The US Open
US denied as Rybakina, Sabalenka reach USO final
Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka set up an all-star final at the US Open, with the top two in the world to face off on Saturday for the last Grand Slam title of the season.
Semifinal wins put the pair of eastern Europeans into the high-profile title match, leaving Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula with only disappointment on a home court in New York.
Sabalenka, who held world No. 1 for 99 weeks before being replaced by Kazakh Rybakina 48 hour ago here, dispatched Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in their semi-final while Rybakina wore down 2023 champion Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Sabalenka will be aiming to complete a title hat-trick at the event after winning the last two editions; that feat would match Serena Williams from 12 years ago.
All four leading seeds reached the semis, a situation which has not occurred since 2009 at Wimbledon.
Sabalenka extended her domination of Pegula, winning her 10th match from 14 meetings in the series and dishing out seven aces over the quick 80-minute victory and her fourth in a row at the Open when she plays Pegula.
Those victories include the 2024 final here , and the semis 12 months ago.
“To get this win in straight sets today really impressed me, to be honest. I’m really happy.”
She also confessed: ” I was super desperate. I lost a tough match on grass against Jess.
“It kind of like feels for me, talking about Grand Slams, like a last push of the season. I wanted it badly to go to the finals, and of course, I want to go all the way.
“I’m ready for whatever it’s going to take to get the win.”
Pegula could not help but be impresssed at her opponent’s red-hot form.
“It was probably the best match she’s played this year. Her level was insanely high.
“We were both playing well, serving well. She played a super-high level.
“Honestly, I don’t really know if there was much I could do today.”
Current Australian Open holder Rybakina had never played an Ashe showcourt night match at this edition when she stepped out to face Gauff, but polished her record against Americans to 10 straight victories.
Gauff had won her last 11 matches but went down as an 11-match end streak was ended in just over two hours.
“Of course, a lot of people today wanted Coco to win. It’s normal. I think everyone understands” Rybakina said. “In the beginning I felt like it was a very nice atmosphere, and only in the end when I was up in the third set did the crowd really support a lot Coco.
“But I tried to focus on myself, tried to not listen.”
Gauff ended with 32 unforced errors after being overhauled by Rybakina in the final two sets of the semi-final fightback.
The American won the opening set but found herself down a break 1-3 in the second. She got it back in the seventh game before losing serve again three games later to level at a set each.
The third set stayed level-pegging until Rybakina came out ahead after a run of three consecutive breaks to conclude victory on her first match point.
“It hurts. Yeah, it’s all great, but I think the competitor in me, this is the tournament I want to perform at,” Gauff said.
“(This is) the one that you want to come out with a win. I hope to continue to keep putting myself in positions to hopefully win.”
Main photo:- Elena Rybakina celebrates win – by ISF Ltd
Unlike the rowdy US Open in New York, the home of Tennis etiquette The All England Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, have no immediate plans to follow suit.
In an attempt to entice the TikTok generation to “come feel the atmosphere” and no doubt invest in expensive cocktails at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where it costs US$23 for the traditional Honey Deuce cocktail and the “new kid on the block” a “Moet Serve” in a “three tennis ball can” a snip at US$32 for just 3 1/2 ounces of bubbly.
For the 2026 tournament the US Open Management accredited 100 influencers, double the number of actual news photographers, who frequently disturbed players, and genuine tennis fans with their ringlights and rowdy behaviour during live play.
After several unacceptable disruptions at the US Open, Coco Gauff said that whilst it was important to welcome a “new demographic” to the sport but “I think, just, follow the etiquette of the sport. That’s all.”
Interestingly the US Tournament has been headed up since July 2026 by Craig Tiley, former CEO of the Australian Open which was criticised by many including Aussie player Jordan Thompson as the “wokest tournament ever” in 2024 following the introduction of freedom of movement for spectatorsat any time, rather than waiting until the regulation change of ends and also the addition of a public “Party Court” bar overlooking Court 6 with a roster of DJ’s pumping out loud music during live play.
However, Richard Atkinson, interim chief executive at the AELTC, told BBC Sport “Wimbledon does not offer accreditation to influencers and that is unlikely to change in the near future.
He also backed the traditional “self-policing” ethos at SW19, whereby fans respect the action.
He jokingly added that the Royal Marine commandos, who along with other serving members of the Army, Navy and Air Force provide security and spectator support during Wimbledon would like “nothing more than to sort out” disruptive social media influencers at the prestigious tournament”
Main photo:- “Influencers” influencing the action during Naomi Osaka match at US Open
Alexander Zverev on Thursday made a long-sought after return to the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, booking his first final four at the event since 2019, defeating Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4.
The 2027 year-end No. 1 last got this far as the Covid pandemic began to surface in China in 2019. The event was not played 2020-2022, with the German making modest progress here over the past three editions since resumption.
After winning his 62nd match of the season, the 29-year-old was pleased with his performance.
“I think it was a huge step up. From just being on the court I felt both of us were playing really well.
“I was, a lot of the time, outhitting Alex, which is difficult to do from the baseline because he is so fast and he loves this kind of court speed here.
“I felt good and I’m happy with the step up from the past couple of matches.”
Zverev advanced in 78 minutes, sending over 10 aces as he defeated the Australian for the ninth time in their 13 matches.
Added the reigning Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows Grand Slam champion: “I’ve been handling pressure quite okay this year. In a way you play a bit more relaxed.
“Once Jannik (SInner) unfortunately announced he won’t play for the rest of the year, I’m 4,000 points ahead of everyone else, so I trust myself enough that I’m going to win [enough matches].
Zverev will play for the final to wrap up the Asian swing as he takes on Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who advanced when Arthur Gea quit their quarter-final with injury.
Alexander Zverev will claim world year-end No. 1 honours for the first time on the back of two Grand Slam titles and a final this season.,
The ATP confirmed the changing of the guard as current No. 1 Jannik Sinner ended his season early last week due to a knee injury which has kept him off court since winning Wimbledon three months ago.
Zverev won Roland Garros and US Open trophies and lost to Sinner in the All England Club final.
His reign at the top will begin after the ATP Final in Turin with the ranking period starting on November 23.
Zverev will be 29 years, 217 days old on the date, three days older than Andre Agassi in 1999 (29 years, 214 days).
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev by ISF Ltd
Magnus Norman to the rescue as Cahill leaves Sinner
Paul stays in the chase for Turin, Alcaraz advances in W/O
Shelton steams ahead with defeat of Rinderknech
-
ATP4 weeks agoFrustrated Alcaraz lashes out at ball after Shanghai shock
-
ATP4 weeks agoAll-or-nothing for Djoko with ATP Finals looming
-
ATP4 weeks agoShanghai surprise as Alcaraz quits with ankle injury
-
ATP4 weeks agoAlcaraz blames relentless ATP sked for Sinner saga
-
ATP4 weeks agoMind over matter as Stef advances in Shanghai
-
ATP4 weeks agoGrumpy Mac lashes out at player sked complaints
-
ATP3 weeks agoNo Influencer mayhem in SW19 says Wimbledon chief – Commandos at the ready!
-
China Open4 weeks agoZheng claims China Open title over Andreeva