Archive of posts tagged United States

Elena Rybakina indicates she is managing some niggles amid promising Montreal run

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Elena

Elena Rybakina indicates she is dealing with some slight physical issues but suggests everything is under control and she is ready for the remainder of Montreal and the North American hard-court swing.

On Saturday, the Kazakh – who is currently ranked at No. 12 in the world and seeded at No. 9 at the Canadian Open – survived a two-hour and 33-minute battle versus No. 30 seed Dayana Yastremska 5-7 6-2 7-5 to reach the quarterfinal.

For Rybakina, that was already her sixth match on hard courts this summer. Before coming to Montreal, the former world No. 3 reached the Washington semifinal before losing to Leylah Fernandez.

"Well, of course, a little bit getting tired of my issues, but we're managing. Overall I'm happy that I'm ready to play these long matches. I think it's a good preparation for US Open in the end of the day," the 26-year-old said when asked how she was physically feeling.

Rybakina comments on facing Marta Kostyuk next in Montreal

Next up for Rybakina will be a career-fourth meeting against world No. 28 Kostyuk. Two and a half years ago, Kostyuk won their first match at the Adelaide International. Since then, they have met two more times, with the Kazakh winning on the ending side at the 2023 US Open and 2024 Stuttgart. 

While the 2022 Wimbledon champion won their last two meetings routinely in straight sets, she insists that she expects "a tough battle" against the Ukrainian.

"We played a couple of times. So different surface, but it's always tough battle. There is noisy matches, that's for sure. I will try to focus on myself. I know that she's really fighter, and she's really physically tough opponent. So yeah, I will try to do my best and hopefully can win that match," the Kazakh said of facing Kostyuk.

In the past, Rybakina made the Montreal semifinal in 2023.

Michelsen Tops Tien, Will face Khachanov for Toronto Semifinal Spot

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By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, August 2, 2025
Photo credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty

In a clash of friendly fire, Alex Michelsen played clean first-strike tennis to take good friend Learner Tien down.

Michelsen broke Tien in his opening service game of both sets sparking a 6-3, 6-3 sweep in a match of talented Californians in Toronto today.

Alex Michelsen

The 20-year-old Michelsen, who toppled 10th-ranked Lorenzo Musetti in the prior round, advance to his 15th career quarterfinal and first Masters 1000 quarterfinal.

It’s a milsetone moment for Michelsen, who led start to finish. Michelsen is the youngest American ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinalist since a 20-year-old Sebastian Korda made the last eight at 2021 Miami. He’s the youngest U.S. man to reach the National Bank Open quarterfinals since a 20-year-old Andy Roddick took the title 22 years ago.

Aggressive baseline play from Michelsen combined with some uncharacteristically sloppy shotmaking from Tien was the difference today. Michelsen converted four of 10 break points in an 80 minute victory for his sixth quarterfinal of the 2025 season.

The 34th-ranked Michelsen will face Karen Khachanov for a spot in the final four.

Khachanov cracked 29 winners in a 6-4, 7-5 victory over former US Open finalist Casper Ruud.

The 11th-seeded Khachanov broke three times in a 93-minute victory.

Khachanov beat Ruud for the first time in three meetings and snapped an 11-match losing streak vs. Top 20 opponents. It was Khachanov’s first win over a Top 20 opponent since he beat Grigor Dimitrov at the Paris Indoors last October.

The hard-hitting Khachanov has dropped just one set in three tournament victories.

Michelsen won his lone prior meeting vs. Khachanov with an impressive 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-2 sweep at the Australian Open last January.

Donald Trump caught cheating in Scotland?

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A new video, filmed during Donald Trump's recent trip to Scotland, revives accusations of cheating, a habitual practice by the former US president on the golf course. In the viral footage, Trump can be seen slowing down in his golf cart while a caddie in front of him discreetly throws a ball behind him. This less-than-discreet "replacement" is in total contradiction with the fundamental rule of golf: play it as it lies.

This gesture, described by many as revealing, reinforces an already well-established reputation. Sports writer Rick Reilly, author of the book Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump (2019), already saw it as a metaphor for the political figure: incapable of separating real performance from showmanship.

Trump, news

This official trip, estimated at nearly $10 million for American taxpayers, included stops at his two Scottish resorts and the inauguration of a new 18-hole course in Aberdeenshire.

A tour that blends diplomacy, personal leisure, and image strategy, which has drawn fierce criticism from across the Atlantic. On the ground, the former president's visit did not go unnoticed, and neither did his practices on the green.

The Rules of Golf are a set of standards and procedures by which the sport of golf should be played. They are jointly written and administered by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the governing body of golf worldwide, except in the United States and Mexico, which are governed by the United States Golf Association. An expert committee composed of members of the R&A and the USGA oversees and refines the rules every four years. The latest revision took effect on January 1, 2016. Amendments to the Rules of Golf are generally divided into two main categories: those that improve understanding and those that reduce penalties in certain cases to ensure balance. The rulebook, entitled "Rules of Golf," is published regularly and also includes rules governing amateur status. In Italy, the Italian Golf Federation is responsible for overseeing competitions by enforcing the rules issued by the R&A, ensuring that these rules are observed by clubs, associations, and their members, and managing the resulting sporting justice, protecting their interests abroad.

“It Hasn’t Been Great” – Pegula Bothered by ‘Sloppy” Tennis

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It’s just about time for Jessica Pegula to return to the scene of her first major final. The World No.4 would like to head to the 2025 US Open with a little wind beneath her wings, but at the moment she can’t seem to get her feet off the ground.

The Buffalo native produced another head-scratching effort against 386-ranked Anastasija Sevastova on Friday in Montreal, dropping 12 of the final 15 games to make it just one win in four matches since the start of Wimbledon.

“It hasn’t been great, to be honest. I don’t really feel like I’m playing great tennis.”

— Jessica Pegula

Pegula was the two-time defending champion in Canada this week, but could not summon the confidence that took her to titles in Montreal in 2023 and Toronto last year.

For Pegula, who played and lost the final to Aryna Sabalenka at the US Open last year, it simply isn’t good enough.

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“It hasn’t been great, to be honest,” the 31-year-old said on Friday in Montreal. “I don’t really feel like I’m playing great tennis. At times I am, but I feel very up and down, kind of sloppy, which I don’t like. It really bothers me. I’m kind of a perfectionist, so I don’t like having to say that.

“I feel like I’ve gone through phases in my career, a few tournaments, where I feel like that sometimes, and you have to figure out how to get out of it and not feel sorry for yourself or make excuses. I’ve got figure it out.”

Pegula still has time to right the ship. She’ll head to the Cincinnati Open next week, hoping to build momentum ahead of the final Grand Slam of the year.

She believes she needs to be a better problem solver, starting now.

“You have to do it in those moments in matches where you’re in that moment where you have to compete and figure things out,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve been able to do it great the last couple of matches, so hopefully going into Cincy I think that’s definitely going to be my main focus every single match is focusing on those big points and those big games because I do think I am playing some good tennis to get up in these matches, and there’s times where I’m reeling off six, seven really good games, and then it kind of falls away.

“So I’ve got to figure out how to kind of sustain that higher level against these good players.”

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 American’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 winners—nine more than Raducanu—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.

Rickie Fowler admits he hasn’t done enough yet to secure a Ryder Cup spot

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captain of the US team

Rickie Fowler is playing at this week's Wyndham Championship, and many eyes are on him and his performance. The famous golfer has not been in great shape for years, and although some speculated that Fowler could make a breakthrough this season, it seems that Fowler has a lot of problems. 

In an interview with the media, the American golfer sent messages of reason, believing that he is far from his game. 

Rickie is not sure that he has done much to deserve to be part of the team, but he hopes to be at least a little more dominant in the coming weeks.

“I would say that I am definitely outside of consideration right now,” Fowler said. “There is still time to plead my case, but going back to executing, I need to go and play some good golf, and I need a really good stretch these next few weeks.

The team will be fine with or without me, but I haven’t quite done much of anything to say that I should be there. But it would be fun to go on a little run and see if that maybe sparks anyone’s interest.

But if we can’t, it’s part of it. You don’t make all of them. But they are fun to be a part of, and we will see if we can give ourselves a shot at it.”- Fowler concluded, as quoted by the Golfing Gazette.

What will happen?

It is hard to imagine that Rickie can be close to the US Ryder Cup, and it would take a miracle to perform at Bethpage Black. 

Rickie would probably have to celebrate at the next three events, but his only hope is Keegan Bradley, captain of the US team, whose pick could be Fowler. 

Fans are skeptical about it, but it is clear that Rickie certainly does not have serious expectations regarding the Ryder Cup.

Ex-Slam finalist lays out one strong reason why Emma Raducanu can win Major again

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Anna Kalinskaya

Pam Shriver is not ruling out the possibility of Emma Raducanu winning a Grand Slam once again as the 1978 US Open runner-up suggests that if a player has done it once, they certainly have the mindset to do it at least one more time.

How the British tennis player became a Grand Slam winner in a historic way and the criticism she faced after failing to keep up with the same level in the aftermath of her win is well-documented. 

Last week, Raducanu came very close to making her first final of any sort since the 2022 US Open. Sadly for the 22-year-old, she fell just short in her bid after Anna Kalinskaya handed her a 6-4 6-3 loss in the Washington semifinal. 

Overall, Raducanu is 23-15 this year and ranked at No. 33 in the world. Over the past year, the Briton has improved certain areas in her game – she has managed to stay healthier – and it is positively reflecting on her results. However, she still remains without a really big result or something that could propel her to the top of the game. 

While Shriver – who has one Grand Slam final on her resume and multiple semifinals – acknowledges that Raducanu's results haven't been the best for the past four years, she still believes it is possible for the 22-year-old to lift a Grand Slam glory.

Shriver on Raducanu's future Slam chances

"Obviously, in the last say three and a half years, four years she’s kind of fallen back into kind of like a solid player with some good results during the year. But if you just took her resume, take that US Open out, that one tournament out, you would probably say no she’s not going to win one. She might have some quarterfinals, semifinals, but when you know that somebody’s had the mindset to do it once you always think sure, they can do it again," Shriver said on Talking Tennis. 

Last year, Raducanu confidently said in one of her interviews that she was "going to win Wimbledon one day."

This year, the British tennis player had a third-round outings at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, while she exited the French Open in the second round.

Joel Dahmen fires 9-under 61 to grab Wyndham Championship lead

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Alex Noren

Joel Dahmen, a 37-year-old US player, has a serious challenge ahead of him, as he wants to qualify for the PGA Tour playoffs. The seasoned golfer had an impressive day, finishing the round with three consecutive birdies for a 9-under 61. 

The American golfer has a one-shot lead over Alex Noren. 

The popular golfer is motivated to jump another step in his career, aware that the first 70 on the FexExCup list will have many privileges. 

After the end of the first round, the experienced golfer shared positive emoticons, aware of what such a great result would bring him.

Joel Dahmen's ambitions 

However, Dahmen does not want to focus too much on the next days or think about the result, as he wants to primarily play a great tournament.

“I mean, I've had like three top twos in my career — I don't know, four of them, maybe? I mean, it's not even a thing, right? Yeah, great to make the Playoffs, that would be unbelievable, give me a lot of time off this fall. We’ve got a baby coming so that would take some pressure off of that.

The Playoffs are a bonus for me. I’m just going to go out and try to play good golf, and I guess if I play really well, then I get to play another week.”- he concluded, as quoted by the PGA Tour.

The first 50 after the first Playoff tournament will have a guaranteed entry into all Signature events worth 20 million dollars, and there are many who have a strong motive to reach such a position. 

This tournament also brought disappointment for some more experienced names, but today they will have the opportunity to improve their impression.

It will be interesting to follow Dahmen and see if he can really maintain his leadership position at one of the important PGA tournaments.

Novak Djokovic chooses particular outfit for the US Open

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Belgrade

The first part of the season was full of ups and downs for Novak Djokovic, who was able to raise his level in Grand Slam tournaments – where he always reached the semifinals – while suffering surprising eliminations in the other tournaments on the calendar.

It is no secret to anyone that the former world number 1 has as his main goal to become the oldest ever to win a Major title, an achievement that would allow him to steal the record from Ken Rosewall and definitively overtake Margaret Court by hoisting himself to 25 Slams.

However, young champions like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have a higher level than Nole nowadays and it is no coincidence that the Italian ace defeated the Serbian at both Roland Garros and the Wimbledon Championships a few weeks ago.

Nole's US Open outfit  

Most pundits and former players believe Novak has the next huge chance at the 2026 Australian Open, but the 38-year-old from Belgrade will try to pull off the feat as early as the US Open later this summer. The 24-time Grand Slam champion will only participate in the Cincinnati Masters 1000 before traveling to New York, where he last triumphed in 2023.

Djokovic chose to skip the Toronto Masters 1000 to recharge his batteries and has not resumed practicing yet, as he has been spotted on vacation in Croatia and Greece in recent days.

In the meantime, the total black outfit that the Serbian veteran will wear in the Big Apple has been unveiled. The former world No.1 hopes that this choice will bring him luck, after last year he was eliminated in the first week due to fatigue accumulated at the Paris Olympics.

The veteran from Belgrade will have to on a path that is not too hard and his body will not have to betray him.

Tiger Woods gives son Charlie freedom but keeps strict financial rules in place

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Charlie

While some think that Tiger Woods is giving Charlie, his son, too much freedom, it seems that things are not what they seem. Tiger has emphasized several times so far that he does not want to interfere too much in his son's life, believing that Charlie should build a career on his own, and primarily enjoy golf. 

The famous golfer is aware of the amount of pressure his son is under, and that is one of the reasons why the experienced golfer gave Charlie a dose of freedom. However, the 49-year-old has set somewhat different rules in other spheres of life. 

According to the US media, Tiger has set strict financial rules for Charlie before he can receive part of his property. 

Throughout his long career, Tiger earned a huge amount of money both by winning famous tournaments and through sponsorships. 

According to Forbes, Tiger Woods' fortune is about 1.3 billion dollars, and it is clear that his son and daughter will inherit that money. 

According to the British media, Charlie and his sister have trusts in their names worth 20 million dollars each, and the 16-year-old even got two luxury properties! 

However, Charlie’s access is quite limited, as he will only have the right to the property once he turns 21.

On the other hand, there is no doubt that Charlie will also earn huge money in the future, mostly through sponsorships, but probably also through his golf career. 

Will he be equally brilliant on the golf course?

It is difficult to give the right answer as to whether the teenager will make a name for himself in the world of golf, but experts and fans are convinced that Tiger's son can be at least partially as good as his father.

The public is closely following his development and his performances at junior tournaments, where it seems that the 16-year-old has serious potential. 

An important thing in his career will be distance from pressure, and we will see if Charlie will manage to distance himself from cameras and public pressure.

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 dream—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.

Dining Room: USTA Issues Food Menu for US Open

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By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Photo credit: Tim Clayton/Getty

Fans will feast on Grand Slam tennis and major culinary experience at the 2025 US Open.

The USTA today announced the menu for the US Open which features everything from pastrami to pizza to porterhouse steak to pastaRamen.

In a news release announcing its food and drink menu, the USTA highlighted some of the dining options fans can feast on in the food court and inside the stadiums:

Tennis fans can experience world-class Mexican hospitality through Dobel® Tequila’s exciting new culinary partnership with Oyamel by José Andrés Group, bringing together two masters of their craft to celebrate the rich regional diversity of Mexican cuisine and vibrant cocktail experiences inside the Dobel Tequila Club. Guests will enjoy various Mexican dishes, including Oyamel’s Taco Cochinita, made of Yucatán-style pit barbecued pork, achiote, Mexican sour orange and pickled red onion.

Making its US Open debut, pastaRAMEN will bring its unique Wafu Italian cuisine to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in 2025. Led by James Beard-nominated Rising Star Chef Robbie Felice, pastaRAMEN will present fans with a bold fusion of Italian and Japanese flavors, meticulously prepared using high-quality ingredients and time-honored techniques. Originating as an invite-only omakase pop-up in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, pastaRAMEN is now based in Montclair, N.J. It holds the distinction of being the first Italian ramen shop in the United States, taking inspiration from Kabenoana, a 1950s Tokyo restaurant whose name translates to “hole in the wall.”

Restaurateur Simon Kim, the Founder and CEO of Gracious Hospitality Management, the group behind the Michelin-starred COTE Korean Steakhouse in New York City’s Flatiron District, will return for his second year with a fresh twist to his beloved restaurant concept COQODAQ. Known for its elevated approach to Korean-inspired Better Fried Chicken, the revamped “CQDQ” will be located in Food Village and feature a curated menu of fan-friendly favorites, including the iconic nuggets. The original COQODAQ, featuring signature dishes such as “The Golden Nugget” — the renowned chicken nugget paired with caviar — will also be available to fans in the club level of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Here’s a complete menu for the 2025 US Open:

Arthur Ashe Stadium

Of course, if none of the above suit your taste buds (or your wallet) you can always travel outside of the gates to the hot dog and pretzel stand or ice cream concession located at the base of the boardwalk fans cross to reach the USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center from the No. 7 train.

After breakup with Stefanos Tsitsipas, Paula Badosa finds US Open mixed dubs partner

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Badosa

Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas may not partner up at the US Open, but the Spanish tennis star has found herself a replacement and she will still feature in the mixed doubles event after she and Jack Draper have been confirmed as a pair.

In case you missed it, Badosa and Tsitsipas had been one of the star duos slated to play in the revolutionary US Open mixed doubles tournament. Then, in early July, it was reported that they called time on their love story. To no one's surprise, the two pulled out of the mixed doubles event shortly after. 

When the preliminary player field for the mixed doubles event at Flushing Meadows was released, Draper and Zheng Qinwen were there as a team. That was before Zheng had to undergo surgery and withdraw from the last Grand Slam tournament of the year.

Despite the circumstances in which they found themselves, world No. 10 Badosa and fifth-ranked Draper still came up with the idea of how to feature in the star-studded doubles tournament in New York.

Tsitsipas and Badosa even shot a video together for the upcoming US Open mixed doubles tournament

In late June, the former couple appeared in a video for the last Grand Slam tournament of the year. There, the Greek spoke very excitedly about sharing the same side of the court with the Spaniard.

“I believe it's honestly one of the best feelings to be sharing the court with Paula. So, I've had a few instances where we played some mixed doubles and it worked out very well. We were able to enjoy the company of one another on the tennis court and make something great out of it," Tsitsipas said at the time.

Badosa and Tsitsipas played mixed doubles in New York last year and lost in the first round.

PGA Tour, final tournament of regular season

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Adam Scott

It's the final tournament of the PGA Tour regular season, and the stakes are high. The Wyndham Championship will take place from July 31st to August 3rd in Greensboro, North Carolina. Among the 156 competitors, there will also be an Italian: Matteo Manassero. On the Sedgefield Country Club course, the competition will be fierce to qualify for the top 70 of the FedEx Cup, who will compete in the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis from August 7th to 10th, the first of three playoff events. The field includes not only 10 of the world's top 40, but also all the players ranked 60th to 109th in the FedEx Cup. While it's true that 70 players will advance to the first postseason event, it's also true that the top 100 of the FedEx Cup, at the conclusion of the Wyndham Championship, will confirm their full roster for the 2025-2026 season.

Pga Tour, news

Among the competition's most anticipated players is Keegan Bradley. Ranked seventh in the world, the 39-year-old from Woodstock, Vermont, could play the dual role of player-captain for the United States in the 45th Ryder Cup from September 26 to 28 in Farmingdale, New York. This year, Bradley, ranked 10th in the FedEx Cup, has achieved five top-10 finishes in 17 events, including the Travelers Championship. The winner of the tournament will secure not only $1,476,000 (8,200,000 total prize money) and 500 FedEx Cup points, but also an exemption to participate in The Sentry, THE PLAYERS Championship, the Masters Tournament, and the PGA Championship in 2026.

Not since 2007 (when the FedEx Cup was founded) has the Wyndham Championship boasted a field of this caliber, with 21 of the world's top 50 and 22 of the FedEx Cup's top 50. If England's Aaron Rai defends the title he won in 2024, Americans Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Ben Griffin, Andrew Novak, Max Greyserman, Akshay Bhatia, and Kurt Kitayama (fresh from his exploits in the 3M Open) will be chasing the feat. With them are Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, England's Matt Fitzpatrick and Harry Hall, Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, South Korea's Sungjae Im, New Zealand's Ryan Fox, Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard, and Australia's Adam Scott, runner-up in 2021 and 7th in 2023. For Manassero (147th in the FedEx Cup), the 32-year-old from Negrar di Valpolicella (Verona), after two consecutive cuts in Europe in the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open (the last Major of 2025), this is a chance to confirm the good results he showed on the PGA Tour last June in the Canadian Open, where he finished 6th after also leading at the end of the third and penultimate round.

Explained: Why Naomi Osaka, Nick Kyrgios didn't receive US Open mixed doubles WC?

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Alcaraz

Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios haven't been awarded a wildcard for the US Open mixed doubles, but there is a very probable explanation why that's the case. 

When the US Open revealed the list of signed-up teams for their revolutionary mixed doubles tournament in late June, the Japanese four-time Grand Slam champion and the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up were there. On Tuesday, the organizers of the last Grand Slam of the year shared the list of eight teams that made the tournament directly and other six pairs that received a wildcard – the Japanese/Australian combination wasn't on the list.

Osaka and Kyrgios not being on the list came as a surprise to many, considering that they would be one of the most attractive and entertaining teams to watch despite competing in a star-studded field. However, there is probably a reason why the US Open organizers are waiting to see whether to award one of the remaining two wildcards to the Japanese/Australian pair.

Last week in Washington, Kyrgios played his first tournament in four months. But even that didn't go as planned since he was forced to withdraw from singles and only played in doubles – where he and Gael Monfils were thrashed 2-6 2-6 by Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Hugo Nys.

Later, the Australian said that his knee was "cooked." With that being said, the US Open organizers likely agreed with the 30-year-old to first see if he is is fit enough to play and then award him and Osaka a wildcard for the mixed doubles tournament.

What Kyrgios said about playing mixed doubles with Osaka at the US Open?

Earlier this month, the Australian confidently stated that he and Osaka "could do some big things" as a duo.

"What other sport in the world can you have your favourite female athlete play with your favourite male athlete and compete for prize money and a Grand Slam trophy? So pairings like Raducanu and Alcaraz, they’ve created such a buzz around the sport and my partner, Naomi Osaka, I think we can do some big things," Kyrgios said three weeks ago. 

Novak Djokovic may have to wait until 2026 to make history: all details inside

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Australian Open

Novak Djokovic is realizing how difficult it will be to win another Grand Slam title and become the oldest player ever to achieve this feat. The former world No.1 still has the ability to raise his level in surprising ways in Major tournaments – having reached the semifinals in Melbourne, Paris and London this year – but the truth is that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have reached a level that is too high for him nowadays.

The Serbian legend no longer has the athletic fitness of a few years ago and the number of his injuries has definitely increased in the last year and a half, forcing him to admit that it will not be easy to make tennis history for the umpteenth time.

The 38-year-old from Belgrade could have retired in the summer of last year, after achieving the last huge goal of his career by winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, but he loves this sport too much and has decided to continue competing at the highest level. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has repeatedly repeated that he would be really proud to participate in the next edition of the Olympics, scheduled in Los Angeles in 2028, when he will be 41 years old.

Nole is aiming to win his 25th Grand Slam title

Meanwhile, Nole has decided to skip the Toronto Masters 1000 and is expected to return to action in Cincinnati next month, the last test before the start of the US Open in late August. The Serbian veteran is still enjoying his holidays in Croatia and Greece.

Speaking to Gigi Salmon on the latest episode of the 'Courtside Conversations' podcast, Mansour Bahrami reflected on Novak's current status: “I thought that he is going to do it. I know that it’s going to get more and more difficult. For me Wimbledon was maybe the last one so it would be unbelievable and he has done so many things unbelievable that we all are amazed how great he’s done.

He’s a great champion, he’s won everything and so is he capable at almost 39 to go and win Australian Open. I would say if there is one that would be Australian Open. But it’s going to be very, very hard.”

LPGA/LET: Lottie Woad shows off in Scotland

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Ariya Jutanugarn

Spectacular Lottie Woad. After moving up the ranks from number one amateur, she won her first tournament as a pro, the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open, which she completed with a 267 (67, 65, 67, 68, -21), capping an incredible three-week run. In early July, she won the KPMG Women's Irish Open (LET), then finished third seven days later in The Amundi Evian Championship, her fourth women's Major, both times still amateur. She now has a ticket to the LET and LPGA, which also jointly organized the tournament at Dundonald Links (par 72) in Scotland.

Lottie Woad, results

The 21-year-old from Farnham took the lead in the second round and then held off her opponents to conclude her winning run with a 68 (-4, five birdies, one bogey). She left Korea's Hyo Joo Kim, second with a 270 (-18), three strokes behind, and Spain's Julia Lopez Ramirez and fellow Korean Sei Young Kim, third with a 274 (-14), seven strokes behind. She took home $300,000 from a $2,000,000 prize pool.

Two Italian players were in the field. Benedetta Moresco had a very consistent performance, finishing 21st with a 283 (70 71 71 71, -5), and Alessandra Fanali finished 50th with a 289 (74 71 72 72, +1).

Nelly Korda, number one in the Rolex Ranking, held a significant gap, even though she finished in fifth place with a 275 (-13). She was followed by Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen, sixth with a 277 (-11), South Africa's Paula Reto, seventh with a 278 (-10), Korea's Mi Hyang Lee, and Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn, eighth with a 279 (-9). Among the contenders, Lauren Coughlin, defending her title, finished in tenth place with a 280 (-8).

Benedetta Moresco, in the final round, shot her third straight 71 (-1) with three birdies and two bogeys, and Alessandra Fanali finished with a 72 (par, two birdies, two bogeys).

The Rules of Golf are a set of standards and procedures by which the sport of golf should be played. They are jointly written and administered by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the governing body of golf worldwide, except in the United States and Mexico, which are governed by the United States Golf Association. An expert committee composed of members of the R&A and the USGA oversees and refines the rules every four years. The latest revision took effect on January 1, 2016. Amendments to the Rules of Golf are generally divided into two main categories: those that improve understanding and those that reduce penalties in certain cases to ensure balance. The rulebook, entitled "Rules of Golf," is published regularly and also includes rules governing amateur status. In Italy, the Italian Golf Federation is responsible for overseeing competitions by enforcing the rules issued by the R&A, ensuring that these rules are observed by clubs, associations, and their members, and managing the resulting sporting justice, protecting their interests abroad.

Padraig Harrington dominates Major for over 50

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Ben Curtis

Ireland's Padraig Harrington dominated the ISPS Handa Senior Open, one of the majors for "over-50s," finishing with a 264 (67, 65, 65, 67, -16) on the par-70 Sunningdale GC course, in the town from which the course takes its name, England.

Padraig Harrington, results

In the tournament organized jointly by the Legends Tour and the PGA Tour Champions, Harrington took the lead in the second round and then controlled the situation, preventing his opponents from coming back. He finished with a 67 (-3, one eagle, three birdies, two bogeys), prevailing by three shots over American Justin Leonard and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, who finished second with 267 (-13).

Australian Scott Hend finished fourth with a 268 (-12), South African Ernie Els and Australian Cameron Percy in fifth with a 269 (-11), and New Zealander Steven Alker, who had led in the opening round, finished seventh with a 270 (-10). Emanuele Canonica, who finished 110th with a 146 (72 74, +6), made the cut after two rounds.

Padraig Harrington, 53, from Dublin, won his third Major title in his category (his second this year after the U.S. Senior Open) and his 11th on the PGA Tour Champions, where he currently plays. Before joining the "over-50" ranks, he won three career Majors, and, excluding those, three PGA Tour events and 12 European Tour (now the DP World Tour). His list of victories also includes one on the Japan Golf Tour, two on the Asian Tour (plus two combined with the European circuit), one World Cup (with Paul McGinley, 1997), and ten others around the world. For his achievement, he received a check for €381,190 out of a prize pool of approximately €2,427,000 (officially $2,850,000).

Pádraig Harrington, born August 31, 1971 in Ballyroan, is an Irish golfer who turned professional in 1995. His greatest achievement was a victory at the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie in Scotland. He retained his title a year later at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in England. At the 2008 PGA Championship, he edged Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis by two strokes to win the tournament for the first time in his career and his third Grand Slam title.

Former ATP ace praises Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz's new schedule

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Carlitos

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz – the top two players in the ATP rankings – both decided to skip the Toronto Masters 1000, which also had to suffer the forfeit of Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper. The Italian and the Spaniard have had to use a lot of energy in the last month and a half, particularly at Roland Garros and the Wimbledon Championships, where they faced each other in the final giving a show to fans around the world.

Their clash in Paris was one of the most electrifying of the modern era, considering that the 22-year-old from Murcia cancelled out three match points in a row to his top rival before winning in the fifth set after almost five and a half hours. The current world No. 1 got his revenge in the final act of Wimbledon just over two weeks ago, coming back from a set down and preventing Carlitos from lifting his third trophy in a row at Church Road.

Sinner and Alcaraz don't take risks

Both allowed themselves a period of relaxation after the third Major of the season and resumed practicing a few days ago, respectively in Monte Carlo and Spain. Fans will have to wait until the Cincinnati Masters 1000 to see these young champions in action, who have already set the US Open as their main goal this summer.

The 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria will try to defend the top position in the ATP rankings in the second half of the season, while Carlos will be able to take advantage of the fact that he has not shone from Wimbledon onwards in 2024.

In a long interview with 'Il Corriere della Sera', former Italian ace Paolo Canè commented on Sinner and Alcaraz's choice to skip Toronto: "Although they are still very young, Jannik and Carlitos are already true champions. Not only do I agree with their decision to skip this tournament, but I am happy about it. It means that they have understood that they have to preserve their body and not just think about results, but about prolonging their careers. The secret in today's tennis is to play little and win often."

Emma Raducanu rewarded for great Washington run with her best ranking since 2022

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Anna Kalinskaya

Emma Raducanu's deep Washington run came with a solid reward as the British tennis player gained 13 spots on the updated WTA rankings and now sits at No. 33 in the world.

After returning to the top-40 for the first time in years a few months ago, the 2021 US Open champion exited the top-40 club recently and she entered Washington as the 46th-ranked player in the game. Although unseeded, the 22-year-old put up a good run and made the semifinal at the WTA 500 tournament in the United States capital before falling short to Anna Kalinskaya.

For Raducanu, it was heavily disappointing not to reach her first final since 2021 in Washington. However, the Briton still has something to be happy about as she is back inside the top-35 for the first time since 2022. Also, she is now once again the top-ranked British female tennis player.

Raducanu issued a pretty confident remark about herself in Washington

Last week, the 22-year-old decided to publicly praise herself. When doing so, she spoke positively about her game but also her tennis outfits.

"I think when I watch myself now, I really like how I look on the court. Not in like a narcissistic way. I mean in terms of energy, and I think I feel quite upbeat. The pink outfit is pretty cute as well. I think it's more I look composed on the court. I feel composed. I think that's a product of just the amount of work I'm doing behind the scenes that maybe people don't see. I love that, I love banking it in, doing everything in the shadows," Raducanu said in Washington.

This week, Raducanu is competing at the WTA 1000 tournament in Montreal. Since the new world No. 33 didn't play at the Canadian Open last year, she could clinch some solid ranking points if she makes a run. 

Raducanu plays against Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the Montreal first round. In the past, they played once – in the 2024 Auckland first round – and the British tennis player won that match in three sets.

Padraig Harrington fires 65 to take command at Senior Open

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Bob Charles

Padraig Harrington showed his superiority in yet another tournament, playing a brilliant third round with five birdies and one bogey for a total of 65 shots, finishing the day 13 shots under par. 

While Harrington has impressed the public with his qualities for the umpteenth time, it seems that he is a bit scared by the bad feeling on the golf course. 

The experienced golfer hopes to keep the lead and finish the final day in style.

“I don’t feel very good about how I’m hitting the ball,” he said, as quoted by Golf Today.

“So trying to get away from that and not worry so much about that because clearly I’m scoring well.

Better off shooting 13-under par and not feeling so good about it than thinking you’re swinging it great and being level par.”

The 53-year-old is motivated to do great things at this tournament, aware that a serious task awaits him. The Irish golfer last celebrated at the US Senior Open last month, and it seems that he is currently the most dominant figure on the senior Tour. 

The Irish golfer hopes to win this tournament and join legends like Gary Player, Tom Watson, Darren Clark and Bob Charles, who won both the Open Championship and the ISPS HANDA Senior Open.

During his career, Padraig has shown that he is a golfer who really belongs at the very top, but many are amazed by his dedication and desire, as he is in his serious years, when many play this sport recreationally. 

Justin Leonard

Justin Leonard is a golfer breathing down his neck, taking second place with a score of 11 under par. 

Leonard is motivated to win this tournament, and such a victory would go down in the sport's history.

“To be in contention is something I shoot for every week, and I think we all do,” said Leonard. 

“To do it in a major championship then is another thing, and then to do it at the Senior Open here at Sunningdale, it’s been a special three days.”

Jannik Sinner reaches final at all four Majors faster than Rafael Nadal

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All England Club

Jannik Sinner's run at Majors has been nothing but spectacular in the previous two years! The Italian's relentless rise continued at Wimbledon a couple of weeks ago, lifting his first trophy at the All England Club.

By reaching the final in London, Jannik collected title matches at all four Majors as the ninth player in the Open era. At 23 years and ten months, Sinner became the second player to achieve that, passing Rafael Nadal and trailing only Jim Courier!

The great Spaniard got his name on the list at the 2010 US Open at 24 years and three months. Roger Federer entered the chart at the 2006 Roland Garros, two months before turning 25, and Novak Djokovic joined at the same tournament six years later at 25.

Jim Courier holds the record, completing the final at all four Majors at Wimbledon in 1993, still at 22. Jannik could not match him, but the names he left behind speak volumes about his achievement.

Sinner has reached seven semi-finals at the previous nine Majors, with five titles matches and four titles under his belt. The Italian celebrated 81 times in his first 100 matches on the most notable scene, a tally few can match.

More impressively, he has been nearly unstoppable at last four Major events, compiling a staggering 27-1 record and lifting trophies in New York, Melbourne and London. 

Jannik Sinner, Wimbledon 2025

Jannik Sinner, Wimbledon 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Jannik almost completed a Career Grand Slam, having missed three match points against Carlos Alcaraz in that epic Roland Garros final. Sinners ability to adjust across surfaces highlights a level od adaptability and maturity well beyond his age.

With each Major event, the 23-year-old further establishes himself not just as the future of tennis, but as a dominant force of the present. What's next for Jannik? The US Open title defense.

The young gun will be the favorite to defend the crown at Arthur Ashe Stadium and extend his hard-court Major dominance, having won the previous three tournaments in Melbourne and New York.

Donald Trump’s golf course debut and Scottish minister meeting on same day

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Aberdeen

Donald Trump's arrival in Scotland caused a barrage of reactions from the public. Citizens of Scotland were not particularly open about his arrival at the golf course in Turnberry, but also about Trump's visit to Scotland in general.

The American president arrived in the European country to meet with Ursula von der Leyen, as well as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Scottish Prime Minister John Swinney. 

Trump is scheduled to meet with Swinney on Monday and will officially open the second golf course on his Aberdeenshire property at the same time.

The citizens of Scotland are not the only ones who raise their voice, as the citizens of the US are equally frustrated with the politics of the Republican leader. His excessive focus on golf and ignoring construction is where the deepest frustrations lie. 

Trump arrived in Scotland on Friday night, heading to Turnberry. 

His arrival at Turnberry caused a lot of reactions, and the police primarily wanted to ensure Trump's safety with military and police forces. 

A security checkpoint has been set up in front of the hotel, and a tall fence now surrounds the course.

Major Scottish cities such as Aberdeen and Edinburgh saw protests in response to the US president’s visit.

Trump is expected to return on Tuesday, but it remains to be seen how his visit to Scotland will end; and whether he’ll be able to connect with key European political figures.

Trump's moves: The future of the world is in his hands

The republican leader created real chaos in the world with his tariffs, which did not cause the approval of citizens around the world, as well as important political figures. Although Trump is ready to negotiate and find a common language, it seems that the majority is outraged by his actions and desire to dominate.

In addition, most believe that Donald Trump is focused more on golf than on serious political issues that could define the future of the planet.

Reason why Alexander Zverev can't disappoint in Toronto

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Alexander Zverev

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

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

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

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

Zverev will play in Toronto

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

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

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

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

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Carlitos

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

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

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

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

Alcaraz practices

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

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

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