All articles tagged with #tennis
Serena Williams returns to the US Open with Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles, winning their opener but being eliminated in the quarterfinals by Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli (5-4(4), 4-1). Alcaraz was rusty after a four-month injury layoff, and Williams, 44, hinted at future doubles possibilities.
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz delivered a high‑voltage mixed‑doubles showing at the US Open, rallying from 3–1 down to win their opening match in the revamped fast‑four format, then losing in their next outing to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli. Alcaraz’s lingering right wrist issue left his serve below peak and exposed some rust, but the on‑court chemistry and star power provided a blockbuster moment on a day dominated by singles stars in the tournament’s new doubles setup.
Roger Federer returned to the court for a one-night exhibition against Andy Roddick at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with his wife Mirka and their two sets of twins—identical daughters Myla Rose and Charlene Riva (born 2009) and fraternal sons Leo and Lenny (born 2014)—in attendance, drawing nostalgia and attention from tennis fans.
Serena Williams returned to the US Open in the revamped mixed-doubles format alongside Carlos Alcaraz, delighting crowds with a strong first-round win before being eliminated in the quarterfinals by Flavio Cobolli and Belinda Bencic; the celebrity-forward format drew big crowds but continues to face criticism for prioritising singles stars over doubles specialists, while Alcaraz used the event for match practice following a wrist injury.
The 2026 US Open mixed doubles tournament runs Aug. 25–26 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center with a $1 million prize and features stars like Aryna Sabalenka, Novak Djokovic, and Carlos Alcaraz with Serena Williams. ESPN networks (ESPN2 and ESPN) will air the matches, with streaming options for cord-cutters via DIRECTV’s free trial or Sling TV passes. The schedule on Aug. 25 starts around 10 a.m. ET, including Williams–Alcaraz on Arthur Ashe, with the final set for Aug. 26; defending champions Errani/Vavassori and Pegula/Fritz are among the other pairs, and matches are described as best-of-three sets (a set needing four games to win in the article).
Married tennis stars Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils advanced to the US Open mixed doubles semifinals, extending their successful partnership at Flushing Meadows.
Roger Federer previews his US Open return with exhibitions alongside Andy Roddick, stressing he is not pursuing a competitive comeback like Serena Williams; he hasn’t played singles since Wimbledon 2021 and hopes to share a farewell moment with fans at Arthur Ashe.
Coco Gauff defeated Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-2 to win the Cincinnati Open, her second title at the event in four years, losing only one set en route. The victory makes her the third-youngest player to win four consecutive WTA 1000 titles (younger than Serena Williams in this stat, though behind Hingis and Sharapova) and cements her status as a top US Open contender, with Iga Swiatek viewed as her main rival if form holds in New York.
Coco Gauff won her first title of 2026 at the Cincinnati Open, defeating fellow American Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 in the final to claim her 12th career title. It marked the first all-American women’s singles final there in 56 years, and Gauff dominated most of the event with five straight-set wins (one three-setter vs. Samsonova). She said Cincinnati, along with the Wuhan Open, is among the best tournaments she’s played. The win leaves her as the fourth seed at the US Open and preserves her chances to rise to world No. 1 with a deep run in New York.
Coco Gauff defeated fellow American Jessica Pegula in the Cincinnati Open final to win her second title in Ohio and strengthen her form ahead of the US Open. Pegula praised Gauff’s high level and the two exchanged respectful congratulations, while Gauff thanked her team and hinted that she could rise to world No. 1 with a strong US Open run.
Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula will contest the Cincinnati Open final, marking the first all-American women's final at the tournament since 1970. Gauff defeated Sara Bejlek and Pegula defeated Iga Swiatek in the semifinals; the final, scheduled Sunday at 7 p.m. local time, features Pegula leading the head-to-head 5-4 but Gauff riding momentum in recent matchups.
Arthur Fils defeated Frances Tiafoe in a fluctuating Cincinnati Open final to win his first Masters 1000 title; he praised the crowd and his team, while Tiafoe thanked supporters and looked ahead to the US Open, as both reflected on an unusually error-prone match and the momentum swings.
Jessica Pegula defeated Iga Swiatek 7-5 4-6 6-4 in a nearly three-hour semifinal at the Cincinnati Open, in a match with 13 breaks of serve, earning a final spot against Coco Gauff in what will be the first all-American women's final in Cincinnati in 56 years.
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz will team up in the US Open mixed doubles as one of the tournament’s last three wild cards, marking Williams’ return to Flushing Meadows since 2022 and Alcaraz’s comeback from a wrist injury while also entering the singles; the event starts Aug. 25 with qualifying Aug. 24.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the US Open because of a knee injury, sidelining the top-ranked player and reshaping the field for the year’s final Grand Slam.