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The much-hyped 2025 US Open mixed doubles tournament has already been hit by several high-profile withdrawals and more big names could still pull out ahead of the debut event at Flushing Meadows.

The United States Tennis Association has decided to break from tradition as they have opted for a new two-day format that will take place the week before the US Open singles draw takes place with the winning team receiving a cheque of $1 million.

The tournament will feature 16 teams with eight teams gaining entry based on their combined singles ranking and eight earning wildcard entries.

The initial list contained several tennis stars who don’t usually play mixed doubles at the Grand Slams with world No 1 Jannik Sinner teaming up with Emma Navarro while Carlos Alcaraz is set to play with Emma Raducanu.

Women’s No 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Grigor Dimitrov will be on the same side of the net and newly-crowned Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek is set to play with Casper Ruud.

Sinner, Alcaraz, Raducanu, Swiatek and Sabalenka were some of the singles players who expressed their excitement about the event, but several others blasted organisers.

Power couple Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa were also on the entry list released in June along with Zheng Qinwen and Jack Draper, but those two teams have since withdrawn

The organisers have now expanded the provisional entry list to 25, but only 16 teams will take part in the tournament.

Tsitsipas and Badosa are rumoured to have broken up and the latter is also struggling with a back injury, while the Zheng-Draper entry has also been scrapped as the Chinese star will miss the US Open singles event due to an elbow injury.

The new teams who have been added are Amanda Anisimova and Holger Rune, Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev, Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur, Donna Vekic and Hubert Hurkacz, Iva Jovic and Jenson Brooksby, Gaby Dabrowski and Felix Auger-Aliassime, Demi Schuurs and Tallon Griekspoor, Katerina Siniakova and Marcelo Arevalo, Desirae Krawczyk and Evan King, Hsieh Su-Wei and Jan Zielinski, and Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka.

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Sinner and Navarro as well as Alcaraz and Raducanu still feature on the list along with Ruud-Swiatek, Sabalenka-Dimitrov, and Novak Djokovic-Olga Danilovic, but there are major doubts over the participation of these teams.

The US Open mixed doubles event is scheduled to take place on August 19 and 20 at Flushing Meadows in New York, but there is a good chance that some of those players will be in action at the finals of the joint ATP-WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open.

Both the men’s and women’s singles finals are set for Monday, August 18 in Mason, Ohio,

If the four players who compete in the finals are on the US Open mixed entry list they will have to rush off to New York immediately after the matches if they are to play matches at Flushing Meadows a day later.

Those who then make the finals day – Wednesday, August 20 – will then only have a few days’ rest before the US Open singles tournament starts.

It is a big risk for those who hope to be fresh for the fortnight of singles action at the US Open.

The 25 teams on the entry list (only 16 will compete):

Emma Navarro and Jannik Sinner
Amanda Anisimova and Holger Rune
Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud
Jasmine Paolini and Lorenzo Musetti
Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz
Belinda Bencic and Alexander Zverev
Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev
Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe
Jessica Pegula and Tommy Paul
Aryna Sabalenka and Grigor Dimitrov
Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev
Olga Danilovic and Novak Djokovic
Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz
Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur
Donna Vekic and Hubert Hurkacz
Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios
Taylor Townsend and Ben Shelton
Iva Jovic and Jenson Brooksby
Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori
Gaby Dabrowski and Felix Auger-Aliassime
Demi Schuurs and Tallon Griekspoor
Katerina Siniakova and Marcelo Arevalo
Desirae Krawczyk and Evan King
Hsieh Su-Wei and Jan Zielinski
Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka

The post US Open mixed doubles suffers big-name withdrawals. Could Emma Raducanu, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner follow suit? appeared first on Tennis365.

Venus Williams is back on court in 2025 – and has also found happiness off it.

Despite lingering rumours that she had silently retired from tennis, the tennis legend ended her 16-month absence from the sport at the Citi DC Open in Washington this summer.

The American’s career shows no signs of slowing down quite yet, with the 45-year-old former world No 1 still in love with the game as much as ever.

And, the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion has found love away from the game, with Williams confirming her engagement to Andrea Preti after beating Peyton Stearns in the US capital.

Here is all you need to know about the man set to say ‘I do’ with the tennis icon this year.

Film star

A high-profile relationship with a tennis legend will undoubtedly attract attention, though Preti is used to publicity as one of Italy’s most famous film stars.

Born in June 1987 in Copenhagen, Preti initially grew up in the Danish capital before returning to Italy, where he initially found work as a fashion model.

However, deciding to pursue his dream of acting, he moved to New York to study at the Susan Batson Academy, and is now one of the most successful film stars in his home country.

After working in a string of TV commercials, Preti broke through in 2015 thanks to the film One More Day, a film which he wrote, directed, and starred in.

Preti has gone on to star in a range of projects, including a recurring guest role in the popular Italian TV series Un Professore in 2023.

He has also become a popular figure on the red carpet, with appearances at the film premiere of Challengers and F1 in recent years.

Venus Williams relationship

Williams has rarely discussed her relationship status or personal life in public, and she had largely remained quiet about her relationship with Preti until her DC campaign.

The relationship between the two began to emerge last summer, with Preti and Williams spotted together for the first time in July 2024, holidaying with friends on the Amalfi Coast in Italy.

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The pair have since engaged frequently with each other on social media, often commenting on each other’s Instagram posts, and were seen holidaying together in the Bahamas in early 2025.

Engagement rumours were first sparked when Williams was spotted wearing what appeared to be an engagement ring, though neither has publicly commented on their relationship status.

Ahead of her return to court this summer, it had been reported that the couple would marry this September in Italy, with only close family and friends present.

Williams reportedly held an intimate bachelorette party in Italy in July, with younger sister Serena among the guests.

And, speaking after her historic victory against compatriot Stearns, the former world No 1 confirmed her and Preti’s plans to tie the knot.

“My fiancé is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing,” Williams said on-court.

“There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill. Do you know how hard it is to play tennis?

“You guys don’t know how much work goes into this, like it’s 9 to 5 except you’re running the whole time. Lifting weights and just like dying, and then you repeat it the next day.

“So he encouraged me to get through this, and it’s wonderful to be here. He’s never seen me play.”

Read Next: The oldest women to play on the WTA Tour since 2000: ft. Venus Williams

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Emma Raducanu’s hard-court summer started with a win on Tuesday.

In an impressive display, the world No 46 rallied from a break down in the first set to seal a 7-6(4), 6-4 triumph over seventh seed Marta Kostyuk.

However, things do not get any easier for Raducanu next, with former world No 1 and fellow Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka awaiting in the second round.

Osaka will be the 13th fellow major champion that the Brit, champion at the 2021 US Open, has faced in her career.

Here, we look at all of the Grand Slam champions the 22-year-old has faced in her career.

Marketa Vondrousova – Four meetings (H2H: 2-2)

The first time Raducanu and Vondrousova faced off, neither of them was a Grand Slam champion.

That meeting came at Wimbledon in 2021, with Raducanu prevailing in straight sets during her breakout run – openly winning the US Open later that summer.

Vondrousova would go on to beat the Brit in the Billie Jean King Cup in 2022 and, after winning Wimbledon in 2023, at the Abu Dhabi Open in early 2025.

Raducanu triumphed in their most recent meeting, defeating the Czech in the second round of Wimbledon in 2025.

Elena Rybakina – One meeting (H2H: 0-1)

Doubles partners in Washington, Rybakina and Raducanu have only met once on the WTA Tour – and the Kazakh was dominant.

Just months after her opponent had triumphed at the US Open, Rybakina prevailed 6-0, 6-1 at the Sydney International in January 2022; she would win Wimbledon later that season.

Sloane Stephens – Two meetings (H2H: 2-0)

Stephens and Raducanu have met twice, with the Brit winning both times in a battle between two US Open champions.

Raducanu beat Stephens, the champion at Flushing Meadows in 2017, in three sets in round one of the 2022 Australian Open, and then beat her 6-4, 6-0 at the Eastbourne Open in 2024.

Iga Swiatek – Five meetings (H2H: 0-5)

Swiatek is the most-played opponent of Raducanu’s career to date, and their match-up has been heavily in favour of the Pole so far.

The six-time Grand Slam champion, who triumphed at Wimbledon this summer, has won all five of their encounters, all in straight sets.

Swiatek beat Raducanu in round three of the Australian Open and round two of Roland Garros in 2025, with wins over the Brit in Stuttgart in 2022 and 2024, and in Indian Wells in 2023.

Bianca Andreescu – Two meetings (H2H: 0-2)

Two of the most surprising US Open champions of recent times, Andreesca and Raducanu have met twice in WTA action.

Canadian star Andreescu prevailed at the Italian Open in 2022, when Raducanu retired injured down 6-2, 2-1, before also beating the Brit in three sets at the 2023 Miami Open.

Serena Williams – One meeting (H2H: 1-0)

No woman in the Open Era has won as many Grand Slam singles titles as Williams (23), and Raducanu faced off with the tennis icon in the penultimate tournament of the American’s career.

The pair met at the 2022 Cincinnati Open, with the Brit claiming a 6-4, 6-0 round-one victory.

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Victoria Azarenka – One meeting (H2H: 1-0)

Shortly after beating Williams, Raducanu had her first – and to date, only – meeting with former world No 1 and two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka.

Again, it was the Brit who prevailed, storming to a 6-0, 6-2 victory at the WTA 1000 event.

Jelena Ostapenko – Two meetings (H2H: 0-2)

2017 French Open champion Ostapenko has taken on the Brit twice and has prevailed on both occasions.

The Latvian was a break up in the decider when Raducanu was forced to retire injured at the Korea Open in 2022, and then thrashed her 6-2, 6-1 in Stuttgart in 2023 – the Brit’s final match before surgery.

Coco Gauff – Two meetings (H2H: 0-2)

Two of the biggest stars of their generation, Gauff and Raducanu have already met twice in WTA Tour action.

The pair first met at the Australian Open in 2023, with the American winning in two tight sets – going on to win her first major title at the US Open that season.

Gauff again prevailed when they met for a second time at the Italian Open in 2025, dropping just three games on her way to victory.

Aryna Sabalenka – Two meetings (H2H: 0-2)

Raducanu has lost both of her matches versus reigning world No 1 and three-time major winner Sabalenka, though she has competed well in both meetings.

On the comeback trail, the Brit fell in straight sets to Sabalenka in the third round of Indian Wells last spring, before their meeting in round three of Wimbledon in 2025.

Raducanu had opportunities, but Sabalenka showed her class in a 7-6(6), 6-4 triumph.

Angelique Kerber – One meeting (H2H: 1-0)

Raducanu and Kerber met just once before the German, a three-time Slam winner and former world No 1, retired in 2024.

The Brit proved to be a comfortable winner in Stuttgart last season, dropping just three games on her way to victory.

Sofia Kenin – One meeting (H2H: 0-1)

Much like Raducanu, Kenin has found life as a Grand Slam champion tough since her memorable victory at the 2020 Australian Open.

The pair faced off in a notable round-one match at the US Open in 2024, with the American prevailing in three sets to reach the second round.

Naomi Osaka – First meeting

After impressive wins in their opening rounds, Raducanu and Osaka will meet for the first time in the second round in Washington this week.

Raducanu saw off Kostyuk in two straight sets, while Osaka defeated Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 7-5 to pick up her first win of the hard-court summer.

The Japanese has won all four of her major titles on hard courts and is one of the all-time greats on the surface, but, like Raducanu, has faced a stop-start 2025.

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The post The 13 Grand Slam champions Emma Raducanu has played: ft. Serena, Swiatek, Osaka appeared first on Tennis365.

Taylor Fritz has called for the tennis season to be shortened as he reacted to the host of big-name withdrawals from the 2025 Canadian Open.

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper and Novak Djokovic — four of the top six players in the ATP Rankings — have pulled out of the Masters event in Toronto. Sebastian Korda, Hubert Hurkacz and Jordan Thompson have also withdrawn from the tournament.

World No 3 Alexander Zverev is set to be the top seed in Canada, while fourth-ranked Fritz is projected to be seeded second. Lorenzo Musetti and Ben Shelton, who are ranked seventh and eighth, will be seeded third and fourth respectively.

Prior to his appearance at the ATP 500 event in Washington, Fritz labelled the tennis schedule “insane.”

“Yeah, I think, I mean, probably pretty much all the players for a long time have been asking for the season to be shorter, but all we are doing is just lengthening it, adding more stuff, we’re adding more, like, longer tournaments,” the American said.

“The Hopman Cup was after Wimbledon. I didn’t even know this was going on. They had an event with Felix [Auger-Aliassime] and [Flavio] Cobolli playing a tournament right after Wimbledon and one of them is coming and playing here. It’s insane, we are just adding stuff to the calendar over and over again.

“I think they shortened parts to obviously give themselves an extra week to do this, to make it the three weeks between the two tournaments (Wimbledon and Canada).

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“I think it’s funny how we can shorten, we find ways to shorten the schedule to make room for other tournaments, but we can’t find room to shorten the schedule just for there to be nothing.

“I’d love to see it go back to just two weeks and maybe we can have an extra — can shorten the season a week. I don’t know. But it’s a lot of tennis. It’s a lot of tennis upcoming.”

On the controversial 12-day Masters 1000 format, the 27-year-old added: “To be honest, I am complaining about the length of the two-week tournaments, but at the same time, I don’t dislike playing a match and having a day off and playing a match.

“It’s weird. It’s just kind of like kind of, like, mindset and feeling I’m in. Some weeks I might prefer just to go all at once, and some weeks I might prefer to have a day off after my matches.”

Fritz will face world No 105 Aleksandar Vukic in his opening match at the Citi Open.

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The hard-court summer is underway, and the first WTA 1000 event of the swing starts in less than a week.

The IGA Stadium in Montreal will play host to the Canadian Open women’s singles event this coming week, with action starting on July 27th.

Here, we look at who will be in action over the coming fortnight.

Who is out?

The biggest name not in action is world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who confirmed last week she would not be in action after a heavy load of matches across the first half of the season.

World No 10 Paula Badosa has also withdrawn due to recurring injury issues, while world No 6 Zheng Qinwen has pulled out after elbow surgery last week.

Former world No 2 Ons Jabeur will not be in action after confirming her intention to take a break from professional tennis, while Donna Vekic and Sonay Kartal have also withdrawn.

The top seeds

In the absence of world No 1 Sabalenka, world No 2 Coco Gauff is set to be the top seed, in the American’s first tournament since her shock round-one defeat at Wimbledon.

Meanwhile, world No 3 Iga Swiatek is currently set to return to action as the second seed in her first tournament since claiming her sixth Grand Slam title at the All England Club.

World No 4 and two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula is set to be the third seed, with world No 5 Mirra Andreeva set to be seeded fourth.

2024 runner-up Amanda Anisimova and Madison Keys are set to be the fifth and sixth seeds, respectively, with Jasmine Paolini seeded seventh and Emma Navarro seeded eighth.

Who else is entered?

Outside of the top eight seeds, there are plenty of big names in action.

Elena Rybakina and Elina Svitolina are set to be the ninth and 10th seeds, respectively, while Karolina Muchova, Ekaterina Alexandrova, and Daria Kasatkina are also inside the top 16 seeds in Montreal.

Recent Wimbledon semi-finalist Belinda Bencic is set to be the 17th seed, with former Grand Slam champions Jelena Ostapenko and Sofia Kenin seeded 23rd and 24th, respectively.

Outside of the seeded players, this year marks the return of Emma Raducanu to Canadian Open action.

The Brit made her event debut in 2022, though she missed 2023 due to injury and 2024 due to a scheduling change.

Also among the notable unseeded players are four-time Grand Slam singles champion and former world No 1 Naomi Osaka, and rising star Alex Eala – who will make her event debut inside the IGA Stadium.

The tournament has also awarded a wildcard to former world No 5 Eugenie Bouchard, with the 31-year-old announcing she will retire at her home event this week.

2019 US Open champion and former world No 4 Bianca Andreescu also receives a wildcard into her home event, as does rising Canadian star Victoria Mboko.

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Canadian Open Entry List (as of July 22, 2025)

1) Coco Gauff
2) Iga Swiatek
3) Jessica Pegula
4) Mirra Andreeva
5) Amanda Anisimova
6) Madison Keys
7) Jasmine Paolini
8) Emma Navarro
9) Elena Rybakina
10) Elina Svitolina
11) Karolina Muchova
12) Ekaterina Alexandrova
13) Liudmila Samsonova
14) Diana Shnaider
15) Daria Kasatkina
16) Clara Tauson
17) Belinda Bencic
18) Beatriz Haddad Maia
19) Elise Mertens
20) Linda Noskova
21) Magdalena Frech
22) Jelena Ostapenko
23) Sofia Kenin
24) Marta Kostyuk
25) Magda Linette
26) Ashlyn Krueger
27) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
28) McCartney Kessler
29) Olga Danilovic
30) Dayana Yastremska
31) Rebecca Sramkova
32) Peyton Stearns
Leylah Fernandez
Anna Kalinskaya
Emma Raducanu
Maya Joint
Dayana Yastremska
Katie Boulter
Anastasia Potapova
Maria Tatjana
Veronika Kudermetova
Lulu Sun
Marie Bouzkova
Elina Avanesyan
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Jaqueline Cristian
Naomi Osaka
Danielle Collins
Hailey Baptiste
Alex Eala
Camila Osorio
Elena-Gabriela Ruse
Alycia Parks
Eva Lys
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
Lucia Bronzetti
Polina Kudermetova
Ann Li
Lois Boisson
Caroline Dolehide
Yuliia Starodubtseva
Barbora Krejcikova
Suzan Lamens
Renata Zarazua
Moyuka Uchijima
Emiliana Arango
Kimberly Birrell
Yulia Putintseva
Wang Xinyu
(PR) Marketa Vondrousova
(PR) Sorana Cirstea
(PR) Lin Zhu
(PR) Anastasija Sevastova
(PR) Caty McNally
(WC) Bianca Andreesca
(WC) Eugenie Bouchard
(WC) Carson Branstine
(WC) Kayla Cross
(WC) Elizabeth Mandlik
(WC) Rebecca Marino
(WC) Victoria Mboko
(WC) Marina Stakusic
Remaining players to enter through qualifying draw

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Carlos Alcaraz has confirmed his withdrawal from the 2025 Canadian Open and outlined the reason for his decision.

The ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Toronto will begin on July 27 — just two weeks after Alcaraz‘s four-set loss to world No 1 Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final.

In a post on X, Alcaraz wrote: “After many consecutive weeks of competition without rest, I will not be able to play in Toronto this year.

“I have small muscles issues and I need to recover physically and mentally for what comes next. To the tournament and to my fans in Canada I am very sorry, I will see you next year!”

The world No 2 also missed the 2024 Canadian Open in Montreal, which was played directly after the Paris Olympics.

This year’s Canadian Open will be the first edition of the event held over the two-week (12 day), 96-player format that the ATP Tour has implemented at seven of the nine Masters tournaments.

Prior to the changes, seven of the nine Masters tournaments were played over a single week and featured 56-player singles draws.

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Alcaraz is one of several high-profile players who has criticised the expanded Masters 1000 format.

In April, the Spaniard said: “The one week ones are better. Some will think that in two weeks there are days of rest, but that is not the case.

“You train, you have to mentally prepare for the game, prepare for it… you’re not resting, really. It’s two full weeks. That’s why I prefer the one-week Masters 1000. For me, it’s better for tennis.”

Alcaraz’s withdrawal means four of the top six players in the world will be absent from the event after Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper also pulled out.

In a statement, Sinner said: “I’m really disappointed to be missing the National Bank Open in Toronto, especially as I have such fond memories of playing in Canada.

“Winning that title in Toronto two years ago was the start of a really special moment for me, but after speaking with my team, I have to prioritise my health.

“I would like to thank Karl Hale, the Tournament Director, for everything he does and I’m looking forward to returning to Canada and Toronto in the future to play in front of the great fans.”

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The post Carlos Alcaraz apologises to fans as he reveals reason for key schedule decision appeared first on Tennis365.

Emma Raducanu got her US hard court campaign off to a nervy start with what ultimately proved to be an impressive win alongside former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in Washington.

Raducanu has limited doubles experience an admitted she has limited knowledge was a concern when she teamed up with fellow Brit Katie Boulter in the WTA 500 event at the Queen’s Club last month.

The Raducanu/Boulter pairing won a match in that tournament and now the intriguing pairing with Rybakina has produced an opening victory, as they beat the experienced doubles duo of Britain’s Olivia Nicholls and Czechia’s Tereza Mihalikova.

Raducanu and Rybakina were an eye-catching team entering the Washington draw and while they have no experience playing together, they found a way to win 2-6, 7-6(4), 11-9.

That scoreline only tells part of the story as Raducanu and Rybakina were 9-5 up in the decisive championship tie-break and were pulled back to 9-9 before pushing over the winning line.

Emma Raducanu makes a big breakthrough in alternative tennis rankings

The duo shared an embrace as the final point was won, with a big crowd watching the high-profile duo team up.

It was a positive sign that Raducanu entered the doubles in Washington, as it suggests the back problems that have hampered her since a defeat against Danielle Collins on clay in Strasbourg in May are not concerning her.

The doubles experience will also be welcome before her eagerly anticipated partnership with world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the revamped mixed doubles at the US Open next month.

Raducanu will play her first singles match in Washington on Tuesday, when she takes on Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk and former British No 1 Tim Henman believes the 22-year-old is in a good place as she looks to make an impression on hard courts leading up to the US Open.

After reaching the quarter-finals at the new WTA 500 tournament at the Queen’s Club, Raducanu pushed world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round at Wimbledon and Henman believes she is now maturing into a player ready to compete at the top of the women’s game.

“She’s a much better player than she was in 2021 because she’s had four more years of experience and now she’s started to build more of a team around her,” Henman told Sky Sports News.

“She’s been competing so much more this year, which therefore emphasises the physical resilience that she’s got because she was always getting injuries.

”So I just hope she can continue in that vein because if she keeps doing the right things on the practice court, the results will come on the match because she’s that good a player. And I think it was great to see her on the biggest stage in our sport against the number one player in the world.

“She had a really good chance to win that match and I’m sure that will motivate her now moving onto the hardcourt swing in America to keep building.”

Raducanu has a big chance to get close to a seeded position in the top 32 of the WTA Rankings ahead of the US Open if she can put some solid wins together in Washington and then at the WTA 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati.

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Holger Rune says that he reached out to Andre Agassi for some ‘extra input’, and feels that he can reach the world No 1 spot, challenging Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

The former world No 4 is next scheduled to participate at Citi DC Open, an ATP 500 tournament, and was intriguingly spotted practising whilst being watched by eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi.

Rune is currently coached by Kenneth Carlsen and Lars Christensen, whilst Patrick Mouratoglou was formerly part of the team.

“I reached out to him [Agassi] some months ago,” Rune said to Tennis.com, on the eve of the Washington event.

“He’s an amazing man, first of all, and he’s very wise, as well. He sees the game in a unique way that I’ve never experienced before.

“I thought now was a good moment to reach out to Agassi because my base is back and I’m playing well again. When you’re changing coaches a lot, you don’t play as well because you’re not following one opinion or a single structure.

“I thought this was the right time to get some extra input. It’s not anything magic, but he obviously had some very wise words I can use.”

The Dane has struggled for form in the last 18 months, with his season highlight occurring through reaching the showpiece match at the Indian Wells Masters – losing out to Jack Draper.

Rune reached the fourth round at both the Australian Open and the French Open, before being defeated by Nicholas Jarry in his first match at Wimbledon.

“If you’re happy to stick around and be No. 5, 10, 15, or 20 in the world, some players can do that without doing more. My goal was always to be No. 1; it still is, and I believe I can do it,” Rune adamantly stated.

“I also believe there’s a few things I need to do differently. That’s one of the reasons why I reached out to Andre, to hear his point of view.”

Rune is just one month older than world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz and nearly two years younger than world No 1 Jannik Sinner.

Despite the comparable age, their results in the Grand Slams have been anything but, with the Spaniard and Italian winning all of the last seven Grand Slams – clashing in both the French Open and Wimbledon final this season.

Rune, as ever, is not one to be easily disheartened by relatively poor results and, instead, has a strong conviction that his level is ‘not far away’ from the world’s two best players.

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“I think [the gap] is very distant for some, but for some others, they’re not that far away [from Sinner and Alcaraz],” Rune analysed.

“I’m going to include myself when I say we’re not that far away. I see my high end of tennis to be really, really high, so I just have to lift the button, really, and stay more consistent to win more matches. I do need to stop feeling like I need to play spectacular tennis all the time to beat them.”

At the moment, Rune fills the world No 8 spot and is more than 6300 points behind Alcaraz – with Sinner 8500 ahead.

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The 2025 Canadian Open has been rocked by another huge blow as Carlos Alcaraz is reportedly the fourth star name to pull out of the event.

It was confirmed on Sunday that Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper have all withdrawn from the Masters 1000 event in Toronto.

According to a report by Spanish newspaper Marca, Alcaraz will join that trio by skipping the Canadian Open, which will be held from July 27 to August 7.

The world No 2 was beaten in four sets by Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final earlier this month — a loss that snapped his 24-match win streak.

The five-time Grand Slam champion is expected to return to action at the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, which begins on August 8.

Alcaraz also missed the 2024 edition of the Canada Masters in Montreal, which was staged after the Olympic Games in Paris.

Alex Corretja, a Spanish tennis great and renowned analyst, recently urged Alcaraz not to play in Canada.

“I never interfere in the schedule my great friend Juan Carlos Ferrero decides with Carlos Alcaraz, but I just hope he doesn’t go to Toronto,” the two-time French Open runner-up and former world No 2 told Carrusel Deportivo.

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“I say this with all the affection and respect for the Canadian tournament. But I think Alcaraz would need to recover from all these efforts now.

“We’re not talking about whether he won the Wimbledon final or lost it. We’re talking about the fact that he’s been in London for a month, that he won Queens.

“All of that takes its toll, and the surface changes, press conferences, doping controls, now a hotel, then a plane…

“All of this is very tiring. I think Carlos Alcaraz needs a bit of rest right now, so that in the second half of the season, when he sometimes loses some steam, he doesn’t really end up feeling so weak for the rest of the season.

“They should seriously consider what they have to do, and whatever they decide will be fine because they are the team. But from the outside, I think, please don’t let him go.”

In the absence of Sinner, Alcaraz, Draper and Djokovic, the top four seeds in Toronto are set to be Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Lorenzo Musetti and Ben Shelton.

READ NEXT: Watch: Carlos Alcaraz’s younger brother Jaime highlights his potential as training footage is revealed

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