Alexander Zverev solidfies himself with second grand slam title at US Open

 

A moment for a new US Open champion 🤩 https://t.co/HWnLmcpjQP

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 14, 2026

 

In the US Open men's singles final, Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2. It was the second grand slam title of the season for Zverev (French Open) and also the second of his career. After looking like a guy who might not ever win a grand slam, the 29 year old Zverev now has a pair under his belt, halfway to a career grand slam. It's amazing the difference one season can make! 

While he benefited a bit from guys like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner not being at full strength, Zverev still did what was needed to win the US Open and French Open this year. Winning one grand slam is no small feat. There's no such thing as a grand slam title that is a fluke. You win one, you're legit. That being said, winning a second grand slam title puts you in a different stratosphere. By winning two this season (reaching Wimbledon final as well), Zverev has shown that he has truly figured something out and that he is a force to be reckoned with going forward. 

The most impressive part of Zverev's success this season is just the mental fortitude that he has shown. He had already played in three grand slam finals before he finally broke through at the French Open (2020 US Open, 2024 French Open, & 2025 Australian Open).  Last season, he got bounced in the 1st round at Wimbledon and the 3rd round at the US Open. He had every reason to think his time was never coming and yet he kept grinding, kept improving his game, and kept believing. As a result, he got rewarded not once, but twice. There's a lesson there. 

Looking ahead, I think what has to have Zverev most excited is the fact that he's finding success on multiple surfaces. He's figured out how to win grand slams on clay and hard court while coming up a bit short on the grass at Wimbledon. You can't count him out on any surface, making him a threat at every grand slam. It took him a while to climb the mountain, but now that he has, I think it's safe to say that he's going to be a tough out for the foreseeable future. 

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Elena Rybakina puts exclamation mark on No. 1 ranking with US Open title

 

The champion under the lights 📷 https://t.co/Ev39p5dhxJ

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 13, 2026

In the US Open women's singles final, Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in a resounding victory. Rybakina won the Australian Open at the beginning of the season, making it two grand slam titles for her in 2026. Win or lose against Sabalenka, Rybakina was going to claim the world No. 1 spot, but by defeating Sabalenka, she sends a clear message that this year, she has been the best player on the WTA Tour. 

Rybakina outplayed Sabalenka pretty thoroughly. She had 12 break point opportunities and converted three of those chances while Sabalenka had just three break point opportunities, only winning one of those chances. In terms of winning percentage on first serve, Rybakina had an advantage of 85%-69% and on winning percentage on second serve, she had an advantage of 66%-54%. Rybakina also was +6 in service aces (12-6). Just across the board, it was a dominant win for Rybakina. 

What makes these two grand slam titles so impressive for Rybakina is the fact that Sabalenka has widely been considered the best hard court player in the women's game. By winning both hard court grand slams this year, Rybakina is also sending a message that she's not only the best in the world, but also the best in the world on the hard courts. 

In addition to winning on hard court, Rybakina also has gone the distance on grass, winning Wimbledon in 2022 while also reaching the semifinals in 2024. She's shown she can contend on grass. It's just matter of figuring out clay. She has a pair of trips to the quarterfinals at Roland Garros in 2021 and 2024, so she's knocked on the door a couple of times, but no cigar. The fact that she is one slam away from a career slam is mighty impressive. If she can lift the trophy at Roland Garros, she'll enter a whole other stratosphere. 

Overall, Elena Rybakina should feel great about how the US Open went and also how her 2026 season has gone. At 27 years of age, she had her best season yet and appears to only be getting started. I look forward to seeing how the rest of the season goes for her and what kind of momentum she takes with her in January when the Australian Open rolls around. 

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10 things to look for at the 2026 Australian Open

                                              (Credit: Mike Frey/Imagn Images) 

With the 2026 Australian Open already underway, I need to get my 10 things to look for posted ASAP. If you want to check out the draws, click here. Ok, let's get after it! 

#1. Can Jannik Sinner complete the three-peat? World No. 2 Jannik Sinner is gunning for a three-peat Down Under, having won the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025. He's certainly the heavy favorite to go all the way, but winning any grand slam three years in a row is no easy task. The record for most consecutive Australian Open titles during the Open Era is three by Novak Djokovic. Djokovic did it twice from 2011-13 and 2019-21. Sinner would be joining rarefied air if he were to complete a three-peat this year. A lot of it may end up coming down to how well world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz does (more on him later). 

 #2. Can Madison Keys defend her title? Madison Keys is the defending champion on the women's side, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. It's the only grand slam title Keys has ever won. She comes in ranked No. 9 in the world and obviously a contender. It'll be fun to see if she can defend her title and how far she goes. She had a first round exit at the US Open last year, so these first few rounds will be key for her to regain some confidence. She's already through the first round in straight sets, so she's off to a good start. 

#3. Can Carlos Alcaraz complete the career slam? The furthest world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz has gone in the Australian Open is the quarterfinals in 2024 and 2025. It's the only grand slam he is yet to win. At some point, I think he's going to break through Down Under and go all the way. The question is when will that breakthrough happen? For whatever reason, he hasn't been able to get past the quarterfinals. It's really important for him to win with confidence during the first few rounds and enter the second week of the tournament with as much momentum as possible. 

#4. Can Aryna Sabalenka win her third Australian Open title? Aryna Sabalenka is ranked No. 1 in the world and is gunning for her third Australian Open title after losing in the final to Madison Keys last year. Sabalenka is likely the favorite the go all the way. She's already won the title twice in 2023 and 2024 and reached the final last year. If she's able to win her third Aussie Open title this year, that would truly be a fantastic way for her to start the season and remind everyone who is number one. 

 #5. Can Alexander Bublik keep the momentum going from Hong Kong? World No. 10 Alexander Bublik is coming off a strong performance in Hong Kong, winning the title at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open. He's never gotten past the 2nd round at the Australian Open, so if he can win two matches that in and of itself will be progress. I look forward to seeing how he does. If he does make a run, I think we'll be able to look back at his title in Hong Kong as the catalyst. 

#6. Can Iga Swiatek complete the career slam? While Carlos Alcaraz is gunning for a career slam on the men's side, Iga Swiatek is doing the same on the women's side. The furthest she's gone at the Australian Open is the semifinals in 2022 and 2025, so she's gone further than Alcaraz has. I feel like at some point, she's going to win an Australian Open title and complete the career slam. Will this be the year it happens? 

#7. Can Novak Djokovic still contend? At 38 years of age, Novak Djokovic is ranked No. 4 in the world, so on paper, he should be a serious contender to win it all. Especially since he has won the Australian Open a record 10 times. This is by far and away his best event. After winning it all in 2023, he reached the semifinals in 2024 and 2025. If Djokovic could get one more grand slam to get to No. 24, that would be pretty cool. If it's going to happen anywhere, the Australian Open would be the most fitting place for it to happen. 

#8. Can Naomi Osaka make a run? Ranked No. 17 in the world, Naomi Osaka is climbing her way back up the rankings. She won the Australian Open twice in 2019 and 2021, so she knows what it takes to win this event. It's just been a little while. If there's any dark horse on the women's side that could legitimately go the distance, it's Osaka. She reached the 3rd round at the Australian Open last year and reached the semifinals of the US Open. So she should be coming in with some momentum and confidence. 

#9.  Can Alexander Zverev break through to win his first grand slam? Alexander Zverev comes in ranked No. 3 in the world, reaching the Australian Open final last year. Given that Alcaraz hasn't reached the semifinals Down Under yet and Sinner's attempt to win three titles in a row is no easy task, there's an opportunity for Zverev here. He just has to make the most of his opportunities and hope that he gets a bit of luck in the draw.

#10. Can Coco Gauff break through to win her first Aussie Open? World No. 3 Coco Gauff is looking to win her first Australian Open title with US Open (2023) and French Open (2025) titles already under her belt. I feel like her time is coming Down Under. Especially after she reached the semifinals last year. If there's anyone that can most threaten to beat Sabalenka, on paper it's probably Gauff. 

Prediction: On the men's side, I gotta roll with Jannik Sinner. He's gunning for a third straight Australian Open title, knowing well what it takes to go the distance at this event. I think he does it again. As for the women's side, I have to pick Aryna Sabalenka. I think after not winning it last year, she'll be hungry to get back on top. The fact that she'll have that as extra motivation will make her even tougher to beat.  

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Hopefully Zheng Qinwen can return soon after Australian Open withdrawal

 

                                              Credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images

A disappointing piece of news that hit before the Australian Open began was world No. 24 Zheng Qinwen withdrawing from the Australian Open due injury. She's been battling an elbow injury, which also kept her out of the US Open. She was hoping to return to grand slam tennis at the Australian Open, where she reached the final in 2024. Instead, she's going to have to delay her return for at least a little while longer. 

Given the fact that she's had some success at the Australian Open, she was really eager to see if she could make some noise Down Under in 2026. It's obviously a bummer for her to have to miss the tournament and delay her return to grand slam action even further. 

However, she's only 23 years old and has plenty of years left to play at a high level. She needs to make sure she doesn't do anything that risks further damage or prevents her from having success for the duration of the year. You'd hate to return early from injury only for that to lead to even more setbacks. I'm sure that was a big part of the calculation. 

Looking ahead, the goal for Zheng has to be getting as rested and healthy as possible so that she can build some good momentum heading into the French Open. She reached the quarterfinals last year and should be feeling confident in her ability to make some noise in Paris. It's just matter of healing up, shaking off the rust, and being confident when she does return to the court. I wish her all the best and hope she's able to still put together a strong 2026 season despite this early setback.  

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Jannik Sinner defeats Carlos Alcaraz to win 2025 ATP Tour Finals

 

                                             (Credit: IMAGO/La Presse) 

The 2025 ATP Finals at Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy went as one would expect: No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz vs. No. 2 Jannik Sinner in the final. The two of them are clearly the top two players in the world and so it was only fitting that in the ATP Finals, the two of them would meet to determine the crown. This time, Sinner got the better of Alcaraz, defeating him 7-6, 7-5. 

The biggest difference was in their service aggression. Alcaraz made 68% of his first serves while Sinner made 55%. Alcaraz had zero double faults while Sinner had five. However, Sinner had eight aces while Alcaraz had five. Sinner also won 84% of his first serves while Alcaraz won 73%. Sinner won 63% of his second serves while Alcaraz won 57%. In the end, Sinner taking more chances on his serve seems to have made the difference. 

Another factor that also helped I'm sure was Sinner having home court advantage as an Italian. Playing in front of the home crowd no doubt was a benefit to him. Especially in such a close match. In truth, this is a match that could have gone either way and so little differences like that can make a huge difference. 

Of course, as you can tell by the photo, both guys were all smiles after the event was over. Even though he lost, Alcaraz finishes the year ranked No. 1 with his 12,050 points. Sinner finishes the year ranked No. 2 with his 11,500 points. Sinner wins the ATP Finals, but Alcaraz finishes the year ranked No. 1. In a way, it was kind of a win-win for both guys. 

To reflect on the year the two of them had, Alcaraz won the French Open and US Open while Sinner won the Australian Open and Wimbledon. They each won two grand slams and collectively dominated the ATP Tour. When the two of them get on the court together, while you may not know who is going to win, you know you're in for some amazing tennis. 

Looking ahead to the 2026 season, it'll be interesting to see if the two of them once more collect all the grand slams or if anyone will be able to make a dent and take one away from them. At the moment, I don't see it happening. I think we're in for another year of Sinner and Alcaraz dominating the tour and given how fun they are to watch against each other, that's fine by me. 

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Can Elena Rybakina build on her WTA Finals title to win a grand slam in 2026?

 

                                             (Credit: Getty Images) 

Last week, Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the championship match of the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia by a final score of 6-3, 7-6 (7-0). It was an impressive week for Rybakina, who came in as the No. 6 seed in the eight player tournament. En route to beating Sabalenka, who was No. 1, Rybakina defeated No. 7 Madison Keys' alternate Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 6-4, No. 4 Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-1, and No. 2 Iga Swiatek 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 in the group stage. In the semifinals, she defeated No. 5 Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. 

For Rybakina, this was a great week. Qualifying for the WTA Finals in and of itself is a big achievement, but to follow that up with a championship is simply fantastic. This is Rybakina's first WTA Finals title, which means she's closing out the season with more momentum than she's had in the past. The question is can she capitalize on it and build on this momentum enough to win a grand slam in 2026? 

Back in 2022, Rybakina won Wimbledon, but hasn't been able to win a grand slam title since then. Her last trip to a grand slam final was the 2023 Australian Open and in 2025, she reached the 4th round at three of the four grand slams while reaching the 3rd round at Wimbledon. She was very consistent at the grand slams this year, but wasn't able to truly threaten. 

Since 2010, only five players have won the WTA Finals and gone on to win a grand slam the next year: Kim Clijsters won it in 2010 and went on to win the Australian Open; Serena Williams won it in 2012 and went on to win the French Open and US Open; Williams won it again in 2014 and went on to win the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon; Caroline Wozniacki won it in 2017 and went on the win the Australian Open; and then Ashleigh Barty won it in 2019 before going on to win Wimbledon. After not having the 2020 WTA Finals due to COVID, the previous four WTA Finals winners have not gone on to win a grand slam the next year. That means less than half of the WTA Finals winners go on to win a grand slam. At least in recent history. 

Of course, Rybakina has a chance to buck that trend. She's won a grand slam before and after defeating the group of players she did in the WTA Finals, she should enter 2026 with a lot of confidence. Given this was a hard court event, the Australian Open might be her best chance. She'll enter that grand slam fresh off this WTA Finals title, so that's when momentum in theory should be strongest. At a minimum, I think she needs to make a run to at least the semifinals. Otherwise, she'll have to rebuild a lot of momentum heading into the French Open. It should be interesting to see how she does! 

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Five takeaways from the Rolex Shanghai Masters

                                             (Credit: Rolex Shanghai Masters) 

The Rolex Shanghai Masters (上海大师赛) an ATP 1000 event, recently wrapped up in Shanghai, China. Qualifier Valentin Vacherot defeated Arthur Rinderknech in the final 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to win his first career title. Vacherot is now ranked No. 40 in the world as a result. Click here to check out the draw. Below are five takeaways I have from the event. 

#1. Valentin Vacherot came to play: En route to his first career title, Valentin Vacherot defeated (4) Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals. He also defeated (10) Holger Rune 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. To beat that kind caliber of talent and be a qualifier is mighty impressive. Vacherot showed a lot of resiliency to overcome first set losses in order to win the tournament. He was even two points away from not getting out of the qualifiers, but he found a way to escape. Click here to read more about that. It'll be fun to see how the rest of the season goes for Vacherot and whether or not he can make some noise at the Australian Open come January. 

#2. Novak Djokovic is fading: Ideally, with Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing and Jannik Sinner retiring in the round of 64, this is a tournament Novak Djokovic should have won. This was all teed up for Djokovic and instead he fell short. This tournament was a sad reminder that the days of Djokovic being at the top of the sport are behind him and it's now just about playing for the love of the game. 

#3. Without Sinner and Alcaraz, there is parity: Right now, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are the clear top two players in the world. What this tournament showed is that when you take those guys out of the equation, anybody can win. It really is a Sinner/Alcaraz vs. the field situation in men's tennis right now. In earlier eras, one of the other top five or even top ten guys would have found a way to win this tournament. But right now, the gap between the rest of the top ten and the rest of the field is narrow enough that a lot of upsets are bound to happen. Which I think makes for a more interesting sport. 

#4. Daniil Medvedev is bouncing back: Daniil Medvedev had a strong performance, reaching the semifinals before losing to Rinderknech 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. Medvedev came in as the (16) seed in the tournament and defeated (7) Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals, which was a nice win for him. He is now ranked No. 14 in the world. In this era of increased parity, a window is opening for Medvedev to make some deep runs at these bigger tournaments. Can he capitalize? That's the question. 

#5. Learner Tien is on the rise: Learner Tien had a strong tournament, reaching the Round of 16 before losing to Medvedev 6-7, 7-6, 4-6. Tien nearly reached the quarterfinals, bouncing back from a disappointing 1st round exit at the US Open. At just 19 years of age, the future is bright for Tien and this tournament was a reminder of that. I look forward to seeing how he finishes out the season. 

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Brad Gilbert inducted into Foothill College Hall of Fame

 

                                                       (Credit: Ben Parker/ATPGuy.com) 

On Saturday, tennis legend Brad Gilbert was inducted into the Foothill College Hall of Fame. This was the first year Foothill had a Hall of Fame ceremony, so it was really neat for Gilbert to be a part of the school's first ever Hall of Fame class. As a fellow Foothill alum (Spring 2012, Music) and sportswriter, I jumped at the chance to attend. It was fun for me to walk around a campus that I spent three years at. Foothill had a profound impact on me as it helped prepare me for my time at UC Berkeley, where I graduated with a degree in Philosophy (Fall 2014). Special shout out to Dr. Robert Hartwell, Brian Tapia, Brian Lewis, and the entire Foothill College Gospel Choir! 

During his pre-recorded video presentation and subsequent live speech, Gilbert acknowledged the impact that his coach at Foothill Tom Chivington had on his career. Without the coaching he got from Chivington, Gilbert said he wouldn't have had the success he had both as a player and as a coach. Under Chivington's coaching, Gilbert won the California Junior College Singles Championship and the U.S. Amateur Hardcourt Championship before transferring to Pepperdine. Gilbert had a stellar career at Pepperdine as well, reaching the singles final of the 1982 NCAA championship, where he lost to Mike Leach of Michigan 5-7, 3-6. 

"I landed at Foothill College on January 2nd, 1980 as a young eighteen year old not knowing a lot about the great institution of Foothill College or our coach Tom Chivington," Gilbert said in the video portion of his remarks. "It would only take me a few days to discover the magic of Foothill College. Go Owls! And the legendary coach Tom Chivington. I feel like in a very short period of time, my life became a lot clearer in what I was doing and where I was going. I'm forever grateful for the time that I had at Foothill College. 

"Amazingly, in 60+ years, Foothill College has only had three tennis coaches from the legendary Dick Gould who started the program to Tom Chivington who was there for well over 30 years to Dixie Macias, who is there now and was my assistant coach in 1980 and '81. It is such a great place. I really feel like those two years that I was at Foothill paved the way for everything that I did in my tennis career and my coach Tom Chivington was there with me my entire time. I wish we were going in the Hall of Fame together, but I'm so grateful to the Foothill family for allowing me to be there for those couple of years and to all my friends who I text always, I always say 'Go Owls!'" 

After his collegiate career, Gilbert had success on the ATP Tour, winning 20 career singles titles, the bronze medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, and getting ranked as high as No. 4 in the world on January 1st, 1990. Gilbert reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 1990 and the quarterfinals of the US Open in 1987. He didn't have as much success at the other two grand slams, reaching the 4th round of the Australian Open in 1984 and the 3rd round of the French Open in 1993. Gilbert did find success at the ATP Tour Finals, reaching the semifinals in 1987 and reaching the final of the Grand Slam Cup in 1990, which was a tournament that was similar in model to the ATP Tour Finals, inviting players who had performed the best in grand slams during the year. 

What made Gilbert's playing career so impressive is the fact that he wasn't the most physically gifted player on tour. He had to work harder than others to achieve success and dive deeper into the mental side of the game, which is the theme of his famous book Winning Ugly.  I always tried to employ some of his tactics in my own tennis matches in high school and on the Nike Junior Tennis Tour. A must read if you are into tennis! 

After his playing days were over, Gilbert gained even more fame for coaching Andre Agassi, who won six of his eight grand slams with Gilbert as his coach. Gilbert also coached Andy Roddick, Andy Murray, Kei Nishikori, and Coco Gauff. Known for his mastery of the mental side of the game, his coaching career has truly spanned multiple generations. In addition to being an amazing coach, Gilbert has also acclaimed fame for being one of the top analysts in tennis as a member of ESPN's star-studded lineup that also includes John McEnroe, Patrick McEnroe, Mary Joe Fernandez, Chris Evert, Pam Shriver, and Chris Fowler. 

Going back to his Hall of Fame induction at Foothill College, it's always neat to see people give back to their roots and never forget where they got started. While Gilbert went onto achieve incredible success at the professional ranks as a player, coach, and analyst, he never forgot where it all started. 

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Gaël Monfils to retire after 2026 season

 

                          

                                             (Credit: Julien Crosnier/FFT) 

Earlier this week, French tennis star Gaël Monfils announced on social media that he will retire after the 2026 season. Monfils made the following statement: 

"I held a racket in my hands for the first time at two and a half, and began playing professionally at 18. Now, after celebrating my 39th birthday just a month ago, I’d like to share that the year ahead will be my last as a professional tennis player.

"The opportunity to turn my passion into a profession is a privilege I have cherished during every match and moment of my 21-year career. Though this game means the world to me, I am tremendously at peace with my decision to retire at the end of the 2026 tennis season.

"Mostly, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude. I’d like to express it to so many people:

"To my wife, Elina: my love, inspiration, and strength – and an exceptional player in her own right. To my daughter Skai: for the profound love, meaning, and joy she has added to my days. To my brother Daryl and my sisters Roddie and Maelie, for lifting me up during tough times and helping me celebrate the good ones. 

"To my best friends and loved ones, whose faces in the stands have always given me courage when it counted the most. To my longtime agent Nicolas, whose support and friendship helped me reach the highest highs and ride out the lowest lows. 

"To my coaches and team members over the years, who believed in a lanky kid from Paris and who have helped nurture my talent in ways I could never have imagined. To every person who ever cheered or shouted ‘Allez Gaël!’ in real life or at a TV screen: your energy and love are truly everything to me. To the French Tennis Federation for their unwavering support since Day One. 

"To Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon, and Richard Gasquet, my three musketeers and best friends for life. And most of all, to my parents: because all of this would have been impossible — unthinkable, even — without them. Papa, Maman, look how far we’ve come.

"While I came close, I never did win a Grand Slam during my career. I won’t pretend that I expect to do so during the next year. ‘You could have, you should have…’ As those who know me can attest, I’ve never thought this way, and frankly I’m far too old to start doing so now. Life is too short. Believe me when I say that I have no regrets.

"What I do have is the feeling that I have been lucky: insanely, stupidly lucky. I’ve had the chance to play during a golden age of tennis, alongside some of the greatest names in the history of our sport: Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray. Even losing feels epic when you’re facing a legend.

"Looking ahead, I have only one goal: to enjoy every minute, and to play each match like it’s my last."

Monfils got ranked as high as No. 6 in the world in November of 2016 and for a little while was knocking on the door to win a grand slam, reaching the semifinals of the French Open in 2008 and the semifinals of the US Open in 2016. He also reached the quarterfinals twice at the Australian Open in 2016 and 2022. Only Wimbledon has he never figured out, reaching the 4th round just the once in 2018. 

While he was never able to win a grand slam, Monfils still had a strong career. For many years, he was in the mix and was always a crowd favorite. He plays the game with a lot of flair and passion, which you can't help but love if you enjoy the sport. I feel like he's been especially fun to watch on clay given his length and sliding. There are so many difficult balls he has gotten to over the course of his career. 

I think what's most amazing is that at 39 years of age, Monfils is currently ranked No. 48 in the world. He became the oldest ATP Tour singles champion earlier this year at 38 years and 132 days old when he won the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. On top of that, he reached the 4th round at the Australian Open earlier this year as well. The fact that he's playing as well as he is at his age speaks to the dedication he has to his craft. Few players are able to compete at such a high level so late in life. His longevity more than anything else is something he should be proud of. 

Looking ahead to 2026, it'll be fun to see how Monfils does in his final season on tour. Given how he did at the Australian Open this year, there's a chance he makes his way into the second week of a grand slam at least once. Of course, the tournament where there will be the most buzz is the French Open. If he can find a way to make the 4th round in Paris next year, you know the place will be bursting with excitement. 

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Carlos Alcaraz wins second US Open title

 

                                              (Credit: Getty Images) 

On Sunday, September 7th, Carlos Alcaraz reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking after defeating Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the men's singles final at the US Open. It is the second US Open title for Alcaraz and 6th grand slam title. He's won the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open two times each, still seeking that first Australian Open title. A bit odd to need the Australian to finish up the career slam, but that's a topic for another day. 

Throughout the entire tournament, Alcaraz played fantastic, not dropping a set until the final. He defeated No. 7 Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 in the semifinals and shredded No. 20 Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. It was a dominant two weeks of tennis from Alcaraz as nobody (including Sinner) really pushed him. 

Where Alcaraz truly shined was on his serve. He was second in the tournament in percentage of first serve points won at 84%, winning 287 of 342 first serve points. A much larger sample size than first place Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who won 85% of his first serve points in the lone match that he played. As for his second serve, Alcaraz was equally outstanding, leading the tournament in percentage of second serves won with 63% (130 of 205). When you are controlling your serve at that level of consistency, you're going to be really difficult to stop. 

What also needs to be underscored about the way Alcaraz was serving is he wasn't accumulating a ton of aces. He had 48 for the entire tournament, which ranked 12th, but when you consider he played in seven matches, his aces per match were much lower than the others that were atop that list. It's a reminder that good serving isn't always about getting the ace or having the most power. It's about being able to put yourself in position to dictate the point. That's where his service game excels. 

On top of the stellar serving, Alcaraz was simply the best all-around player for the tournament. His movement is phenomenal, he can beat you from the baseline, he can beat you at the net, etc. There's really no weakness to his game, which is why he's the number one ranked player in the world. 

Looking ahead, in addition to seeing if he'll finish the season ranked number one, it'll be interesting to see if Alcaraz will be able to break through and win his first Australian Open in January. Sinner will almost certainly be on the opposite side of the net should he reach the final. 

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Aryna Sabalenka defends her US Open title

 

                                                   (Credit: Mike Segar/Reuters) 

On Saturday, No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated No. 8 Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6 in the women's singles final to win the US Open for the second straight year. It is Sabalenka's fourth grand slam title overall and her second US Open title. Her other two grand slam titles have come at the Australian Open in 2023 & 2024, so she's quickly establishing herself as the top hard court player in the world. 

Sabalenka had an amazing two weeks of tennis in New York, only dropping one set the entire way (4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals vs. No. 4 Jessica Pegula). She was also aided by a walkover victory over Marketa Vondrousova in the quarterfinals, so she really cruised to this title. That isn't to say she didn't get challenged at all. In four of her matches, she had a set that she had to win with the 7th game, three of which went to a tiebreaker. But still, the reality is she showed why she is the top player in the world, especially on hard court. 

While her 25 aces weren't the most in the tournament (Naomi Osaka crushed that stat with 43), Sabalenka really dominated with her second serve, ranking 6th in the tournament in second serve win percentage (55%). She also had a large sample size with 162 second serve points, winning 89 of them. The old saying you're only as good as your second serve rang true with Sabalenka. She was rock solid in that department. 

The other thing Sabalenka did a great job of was finding ways to win in crunch time. She was 3-0 in tiebreakers, winning all three by a collective score of 21-9. She was dominant in those tiebreakers, shutting the door and not allowing her opponents to have any life. That speaks to her mental strength and fortitude. 

For Sabalenka, this was a huge tournament for her to win given she didn't win the Australian Open this year. Hard court is her bread and butter and so to come out on top in the final hard court slam of the year has to feel good. While she still needs to figure out how to win grand slams on clay and grass, if she can get the hard court slams on lock down, she should be able to have an iron clad grip on the world number one ranking for the foreseeable future. 

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Which 20+ seed has the best chance to make noise in the second week of the US Open?

 

                                             Felix Auger-Aliassime. Credit: USOpen.org 

With the 4th round of the US Open about to get started, several players seeded in the 20s or higher are still in the mix: 

On the men's side, (23) Alexander Bublik is set to face (1) Jannik Sinner after a Saturday night 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-7, 6-1 victory over (14) Tommy Paul; (25) Felix Auger-Aliassime is set to face (15) Andrey Rublev after stunning (3) Alexander Zverev 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4; unseeded Leandro Riedi ranked (No. 435 in the world) is set to face (8) Alex de Minaur after defeating Kamil Majchrzak 5-3, ret; Jaume Munar is set to face (10) Lorenzo Musetti after defeating Zizou Bergs 6-1, 6-4, 6-4; (21) Tomas Machac is set to face (4) Taylor Fritz after defeating Ugo Blanchett 7-5, 6-3, 6-1; Jan-Lennard Struff is set to face (7) Novak Djokovic after defeating (17) Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 6-3, 7-6; Adrian Mannarino is set to face (20) Jiri Lehecka after defeating Raphael Collignon 6-4, 6-4, 6-4; Lehecka will face Mannarino after defeating (6) Ben Shelton 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, ret; and Arthur Rinderknech will face (2) Carlos Alcaraz after defeating Benjamin Bonzi 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. 

As for the women's side, Cristina Bucsa is set to face (1) Aryna Sabalenka after defeating (19) Elise Mertens 3-6, 7-5, 6-3; Marketa Vondrousova is set to face (9) Elena Rybakina after knocking off (7) Jasmine Paolini 7-6, 6-1; Ann Li is set to face (4) Jessica Pegula after defeating Priscilla Hon 7-5, 6-3; Barbora Krejcikova is set to face Taylor Townsend after defeating (10) Emma Navarro 4-6, 6-4, 6-4; Townsend upset (5) Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-2; (27) Marta Kostyuk will face (11) Karolina Muchova after defeating Diane Parry 3-6, 6-4, 6-2; and (23) Naomi Osaka will face (3) Coco Gauff after defeating (15) Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 4-6, 6-3. 

Just to condense it down for you a bit, that's (23) Alexander Bublik, Jaume Munar, (25) Felix Auger-Aliassime, Leandro Riedi, Jan-Lennard Struff, Adrian Mannarino, (21) Tomas Machac, (20) Jiri Lehecka, and Arthur Rinderknech left on the men's side; Cristina Bucsa, Marketa Vondrousova, Ann Li, Barbora Krejcikova, Taylor Townsend, (27) Marta Kostyuk, and (23) Naomi Osaka on the women's side. Nine on the men's side and seven on the women's side, making for 16 players in total. That's a pretty good amount of players left in the draw who are seeded 20+, which means there's a real opportunity to make a run in the second week. 

While I don't want to rule anyone out, the two players who are standing out to me as the most dangerous are Auger-Aliassime and Osaka: 

Starting with Auger-Aliassime, he has been ranked as high as No. 6 in the world (November 7th, 2022) and did reach the semifinals of the US Open back in 2021, so he has made a deep run before. After his win over Zverev, Auger-Aliassime should be feeling really confident heading into his match against Rublev. He knows he can make deep runs in  New York. 

Osaka has not only made deep runs at the US Open, she's won it twice in 2018 and 2020. She also won the Australian Open twice in 2019 and 2021. She knows she can win this tournament and has found a lot of success at hard court grand slams in general. Gauff has won the US Open as well (2023), so Osaka is going to have her work cut out for her. Still, Osaka has to be feeling confident to be back in the 4th round at the US Open for the first time since her 2020 title. 

One other thing that's standing out to me is the upcoming matches of Mannarino vs. (20) Lehecka and Krejcikova vs. Townsend. That guarantees at least one 20+ seeded player on each side of the draw will be in the quarterfinals. Townsend being an American will have the crowd behind her, which gives her an edge. Neither Mannarino nor Lehecka will have that going for them, so it's harder to see how that one will go. Regardless, all four of those players have to sense a real opportunity to reach the quarterfinals and then who knows what happens from there. 

Overall, this is shaping up to be an exciting second week at the US Open. A good chunk of the big name players are still in the mix and at the same time, you have a lot of underdogs who are still alive as well. Regardless of how this all shakes out, there are certain to be a lot of captivating storylines to follow. 

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Which Cincinnati Open champion is more likely to win the US Open: Carlos Alcaraz or Iga Swiatek?

 

                                             (Credit: Getty Images) 

The winners of the singles titles at the Cincinnati Open this past week were world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek. Alcaraz defeated world No. 1 Jannik Sinner 5-0, ret. in the men's final while Swiataek defeated world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4 in the women's final. As a quick aside, Sinner retired due to an illness making his US Open status up-in-the-air. We'll just have to see where things land on that front. 

Going back to the winners of the tournament, which one is more likely to go the distance in New York and win the US Open? First of all, they both have won the US Open once in their careers. Oddly enough, they both won it in 2022. Alcaraz defeated Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 in the final while Swiatek defeated Ons Jabeur 6-2, 7-6. Given that fact, it's hard to really pick which one is more likely to win it all this year.

If you look a little bit deeper, Alcaraz has the following results at the US Open from 2021-2024: quarterfinals, championship, semifinals, and 2nd round. As for Swiatek, she has the following results from 2019-2024: 2nd round, 3rd round, 4th round, championship, 4th round, and quarterfinals. Looking at that data, it's also had to really pick which one is more likely to go the distance. 

As for Australian Open success, neither player has won that tournament, so there isn't much in the way to really pick out there in terms of figuring out who is more likely to win the US Open. I guess I should mention Swiatek reached the semifinals at the Australian Open twice in 2022 and 2025 while the furthest Alcaraz has gone at the Australian Open is the quarterfinals twice in 2024 and 2025. So I guess you could maybe give a slight edge to Swiatek since she's done better at the Australian Open. 

That said, those that know tennis know that even though they are both hard court grand slams the US Open and Australian Open are different tournaments and success at one doesn't always equal success at the other. Novak Djokovic is a prime example of that. He has 10 Australian Open titles and four US Open titles. 

When adding all this up, if one has to pick which one is more likely to win the US Open this year between Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek, one is going to have to go on feel and gut instinct. They both have great chances to go the distance and I wouldn't be surprised if they both win it this year. Winning the Cincinnati Open gives them a lot of momentum heading into the US Open. 

However, if I had to pick one, I would lean Carlos Alcaraz. Jannik Sinner's status being called into question gives Alcaraz an advantage as Sinner is the defending champion. If Sinner can't go or if he flames out early due to not being at full strength, Alcaraz will be the favorite. That's not to say there won't still be be tough competition for him, but Sinner is by far and away the biggest threat to Alcaraz right now. If Sinner is not able to go or if he's hobbled, that is a huge advantage for Alcaraz. 

As for Swiatek, it feels like she has a tougher road in front of her. Aryna Sabalenka being the defending champion and world No. 1 is the odds on favorite to win it all and then top ten Americans Coco Gauff (No. 3), Jessica Pegula (No. 4), Madison Keys (No. 6), and Amanda Anisimova (No. 9) are all serious contenders and will have the New York crowd behind them. Swiatek simply has a tougher road in front of her even though she too is ranked No. 2 in the world. 

Ultimately, time will tell how this all plays out. Perhaps both Alcaraz and Swiatek will win. Perhaps only one of them will or maybe neither one will. The US Open I feel is the most unpredictable grand slam out there due to it being at the end of the year and players being more fatigued coupled with the hard court being a more grueling surface. It should be fun to see how it all plays out and who will end up lifting the trophy in New York when the two weeks are all over. 

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10 things to take away from 2025 Wimbledon

 

                        (Jannik Sinner and Iga Świątek with their trophies. Credit: Getty Images) 

With 2025 Wimbledon now officially behind us, it is time for me to write my 10 things to take away from the two weeks that were on the grass. Let's dive in! 

#1. Iga Swiatek can get it done on the grass: By winning Wimbledon, world No. 3 Iga Swiatek has now won a grand slam on every surface and only needs to win the Australian Open to complete the career grand slam.  She absolutely smoked Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the final as Anisimova was nowhere near the level she was playing at going in. Some of that of course a credit to Swiatek. While she is still most dangerous on the clay with her four French Open titles, it's huge for Swiatek to show she can win grand slams on all surfaces. It makes her a much more dangerous opponent going forward. 

#2. Jannik Sinner proved he can go the distance on the grass: Just like Iga Swiatek, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner won his first Wimbledon title, showing that he can go all the way on the grass. Now he just needs a French Open title to complete the career slam, so unlike Swiatek, he is yet to win a grand slam title on all three surfaces of clay, hard court, and grass. For Sinner, what made this title extra special was he got revenge against world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz by beating him in the final 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 after narrowly losing to him in the French Open final. Given how close he came at the French Open, one has to think his time is coming on the clay. But regardless, winning Wimbledon is a big deal for Sinner. Hopefully the first of many for him. 

#3. Coco Gauff needs to figure out the grass: Coco Gauff had a 1st round exit at Wimbledon this year and has never gotten past the 4th round. While she is off to a great start to her career with her 2023 US Open title and 2025 French Open title earlier this year, it's clear that she has work to do on the grass. The odd thing is she reached the 4th round at Wimbledon back in 2019 in her first Wimbledon and first grand slam main draw. You would think she would have at least reached a Wimbledon quarterfinals by now, but she clearly has more work to do in order to make a deep run on the grass. 

#4. Carlos Alcaraz met his match against Jannik Sinner: Carlos Alcaraz came into Wimbledon having won back-to-back titles, gunning for a third straight title on the grass. He met his match against Jannik Sinner, going down in four sets. What's clear is that these two guys are forming a fantastic rivalry on the court and there really isn't a third guy who is consistently giving them a run for their money. It would be fun if a third guy could do that (hopefully Alexander Zverev), but if we have to live with watching more Sinner/Alcaraz battles for the next few years, I think that's okay. They really are a treat to watch. 

#5. Amanda Anisimova had a breakthrough tournament: Even though getting double bageled in the final against Iga Swiatek isn't what she wanted to have happen, Amanda Anisimova still can hold her head high knowing she reached her first grand slam final and at Wimbledon no less. She had a great tournament and at just 23 years of age, she has plenty of years ahead. It'll be fun to see how the rest of the season goes for her. 

#6. The end is nearing for Novak Djokovic: Novak Djokovic reached the semifinals, losing to Jannik Sinner in straight sets 3-6, 4-6, 4-6. The fact that a run to the semifinals is considered "running out of gas" so to speak just goes to show how freaking talented and amazing Djokovic is. That notwithstanding, it's fair to wonder if he'll ever win another grand slam and how much longer he wants to play if he knows he no longer can compete at the absolute highest level. 

#7. Aryna Sabalenka still in search of first non-hardcourt slam: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka came up short, losing in the semifinals to Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-4, 4-6. She has won the Australian Open two times and the US Open once, but she is still in search of her first non-hardcourt grand slam. The semifinals is the furthest she's gone at Wimbledon and the final (2025) is the furthest she's gone at the French Open. I have no doubt that Sabalenka will get there and win a grand slam on either grass or clay, but for now, it remains a goal for her to shoot for. 

#8. Taylor Fritz needs to find that next gear:  World No. 4 Taylor Fritz lost in the semifinals to Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 7-5, 3-6, 6-7. Fritz has reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, the 4th round at the French Open, the semifinals at Wimbledon, and the final at the US Open. He appears to be knocking on the door, but with Alcaraz and Sinner in front of him, he needs to figure out how to find that next gear. Can he do it? That's the question. 

#9. Emma Raducanu needs to get more out of her home court advantage: Despite being the darling of British women's tennis, Emma Raducanu is still yet to make a serious challenge at Wimbledon. She won the US Open back in 2021, making people think a Wimbledon title could be in her future. As of now, the furthest she's gone at Wimbledon is the 4th round and this year she exited in the 3rd round. Given she's a Brit, she has a great opportunity to get the home crowd behind her at Wimbledon, but she's gotta do her part to make some noise and give them something to cheer about. 

#10. Jack Draper needs to back up his ranking at grand slams: Ranked No. 5 in the world, Jack Draper has only one grand slam semifinal under his belt at the 2024 US Open. Matter of fact, it's the only grand slam semifinal he's reached in his career. This year, he reached the 4th round at the Australian Open and the French Open before losing in the 2nd round at Wimbledon despite being British. He's going to have lot of points to defend at the US Open and unless he can make another deep run in New York, he very well may see his ranking drop come September. 

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Jannik Sinner is now a Wimbledon champion

 

                                             (Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATPTour.com) 

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has won his first Wimbledon title and the first Wimbledon title for Italy, defeating No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the gentlemen's final. Alcaraz came in as the two-time defending champion while also having defeated Sinner in an epic five set thriller to win the French Open just a few weeks earlier. Sinner could have let that French Open result get in his head, but instead he went to work and got some revenge. Sinner now has won four grand slam titles and only needs to win the French Open to complete the career slam. Given how close he came at the French Open this year, one has to think he'll soon complete the career slam. 

Looking back on his run to the title, Sinner played great throughout the entire tournament. He did however catch a lucky break in the 4th round in which he won 3-6, 5-7, 2-2, ret. against Grigor Dimitrov. Dimitrov had to retire from the match due to a pectoral muscle injury. Had he not gone down with that injury, one can't help but wonder if the outcome of the entire tournament would have been different. Coming down from 0-2 would have been tough for Sinner and even if he had pulled it out, he would have been more worn down coming into the final. 

That said, all you can do is control what you can control and take advantage of any breaks that you do get. Sinner got a major break against Dimitrov, but he took full advantage by going all the way. He deserves a lot of credit for regrouping after that match and finding it in him to come out on top in the end. 

At just 23 years of age, Sinner has rapidly ascended to the top spot in the world and is playing like a guy who isn't going anywhere anytime soon. In truth, the only guy who really seems to challenge him for the number one spot is Alcaraz. The two of them are forming quite the rivalry and are gaining separation from the rest of the ATP Tour. It'll be interesting to see if anyone else can emerge to challenge them. World No.3 Alexander Zverev is yet to win a grand slam and he's few years older than both guys. 

Looking ahead to the US Open, Sinner will look to defend his title there. He'll be coming in with a lot of momentum and confidence. Provided he has a good lead up to the US Open on the hardcourt, I see no reason to pick against him. Even with Alcaraz the favorite to be facing him in the final. 

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Iga Swiatek is now a Wimbledon champion

 

                                             (Credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth/The Associated Press) 

In the ladies' singles final, (8) Iga Swiatek defeated (13) Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 to win her first Wimbledon title. Swiatek dominated from start to finish and Anisimova was never able to get into any sort of groove. Swiatek had a dominating semifinal victory as well, cruising past Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-0. As a matter of fact, Swiatek only dropped one set at Wimbledon in her 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Caty McNally in the second round. Aside from that match, it was smooth sailing for her the entire way. 

What makes this title so impressive for Swiatek is the fact that she had never gone past the quarterfinals before at Wimbledon. She really has really become known for being a dominant clay court player. For her to win at Wimbledon shows that she is more versatile than people have given her credit for. She now has won a grand slam on all the surfaces and just needs to find a way to win the Australian Open to complete the career slam. 

Speaking of the clay, Swiatek fell short in the French Open just a few weeks ago, losing in the semifinals. Bouncing back by winning Wimbledon shows a lot of fortitude and resolve on her part. Of course, one can't help but wonder if falling short at the French Open helped her win Wimbledon. She got a little more time to rest and also didn't have the pressure of coming in as the reigning French Open champion. Coco Gauff, who won the French Open, lost in the first round at Wimbledon. That further proves how tough it is to perform well at both tournaments back-to-back. 

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, it'll be fun to see how Swiatek performs in the upcoming hardcourt swing that culminates with the US Open in New York. Swiatek won the US Open back in 2022, so she knows she can win that event. Winning Wimbledon should certainly help her enter the US Open with more confidence. If she's able to go the distance in New York, she'll be well on her way to reclaiming the number one ranking in the world. 

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Carlos Alcaraz shows incredible fight in Roland Garros title

 

                                              (Credit: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters) 

 (2) Carlos Alcaraz defeated (1) Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 to win the men's singles title at Roland Garros. It is Alcaraz's fifth grand slam title and his second consecutive French Open title. Despite getting down 0-2, Alcaraz came back to win three straight sets, crushing Sinner's soul in the process. It was an unbelievable performance that I think is the greatest yet that we've ever seen from Alcaraz. 

Coming back down from 0-2 down is simply amazing, but what made it even more incredible is it was the longest final in the history of the French Open. The amount of fight that Alcaraz showed was on another level. So many times he could have thrown in the towel and given up, but he dug deep and found a way to pull it out in the end. He even had to fend off three championship points. 

A major reason why Alcaraz was able to pull off the comeback was his ability to up his aggression. In the first two sets, he and Sinner were tied with 20 winners each. In the final three sets, Alcaraz was +17 in winners (50-33). His ability to take more chances and not allow Sinner to control the pace made a huge difference. Had Alcaraz not played with that same level of aggression in the final three sets, he wouldn't have pulled this out. 

Of course, even with that increased aggression, it was still a dogfight until the very end with the final two sets being tiebreakers. Sinner made Alcaraz earn it. This was not a case of Sinner choking. This was the two best players in the world going at it and unfortunately only one of them can win. 

What makes this title extra special for Alcaraz is the fact that fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal was honored before the tournament with a special ceremony and unveiling of a plaque that bears his footprint and record number of Roland Garros titles (14) on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Winning the French Open this year is the best tribute that Alcaraz could have given to Nadal. That I'm sure has to feel very satisfying. 

All around, this was a fantastic two weeks for Carlos Alcaraz. He's quickly establishing himself as an all-time great and he's only 22 years of age. It's just getting started for him and that's something that should have the rest of the ATP Tour shaking in their boots. 

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Coco Gauff finally goes the distance at Roland Garros

                                              (Credit: Thibuad Moritz/AFP via Getty Images) 

In the women's singles final (2) Coco Gauff defeated (1) Aryna Sabalenka 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 to win the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros. It is Gauff's second career grand slam title and first French Open title. Gauff's first grand slam title came at the 2023 US Open in which she also defeated Sabalenka in three sets: 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. 

At just 21 years of age, Gauff is one of the best all-around players in the game. A lot of American players her age struggle away from the hard courts, but due to spending a lot of time on the clay growing up, Gauff is perhaps even better and more comfortable on the clay. What really allowed her to beat Sabalenka was her patience and ability to let Sabalenka be the one to make mistakes. Sabalenka had 70 unforced errors during the match to Gauff's 30. Of the 119 points she won, 58.8% were due to those unforced errors by Sabalenka. That is a crazy stat.

Even though she grew up playing a lot of clay tournaments, Gauff still had to pay her dues to win her first French Open. In 2019, she didn't get out of the qualifying rounds. In 2020, she lost in the second round. In 2021, she reached the quarterfinals. In 2022, she reached the final, making it seem like a French Open title was imminent. But then in 2023, she lost in the quarterfinals and then in 2024 she lost in the semifinals. We all knew she was knocking on the door, but there were still questions about when she would break through on the dirt. Make no mistake, Gauff has worked extremely hard to improve her clay court tennis and she finally got rewarded by winning it all this year. 

In some respects, the final was a microcosm of what Gauff's Roland Garros journey has been like. She could have thrown in the towel after dropping that first set, but instead she kept on fighting and believing. She trusted the process and her approach to the game without wavering. Such an approach is especially beneficial on clay. If she keeps playing like this, I definitely see more French Open titles in her future. 

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Will meeting Pope Leo XIV be a blessing to Jannik Sinner?

 

                                             (Credit: Vatican Media) 

Earlier this week, the same day that I was in Rome touring the Vatican with my family, world number one Jannik Sinner met with newly elected Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. The Pope apparently is a big tennis fan and given that Sinner is an Italian playing in the Italian Open this week, it made sense for the two of them to meet. 

Sinner is currently still alive in the Italian Open, playing in the semifinals on Friday against No. 12 Tommy Paul. If he wins the Italian Open, one will have to wonder if meeting the Pope gave Sinner a bit of an emotional boost. Of course, Sinner came in as the favorite anyways. Both due to being number one and also being the hometown favorite. In truth, winning the Italian Open may not be much of an indicator of the Holy Father blessing his tennis skills. 

However, winning the Italian Open and French Open back-to-back is no easy task and Sinner is still in search of his first title at both events. The furthest he's gone at the Italian Open is the semifinals (this year) and the furthest he's gone at the French Open is the semifinals (2024). If Sinner were to win both this year for the first time, especially after meeting the Pope, one will have to wonder if something divine is at work. 

Regardless of how the Italian Open and French Open go for Sinner, it's pretty cool he got to meet the Pope. Meeting the Pope just goes to show how big of a deal he is as the only Italian to be ranked number one in the world in tennis. I guess if you have that accomplishment under your belt, it'll be pretty easy to get a VIP trip to the Vatican. Even if your last name is "Sinner." 

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Carlos Alcaraz looking like the favorite to win Roland Garros in 2025

 

                                              (Credit: Susan Mullane/Imagn Images) 

The next grand slam on the docket is the French Open at Roland Garros. On the men's side, world number three Carlos Alcaraz is looking like an early favorite to defend his title. So far, he is 24-5 on the season and has won two titles, one of which is the ATP Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo, which is played on the clay in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. Alcaraz defeated Lorenzo Musetti in the final 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 really taking control in the final two sets. In his next event after Monte-Carlo, Alcaraz lost in the final to Holger Rune 6-7, 2-6. That was also on the clay at the ATP 500 event Barcelona Open. 

As of late, Alcaraz is looking great on the clay and building a lot of momentum as he looks ahead to the French Open. While we still have a month to go before the tournament starts, Alcaraz definitely is looking strong. He has won one one of the top clay events going into the French Open and also had really strong performance in Barcelona. 

The big thing for Alcaraz right now is to keep this up. The ATP 1000 events in Madrid and Rome area also key clay court events that precede the French Open. If he can win one of those two events, that would be huge as he continues to build momentum. It'll be interesting to see how he does and whether or not he still enters the French Open with the same kind of momentum that he currently seems to have. 

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