Iga Swiatek, the Polish world No.1, suffered a shocking defeat at the US Open after holding a 5-0 lead in the first set of her round‑of‑16 match against China’s Qinwen Zheng. The loss prompted former champion John McEnroe to comment on the unexpected collapse and discuss the role of Swiatek’s coach, Francisco Roig. Zheng advanced to the quarter‑finals while Swiatek’s campaign ended earlier than expected.
Ukrainian world No.10 Marta Kostyuk reached the last eight of the Guadalajara Open after a first‑round bye and a walkover when Taylor Townsend pulled out sick. She is set to face eighth‑seed Liudmila Samsonova in the quarter‑finals.
Juan Carlos Ferrero, who last coached Carlos Alcaraz until the end of the 2025 season, announced in a Movistar interview that he intends to return to coaching. He did not name a specific player but three names were highlighted as potential candidates: rising Spaniard Rafael Jodar, Canadian Felix Auger‑Aliassime and world‑number‑one Jannik Sinner.
The Women’s Tennis Association announced that Charlotte will host the WTA Finals from 2027, aiming to create a “Super Bowl of women’s sports” and bring stability after several recent venue changes. The move also includes relocating the WTA’s global headquarters to the city, with the event to be staged at the Spectrum Centre.
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic announced via Instagram that he will return to the China Open in Beijing after a 11‑year absence, having last won the event in 2015. He expressed excitement about playing at the National Tennis Centre and thanked Chinese fans for their support. The announcement comes as he looks to rebound from an early exit at the US Open.
Former world number four Jack Draper will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after suffering bone bruising in his serving arm. He aims to recover and return to the ATP Tour at the start of 2027, with support from coaches Andy Murray, James Trotman and Alex Lisiecki.
In the US Open third round, Iva Jovic defeated Alex Eala 7‑5, 3‑6, 7‑5, extending her 3‑0 head‑to‑head record. Former WTA player Andrea Petkovic later predicted on a podcast that Eala, being two years older, will win a Grand Slam title before Jovic.
British tennis player Sonay Kartal confirmed her comeback to the WTA circuit after a six‑month layoff caused by a back injury. She expressed excitement on Instagram and noted her new role as an official Under Armour ambassador, while her exact tournament debut remains unconfirmed. The announcement follows a difficult 2026 season that saw her ranking drop from world No.44 to No.124.
Former world No.1 John McEnroe urged tennis authorities to change the serve‑toss rule after Alexander Zverev’s habit of bouncing the ball thousands of times during his US Open matches drew criticism. McEnroe, echoing a similar suggestion from Andy Roddick, argued that a missed toss should be counted as a fault, aiming to speed up play and eliminate repeated do‑overs.
American teenager Ben Shelton reached his first Grand Slam final at the 2026 US Open but lost to Germany’s Alexander Zverev in four sets. Post‑match analysis from former coaches Brad Gilbert and Rick Macci highlighted Shelton’s overly conservative serve and a biomechanically disjointed backhand as key issues to address before upcoming Davis Cup duties.