HOWARD FENDRICH Tennis Writer, Author at The Rapid City Post

Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, holds her trophy aftyer defeating Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, after the women's finals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Aryna Sabalenka defeats Amanda Anisimova for her 2nd consecutive US Open title and 4th at a major

September 6, 2025

Aryna Sabalenka has outplayed Amanda Anisimova to win the U.S. Open final 6-3, 7-6 (3) and become the first woman to win the tournament’s trophy in consecutive years since Serena Williams more than a decade ago. The victory Saturday allowed the No. 1-ranked Sabalenka to pick up the fourth Grand Slam title of her career, all on hard courts. She also avoided becoming the first woman to lose three major finals in a single season since Justine Henin in 2006. Sabalenka is a 27-year-old from Belarus who was the runner-up at the Australian Open and the French Open. At Wimbledon, she was eliminated by Anisimova.

FILE - Italy's Jannik Sinner, right, greets Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, at the net after beating him to win the men's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

Sinner vs. Alcaraz showdown at the US Open is their third Slam final in a row. Trump plans to attend

September 6, 2025

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are the first two men to play each other in three consecutive Grand Slam finals in the same season. They meet Sunday to decide the U.S. Open championship, and the winner also will get the No. 1 ranking. Sinner goes in at No. 1, and Alcaraz is No. 2. President Donald Trump plans to be at Arthur Ashe Stadium for the match. It follows Alcaraz’s victory over Sinner erasing a trio of match points on the French Open’s red clay in June for his fifth Grand Slam title and Sinner’s victory over Alcaraz on Wimbledon’s grass in July for his fourth.

Jannik Sinner, of Italy, reacts after defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, during the men's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Sinner beats Auger-Aliassime at the U.S. Open and faces Alcaraz for a 3rd Grand Slam final in a row

September 5, 2025

Jannik Sinner has overcome a mid-match lull before retaking control for a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime in the U.S. Open semifinals. Friday night’s victory moved Sinner closer to becoming the first repeat men’s champion in New York since Roger Federer took five trophies in a row from 2004-08. The No. 1-seeded Sinner, a 24-year-old from Italy, will face No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, a 22-year-old from Spain, on Sunday, making them the first men in tennis history to meet in three straight Grand Slam finals within a single season, according to the ATP. The No. 1 ranking will be at stake, too.

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, celebrates after defeating Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, during the men's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Alcaraz beats Djokovic at the US Open and now meets Sinner for the 3rd Grand Slam final in a row

September 5, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will meet for the third Grand Slam final in a row when they play for the U.S. Open title. And the No. 1 ranking will be on the line Sunday, too. Current No. 2 Alcaraz defeated 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-2 in the semifinals Friday, before No. 1 Sinner eliminated No. 25 Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Alcaraz is seeking his sixth major title and Sinner his fifth. Both have won the U.S. Open once, with Sinner’s trophy coming last year. Alcaraz beat Sinner at the French Open in June, and Sinner won the rematch at Wimbledon in July.

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, acknowledges the crowd after losing to Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during the men's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Novak Djokovic won’t give up on trying to win a 25th major title after another semifinal loss

September 5, 2025

Novak Djokovic says he wants to keep striving to claim a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, but it’s hard to compete with someone as talented and young as Carlos Alcaraz in best-of-five-set matches. The 38-year-old Djokovic lost to the 22-year-old Alcaraz in three sets in the U.S. Open semifinals on Friday. There was a moment, albeit a brief one, that Djokovic appeared to be making a match of it, up 3-0 in the second set. But Alcaraz soon regained control. It was the fourth time in four Slam events in 2025 that Djokovic reached the semifinals — and fourth time he exited in that round.

FILE - This combo of file photos shows, left image, United States' Amanda Anisimova, facing camera, embracing Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka after losing at the the French Open tennis tournament on June 1 2025, in Paris; and right image, Sabalenka, facing camera, embracing Anisimova after losing in a semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships on July 10, 2025, in London. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, left, and Kin Cheung)

Amanda Anisimova faces defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the U.S. Open women’s final

September 5, 2025

It is impossible to look ahead to Amanda Anisimova’s U.S. Open final against defending champion Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday without viewing it through the prism of what happened less than two months ago at Wimbledon. Impossible for Anisimova. Impossible for Sabalenka. Impossible for anyone, really. That’s because Anisimova made it to her first title match at any Grand Slam tournament by beating the No. 1-ranked Sabalenka in the semifinals at the All England Club. And because Anisimova’s major final debut ended with a 6-0, 6-0 loss to Iga Swiatek. But Anisimova eliminated Swiatek in New York.

Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, reacts after defeating Naomi Osaka, of Japan, during the women's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Amanda Anisimova defeats Naomi Osaka at the U.S. Open to reach her 2nd Grand Slam final in a row

September 4, 2025

Amanda Anisimova has eliminated four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3 in a U.S. Open semifinal that ended at nearly 1 a.m. and featured two of the most powerful first-strike hitters in women’s tennis. The victory in a match that began Thursday and ended Friday put the No. 8-seeded Anisimova into second straight major final. She is a 24-year-old who was born in New Jersey and grew up in Florida. Anisimova will face defending champion and current No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday for the title. Sabalenka beat Jessica Pegula in three sets on Thursday. Sabalenka owns three major trophies, all on hard courts.

FILE - Tennis legend Bjorn Borg sits in the Royal Box to watch Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, and Amanda Anisimova ,of the United States,. to play in a women's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Thursday, July 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

Björn Borg tells the AP his prostate cancer is in remission after 2024 operation

September 4, 2025

Tennis great Björn Borg reveals in the last chapter of his upcoming memoir that he was diagnosed with an “extremely aggressive” prostate cancer, and he tells The Associated Press that it is in remission after an operation in 2024. Borg said in a recent video interview with the AP from his home in Stockholm that his most recent tests came back clean in August and is feeling good. Borg won 11 Grand Slam singles titles before walking away from tennis at age 26, although he made a brief return later. That stunningly early retirement is one of several subjects, including his drug use and his relationships with family members and women, discussed in the book titled “Heartbeats.”

Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, reacts after defeating Alex de Minaur, of Australia, during the quarterfinal round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Felix Auger-Alissiame beats Alex de Minaur at the US Open and will face Sinner in the semifinals

September 3, 2025

Felix Auger-Aliassime has eliminated Alex de Minaur 4-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5, 7-6 (4) at the U.S. Open to reach his second Grand Slam semifinal — and second at Flushing Meadows. The No. 25-seeded Auger-Aliassime’s victory in Arthur Ashe Stadium included 22 aces. One came when de Minaur was just one point from taking a two-set lead. Auger-Aliassime’s only other trip to the final four at a major came in New York in 2021 at age 21. The Canadian will face No. 1 Jannik Sinner on Friday for a berth in the final. No. 8 seed de Minaur dropped to 0-6 in major quarterfinals.

Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, reacts after defeating Iga Swiatek, of Poland, in the quarterfinal round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Amanda Anisimova upsets Iga Swiatek at the U.S. Open after 6-0, 6-0 loss to her in Wimbledon’s final

September 3, 2025

Amanda Anisimova has upset Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-3 in the U.S. Open quarterfinals less than two months after losing to the six-time Grand Slam champion in the Wimbledon final by a 6-0, 6-0 score. The victory Wednesday allowed the No. 8-seeded Anisimova to reach her third major semifinal and first at Flushing Meadows. Anisimova is a 24-year-old who was born in New Jersey and grew up in Florida. The powerful strokes and poise Anisimova displayed in Arthur Ashe Stadium against No. 2 Swiatek — the 2022 U.S. Open champion — were such a striking contrast to what happened at the All England Club’s Centre Court on July 12.

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, reacts after losing a point against Taylor Fritz, of the United States, during the quarterfinal round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Djokovic gets into it with the US Open crowd and improves to 11-0 against Fritz to reach the semis

September 2, 2025

Novak Djokovic has reached his record-tying 14th U.S. Open semifinal and record-extending 53rd semi at all Grand Slam tournaments with a 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Taylor Fritz. Djokovic’s victory on Tuesday night improved his head-to-head record against Fritz to 11-0. It also moved the 24-time major champion into a showdown against Carlos Alcaraz in Friday’s semifinals. Djokovic has won four titles at Flushing Meadows. The No. 4-seeded Fritz was the runner-up at the U.S. Open a year ago. He was the last American man in this year’s bracket and his exit means the country’s drought without a male singles champion at a major will continue.

Venus Williams, of the United States, acknowledges the crowd after losing quarterfinal doubles match with parter Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, at the U.S. Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Venus Williams’ US Open ends with a loss in the women’s doubles quarterfinals to Taylor Townsend

September 2, 2025

Venus Williams’ run at the U.S. Open is over. Williams and partner Leylah Fernandez were eliminated in the quarterfinals of women’s doubles on Tuesday by the top-seeded duo of Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova 6-1, 6-2. The 45-year-old American and 22-year-old Canadian had not lost a set in their first three matches together. Williams had been out of tennis for 16 months before returning in Washington in July. She lost in the first round of mixed doubles and singles at the U.S. Open and then she and Fernandez got a wild-card entry into the doubles field. Townsend and Siniakova are seeking their third Grand Slam title as a pair.

Marketa Vondrousova, of the Czech Republic, reacts after defeating Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Defending US Open champ Sabalenka returns to semifinals when Vondrousova withdraws with knee injury

September 2, 2025

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka has returned to the U.S. Open semifinals without hitting a ball in the quarterfinals. The No. 1-ranked Sabalenka was supposed to play Marketa Voundrousova on Tuesday night. But Vondrousova withdrew from the match with an injured knee. The U.S. Tennis Association announced the walkover about two hours before the match was supposed to begin. Sabalenka now will meet No. 4 Jessica Pegula in the semifinals on Thursday. That is a rematch of last year’s championship match at Flushing Meadows, which Sabalenka won in straight sets.

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, returns a shot against Coco Gauff, of the United States, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Naomi Osaka simply doesn’t lose when she gets to Grand Slam quarterfinals

September 2, 2025

Once Naomi Osaka is in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament, look out. For a while, it was getting there that was the problem. Right now, Osaka appears to be back at her best, and she most definitively is back at that stage of a major, getting ready to face Karolina Muchova at the U.S. Open on Wednesday for a spot in the semifinals. It’s the first time Osaka — who has been ranked No. 1 and now is seeded No. 23 — has made it this far at one of the four most important events in tennis since the Australian Open in early 2021. That was also the last time she won a Slam trophy.

A Labubu doll sits near Naomi Osaka, of Japan, before her match against Coco Gauff, of the United States, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Naomi Osaka is bringing Labubu to the US Open. There’s Althea Glitterson and Billie Jean Bling

September 1, 2025

Naomi Osaka is bringing the Labubu fad to the U.S. Open — all the way to at least the quarterfinals. Osaka has played four matches at the Grand Slam tennis tournament so far this year, each time toting a different plush toy attached to her racket bag. And she’s won each time, too, including a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Coco Gauff on Monday. At her postmatch news conference, Osaka pulled her latest U.S. Open Labubu — a shiny, silver one — from the pocket of her black jacket and introduced her to reporters, saying, “Her name is Althea Glitterson,” a tribute to Althea Gibson, the tennis champion who broke the sport’s color barrier 75 years ago in New York.

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, celebrates after winning a match against Coco Gauff, of the United States, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Naomi Osaka defeats Coco Gauff at the US Open to reach her first major quarterfinal since 2021

September 1, 2025

Naomi Osaka has eliminated Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2 at the U.S. Open to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal in more than 4 1/2 years. The No. 23-seeded Osaka played far more consistent and confident tennis than No. 3 Gauff in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday. Osaka will meet No. 11 Karolina Muchova on Wednesday for a semifinal berth. Osaka is a 27-year-old who was born in Japan and moved to the U.S. with her family at age 3. She has won four major championships, all on hard courts. That includes titles at the U.S. Open in 2018 and 2020. Gauff’s two Slam trophies came at Flushing Meadows in 2023 and the French Open this June.

Coco Gauff, of the United States, reacts during a match against Naomi Osaka, of Japan, in the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Coco Gauff is disappointed by her US Open loss to Naomi Osaka but won’t let it crush her

September 1, 2025

Coco Gauff has tried to put on a brave face after losing in the fourth round of the U.S. Open for the second year in a row. After Monday’s 6-3, 6-2 exit against Naomi Osaka, Gauff said she would not let this defeat crush her. The No. 3-seeded Gauff won the first of her two Grand Slam titles at Flushing Meadows in 2023. She was undone against Osaka by a slew of groundstroke errors and failed to do her usual strong job of returning in a match that lasted just 64 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The result was surprising, not just because Gauff was the higher seed also for just how lopsided it was.

Jannik Sinner, of Italy, reacts to a shot against Denis Shapovalov, of Canada, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Jannik Sinner drops a set in a US Open win and then reminds folks that he’s not a machine

August 30, 2025

Jannik Sinner has overcome some lapses to take his U.S. Open title defense to the fourth round with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 victory over No. 27 Denis Shapovalov. Sinner got broken for the first time in Week 1 of the U.S. Open, then dropped a set in the tournament for the first time since last year’s quarterfinals. Later, he fell behind in the third set Saturday. Sinner stretched his hard-court Grand Slam winning streak to 24 matches, a run that includes championships at the U.S. Open in 2024 and the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025.

Coco Gauff, of the United States, waves after winning the match point against Magdalena Frech, of Poland, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Get ready for Coco Gauff vs. Naomi Osaka at the US Open. It’s been 6 years since their first matchup

August 30, 2025

Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka have set up a high-profile showdown between two past title winners in the U.S. Open’s fourth round. Their meeting Monday, with a quarterfinal berth at stake, is a rematch from 2019, when Gauff was a 15-year-old making her main-draw debut at Flushing Meadows. Osaka won that one and consoled a teary Gauff on the sideline. Osaka advanced to her first fourth-round match at any major since the 2021 Australian Open by eliminating No. 15 seed Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 on Saturday. Gauff made it that far at the U.S. Open for the fourth consecutive year with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over No. 28 Magdalena Frech.

Daniel Altmaier, left, of Germany, is congratulated by Stefanos Tsitsipas, of Greece, after defeating him during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

The unwritten rules of tennis and why postmatch handshakes sometimes go awry at the US Open

August 30, 2025

Two episodes at this year’s U.S. Open have shown that not every postmatch handshake in tennis goes well. There’s been a lot of talk about the unwritten rules of tennis during the Grand Slam tournament in New York that ends next weekend and much of the conversation stems from to-dos up at the net. There was the lengthy back-and-forth between Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko and a shorter contentious exchange between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniel Altmaier. No one thinks handshakes should leave the sport, but some wonder if such conversations are better left to the locker room.

Coco Gauff, of the United States, reacts after winning a point during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Coco Gauff plays a stress-free match at the US Open and will play Naomi Osaka next

August 30, 2025

For the first time at this U.S. Open, Coco Gauff didn’t double-fault in her first service game. And for the first time, she didn’t get broken to begin things, either. With her work-in-progress serve looking the best it has so far in this trip to Flushing Meadows, the No. 3-seeded Gauff turned in by far her most solid performance Saturday, defeating No. 28 Magdalena Frech of Poland 6-3, 6-1 to reach the fourth round of a tournament she won in 2023. There were none of the tears or struggles that marked Gauff’s first two matches. Gauff will face Naomi Osaka on Monday for a quarterfinal berth.

A trainer works on Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during a medical timeout in the second set against Luciano Darderi, of Italy, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Carlos Alcaraz’s brief knee problem at the US Open doesn’t slow him down in a win

August 29, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz has dealt with a brief problem with his right knee and managed to easily advance to the fourth round at the U.S. Open. Alcaraz took a medical timeout in the second set of what became a 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 victory over No. 32 seed Luciano Darderi of Italy in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday. The No. 2-seeded Alcaraz won the first of his five Grand Slam titles at Flushing Meadows in 2022. He got broken for the first time in the tournament, then took a medical timeout and had his leg massaged by a trainer. Problem solved: Alcaraz rolled through the rest of the match, never dropping another game.

Coco Gauff, of the United States, appears to cry after winning the first set over Donna Vekic, of Croatia, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Nerves and pressure get to Coco Gauff at the US Open before she wins again

August 28, 2025

Coco Gauff kept wiping the tears welling in her eyes between points in her second-round match at the U.S. Open. She was trying to stay composed and trying to give herself a chance to win Thursday night. Gauff’s serving troubles were again an issue, just as they were two nights earlier, just as they’ve been for a while now. The two-time Grand Slam champion teamed up with a new coach recently to try to fix that aspect of her game, and while there clearly is still work to be done, Gauff did figure out how to stay in the tournament, beating Donna Vekic 7-6 (5), 6-2 in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, reacts after scoring a point against Hailey Baptiste, of the United States, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

So far, so good for Naomi Osaka and her new coach at the US Open

August 28, 2025

Naomi Osaka is back in the third round of the U.S. Open for the first time since 2021, the year after she won her second championship at Flushing Meadows. She’s playing rather well at the moment, too, under the guidance of a new coach. Just don’t expect Osaka to weigh in on whether she feels as if she is ready to make another deep run at the place. Osaka eliminated American Hailey Baptiste 6-3, 6-1 in the second round in just 70 minutes Thursday. Other winners included Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner.

FILE - Taylor Townsend, of the United States, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Aug. 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis, File)

US Open foes Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko get into a tense back-and-forth after match

August 28, 2025

U.S. Open opponents Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko got into a face-to-face argument on the Court 11 sideline right after their second-round match ended. Townsend said Wednesday that Ostapenko told her she has no class and no education. Townsend, who is from Chicago, was a 7-5, 6-1 winner against 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko, who is from Latvia. After the two players met at the net for a postmatch handshake, they stayed near each other instead of going their separate ways, as players usually do. Ostapenko wagged a finger at Townsend as they spoke.

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, wipes sweat from his face between serves to Zachary Svajda, of the United States, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Novak Djokovic is trying to solve riddles at the US Open but is back in the 3rd round

August 27, 2025

Novak Djokovic says he is trying to solve riddles in his game at the U.S. Open. Even after dropping an opening set on Wednesday, Djokovic progressed to the third round. He improved to 36-0 across the first and second rounds in New York, a place he’s won four championships, by coming back to beat 145th-ranked American qualifier Zachary Svajda 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. This was Djokovic’s first tournament anywhere since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals last month. Winners included both of last year’s runners-up — Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz — and 2021 champion Emma Raducanu. No. 12 seed Casper Ruud, the 2022 runner-up, lost to Raphael Collignon.

Jannik Sinner, of Italy, serves to Vit Kopriva, of the Czech Republic, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Wimbledon champions Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek get off to good starts at the US Open

August 26, 2025

Iga Swiatek is trying to do something no woman has done since Serena Williams in 2012: win the U.S. Open and Wimbledon in the same season. Jannik Sinner is trying to do something no man has done since Roger Federer in 2008: repeat as U.S. Open champion. By the looks of things on Tuesday in Arthur Ashe Stadium as the now-three-day first round wrapped up, the two players who triumphed at the All England Club last month — and who both served short doping-related bans last year — look ready to contend again in New York. Swiatek dropped three games, Sinner four.

Coco Gauff, of the United States, celebrates winning a match agains Ajla Tomljanovic, of Australia, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Coco Gauff’s 1st match with a new serve coach at the US Open is a struggle but also a win

August 26, 2025

Coco Gauff has won her first match since enlisting someone to help with her shaky serving and moved into the second round at the U.S. Open. The No. 3-seeded Gauff got off to a rocky start and was broken a total of six times before pulling away to defeat 79th-ranked Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5 in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday night. Gauff avoided a second consecutive first-round Grand Slam exit after bowing out right away at Wimbledon. She started working recently with Gavin MacMillan, a biomechanics expert who helped current No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka retool her serve a few years ago.

Venus Williams, of the United States, returns a shot to Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Venus Williams will compete in women’s doubles at the US Open with 2021 finalist Leylah Fernandez

August 26, 2025

Venus Williams will compete in women’s doubles at the U.S. Open after receiving a wild-card entry with 2021 singles runner-up Leylah Fernandez. The U.S. Tennis Association announced the news on Tuesday. The 45-year-old Williams is entered in her first Grand Slam tournament in two years after making a comeback to pro tennis last month following 16 months away from the tour. She competed in mixed doubles last week, then in singles on Monday night.

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, reacts against Reilly Opelka, of the United States, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

A cut above? Carlos Alcaraz’s shaved head makes its US Open debut in his first-round win

August 25, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz has showed up at the U.S. Open for his first-round match with a shaved head. Alcaraz, who is seeded No. 2 at Flushing Meadows, caused a bit of a buzz with his buzz cut when he got to the tournament grounds before beating Reilly Opelka in straight sets at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday. At least one other player — and friend — was not a fan: Frances Tiafoe, who lost in the semifinals in New York to Alcaraz in 2022. That was the year Alcaraz won the title at the U.S. Open for the first of his five Grand Slam trophies. Tiafoe called the cut terrible.

Venus Williams returns a shot during the mixed doubles competition of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Venus Williams’ age gets attention at the US Open but players think her icon status matters more

August 23, 2025

Venus Williams is back at the U.S. Open to play a Grand Slam singles match for the first time in two years. There will be those who focus on her age, because at 45, she is the oldest player to compete in singles in New York since 1981. But when the tournament begins Sunday, there are plenty of other entrants and fans who are eager to see Williams return to action because they consider her iconic. She and her younger sister Serena transcended their sport and became important for more than just all of the trophies they won and their time at No. 1 in the rankings.

Mirra Andreeva returns a shot during a mixed doubles match at the U.S. Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Mirra Andreeva, Vicky Mboko, João Fonseca and Learner Tien are teens to watch at the US Open

August 23, 2025

Mirra Andreeva, João Fonseca and Vicky Mboko are part of a precocious group of teenagers at the U.S. Open this year. When play begins in New York on Sunday, those three 18-year-olds will be worth keeping an eye on, as will other teens such as Learner Tien and Iva Jovic. They have been rising through the rankings and picking up Grand Slam victories against higher-ranked and more-accomplished opponents. Andreeva already has been a major semifinalist and is the youngest woman since Maria Sharapova to be ranked in the top five. Fonseca was the youngest man since 2011 to reach Wimbledon’s third round.

Coco Gauff hires Aryna Sabalenka’s former serving coach, Gavin MacMillan, before the US Open

August 22, 2025

Coco Gauff has has fired one of her coaches on the eve of the U.S. Open and brought aboard the serve doctor who helped No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka work on her issues with that part of the game. Coco Gauff says she knew she needed to make a technical change to her serve. The year’s last major tournament begins Sunday. Gauff won the first of her two Grand Slam titles in New York in 2023. She has been working on her serve with Gavin MacMillan at Flushing Meadows this week. Gauff has the most double-faults on tour this season.

FILE - Taylor Fritz, of the United States, hugs Frances Tiafoe, of the United States, after winning the men's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, file)

US women keep reaching Slam finals and claiming titles. Can an American man win the 2025 US Open?

August 22, 2025

If there’s such a thing as momentum from tournament to tournament in tennis, the American men have some right now. Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul certainly are getting within reach of ending the country’s unprecedented Grand Slam men’s title drought. Maybe they’re finally ready to win one of those trophies at the U.S. Open, which gets going Sunday. Fritz was the runner-up at Flushing Meadows a year ago, and he, Shelton and Tiafoe each has participated in two Grand Slam semifinals, while Paul has played in one. Andy Roddick in 2003 was the last U.S. man to win a major.

FILE - Italy's Jannik Sinner, left, celebrates with the trophy after beating Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, right, to win the men's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, aka Sincaraz, rule men’s tennis as the 2025 US Open arrives

August 21, 2025

They’ll still play the full U.S. Open starting Sunday in New York, but it might save some time to skip ahead to the men’s final on Sept. 7. That’s because just about everyone in tennis expects it to be another Grand Slam showdown between Jannik Sinner — assuming he’s healthy — and Carlos Alcaraz. They have combined to win the past seven major championships and played each other to decide the titles at the French Open in June and Wimbledon in July. Five women have divided the past five Grand Slam trophies, a group that includes Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff.

Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, returns the ball against Jessica Pegula during a match at the Citi Open tennis tournament Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Leylah Fernandez wins the DC Open fueled by Shake Shack. Alex de Minaur takes the men’s title

July 27, 2025

Leylah Fernandez has collected the biggest title of her career at the D.C. Open with her most lopsided victory of the tournament by defeating Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-2 in the final. Sunday’s win gave the left-handed Fernandez her fourth singles trophy. All have come at hard-court tournaments. It is her first trophy at a WTA 500 event. She came close to a Grand Slam championship as a teenager at the 2021 U.S. Open, making it all the way to the final before losing to Emma Raducanu. Alex de Minaur won the men’s trophy by coming back from 5-2 down in the third set and saving three championship points to beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (3).

FILE- Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, right, talks with Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, after defeating Djokovic in the men's singles final of the US Open tennis championships, Sept. 12, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

Daniil Medvedev won a US Open and made 5 other hard-court Slam finals, so this is his time to shine

July 25, 2025

Daniil Medvedev figures this is his time to shine. He loves playing tennis on hard courts like those used at the D.C. Open. And he particularly loves the U.S. Open, which is just a month away. It doesn’t matter what else he’s done this season or how things ended for him at the Australian Open, French Open or Wimbledon. Medvedev calls this the most important part of his season. He’s scheduled to play Corentin Moutet in the quarterfinals at Washington on Friday. The Russian won the 2021 U.S. Open and has been the runner-up five times at Grand Slam tournaments — all on hard courts.

Venus Williams waves to the crowd after she lost to Magdalena Frech, of Poland, during a match at the Citi Open tennis tournament Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Venus Williams is back and she is not done. She heads to Cincinnati next and maybe the US Open

July 25, 2025

The DC Open will not be a one-stop hello-and-farewell appearance for 45-year-old Venus Williams. She had been away from the tour for 16 months before showing up in Washington this week and winning once each in singles and doubles. She hadn’t won a match since 2023, and the owner of seven Grand Slam singles titles was celebrated by the spectators and other players. There will be more for her — and her fans. Williams next heads to the Cincinnati Open in August. And she also might be at the U.S. Open later next month, if the U.S. Tennis Association awards her a wild-card entry.

Venus Williams’ bid for her first winning streak since 2019 ends in a loss to Magdalena Frech in DC

July 24, 2025

Venus Williams’ bid for her first winning streak since 2019 has ended with a 6-2, 6-2 loss to 24th-ranked Magdalena Frech at the D.C. Open. After going up 2-1 at the start Thursday night, Williams dropped seven games in a row against Frech. Williams is 45, and her victory in the first round Tuesday against 35th-ranked Peyton Stearns made the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion the oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match since Martina Navratilova was 47 in 2004. That was Williams’ first win in singles since 2023. Also on Thursday, Emma Raducanu beat four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.

Venus Williams celebrates her win over Peyton Stearns during a match at the Citi Open tennis tournament Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

45-year-old Venus Williams becomes the oldest woman since Martina Navratilova to win a singles match

July 23, 2025

Venus Williams has become the oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match since Martina Navratilova. Williams delivered some of her familiar big serves and groundstrokes at age 45 while beating Peyton Stearns — a player who is 22 years younger — by a 6-3, 6-4 score at the DC Open. Tuesday night’s victory in Washington was the first for Williams in nearly two years. Navratilova was 47 in 2004 when she won for the final time. The former No. 1-ranked Williams had not played singles in an official match since March 2024 in Miami, missing time while having surgery to remove uterine fibroids.

Venus Williams reaches for the ball during a doubles match with Hailey Baptiste against Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue at the Citi Open tennis tournament Monday, July 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Venus Williams wins a doubles match at Washington in her first tournament in more than a year

July 22, 2025

Venus Williams has competed at a tournament for the first time in more than a year — and in doubles for the first time in nearly three — and has come out with a victory. Williams and partner Hailey Baptiste defeated 2014 Wimbledon runner-up Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue 6-3, 6-1 on Monday at the DC Open. The stands were full and the crowd included NBA star Kevin Durant. Williams has won seven Grand Slam singles titles and another 14 major trophies in doubles with her younger sister Serena. Venus is 45 and hadn’t played a match on tour since March 2024.

Venus Williams is back in tennis and wishes Serena would come out of retirement to join the fun

July 20, 2025

Venus Williams is back on the tennis scene and ready to compete for the first time in more than a year but she wishes her younger sister Serena were with her at the DC Open. The tournament begins Monday in Washington. This is the first tour event for Venus Williams in more than a year. She turned 45 last month. She owns seven Grand Slam singles titles and another 14 in doubles that she won alongside Serena. Serena hasn’t played since she retired after the 2022 U.S. Open.

HOWARD FENDRICH Tennis Writer.

Finance.