Stephen Farrow, the director of the United Cup, is confident the tournament will thrive despite a packed tennis calendar and Saudi Arabia’s plans for a new ATP Masters event. He emphasizes the event’s popularity among players and fans, its strong partnership with the ATP and WTA, and its position as a key lead-in tournament to the Australian Open.
Indian tennis players Rithvik Bollipalli and Arjun Kadhe secured a thrilling victory in the Almaty Open ATP tournament, claiming their first doubles title at this level. They battled back from five match points down to defeat Nicolas Barrientos and Skander Mansouri in a dramatic super tie-break. The victory will propel both players into the world’s top 100 rankings.
Rising Italian star Jannik Sinner upset world No. 4 Novak Djokovic in the final of the Shanghai Masters, denying the Serbian legend his 100th career singles title. Sinner’s crucial break in the second set proved decisive in the 1 hour 37-minute match.
Stefanos Tsitsipas rebounded from a recent slump to defeat Kei Nishikori in straight sets at the Shanghai Masters, advancing to the third round. The match saw tight sets and a crucial tiebreaker, highlighting Tsitsipas’s improved form and fighting spirit.
Stefanos Tsitsipas’ struggles continued at the Japan Open, where he suffered a surprising first-round loss to American Alex Michelsen. The Greek star, ranked No. 12 in the world, lost in straight sets despite winning the first set. This latest defeat follows a string of disappointing performances for Tsitsipas, who has announced a coaching change and is dealing with burnout. Meanwhile, other notable matches saw Jack Draper advance and Yoshihito Nishioka prevail in a marathon three-set encounter.
Goran Djokovic, uncle of tennis superstar Novak Djokovic, has been elected president of the Serbian Tennis Federation. He aims to establish a national training center and improve the federation’s finances, drawing on his experience in organizing ATP tournaments.
The US Open concluded with major changes in the ATP and WTA rankings, with Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula climbing into the top 10 and Emma Navarro achieving a career-high ranking. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner solidified his position as the ATP’s No. 1, while Aryna Sabalenka remains second in the WTA despite winning the women’s title.
Australia’s Alexei Popyrin stunned the tennis world by defeating fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev in the final of the National Bank Open, claiming his first ATP Masters 1000 title. Popyrin’s remarkable week saw him overcome five top-20 players in a row, showcasing his impressive resilience and skill.
World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off Grand Slam victories and an Olympic silver medal, has set his sights on finishing the season as the top-ranked player in the world. He aims to close the gap on current No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the ATP Race to Turin, starting with this week’s Cincinnati Open.
Kei Nishikori earned his first ATP Masters 1000 victory in three years, defeating Alex Michelsen in the first round of the National Bank Open. Meanwhile, Milos Raonic withdrew from the tournament due to a shoulder injury. Other notable first-round winners include Pablo Carreno Busta, Alejandro Tabilo, Karen Khachanov, and Lorenzo Sonego.
