1 lead.

Holding for the first time 28 minutes into the match, Raducanu made a push going up love-30 in the Americanā€™s ensuing service game. Anisimova shoved her right back into place, blistering a backhand winner down the line that lashing an ace down the T as part of a four-point run to hold for 5-2. 

Even when Raducanu hit her spot on serve, Anisimova was unleashing whiplash returns near the lines. A biting backhand return down the line gave the American a second set point. 

Anisimova turned her hips and shoulders into a jarring return sealing a one-set lead with her third break of the set. Anisimova hit 12 winnersā€”nine more than Raducanuā€”and played much of the 40-minute opener off her front foot. 

That opening set was just a prelude to the powerful combinations Anisimova administered in the secodn set.

The fifth-seeded Anisimova won eight straight points to ignite a second-set surge that saw her snatch a 5-0 lead.

It wasn’t that Raducanu even played poorly, an oppressive Anisimova barely gave the Briton an opportunity to play at all. Raducanu held at 30 to deny a second-set bagel.

On a day when defending champion Jessica Pegula was upset by former US Open semifinalist Anastasija Sevastova, the 2024 finalist Anisimova was in cruise control.

Anisimova served out a commanding 64-minute conquest at love firing one final forehand winner crosscourt. The pair embraced at net afterward with both women sharing a smile over Anisimova’s brilliance.

Doha champion Anisimova will face Elina Svitolina for a quarterfinal spot.

The 10th-seeded Svitolina swept Washington, DC finalist Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-1 breaking five times in a 55-minute dissection.

Carlos Alcaraz rejects Rafael Nadal successor label: 'We are not obliged'

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Carlos

Carlos Alcaraz is the five-time Major champion at 22. The El Palmar's early success has drawn inevitable comparisons to his great compatriot and idol, Rafael Nadal.

Yet, the young gun is determined to forge his own identity, following that path since his arrival on the Tour. Frequently hailed as Nadal's heir, Alcaraz is grateful for the admiration but refuses to embrace that narrative.

Carlos does not want to see himself as Rafa's successor. He reflected on the great rivalries and great players we had in the past. However, he does not feel obligated to use the same path and mirror what they did.

While respectful of the legacy forged by Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, Carlos emphasized the importance of self-belief and individuality. 

The young gun is defending his ideas and philosophy, using it as a defensive mechanism against pressure. As he adds more trophies to his growing collection, Alcaraz remains focused on building a legacy that is entirely his own.

The Spaniard has been the player to beat since April. The 22-year-old has embraced six consecutive finals, conquering Monte Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros and Queen's while falling in the Wimbledon final to Jannik Sinner.

Rafael Nadal & Carlos Alcaraz, 2024 Paris Olympics

Rafael Nadal & Carlos Alcaraz, 2024 Paris Olympics© Stream screenshot

 

The El Palmar native took a couple of weeks off the court after losing his first Major final in London. He withdrew from Toronto and hit the practice court ahead of his next stop. 

It's next week's Cincinnati Masters, his final preparation for the US Open. Carlos' goals? Another Major trophy in New York and the ATP throne taken from Jannik Sinner!

"I do not want to be seen as Rafa's successor. Tennis has always had great rivalries and great players. It's a privilege that people watch our matches in this way, with such enthusiasm.

In the end, we have no obligation to do what they did, far from it. If you do not defend your ideals and aspirations, that pressure can consume you. You have to know how to differentiate.

We try not to think about the pressure and, above all, to do as they did," Carlos Alcaraz said.

Top-Seeded Gauff Fights off Kudermetova and Double Faults Prevailing in Montreal

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By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, July 31, 2025
Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

The Montreal service line loomed like a fault line and Coco Gauff was blowing herself up. 

The top-seeded Gauff coughed up 14 double faults but turned an early implosion into an inspirational ending playing her most dynamic tennis in the final set. 

Gauff shook off a seven game spiral, surging back to score a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory over Veronika Kudermetova to battle into the Montreal round of 16 today.

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Down a set and a break, Roland Garros champion Gauff successfully fought off her own sloppy serving and shotmaker Kudermetova and will face either Canadian wild card Victoria Mboko or Czech Marie Bouzkova for a quarterfinal spot.

ā€œI mean the goal is to survive and advanceā€”we all know itā€™s not my best but itā€™s good enough for today,ā€ Gauff said. ā€œMentally, Iā€™m very proud of myself. Thereā€™s obviously parts of my game Iā€™m working on, one of them being the serveā€¦I look forward to the future when Iā€™m feeling my best hopeful itā€™s a little bit easier.ā€

Through two rounds, Gauff has clanked an unsightly 37 double faults yet sheā€™s reinforced her reputation for resilience raising her 2025 three-set record to 9-1 today. 

The two-time Grand Slam champion has the ability to compartmentalize serve struggles, shirk stretches of shoddy play and fight furiously with the match on the line. The question is: Can Gauff pick up her serving as she progresses, and the competition intensifies? The good news, Gauff said, is she’s finding ways to win with her service game “on a crutch.” 

“I mean, there’s positives and there’s negatives,” Gauff told the media in Montreal. “Obviously I am so disappointed in myself when it comes to that part of the game just because I didn’t play D.C. to work on that and made changes to that and doing well in practice and serving really well in practice. Yeah, so I just would like for it to transfer to the match.

“It does give positives that, okay, I’m winning these matches having literally like one part of my game on a crutch. So it’s like if I can stand on both feet, then I can only imagine that it would be a lot more straightforward and a lot more easier for me.”

Gauff committed 23 double faultsā€”nearly a full set of doublesā€”in her opener vs. Danielle Collins yet still squeezed out a 7-5, 4-6 7-6(2) victory relying on her grit and legs to get it done in two hours, 56 minutes. 

 The normally feisty Collinsā€™ continuously dropping her Tecnifibre racquet to the court in a show of physical frustration that certainly didnā€™t help her cause. Gauff kept calm despite the deluge of double faults and dug out a third-set tiebreaker, improving to 11-2 lifetime in third-set tiebreakers.  

Today, the world No. 2 jumped out to a 4-1 lead. Soon the double fault ghosts haunted Gauff again. Part of the problem today is Gauff sometimes chased her ball toss and was hitting a hybrid kick-slice serve in the opening set: She wasnā€™t getting the pronation to bring the kick back down in the court but wasnā€™t slicing the serve severely enough to control it either. 

Three double faults in the ninth game saw Gauff gift the break and a 5-4 lead to Kudermetova. If youā€™re Gauffā€”or her coachesā€”you might just want to hit some hard slice serves right into the body in those moments to sustain the racquet acceleration while getting enough net clearance to bring the ball down into the box. 

Kudermetova cracked the wide serve on the deuce side to create space. When Kudermetova cranked an inside-out forehand winner she snatched the opening set exploiting seven double faults from Gauff. 

From 1-4 down, Kudermetova tore through seven straight games building a 6-4, 2-0 lead. 

Empowered by her run to the Wimbledon doubles championship earlier this month, Kudermetova held a break point to go up 4-1, but Gauff denied it. Gauff spun a forehand down the line followed by a backhand strike down the opposite sideline to hold for 2-3.  

Striking her forehand with more conviction, Gauff drilled a diagonal forehand winner to break back and level six games into the second set. 

Many players resort to the slice forehand when pushed wide on the stretch to extend the point. At times today, Gauff opted to hit slice forehands on balls right down the middle when she had time to set up and hit her traditional topspin forehand. You wonder why she doesnā€™t take the short preparation steps, create space between her body and the ball and rip some of those forehands just to get her groove going on that wing. 

Deadlocked at 5-all, the second set turned on a series of close calls. Gauff badly botched a forehand sitter from nearly right on top of the net choosing to slice her forehand rather than hit it to face a break point.

Surprising the Russian with the drop shot, Gauff got away with it when Kudermetova caught up to the ball but shoveled her forehand out. Given new life, Gauff hammered a wide ace then jolted her opponent backward with a body serve digging through a tough hold for 6-5. 

Knowing Gauffā€™s backhand is her more stable wing, Kudermetova inexplicably played the Americanā€™s backhand wing and paid the price as Gauff gained double set point in the 12th game. Kudermetova saved the first set point, but again challenged the Gauff backhand and netted a high backhand volley. 

Playing from behind for most of the set, a gritty Gauff broke to force a final set after one hour, 56 minutes. 

You can question Gauffā€™s serve and her sometime flaky forehand, but she is unquestionably one of the toughest competitors on the WTA Tour. After scraping into a third set, Gauff elevated soaring through eight straight points to open the final set. Gauff slashed a forehand crosscourt winner extending to 3-0. Kudermetova, who was sometimes barking at her husband and coach Sergey Demekhine by then, rapidly ran out of answers. 

Reading the Russianā€™s wide serve on the deuce side, Gauff hit some of her finest forehand returns in that final set. A match that saw Gauff dump 14 double faults ended with Kudermetova hitting her first double fault. 

Watching Gauff through the first two rounds of Montreal is a bit like watching a sprinter stack her own lane with hurdles right before the race yet still manage to overcome all obstacles and cross the finish line first.

“My energy level is there. I’m not quite at the point where these matches tire me out
physically,” Gauff said of winning successive three-setters. “Yeah, I was training in Florida for three weeks having, like, three-, three-and-a-half-hour practices, plus fitness in 90-degree weather with humidity. So it doesn’t feel as long as it is said, but I would love to get these matches under the two-hour mark, but if that’s what it takes, I’m here to be out here.”

Earlier, Marta Kostyuk rose from a dramatic fall out-dueling Daria Kasatkina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) in a match highlighted by one of the craziest points of the tournament.

Two points into the tiebreaker, Kostyuk slipped and fell behind the baseline, dropped her racquet, picked it up extended the point with a forehand and eventually won the point after climbing off the court.

Kostyuk converted seven of 11 break points and exploited 11 double faults from Kasatkina for her second straight three-set win.

The 24th-seeded Ukranian will face next American McCartney Kessler.

The 28th-seeded Kessler conquered fourth-seeded Mirra Andreeva 7-6(5), 6-4.

Zverev: Trying to Convince Toni Nadal to Join My Coaching Team

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By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, July 27, 2025
Photo credit: Hannah Peters/Getty

Alexander Zverev tuned up for the North American summer hard-court season training with coach Toni Nadal at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca.

Olympic gold-medal champion Zverev said heā€™d like to work with Toni Nadal on a more regular basis, but a prospective partnership depends on Uncle Toniā€™s schedule.

Speaking to the media in Toronto where he is top seed at this weekā€™s National Bank Open, Zverev said ā€œIā€™m trying to convinceā€ Toni Nadal to join his coaching team.

ā€œI mean, he spent quite a lot of time with me actually as well, so I’m very thankful for that,ā€ Zverev told the media in Toronto. ā€œI mean, the time in Mallorca was amazing. I spent about 10 days there, and worked really hard and enjoyed it as well. I think Toni enjoyed it probably as well.

ā€œI’m trying to convince him (smiling) to do more weeks with me, and we’ll see how it goes, but he’s a very busy man. Also he has a lot of dates that he already committed to this year, so I’m not sure how much of him you’ll see this year, because he gave his word to a lot of events and a lot of speeches already. But we’re talking about what a potential partnership could look like, for sure, and, yeah, I can give you an update probably in a few weeks time when we know more. But, yeah, I enjoyed my time there, that’s for sure.ā€

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In addition to working with Toni Nadal, Zverev said he gained ā€œgreat insightā€ from Rafael Nadal on his game. King of Clay Rafa Nadal shared with Zverev what it was like for him to face the German. 

ā€œYeah, they definitely spent a lot of hours talking to me, and they gave me some great insight. Rafa gave me some great insight of what it actually is like to play against me, because he saw me as a player, he saw me now as a spectator as well,ā€ Zverev said. ā€œIt was very helpful, and again, we spent hours and hours talking, sometimes until past midnight in some dinners and stuff like that. So it was great to be there.ā€

Earlier this month, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech completed a five-set win over Zverev in the Wimbledon first round. Rinderknech won 44 of 55 trips to net and denied all nine break points he faced.

Afterward, Zverev said the prestigious Centre Court lawn felt like a deep hole he couldn’t escape.

Six months after his surge to the Australian Open final, Zverev suffered his second career Wimbledon first-round exit and opened up on the malaise he’s feeling.

“I would say more mental, probably. It’s funny, I feel very alone out there at times,” Zverev said. “I struggle mentally. I’ve been saying that since after the Australian Open. Yeah, just don’t know. I’m trying to find ways, trying to find ways to kind of get out of this hole. I keep kind of finding myself back in it in a way.

“Yeah, I don’t know. I feel, generally speaking, quite alone in life at the moment, which is a feeling that is not very nice.”

In his parting presser at SW19, Zverev said it’s possible he could hire a new coach and conceded he’s out of answers on court.

“Possibly,” Zverev said when asked about a new coach. “As I said, yeah, it’s a different feeling right now for me. I can’t speak for the moment. But I think I’ll have answers by Canada.” 

While Zverev has worked with high-profile coaches in the pastā€”including David Ferrer, who helped guide him to the US Open final and former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, who has been exceptionally successful coaching Carlos Alcarazā€”he continues to return to the familiarity of his father, Alexander Zverev, Sr., as coach.

Toni Nadal, known as a savvy and tough taskmaster, spent some time working with Felix Auger-Aliassime after stepping down as Rafa Nadal’s official coach. Zverev said his goal is to maximize his game to try to win Grand Slams.

“I mean, I think at this stage for me it’s about winning, and trying to maximize what I have, and
trying to maximize what I can become,” Zverev said. “Again, I think my team, but also Toni are exceptional in that, in maximizing what a player has. Of course, he was with Rafa before, which I’m never going to compare myself to Rafa, but if he can maximize what I have, and he can maximize the potential that I have, I’m sure that I can have a lot more success in my career.”

Naomi Osaka on Split from Coach Patrick Mouratoglou

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By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, July 28, 2025
Photo credit: Robert Prange/Getty

Naomi Osaka is ready for a reset.

It won’t include Patrick Mouratoglou.

Former No. 1 Osaka announced she split with Mouratoglou, who coached her for nearly 11 months.

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“Merci Patrick. It was such a great experience learning from you,” Osaka posted on Instagram. “Wishing you nothing but the best. You are one of the coolest people I’ve ever met and I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka, who split with ex-coach Wim Fissette after the 2024 US Open, began working with Mouratoglou in September of 2024.

 “Yes [he’s] my [coach] right now. I try not to commit to short-term collaborations,” Osaka said last September. “I try to think that it is a long-term commitment. I like the way he coaches. I think it’s going to be very interesting.”

Working with Mouratoglou, Osaka captured her first clay-court title at the WTA 125 event in Saint Malo in May. She also reached the Auckland final in January retiring after dropping the opening set to Clara Tauson, 6-4.

Though they clicked personally, professional results largest eluded Osaka, who fell in three sets to Paula Badosa in the Roland Garros opening round. Osaka reached the Wimbledon third round losing in three sets to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Coach Mouratoglou was philosophical about the parting.

“Nothing lasts forever. What counts is what a collaboration has brought to each other and what lasts after,” Mouratoglou posted on social media.

The 49th-ranked Osaka lost to Emma Raducanu, 6-4, 6-2 in the Washington, DC round of 16 last week. Since she won her fourth Grand Slam championship at the 2021 Australian Open, Osaka has become a mom and spoken publicly about mental health battles. Osaka has played 12 majors since that 2021 AO victory and has yet to surpass the third round. She reached the third round of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year.  

Grigor Dimitrov Out of 2025 US Open

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By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Photo credit: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty

A torn pectoral muscle shattered Grigor Dimitrov’s Wimbledon dreamā€”and ended his 2025 US Open before it began.

The 34-year-old Dimitrov has withdrawn from the US Open as he continues recovery from a partial rupture of his pectoral muscle he suffered while leading world No. 1 Jannik Sinner 6-3, 7-5, 2-2 in the Wimbledon round of 16.

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Dimitrov’s manager, Georgi Stoimenov, confirmed his client’s withdrawal from the Flushing Meadows major to Bulgarian website Tennis Kafe.

The withdrawal ended Dimitrov’s remarkable run of 58 consecutive Grand Slam appearances that dates back to the 2011 Australian Open. Dimitrov held the longest streak of consecutive Slams played among active men and the fifth longest streak in Open Era history. Mutua Madrid Open tournament director and Dimitrov friend Feliciano Lopez owns the longest streak with 79 consecutive Grand Slams in a row. That streak ended in 2022.

The 20th-ranked Dimitrov, who won the 2008 Wimbledon boys and US Open boys’ championships in succession, reached the Flushing Meadows quarterfinals last year bowing to Frances Tiafoe.

A 2019 US Open semifinalist, Dimitrov has contested semifinals at three of the four Grand Slam tournaments, including the 2014 Wimbledon and 2017 Australian Open.

In a classic clash vs. the king of clay Rafael Nadal, Dimitrov pushed Nadal to five sets in a 2017 Australian Open marathon match.

Driven to the brink in a pulsating four hour, 56-minute clash, Nadal fought off a dynamic Dimitrov, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-4, to reach his 24th Grand Slam final in Melbourne.

Stefanos Tsitispas Resumes Working with Dad as Coach

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By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Photo credit: Matthew Calvis

Stefanos Tsitsipas has rehired a familiar face as coach.

Tsitsipas has resumed working with his father and original coach Apostolos Tsitsipas, he announced on his Instagram stories today.

“Some trips tend to go back to where they started,”Ā Tsitsipas posted on Instagram.Ā “After a period of separation, I found the person who believed in me first, my father. I’m grateful to share the short and the road with him again.

“We have gone through each chapter of this journey together and the next one seems to me to be the right one. Sometimes coming home is the boldest step forward.”

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The announcement comes one week after Tstisipas and former Wimbledon champion and ex-Novak Djokovic coach Goran Ivanisevic split ending a brief partnership.

A candid Ivanisevic was critical of Tsitsipas’ work habits at the end of their partnership.

ā€œHe has to resolve his back issue. I was shocked. Iā€™ve never seen such an underprepared player in my life,ā€ Ivanisevic, who won a Wimbledon title as a player and coached Novak Djokovic to his last 12 major titles, said.

Former world No. 3 Tsitsipas won his 12th career title in Dubai in February, but the summer has been a season of struggle for the Greek. Tsitsipas has posted a 4-5 record in his last nine matches, fell in the Wimbledon first round and split with former girlfriend and WTA star Paula Badosa. The pair were schedule to play next month’s US Open Mixed Doubles, but withdrew from that event.

Tsitsipas, whose ranking has dropped to No. 30, will try to jump-start his North American summer hard-court season facing Aussie Christopher O’Connell in Toronto today.

Though Tsitsipas has worked with ex ATP standouts Ivanisevic, Mark Philippoussis and Thomas Enqvist in the past, he continues to return to working with father Apostolos. Time will tell whether father and son can remedy some of the issues that have plagued the talented Greek, including adapting his style to faster surfaces, fixing his backhand return, which opponents tend to target, and attempting to impose his all-court skill and athleticism rather than just standing back at the baseline seeking forehands. Ā 

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz follow in Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's footsteps

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All England Club

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have dominated the most notable tennis stage since 2024, having won the previous seven Major titles. Their first final came at Roland Garros this June, and they turned it into one of the most thrilling matches of all time.

We did not have to wait for too long to see the world's greatest players battle for another Major trophy, with the two favorites reaching the title clash at the All England Club. 

The first-time Wimbledon finalist Sinner ousted the two-time champion Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, earning his first Major crown outside hard and providing the Spaniard's first loss in the Major finals.

At 22 years and two months (Alcaraz) and 23 years and ten months (Sinner), they evoked memories of the 2006 Wimbledon final, forging the youngest title clash at the All England Club since Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. 

Eighteen years ago, the world's best players fought for the Wimbledon crown for the first time. Nadal turned 20 just a month ago, and Federer was still 24, celebrating his 25th birthday a month later.

Carlos and Jannik could not match them, but they still achieved a notable milestone, another in their growing joined CV. They could not revive the thrill and excitement from their Paris match. 

Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2025

Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2025© Stream screenshot

 

However, their final reflected a shift in power and reaffirmed the bright future of men's tennis. Both players are hungry for more, and no one should be surprised if we see them in another title clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium in September.

Unlike in Paris, Jannik took charge in London and celebrated his fourth Major crown. The Spaniard claimed the opener before the Italian took charge, serving well and provided a single break in each of sets two, three and four to emerge at the top.

Thus, Sinner showed incredible mental strength following the Parisian heartbreak. He bounced back at Wimbledon and secured his third trophy at the previous four Majors.

Alexander Zverev confesses what he is trying to 'convince' Toni Nadal

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Adam Walton

Alexander Zverev is very pleased with the help that Toni Nadal offered and admits he is working on "convincing" the legendary coach to do more work with him.

Following a latest Grand Slam heartbreak and losing in the Wimbledon first round, the German revealed that he was in a bad place mentally, which also negatively translated to his tennis. When making a candid mental health revelation, the world No. 3 also indicated that he may decide to put his tennis career on a pause.

After taking some time to figure out his next move, Zverev decided to reach out to Rafael Nadal's uncle. And Uncle Toni agreed to spend some time with the 28-year-old and invited him to the Nadal academy in Mallorca. However, not everything is great and ideal for the German as the 64-year-old coach has his own commitments, which make it impossible for the Spaniard to become the world No. 3's full-time traveling coach.

Zverev: I'm trying to convince Toni Nadal to do more weeks with me 

“I went there, I saw him and it was an amazing 10 days. I really enjoyed it and I’m very thankful to him and to Rafa also for welcoming me the way I did. It was really nice. The time in Mallorca was amazing. I'm trying to convince him to do more weeks with me, and we'll see how it goes, but he's a very busy man. Also he has a lot of dates that he already committed to this year, so I'm not sure how much of him you'll see this year," the three-time Grand Slam runner-up explained.

Meanhwile, Zverev is returning to action this week for the first time since his early Wimbledon exit. Since Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are not playing at the Toronto Masters, the German is the top seed. After a first-round bye, he is due to play against Adam Walton.

Watch: Carlos Alcaraz trains at home in Murcia ahead of Cincinnati return

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Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz is back on the practice court, preparing for the North American swing following a well-earned post-Wimbledon break. World no. 2 hit the court at the La Manga Club in Cartagena, Murcia. 

The five-time Major champion trained with a familiar face – Rafa Segado. The two go way back to their days at the JC Ferrero Academy. Segado competes in college tennis for the Florida Gators.

Carlos suffered his first loss in the Major finals in London, falling to Jannik Sinner in four sets and missing his third straight Wimbledon crown. The Spaniard opted to skip the Canada Masters in Toronto to recharge. 

After embracing a couple of entertaining weeks with his family and friends, the 22-year-old is back on the court, getting ready for his return in Cincinnati, the seventh Masters 1000 event of the season.

With minimal points to defend in Cincinnati and the US Open, Carlos sees a prime opportunity to close the gap on Jannik in the ATP rankings and chase the ATP throne for the first time since 2023! 

The Spaniard is plotting a strong summer run – one that could propel him back toward the no. 1 spot. Alcaraz is leading the ATP Race ahead of Sinner following a brilliant run since April. 

The young gun has reached six consecutive finals, embracing his career-best winning streak and lifting four trophies, including a Major and two Masters 1000 shields. 

Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2025

Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2025© X – Wimbledon

 

Carlos bested his rivals in Monte Carlos and Rome. He used that boost and defended the Roland Garros title after one of the most thrilling Major finals in tennis history. 

Alcaraz defeated Sinner 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 on Court Philippe-Chatrier, saving three match points and moving over the top after five hours and 29 minutes. The same rivals met in the Wimbledon final. 

The Spaniard claimed the opener before the Italian responded and notched a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory in just over three hours. Thus, Carlos experienced his first defeat in the Major finals. 

The young gun will work hard on improvements ahead of Cincinnati and the US Open, setting his eyes on the two notable events and hoping to steal his greatest rival's glory. 

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.

Zverev Training with Toni Nadal at Rafa Nadal Academy

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Alexander Zverev said he's considering new coaching options, could Toni Nadal fill the bill?Arthur Rinderknech

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Monday, July 14, 2025
Photo credit: Ibrahim Ezzat-Nur Photo-Getty

Alexander Zverev handed Rafa Nadal the last loss of his Roland Garros career.

Now, Zverev is training with Toni Nadal at the Rafa Nadal Academy in an effort to rebuild his confidence and revitalize his game.

Tennis Express

The 2021 Olympic gold-medal champion has been working under the watchful eye of Toni Nadal at the Rafa Nadal Academy in preparation for the North American summer hard-court season.


Two weeks ago, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech completed a five-set win over Zverev in the Wimbledon first round. Rinderknech won 44 of 55 trips to net and denied all nine break points he faced.

Afterward, Zverev said the prestigious Centre Court lawn felt like a deep hole he couldn't escape.

Six months after his surge to the Australian Open final, Zverev suffered his second career Wimbledon first-round exit and opened up on the malaise he's feeling.

"I would say more mental, probably. It's funny, I feel very alone out there at times," Zverev said. "I struggle mentally. I've been saying that since after the Australian Open. Yeah, just don't know. I'm trying to find ways, trying to find ways to kind of get out of this hole. I keep kind of finding myself back in it in a way.

"Yeah, I don't know. I feel, generally speaking, quite alone in life at the moment, which is a feeling that is not very nice."

In his parting presser at SW19, Zverev said it's possible he could hire a new coach and conceded he's out of answers on court.

"Possibly," Zverev said when asked about a new coach. "As I said, yeah, it's a different feeling right now for me. I can't speak for the moment. But I think I'll have answers by Canada." 

While Zverev has worked with high-profile coaches in the past—including David Ferrer, who helped guide him to the US Open final and former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, who has been exceptionally successful coaching Carlos Alcaraz—he continues to return to the familiarity of his father, Alexander Zverev, Sr., as coach.

Toni Nadal, known as a savvy and tough taskmaster, spent some time working with Felix Auger-Aliassime after stepping down as Rafa Nadal's official coach.

Could Toni Nadal's training block with Zverev lead to a role as coach or co-coach of the German? Time will tell.

Sinner Wins Maiden Wimbledon Title

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Jannik Sinner exacted his revenge on Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday, defeating the two-time defending champion 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the Wimbledon final to capture his fourth major and become the first Italian man to win the singles crown. The world No. 1, who fell to Alcaraz in a five-hour, 29-minute Roland Garros epic last …

With her Wimbledon Runner-Up Speech, Amanda Anisimova Won Wimbledon in her Own Way

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The American paid heartfelt tribute to her team and family after a difficult loss, but successful journey. All England Club

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday July 12, 2025

Amanda Anisimova was brutally swept aside by Iga Swiatek in Saturday’s women’s final at Wimbledon. She didn’t manage to capture a single game as the Polish juggernaut won her sixth major title, and first at the All England Club.

Tennis Express

Swiatek’s 6-0, 6-0 triumph is the first double bagel victory in Grand Slam final history, and the Pole’s incredible level is further proof or her status as a legendary talent in our sport.

But Anisimova won hearts with her emotional runner-up speech as she gave the Centre Court crowd insight into her journey to the Wimbledon final, and how her mother played a pivotal role in her development.

“My mom has put in more work than I have honestly,” a teary-eyed Anisimova told the crowd as she paid tribute to her mother, who had flown in to see Saturday’s final. “My mom is the most selfless person I know. She’s done everything to get me to this point.”

Anisimova’s family has endured its share of hardship, as Konstantin Anisimova, the coach and father of Amanda died suddenly in 2017 when Amanda was just 17.

It was phenomenal to watch Anisimova pull herself together after a brutal loss and celebrate her journey.

She apologized to the crowd for talking too long, but in truth the audience was enraptured.

“I’m so happy that I get to share this moment, and for you to be here and witness this in person, you don’t get to see me live playing that much anymore, because you do so much for me and my sister, and you always have.

It would be foolish not to focus on Anisimova’s journey and the incredible effort she has put in to overcome her grief and subsequent mental health issues to become a Wimbledon finalist and a Top 10 player.

And we likely have not heard the last from the 23-year-old talent.

“I know I didn’t have enough today, but I’m gonna keep putting in the work. I always believe in myself and I hope to be back here again one day,” she concluded.

Fritz: Comparing Unbelievable Sinner to Unpredictable Alcaraz

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US Open finalist Taylor Fritz on differences between the world's top two reigning Grand Slam champions.Australian Open

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Friday, July 11, 2025
Photo credits: Jon Buckle/ROLEX

Confronting reigning Grand Slam champions Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in a major is a devastating degree of difficulty.

US Open finalist Taylor Fritz has faced the the world's top two players in Grand Slams and offered unique insight into the similarities and differences of the two superstars.

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Together, reigning US Open and Australian Open champion Sinner and Roland Garros and Wimbledon winner Alcaraz have combined to capture the last six straight Grand Slam championships.

World No. 1 Sinner will square off against two-time Wimbledon winner Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final on Sunday at 4 p.m.

After bowing to Alcaraz in a fierce four-setter in today's semifinals, Fritz, who fell to Sinner in the US Open final last September, was asked to compare the challenges each man represents.

The fifth-seeded Fritz said Sinner is an "unbelievable" ball striker, while Alcaraz is the most "unpredictable" player in the sport. 

"I'd say I felt pretty comfortable from the ground with Jannik when we played in Turin. I think Jannik typically has a bigger serve, so it's tougher to get in on his return games," Fritz said after losing to Alcaraz 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(6) in today's first semifinal. "For me, from the ground I think I had more success rallying and playing with Jannik because he plays a bit flatter, and it's a little bit more predictable. He's unbelievable at what he does playing from the baseline.

"I think Carlos is a little more unpredictable with the slicing and the coming to net and the dropshots. Carlos has a lot of different ways to play.

"I also think Carlos, one thing he does, when he whips his forehand cross, there's a lot of movement away, which is difficult. Jannik is more through the court, which for some people… Just depends who you're playing."

Rocking the red clay with fearless drives, Alcaraz fought off three championship points, battled back from a two-set deficit for the first time in his life and out-dueled Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2) to successfully defend his Roland Garros title in a dazzling and epic final last month.

The longest French Open final in history was a five hour, 29-minute thrill ride that will go down as a match for the ages.

Prior to that final, Hall of Famer Andre Agassi summed up the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry as "the best pure ball striker versus the flying saucer."

Today, Fritz said both champions generate massive "raw power" and suggested he'd probably prefer playing the world No. 1—primarily because Alcaraz's speed and versatility is so unsettling.

"For me personally, I'd rather probably deal with the flat one than the ball that's working away from me," Fritz said. "They both generate a lot of just, like, raw power. But I think for me it's a little more uncomfortable to play Carlos just because of the unpredictability of what he's going to do.

"I think I play a lot off of anticipation. You never know what Carlos might just hit like a short kicker and serve and volley on like a 15-30 or something like that, which I feel like if I'm playing Jannik, that's something that's probably not going to happen."

The greatest similarity between the world's top two?

The 27-year-old Fritz said it's a major educational experience to face either champion in a Grand Slam match.

"Every time I play these guys, I learn a lot about what I need to do to improve and get better," Fritz said. "Moving ahead, I just want to keep working on the things that are going to get me better, that are going to help me compete with these guys because at the end of the day, my ultimate goal is to win a slam. I think I'm going to have to at some point beat these guys to do it. It's obviously a tough ask.

"Like I said, if I keep putting myself in these situations and playing them, I learn more about my game and what I need to do differently and what I need to do better to get to that level."