Day 4 at the US Open promises to be a blockbuster as second-round action kicks off with some of the biggest names in tennis taking the court. Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz look to continue their progress, while American fans will be cheering on 2024 runner-up Jessica Pegula. Women’s top seed and defending champ Aryna Sabalenka and 2021 champioon Emma Raducanu also face tough tests.
Djokovic’s Next Test
Four-time US Open champion Novak Djokovic, 38, survived a gritty first-round win over Learner Tien but admitted he struggled with fitness and recovery during long exchanges. “I don’t have any injury or anything. I just struggled a lot to stay in long exchanges and recover after points,” Djokovic said.
After two days of rest, Djokovic will face American qualifier Zachary Svajda on Wednesday. The Serbian, who hadn’t played since Wimbledon, is looking to find his rhythm and start building momentum in New York.
American Men in Action
Day 4 at Flushing Meadows will feature several big American vibes. 2024 finalist Taylor Fritz and No. 6 seed Ben Shelton will be on court, with Fritz facing a challenging opponent while Shelton takes on Pablo Carreno Busta.
Two-time US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe will meet qualifier Martin Damm, and Marcos Giron goes up against the man who toppled Daniil Medvedev, France’s Benjamin Bonzi. Overall, eight of the remaining 11 American men in the draw will be in action on Day 4.
A Big Day For Teens
Day 4 at the US Open will also spotlight the next generation, with several teenage players in action. Joao Fonseca, Mirra Andreeva, Iva Jovic, and Jakub Mensik will all take to the court, giving fans a glimpse of the sport’s rising stars and plenty of exciting young talent to watch in Flushing Meadows.
Philippine sensation Alexandra Eala and Indonesia’s Janice Tjen will also be back in action, each looking to make history for their countries. Eala, the first player from the Philippines to ever win a Grand Slam match faces Cristina Bucsa of Spain, while Indonesian star Tjen takes on 2021 champion Emma Raducanu.
The U.S. Open's reimagined mixed doubles competition has kicked off with veteran doubles specialists outshining top singles stars in the early matches. The event, which now precedes the main singles draw, has attracted significant attention due to its innovative format and the participation of prominent players.
In the opening match, defending champions Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani, both seasoned doubles players from Italy, defeated the duo of Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz with a score of 4-2, 4-2. Their performance highlighted the depth of experience and coordination that seasoned doubles players bring to the court.
Similarly, the pairing of Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti showcased their doubles prowess by overcoming the team of Naomi Osaka and Gael Monfils, winning 5-3, 4-2. This match underscored the strategic play and synergy that veteran doubles players often exhibit, which can be challenging for singles specialists to counter.
The revamped mixed doubles format has been a focal point of discussion. Organizers have streamlined the event to feature 16 teams, with entries based on combined singles rankings and wild-card selections. This structure aims to elevate the profile of mixed doubles by involving high-profile singles players, thereby increasing fan engagement and media coverage.
However, the changes have not been without controversy. Some doubles specialists have expressed concerns over the new format and the allocation of wild cards, arguing that it may undermine the traditional doubles circuit. In response, organizers have reallocated last year's mixed doubles prize pool to traditional doubles events, aiming to balance player earnings and maintain the integrity of both formats.
The mixed doubles event has also seen unexpected developments. World number one Jannik Sinner withdrew from the competition due to illness, leading to the inclusion of American players Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison as replacements. Despite this setback, the event has garnered large crowds and enthusiastic responses, indicating a positive reception to the new format and its potential to rejuvenate interest in mixed doubles tennis.
As the U.S. Open progresses, the mixed doubles competition continues to evolve, offering fans a fresh perspective on the sport and highlighting the enduring appeal of doubles play. The outcomes of these matches may influence future tournament structures and the integration of singles and doubles events, reflecting the dynamic nature of professional tennis.
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 June—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 Wang’s deep return position—and the world No. 37’s struggles to land forehand returns—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 player’s forehand return drawing successive errors off that wing then spinning a clean crosscourt forehand snatching a one-set lead after 41 minutes.
It’s a testament to Gauff’s mental strength—and the rest of her game—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 Gauff’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 set—and fighting off four set points with Paolini serving at 5-3—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.
“Yes, I’m sorry for her but I was like please make the double, I have to be honest because it was a really tough tiebreaker,” Paolini told Tennis Channel’s Steve Weissman afterward. “It 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.
“I was like come on Jasmine don’t worry you won six points in a row she won five points in a row it’s normal. But at the same time I was like come on please make a double fault.”
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.
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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 Alcaraz’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 5’9” Dzumhur, but didn’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 opponent’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 “Vamos! Vamos!” 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 Maestro’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 errors—his 16th and 17th of the set—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.
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.
Patrick Mouratoglou decided to tell a little story about the time when one of Serena Williams' comments made him realize the best with what type of champion mindset the American had.
In 2002, Williams lifted her maiden French Open title. Although she had been one of the most dominant players in the next decade, the American's next triumph at Roland Garros didn't come until 2013, when she defeated Maria Sharapova in the final. At the time, she was working with Mouratoglou and it was her 16th Grand Slam title.
After Williams triumphed at the French Open for the first time in 11 years, her team was ready to celebrate heavily. And while the American tennis star dressed and was ready to hit the club, she changed her mind at the last moment and just told Mouratoglou that she wanted to get back and already start preparing for Wimbledon.
Mouratoglou: Williams never celebrated her 2013 French Open win, she was already thinking about Wimbledon
"In the evening, everybody wanted to go dancing, and when we arrived in front of the night club, she looked at me and she said, 'Let's go back home,' she never celebrated. She was already thinking about Wimbledon," the French coach recalled in a video uploaded on his Instagram.
"There is a trophy ceremony, and when she gets out of the court, she comes to me and she says, 'OK, let's do the cool down.' So we go in the fitness room, and after five minutes, she looks at me and she says, 'Now we have to win Wimbledon.' This is the mindset of the champion. As soon as they achieve something, they immediately think about a new goal, another one."
While Williams was determined and locked in on making it all the way at 2013 Wimbledon, it didn't happen for her that year after she was upset by Sabine Lisicki in the round-of-16.
However, Williams and Mouratoglou went on to enjoy much more success since their partnership brought seven more Grand Slams before the American retired.
Danielle Collins took to social media to hit back at "keyboard warriors" but also clarify what happened in Cincinnati, revealing that she is dealing with a back injury.
In the Cincinnati first round, the American – who plummeted to No. 61 in the world – suffered a 4-6 6-7 (2) loss to Taylor Townsend.
After the match was over, a Collins outburst video started making rounds on X. Down 0-2 in the second-set tie-break, the 2021 Australian Open runner-up went over to her team – started to scream and cry – while letting out a painful statement: "Why is this happening to me?"
Don't have a good feed clip, but here is Danielle Collins becoming VERY upset in the middle of the tiebreak.
As the 2024 Miami Open champion was exiting the court, she didn't pick up her belongings. Instead, it was picked up by Townsend, who passed it on to the 31-year-old's team.
While some expressed a concern for Collins, some criticized her actions.
Collins: It's not surprising that the keyboard warriors can't understand my pain
The American tennis player noticed what was being said and written about her on social media and decided to react. In her message, the American revealed that she was battling a disc hernia. Also, she thanked Townsend for being classy and helping her on the court.
"Anyone who has a herniated disc knows my pain. It's no surprise the keyboard warriors can't understand or relate, as they've been too busy sitting on a**es judging people who show up and and try to give it their best even on days that suck. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for my injury and thank you to Taylor Townsend for being the best of the best," Collins wrote on her Instagram Story.
Roger Federer will return to Shanghai this fall. The two-time champion will embrace the Roger Federer and friends celebrity doubles match on October 10, offering his fans another chance to see him in action on the court.
Last year, the Swiss spent a couple of entertaining days in Shanghai, exploring the city and enjoying the action at the eighth Masters 1000 event of the season.
The two-time winner met Novak Djokovic, watched Jannik Sinner and trained with Carlos Alcaraz on an indoor court, joking and asking what he was doing there.
Federer was 23-6 during his eight visits to Shanghai. The legend defeated Novak Djokovic on his debut in 2010 before losing the final to Andy Murray. The same rivals met in the semi-final two years later, and the Briton celebrated in straight sets.
Roger fell to Gael Monfils in 2013, still seeking his first title in China. It finally came in 2014 over Novak Djokovic and Gilles Simon. Alberto Ramos-Vinolas stunned him in 2015, and the crowd favorite bounced back stronger in 2017.
Federer ousted Juan Martin del Potro and Rafael Nadal en route to his second and last title in China. The Swiss played a sublime match, dropping eight points in his games and breaking his greatest rival's serve three times en route to a 6-4, 6-3 victory.
Roger competed as the defending champion in 2018 and suffered a surprising loss to Borna Coric in the semi-final in straight sets. Six years ago, the two-time winner battled in China for the eighth and final time.
He lost a tight encounter to Alexander Zverev in the quarter-final, wrapping up his Shanghai Masters journey with a 23-6 score. Federer enjoyed his time in China last October, and the fans will see him again in two months.
By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 8, 2025 Photo credit: USTA Foundation
Andre Agassi has been a dream-maker for students and players.
This month, Hall of Famer Agassi will be honored for his efforts.
The USTA Foundation announced former World No. 1 Agassi will be honored with the Serving Up Dreams Award at its annual Opening Night Gala on Sunday, August 24th, at the US Open.
The Serving Up Dreams Award is presented “to an individual who embodies the values of dedicated service to advance the USTA Foundation’s work to prepare young people for the life challenges they will face, both on and off the court, through the powerful combination of tennis, education, and life skills development,” the Foundation said in a statement.
Agassi is among the few professional tennis players to establish a foundation during their playing careers, and he approaches his philanthropy with the same unflagging drive and focus as he demonstrated on the court. In 2001, Agassi founded the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education to improve public schools and invest in communities. His efforts have raised over $180 million to date. He founded and operated the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy (Agassi Prep), a free public charter school in his hometown of Las Vegas, which graduated nine senior classes under Agassi’s leadership, and still remains open today. He also co-founded the Turner-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund, which helps build schools in low-income areas across the nation. Agassi has dedicated much of his post-tennis life to education reform, particularly for young people from under-resourced communities.
Agassi also personally funded a Boys & Girls Club in Las Vegas.
One of only five men to achieve a career Grand Slam in the Open Era, Agassi transformed the sport of tennis in the 1990s, becoming a global legend with his charismatic personality and bold playing style. Alongside his eight major singles titles, he won an Olympic singles gold medal in Atlanta and 60 tour-level titles during his 21-year professional career, before retiring at the 2006 US Open.
“Investing in education is one of the most powerful ways you can transform lives and communities. While my career may have been in tennis, I believe my true calling is to help create quality academic opportunities for young people that I frankly didn’t have,” said Agassi. “It’s a privilege to be able to make a difference and help give kids the chance to choose their own path. This honor serves as a reminder that when you put in the hard work and hold yourself accountable for achieving real outcomes, you can change lives. That’s the only result that truly matters.”
To learn more about the USTA Foundation, please visit ustafoundation.com
Blood, sweat, tears and – finally – triumph. Ben Shelton gave it all in Toronto and took home the hardware as the youngest American to win a Masters title since Andy Roddick in 2004, defeating Karen Khachanov 6-7(5) 6-4 7-6(3) in two hours and 47 minutes.
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Shelton is the first American man to win the title in Canada since Roddick in 2003, and he will rise to a career-high ranking of No.6.
“I feel so blessed,” Shelton said. “Just to have opportunities like this. The joy that I feel today isn’t just because of the win. It’s because of the people that I get to spend every day with.”
It was a hard-hitting tussle with Khachanov, the pair’s second career meeting which saw Khachanov jump out in front on the strength of a solid first-set tiebreak.
But Shelton would not be denied. The 22-year-old American answered back, going unbroken in sets two and three and winning four of the final five points in the deciding set tiebreak to earn his third and biggest ATP title.
Shelton defeated No. 8-seeded Alex de Minaur and No. 4-seeded Taylor Fritz to advance to his maiden ATP Masters 1000 final, and survived third-set tiebreaks to defeat Brandon Nakashima and Flavio Cobolli earlier in the tournament.
When the victory was clinched, Shelton made his way to the crowd to share the moment with his coach and father Bryan. His coach encouraged him to step into the court and take balls earlier against Khachanov, and the strategy paid dividends.
How special is that? Ben Shelton wins his maiden Masters title in Toronto, defeating Khachanov, 6-7 6-4 7-6. pic.twitter.com/iIcUwBSzXK
“I love the way that he coaches me,” Shelton said. “He usually leaves stuff up to me. He gives me a lot of suggestions. He knows me better than anyone in the world, so he’s well qualified to give me those suggestions.”
Khachanov went more than six years between Masters finals, a record, but could not summon the magic that he displayed when winning the Paris title in 2018.
Still, he will rise to No.12 in the rankings after a strong effort that saw him save a match point while knocking off top-seeded Alexander Zverev in the semis.
“Definitely still it’s a positive, great tournament, great run,” he said. “I had some great battles, great wins against top guys. So that’s why I give credit to myself for doing that, and that’s it.
“I mean, you can win, you can lose, so you just try to regroup and be ready for the next tournament, it’s another Masters 1000, and then it’s a Grand Slam. So this is tennis, so sometimes you have to regroup quickly and be fit, be ready for the next match.”
By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, August 7, 2025 Photo credit: Omnium Banque Nationale Facebook
A diving Victoria Mboko hurled herself at the ball, flicking a flying reply unleashing a resounding roar from Montreal fans.
The Canadian wild card crashed to the court chasing a dropper in wrapping a wild ride. Mboko scored a stunning 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over a detached Naomi Osaka to capture her maiden championship in a fairy-tale finish to the Omnium Banque Nationale Open.
The 18-year-old Mboko took home fans on a thrill ride that was unpredictable, unruly and downright ugly at times as former world No. 1 Osaka mentally unraveled in the face of the teenager’s fierce competitiveness, roaring crowd support and her own self-sabotage.
It ended with a crash landing and will go down as a historic flight. Mboko is the second-youngest woman in WTA history to defeat four Grand Slam champion—Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Osaka—en route to a championship. Only legendary Serena Williams, who was a 17-year-old dynamo clad in canary-colored Puma dress when she knocked off four major champions, including world No. 1 Martina Hingis to win the 1999 US Open, was younger.
The explosive Mboko is the third wild card to win a WTA 1000 championship following soon-to-be Hall of Famer Maria Sharapova (2011 Cincinnati) and compatriot Bianca Andreescu (2019 Indian Wells). Playing with a sore wrist she sustained falling to the court in her semifinal win over Rybakina, Mboko refused to let pain or pressure slow her roll.
“It feels unbelievable right now. I mean, words cannot really describe how today went,” Mboko told the media in Montreal. “Today was such an eventful day actually. I woke up this morning, and I actually had my wrist a little bit swollen from yesterday’s fall, and we quickly went to the hospital actually to do an MRI and an X-ray before I came to the courts to practice today.
“So once we got the green light that nothing too serious was going on in the wrist, I came here and practiced real fast and prepared for my match. So I think today regarding all the events that I did, it feels a lot sweeter.”
World No. 85 Mboko, who was ranked No. 358 a year ago, is the second-lowest ranked woman to win a WTA 1000 title after No. 133 Kim Clijsters, who won the 2005 Indian Wells championship.
In the end, the net divided an immense emotional expanse between four-time major champion Osaka and first-time finalist Mboko.
The teenager played with more poise and deeper desire than a disconsolate Osaka, who incurred a code violation for belting a ball into the stands, appeared annoyed by her opponent toweling off as she was set to serve and looked vacant at the very end.
A determined Mboko flew through the final five games dropping to her knees in exhilaration after earning a two hour, four-minute triumph.
Truth be told it was a bizarre final popping with some brilliant shot-making from both and periods where neither woman could seem to keep the ball between the lines for sustained stretches. Mboko overcame 13 double faults and a 27 percent second-serve percentage, while Osaka often had her opponent on defense only to sail the kill shot in several instances. Mboko converted seven of eight break points and applied her speed and determination to extend points and her knack for the down the line strike to exterminate them.
At times, this final was like watching virtuoso musicians hit pitch perfect high notes then shriek through stretches of atonal music.
Yet, Mboko showed her grit, guts and star power riding a wave of support that overwhelmed Osaka into fretful frustration.
At the outset, Osaka delivered a dose of forehand medicine to Mboko that she received from Liudmila Samsonova in round two.
In her 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 comeback conquest of 13th-seeded Samsonova, Osaka was getting beaten repeatedly in crosscourt exchanges for a set and a half. The Japanese was sometimes taking one big step rather than the short, precise preparation steps to give herself ideal spacing between her body and the ball.
Tonight, Osaka came out straddling the baseline ripping crosscourt forehands basically telling the teenager: let’s see if you can hang and bang in crosscourt forehand fireworks.
Showing the shotmaking that made her a two-time US Open champion, Osaka fired a forehand down the line streaking to a 4-1 lead. Whipping forehands with menacing intent, Osaka broke again to take the opener in 37 minutes.
The world No. 49 seemed to be in control, but soon Mboko’s speed and persistence and the crowd’s growing participation spooked Osaka into strange and sour places.
Facing a red-hot, fearless opponent, thousands of screaming Canadian fans and the prospect of winning her biggest title in four years all amped up the angst Osaka was feeling. That’s completely understandable.
Still, if you’re as experienced as Osaka you cannot be wishing balls out as she did a couple of times pointing to marks she thought were wide on balls that actually landed inside the sideline. You’ve got to play the actual call and not the call you hope to hear—yet it showed the nerves the Japanese superstar was feeling even up a set.
When Osaka dropped serve for the second straight time to fall behind 1-2 in the second set she dropped her blue Yonex stick to the court in a visible show of frustration.
Across the net, the 18-year-old Mboko meant business. After blowing a 40-15 lead and double-faulting back the break in the fourth game, Mboko blasted a big return to break again for 3-2—the sixth straight break of this hard-hitting final.
Shaking off a double fault, Mboko geared into groove drawing a wild forehand error to hold at 30 for 4-2—the first hold since Osaka went up 5-2 in the opening set.
A rattled Osaka was staring up at the sky as if searching for answers from above, while Mboko raced through a love break extending her lead to 5-2.
Cutting a forlorn figure as she paced near the back wall, Osaka looked dejected. Then Mboko threw her a life line.
The teenager totally lost her serve motion spit up three double faults and watched Osaka rope a return down the line to break back in the eighth game. Osaka whipped the wide serve stamping her first hold of the set for 4-5 and shifting pressure back on Mboko’s shoulders.
After asking her coaching box for advice on serve, Mboko took pace off the serve. That approach worked as she rallied from 15-30 down winning three points in a row to snatch a jittery and wild second set and force a decider after 82 minutes of play.
“Naomi came out playing really great tennis,” Mboko said. “I think she always had that aggressive kind of game style, and I knew she was that good of a player. When I lost the first set, I kind of told myself to regroup a little bit and start fresh. I knew she was going to — going into the second set, I knew she was going to also keep playing aggressive, so I kind of had to rely on my defending skills most of the match.
“Since she hits such a powerful ball, it was really hard for me to kind of replicate what she was putting in through. But I think at the end of the day I just did everything I possibly could to pull through the match, and thankfully I came out for the win.”
Despite dumping 12 double faults through two sets, the wild card was one set from her first career title. Osaka left the court to reset before the decider.
In retrospect that break was a big mistake as Mboko spent the down time hitting practice serves and finding her groove while Osaka was trying to set her mind back on track.
Just when you thought a crazy final couldn’t possibly get more unstable, it did. Both women double faulted away breaks to start the final set. Osaka squandered a 30-15 lead, then belted a ball into the stands, incurring a code violation warning for ball abuse as Mboko converted her sixth break edging ahead 2-1.
Throughout this magical Montreal run, Mboko’s poise under pressure, creativity on the run and sheer resilience have been her super-powers. She showed all of that in a draining fourth game.
Dripping sweat, Mboko fought off four break points in a dramatic six-deuce game dabbing a dropper to hold for 3-1 as the entire stadium seemed to rise to its collective feet roaring.
If you’ve watched Osaka win any of her four Grand Slams you know she can be a premier power player with a knack for the devastating first strike.
This final reinforced the fact for all her wondrous gifts as a ball striker, Osaka’s aversion to the net remains a vulnerability. Time and time again, Osaka had the teenager on the move in the fifth game, but stubbornly remained stuck to the baseline trying to squeeze shots closer to the lines. In the end she hit herself into oblivion as Mboko broke a seventh time for 4-1.
Mentally, Mboko was soaring on this magical flight and Osaka was grounded in misery.
When Osaka tapped a casual drop shot, a soaring Mboko raced forward went full dive and crashed to the court flicking a forehand and losing her Wilson racquet in the process. The chair umpire called for a replay to make sure Mboko got it on one bounce, but Osaka, who looked like she just wanted to get off the court, didn’t even wait and played through that request.
“In that game I was, like, Oh, I’m super close. At that point I had the fighting mentality,” Mboko said. “I just wanted to run and put as many balls back in the court as possible. I wanted it so badly that I think falling was a little bit worth it.
“I mean, in that situation I wanted to just stay in there with her. Naomi was playing such aggressive, and she was hitting some pretty clean shots. So I wanted to run and retrieve everything that even didn’t seem possible.”
Mboko completed a magical run dropping to her knees as Osaka came around the net to offer congratulations. Back in 2018, Osaka overcame legendary Serena Williams and 23,000 screaming American fans in Arthur Ashe Stadium to win the US Open in a moment she called “bittersweet”.
Tonight, it felt like a bit of a role reversal with Mboko riding the wave of Canadian crowd support and Osaka looking positively muted by the end.
This victory vaults Mboko past compatriot and Washington, DC champion Leylah Fernandez to No. 25 as the highest-ranked Canadian woman. Mboko said afterward she will skip Cincinnati to rest her sore wrist and prepare for the US Open. Despite the disappointing finish, Osaka rises to No. 24 in the rankings.
There’s a lot to like about Mboko’s game and her commitment to the cause and based on what we saw tonight both women will be dangerous threats at this month’s US Open.
Blood, sweat, tears and – finally – triumph. Ben Shelton gave it all in Toronto and took home the hardware as the youngest American to win a Masters title since Andy Roddick in 2004, defeating Karen Khachanov 6-7(5) 6-4 7-6(3) in two hours and 47 minutes.
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Shelton is the first American man to win the title in Canada since Roddick in 2003, and he will rise to a career-high ranking of No.6.
“I feel so blessed,” Shelton said. “Just to have opportunities like this. The joy that I feel today isn’t just because of the win. It’s because of the people that I get to spend every day with.”
It was a hard-hitting tussle with Khachanov, the pair’s second career meeting which saw Khachanov jump out in front on the strength of a solid first-set tiebreak.
But Shelton would not be denied. The 22-year-old American answered back, going unbroken in sets two and three and winning four of the final five points in the deciding set tiebreak to earn his third and biggest ATP title.
Shelton defeated No. 8-seeded Alex de Minaur and No. 4-seeded Taylor Fritz to advance to his maiden ATP Masters 1000 final, and survived third-set tiebreaks to defeat Brandon Nakashima and Flavio Cobolli earlier in the tournament.
When the victory was clinched, Shelton made his way to the crowd to share the moment with his coach and father Bryan. His coach encouraged him to step into the court and take balls earlier against Khachanov, and the strategy paid dividends.
How special is that? Ben Shelton wins his maiden Masters title in Toronto, defeating Khachanov, 6-7 6-4 7-6. pic.twitter.com/iIcUwBSzXK
“I love the way that he coaches me,” Shelton said. “He usually leaves stuff up to me. He gives me a lot of suggestions. He knows me better than anyone in the world, so he’s well qualified to give me those suggestions.”
Khachanov went more than six years between Masters finals, a record, but could not summon the magic that he displayed when winning the Paris title in 2018.
Still, he will rise to No.12 in the rankings after a strong effort that saw him save a match point while knocking off top-seeded Alexander Zverev in the semis.
“Definitely still it’s a positive, great tournament, great run,” he said. “I had some great battles, great wins against top guys. So that’s why I give credit to myself for doing that, and that’s it.
“I mean, you can win, you can lose, so you just try to regroup and be ready for the next tournament, it’s another Masters 1000, and then it’s a Grand Slam. So this is tennis, so sometimes you have to regroup quickly and be fit, be ready for the next match.”
By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, August 6, 2025 Photo credit: National Bank Open by Rogers Facebook
A titanic tiebreak tug of war culminated with Karen Khachanov making the pivotal pull.
Khachanov denied match point in the 12th game edging top-seeded Alexander Zverev 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4) in a near three-hour thriller to advance to his second career ATP Masters 1000 final in Toronto tonight.
The 16th-ranked Russian reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final since he stunned Novak Djokovic to capture the 2018 Paris Masters Indoors.
Khachanov will face the winner of tonight’s all-American semifinal between second-seeded Taylor Fritz and fourth-seeded Ben Shelton in tomorrow’s final.
Tonight’s opening semifinal was a rematch of the 2021 Olympic gold-medal match that saw Zverev prevail 6-3, 6-1.
Though Khachanov took the court armed with an ignominious 2-21 record vs. Top 3-ranked opponents, he showed major mettle at crunch time—and was aided by a fortunate bounce off the net that kept him in this tight test.
“Generally I think today also I didn’t feel my best on the court, didn’t play my best tennis,” Zverev said. “Also, the first set was terrible, so I kind of gave him a head start, and he’s too good to not use that.
“So, yeah, I still had match point, so it’s upsetting that I lost this match. But that’s the way it is, we move on, I go to Cincinnati and try to do better.”
Serving down match point at 5-6 in the decider, Khachanov challenged Zverev’s vaunted backhand. The German lined up his two-hander and lashed a liner that had match-ending winner written all over it.
The return crashed into the top of the tape, hung in the air for a split second then dripped back onto Zverev’s side of the net as Khachanov breathed a sigh of relief.
That reprieve emboldened the Russian, who ripped a forehand down the line holding to force the decisive tiebreaker.
When Zverev zapped a swinging forehand volley winner he was up 3-1 in the tiebreaker and seemingly in command.
Khachanov had other ideas.
The 11th-seeded Khachanov tore through five points in a row coaxing a couple of backhand errors and knocking off a high forehand volley. Zverev’s two-handed backhand is one of the best in the sport, but he netted that trusty weapon to face three match points at 6-3.
On his second match point, Khachanov cranked the wide serve closing a two hour, 52-minute battle.
It was Khachanov’s first Top 10 win of the season, his first win over Zverev since the 2019 Montreal and sends him into his first final of the year.
In the opening set, Zverev more than doubled Khachanov’s winner total—11 to 5—but Khachanov cashed in on the lone break point of the set and that made all the difference. Khachanov converted the lone break point of the set for 3-1 and consolidated for 4-1. The bearded Russian converted his third set point for a one-set lead.
On the fast Toronto court, neither man was severely stressed on serve in the second set until the final game when Khachanov played a horrific game and Zverev broke to snatch the set and forced a decider.
This match marked the eighth time in the tournament a match was decided in the final-set tiebreaker.
Ben Shelton broke new ground on Wednesday night in Toronto, defeating Taylor Fritz to become the youngest American to reach a Masters 1000 final since Andy Roddick in 2004.
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The 22-year-old notched a 6-4, 6-3 over the top-ranked American, and has now earned back-to-back Top-10 wins for the first time in his career.
“I’m just looking for things in my game to steadily improve and I’ve seen so many big improvements in my game this week,” said Shelton. “That’s what I’m most happy about. The way that I’m playing, how I’m executing and how little I’m hesitating.”
Shelton saved both break points he faced in a flawless performance, and converted three of ten to pull away from the fourth-ranked American.
He cracked seven aces and won 25 of 29 first-serve points.
“When he is standing in one corner, he’s one of the best in the world at being behind the ball and hitting it harder and harder every time,” Shelton said of the 2024 US Open runner-up. “You have to keep him moving and I did a great job of that, moving the ball around the court today.”
In the first all-American Masters semifinal in 15 years Shelton improved to 1-1 vs Fritz and became the eighth player born in the 2000s to play a Masters final.
“It’s huge,” Shelton said. “Talked about how the Masters were the one level of tournaments that I’ve been struggling with, and my next step is being able to excel in these tournaments. So taking that first step and getting my first deep run under my belt is exciting.”
He’ll face Karen Khachanov for the title on Thursday evening.
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.
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.
"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.
Venus Williams is keeping it light at the start of Cincinnati as the 45-year-old jokes she is still playing tennis because it does well for her body "figure."
As you probably know, the seven-time Grand Slam champion pleasantly surprised the tennis community when she accepted a late wildcard into the WTA 500 tournament in Washington. And the former world No. 1 made some noise in the United States capital, defeating Peyton Stearns in her first match in 16 months, for her first win since 2023.
After a solid Washington round-of-16 outing, Williams also received a main draw wildcard into this week's WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati. In her pre-tournament presser, the American tennis icon was asked to address playing pro tennis in her mid-forties and she didn't disappoint with her answer
“It’s obviously no secret that you get great legs and great arms from playing tennis. So, I figured I’d at least keep my figure if that’s the very least we do!" the 45-year-old joked.
Williams then got serious and explained what really allowed her to play at 45
Williams may not have played much over the last couple of years. However, she always remained active, from hitting balls on the practice to doing regular gym exercises.
"I never stopped hitting the ball, even when I was away—not as intensely as you would if you were replaying playing tournaments, but still going out there. When I was on the court, I was always working on my game. I didn’t just let it all fall apart. Even if it was just a half hour, I still wanted to get something out of it," the former world No. 1 explained.
Meanwhile, in the Cincinnati first round, Williams will take on world No. 51 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro – the two have no previous meetings.
Heading into the match, Bouzas Maneiro is playing some of the tennis of her life and she is coming off a quarterfinal showing in Montreal.
Williams probably enters the match as the underdog but there is no doubt that will put up a big fight, just as she did in Washington.
World no. 1 Jannik Sinner is preparing for the title defense at the Cincinnati Masters. The Italian heads to Cincinnati following a historic triumph at Wimbledon, becoming the first player from his country with a trophy at the All England Club.
Sinner is preparing for the North American hard-court swing with renewed motivation, hoping to defend the ATP throne from Carlos Alcaraz. As was expected, the 23-year-old enjoyed his break from tennis after conquering Wimbledon.
The world's best player spoke about the emotional high of the final against Alcaraz and acknowledged that the experience felt very different to his other Major finals.
Five weeks earlier, Jannik squandered three match points against Carlos in that epic Roland Garros final, suffering a heartbreaking 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 defeat in five hours and 29 minutes.
The Italian recovered and made a fresh start at the All England Club. He survived a major scare in the fourth round against Grigor Dimitrov and entered the last four with a win over Ben Shelton.
Sinner outplayed the seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets and arranged his first Wimbledon title clash against Alcaraz. The Spaniard took the opener, but the Italian kept his composure and provided a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory in three hours and four minutes.
Jannik experienced different sensations from his previous Major finals, especially after what happened in Paris. The four-time Major winner revealed he was surprised with the level he produced, especially against his greatest rivals in the latter stages.
The first-time Wimbledon champion took a couple of days off the court, spending quality time with family and friends. Sinner then returned to Monte Carlo and started his preparations for Cincinnati and the US Open.
The Italian has to defend both titles and 3000 ATP points. The pressure is there, but Jannik looks recharged and eager to build on his incredible season and add more silverware to his growing collection.
Will anyone stop him? Only time will tell in the next five weeks.
"The final at Wimbledon provided a different sensation because of what happened a month earlier at Roland Garros. Bouncing back in London and performing at that level surprised me, too.
I was thrilled to spend some time off the court after London and see my family and friends. After spending time with important people around me, I returned to the practice court and gave my best to prepare for the US swing, an important part of the season.
Winning Wimbledon felt very special," Jannik Sinner said.
Exactly one year ago, Novak Djokovic achieved the last huge feat of his career by winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics against all odds. Everyone knows how much the Serbian legend has always loved representing his country, but he had never expressed his best tennis at the Games in previous editions, suffering some of the most painful defeats of his entire career.
The former world No. 1 had left the court in tears after being beaten by Juan Martin del Potro at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016, in what Nole has always defined as one of the most atrocious disappointments he has experienced as a professional tennis player.
Almost all fans and insiders believed that Novak would have his last chance to reach this milestone in Tokyo in 2021, after the Olympics had been postponed by a year due to the pandemic.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion was the top favorite in Japan, considering that he was virtually unbeatable that season having won the first three Majors of the year. Djokovic reached the semifinals in Tokyo without any effort, but his perfect mechanism jammed in the semifinals against Alexander Zverev when he was ahead by a set and a break. He suffered a shocking comeback and everyone thought that his dream had now been shattered.
Djokovic on his amazing run in Paris
The 38-year-old from Belgrade was not the top favorite in Paris last year, on a surface much more suited to the game than Carlos Alcaraz (who had won Roland Garros on those same courts a short time earlier). The former world No.1 had an exceptional run, enhanced by an impeccable performance against Carlitos in the final.
Exactly one year after that magical triumph, Djokovic expressed his feelings: “Oh my gosh, I’ve watched this video probably one million times. Not recently, now I’ve made a little break, but now you’re inspiring me to watch it again and again. It just stands out as probably the highlight of my career, considering the amount of time and years that I waited for that — or haven’t waited — I worked for it.
But the heartbreaking losses in the previous four Olympic Games that I played, unable to make that final step and reach the finals and fight for gold. It was the only big accolade that I missed, that I haven’t achieved in my career, and then coming at the age of 37, it is something very unique, unforgettable.
After crashing out of this year’s French Open Alex de Minaur – the seemingly indefatigable Aussie who plays tennis like the energizer bunny – cited burnout as one of the biggest contributing factors to his on court struggles.
“For the last three, four years I’ve had two days off after the Davis Cup and I’ve gone straight into preseason, straight into the new season again,” he said after falling to Alexander Bublik in five sets in the second round in Paris.
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“Once you start, you don’t finish until Nov. 24. So it’s never ending. The way [the season] is structured … I had to deal with that. I’m still dealing with that right now.”
Two months later, the 26-year-old Aussie is looking recharged, even if he is at a lower ranking. That’s became De Minaur skipped out on his ‘s-Hertogenbosch title defense in order to prioritize his mental and physical health over chasing ranking points.
This week in Toronto he rides an eight-match winning streak into the quarterfinals.
“I took some time off, I didn’t play some tournaments. I knew I had to kind of shift my mindset a little bit, because what I was feeling, what I was dealing with every single day, was not sustainable, and was the reason for my burnout,” De Minaur said earlier this week.
“So, I decided not to try and defend the title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, even though I knew it would affect my seeding at Wimbledon. And that for me was the first step, forgetting about my ranking and just worrying about myself a little bit more.”
De Minaur and many other players – from Casper Ruud to Alexander Zverev to Iga Swiatek – have expressed worry about the demands of the current tour schedule, and the smart ones are learning to take matters into their own hands.
“I managed to have a great balance,” De Minaur said. “I’ve had a lot of talks off the court to make sure I am in this right mindset. Now I’m prioritizing myself, and I know that I’m a good enough player, I know I’m a top-10 player, even if I’m not, I wasn’t in that ranking a couple weeks ago.
“If I show up, and I’m mentally ready and physically ready, I know I can provide that tennis. The last couple weeks have been an example of that, so very proud.”
By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 4, 2025 Photo credit: Peter Power/Tennis Canada/National Bank Open Facebook
Popping with physicality, Alexander Zverev unleashed a series of kangaroo hops behind the baseline more than two hours into tonight’s match.
Showing spring in his steps and sting on his shots, Zverev dethroned defending National Bank Open champion Alexei Popyrin 6-7(8), 6-4, 6-3 to bounce into a historic semifinal.
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The top-seeded Zverev snapped Popyrin’s nine-match winning streak at the Canadian Open creating history for the second time in the tournament.
Zverev, who rallied to his 500th career victory on Thursday, advanced to his 75th career Tour-level semifinal, including his 21st ATP Masters 1000 final four, tonight.
The former Olympic gold-medal champion joins reigning gold-medal champion Novak Djokovic (196) as just the second active man to reach 75 career semifinals.
The 27-year-old German, who won the 2017 Montreal title, will play either 11th-seeded Karen Khachanov or 20-year-old American Alex Michelsen for a spot in the Toronto final.
A tense opening set saw each man save a break point before drama spiked in the tiebreaker.
In a topsy-turvy tiebreaker, Popyrin seized a 5-3 lead only to see Zverev reel off three points in a row for a set point at 6-5.
A diagonal forehand from the Aussie drew a backhand error for 6-all. Popyrin held a set point at 7-6, but Zverev slid a serve down the T to save it.
The top seed held a second set point at 8-7 but netted a forehand return off a second serve, erupting in a primal scream of anguish.
Popyrin crashed a 139 mph ace down the T—his eighth ace—for a second set point at 9-8. Popyrin showed his guts attacking behind a forehand down the line then tapped a half volley that kissed the top of the tape and dribbled over to end a tight first set.
Popyrin raised both hands in apology, taking a one set lead after 1 hour, 11 minutes of play.
Resetting, Zverev held to start the second set then gained the first break of the night on a series of miscues from the Aussie. Popyrin sailed a forehand and double faulted deep ceding the break and a 2-0 second-set lead.
Zverev stamped his second love hold of the match extending his advantage to 3-0.
Seemingly in control of the set at 4-2, Zverev’s forehand failed him in the seventh game. The German decelerated slapping a forehand into the net—his third forehand error of the game—gifting the champion the love break as Popyrin crept closer at 3-4.
Stepping into the court and putting his body weight behind the ball, Zverev lashed a forehand down the line for triple set point in the 10th game. Though Popyrin saved the first set point, he tried the serve-and-volley and pushed a makeable forehand volley wide as Zverev snatched the second set with his second break after one hour, 58 minutes.
An increasingly weary-looking Popyrin opened the court with a wide serve but pushed his favored forehand wide to face a break point. Popyrin sailed a backhand wide ending a sloppy game to gift Zverev the break and a 2-0 lead in the final set.
A pumped-up Zverev pulled off the shot of the match—a superb full-stretch flying forehand volley winner to help him hold at 15 for a 3-0 lead.
Serving with command in the final set, Zverev served 70 percent and won 15 of 15 first-serve points. Impressive, especially considering one idiot in the crowd was screaming in distraction as the German’s ball toss went up in the final game. The disruptor elicited a double-fault, but credit Toronto security for finding the unruly fan and escorting him out of the stadium.
Zverev closed in two hours, 42 minutes pausing to turn and wave bye bye to the second of the stadium where the disruptor was sitting.
Elena Rybakina progressed into the Montreal semifinal via a Marta Kostyuk but stayed very classy afterward, saying it definitely wasn't the desired finish to the match and wished her rival a speedy recovery ahead of the US Open.
The Kazakh tennis star, who is the No. 9 seed at the Canadian Open, made a lightning start to the match after breaking the 24th-seeded Ukrainian three times to easily bag the opener with a 6-1 scoreline.
Through the opening three games of the second set, Rybakina led 2-1 but without any breaks. But then, Kostyuk – who evidently appeared to be hampered by a physical issue on the court – retired from the match due to a wrist injury. It is worth mentioning that the 23-year-old Ukrainian played three matches in three sets in Montreal before facing the No. 9 seed.
For Rybakina, it was her third consecutive victory over Kostyuk – the Kazakh lost their first meeting in 2023 Adelaide but has since been perfect against the Ukrainian.
For the 2022 Wimbledon champion, next up for her in Montreal will be rising Canadian star Victoria Mboko, who defeated Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
Rybakina on Kostyuk's retirement: No one wants to finish a match like that
"Yeah, of course, it's not a nice finish of the match. No one I think wants to finish the match like this, but we played at least a set. I can say that on the baseline I was feeling quite well. A bit of struggle on the serve, but this is something for me to work on tomorrow. So yeah, I mean, for Marta, she's a tough competitor. She always fights. I just wish her a speedy recovery, because I know it's not easy when the big tournaments are ahead," the 26-year-old said after the match.
Rybakina will now turn her focus to Mboko, whom she beat in Washington two weeks ago.
By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 4, 2025 Photo credit: Omnium Banque Nationale Facebook
Being fitter makes you smarter on court, Andre Agassi famously observed.
Naomi Osaka points to improved fitness as one of three main reasons for her Montreal resurgence.
Former world No. 1 Osaka crushed former US Open semifinalist Anastasija Sevastova 6-1, 6-0 in a 49-minute thrashing that was the shortest match of her accomplished career.
It is Osaka’s fourth straight win equaling her longest winning streak of the season which came in Auckland in January. It sent Osaka into her first Canadian Open quarterfinal and vaulted her to No. 34 in the live rankings—as she moved within striking distance of a US Open wild card.
Osaka attributes her career-best Montreal to three primary reasons: she’s fitter on court, happier off court and believes her trial with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski is working well so far because of the Polish’s coaches direct, no-nonsense style.
“Honestly, I think for me what’s working well is I am very confident in my fitness,” Osaka said. “I’m really comfortable just getting balls back now, and I really enjoy Tomasz. I don’t know if to say his name is ‘Thomas’ or ‘Tomasz.’ I’m so sorry.
“But I enjoy his coaching style. He’s very direct and to the point. For someone like me, who my thoughts scatter around often, it’s very helpful.”
At times this season, Osaka was getting beaten by deep balls in the corner and sometimes tried playing big strikes down the line rather that playing back a deep ball to give herself time to recover back to the center of the court.
In fact, as recently as her 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 comeback conquest of 13th-seeded Liudmila Samsonova in round two, Osaka was getting beaten repeatedly in crosscourt exchanges and sometimes taking one big step rather than the short, precise preparation steps to give herself ideal spacing between her body and the ball.
The 2023 Montreal finalist Samsonova held double match point at 6-4, 5-4, 40-15 when Osaka dug down and denied two match points sparking her stirring comeback.
In retrospect, it’s possible that comeback win could change the course of Osaka’s season if she sustains this winning streak. Saving those match points, Osaka started putting productive points together rather than resorting to try to end points prematurely with one big strike.
Similarly, Osaka said she’s now focusing on achieving “Mini goals” at tournaments as she tries to stack more wins together and pursue her ultimate goal of a Top 10 return and eventually competing for Slam titles again.
“It’s weird. I talked to my dad, and he said, like, Just being healthy and happy is a form of success,” Osaka said. “I agree with that, but I want more.
“I mean, definitely, of course I would want to win slams, of course I would want to be in the top 10, but I think I need to pace myself and go for the mini goals, and they’ll eventually turn into the big goals. Yeah, I think being in the quarterfinals here is a step to hopefully getting to the semis and the finals, so I’ll try to treat it more like that.”
Osaka scored her 20th win of the season in Montreal which matches her total 2024 victory output. Now, she’ll try to sustain her roll facing 10th-seeded Elina Svitolina for a semifinal spot. The 27-year-old Osaka has won four of seven meetings vs. Svitolina, who will test the Japanese power players patience with her precision.
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.
Djokovic no juega Cincinnati.
Aunque ese día acabamos perdiendo, hay que recordar la final que nos dieron estos dos en 2023.
La final al mejor de 3 sets más larga de la historia, puntos históricos, calambres por todos lados… Una oda al tenis.
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.
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.
Alexei Popyrin has a very special feeling with the Canadian Open, which takes place in Toronto in this edition. The Australian ace surprised the world in Montreal last season, when he won the first Masters 1000 title of his career by beating Russian star Andrey Rublev in the final.
There is no doubt that the numerous absences among the top players have facilitated Alexei's run again this year, but it must be admitted that he is managing the pressure well and has reached the quarterfinals with full merit. The defending champion defeated both former world No.1 Daniil Medvedev and young Danish star Holger Rune, demonstrating remarkable mental strength even when the situation was not good for him.
Popyrin will face Zverev
His next opponent will be No.1 seed Alexander Zverev, who will compete for a spot in the semifinals in Ontario. The German champion has enormous pressure in this tournament, because most fans and insiders expect him to lift the trophy given the absences of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
However, Sascha will need to play his best tennis if he wants to defeat Popyrin in this tournament. During his last press conference, the Australian player confessed that he feels really comfortable in Canada: "I feel like I can play my best tennis here, even if at the beginning of the tournament I was quite nervous because I knew I had to defend the title I won last year. I'm playing without pressure now and my level is very high, which is why I'll face the next match with serenity and confidence.
I completely forgot about having to defend 1000 points, I just want to play and have fun. The conditions are favorable for my game, because the court is quite fast and gets even faster when it's hot. During the day it's harder to control the ball, but in the evening everything is perfect."
The match between Popyrin and Zverev could be very uncertain than expected.
By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, August 3, 2025 Photo credit: Tennis TV
Sounds of squealing sneakers reverberated around the Toronto court.
Alex de Minaur barely spoke a word during the decisive set today, but his Asic shoes wouldn’t shut up.
Bursting off the baseline with deep desire, de Minaur ran down drop shots to score the key break fending off Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to roar into his seventh quarterfinal of the season at the ATP 1000 National Bank Open.
A week after de Minaur denied three championship points to out-duel Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the Washington, DC final and capture his 10th career title, he lived up to his “Speed Demon” nickname scoring his seventh straight win.
“There’s a lot of quick movers out there. Maybe this year I haven’t had to rely on it as much because I’m focusing on trying to be a little bit more aggressive,” de Minaur said. “Course, you know, there’s still plenty of hours that have been put on in the gym, off the court, to make sure that my footwork and speed is what it is.
“I like to think that it helps in defending and retrieving, but also it helps me in taking time away from my opponents. I’m using it to my advantage to get to the net very quickly and kind of anticipate the next shot. So it’s not only for defensive use, I’m also trying to use it in an aggressive nature as well.”
It’s a historic victory for de Minaur—his 212th career hard court triumph equals two-time US Open champion Patrick Rafter for second on the Australian all-time list in the Open Era trailing only his Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, who was 372-158 lifetime on his favored hard courts.
The ninth-seeded de Minaur will face either world No. 7 Ben Shelton or 17th-ranked Wimbledon quarterfinalist Flavio Cobolli for a semifinal spot. De Minaur is 2-0 lifetime against the 23-year-old Cobolli and has yet to face Shelton in a pro match.
Bouncing on his toes behind the baseline, de Minaur exuded more energy, clarity and consistency at the start today.
Tiafoe dragged a forehand wide and scattered a slice backhand gifting the Aussie the opening-game break.
A sound de Minaur rolled through 12 of the next 15 points, bleeding forehand errors from Tiafoe for a second straight break then holding at 15 to lead 4-0 after just 16 minutes of play.
Though Tiafoe earned a couple of break points in the sixth game, he couldn’t find the court on either break point. De Minaur drew a pair of forehand return errors extending his lead to 5-1.
The ninth-seeded Aussie served out the 37-minute opener at 15.
Elevating his first serve percentage from 39 percent to 59 percent in the second set, Tiafoe played more proactive tennis in the second.
The pair combined for four consecutive breaks to start the second set.
At 4-all, 30-40, Tiafoe fought off a break point then dug in to win the longest game of the set edging ahead 5-4.
Though de Minaur went up 30-love in the ensuing game, Tiafoe would not be denied. Ripping a forehand down the line and attacking at the right time, Tiafoe earned set point. The man from Maryland rattled out a framed forehand from his opponent snatching the second set with a raised fist.
After about a seven-minute bathroom break, Tiafoe returned revitalized in tearing through 12 of the first 14 points on serve to stake a 3-2 lead.
Tiafoe held double break point for a potential 4-2 lead, but de Minaur saved the first forcing a forehand miss. On the second break point, the pair produced one of the most dazzling points of the day. A 15-shot rally saw the Aussie nudge a half volley that Tiafoe ran down and poked a pass crosscourt. De Minaur recovered a ball behind him and hit a forehand into the open court to save the second break point. An ace down the T helped de Minaur level at 3-all.
Tiafoe was snapping the slice serve down the T as he stamped his second love hold of the set for 4-3.
Deadlocked at 4-all, Tiafoe showed the good, the bad and the downright crazy of his game. The good was three aces in the game. The bad was Foe’s stubborn insistence on continuing to play the drop shot against one of the sport’s fastest players. And the crazy was even after seeing de Minaur make those running retrievals and seeing the Aussie was hovering right near the baseline, Tiafoe kept indulging his drop-shot fixation.
At one point, de Minaur careened corner to corner like an ambulance driver answering a 911 call as he hit a full-stretch forehand followed by a running backhand then read the dropper and scrambled forward to retrieve prompting Tiafoe to push a half volley into net.
“It’s kind of, it’s part of my DNA, right, never to let a point go, no matter what position in the rally I’m in,” de Minaur said. “Yeah, today was a crucial example of what it can mean if you make that extra point, right.
It was a huge moment, it gave me a break point, and even though I wasn’t able to convert it, it really did send a message that I wanted that game. Yeah, I mean, I don’t have the biggest weapons out here, but one thing I can rely on is my legs.”
You’d think after seeing the Speed Demon pull off that spectacular series of running gets, the last shot on Tiafoe’s mind would be the dropper.
Well think again.
Inexplicably, a couple of points later, Tiafoe tapped a dropper that sat up, de Minaur easily ran it down and shoveled a forehand pass breaking for 5-4.
Still, de Minaur needed a bit of luck to end it hitting a net-cord winner for 30-5. The slider serve brought the Aussie match point and de Minaur closed on another forehand error from Tiafoe, whose forehand failed him at the wrong times today.
A terrific battle that included chair umpire Mo Lahyani advising a parent in the crowd to “please give that baby some love” in response to a crying child ended with a well-earned ovation after two hours, 24 minutes. De Minaur raised his record to 37-13 on the season, he is No. 3 on the Tour for most victories in 2025.
“Tunnel vision,” de Minaur wrote on the court-side camera, summing up another gritty win for the 2025 ATP hard-court win leader.
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.
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.
It’s been a tournament of upsets and we’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.
Tonight, Tauson sent the second-seeded Swiatek packing to set up an appealing quarterfinal clash vs. Australian Open champion Madison Keys.
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 Swiatek’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 Tour’s most commanding servers, Tauson showed tonight she’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 she’s not nearly as quick around the court as the speedy Swiatek, the 22-year-old Dane anticipated the direction of the Pole’s shots and often beat her to the punch. Perhaps that’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 Tauson’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 return—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 Pole’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.
