Category: Articles

  • Who Carlos Alcaraz is set to practice with when he arrives at the US Open

    After months of speculation, and five months of waiting, Carlos Alcaraz has finally confirmed that he will be playing the US Open at the end of August.

    The Spaniard has appeared on several entry lists over the summer months after missing out on the whole of the clay court and grass court swings.

    He was reportedly set to play the Cincinnati Open, but revealed that he was not ready in time, which caused worry amongst his fans heading into the US Open.

    He will play the tournament though and there has been an update about who Alcaraz is set to practice with when he arrives at Flushing Meadows.

    More Carlos Alcaraz news

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    According to Alcaraz Updates, “Alcaraz will have a practice session with Daniel Mérida in New York on Monday. He will depart for the US tomorrow (Saturday, 22nd August).”

    Merida has enjoyed a good run of form on the ATP Tour in recent weeks.

    He reached the quarter finals of the Canadian Open, thanks to victories against Tallon Griekspoor, Alex Michelsen, and Ugo Humbert, before losing to Learner Tien.

    The Spaniard also won Umag on the clay by defeating Damir Dzumhur in the final to claim the first ATP Tour title of his young career.

    As a result, Merida has been called up to Spain’s Davis Cup tie against Chile in September, which Alcaraz has been left out of.

    As for Alcaraz, the Spaniard will also reportedly be playing double duty at the US Open, as he is heavily rumoured to be playing mixed doubles alongside Serena Williams.

    The Mixed Doubles, which was re-formated in 2025, takes place in the US Open’s ‘Opening Week’, so we could be seeing Alcaraz back in action as early as Tuesday, 25th August.

    Alcaraz did play the event last year, alongside Emma Raducanu, but they were comfortably beaten on Arthur Ashe Stadium by Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper.

    With a relaxed format, filled with singles stars looking to get match-ready ahead of the final Grand Slam of the year, it could be the best way for the star to warm up ahead of his singles return at the US Open.

    Williams is yet to play mixed doubles upon her comeback to the sport on the grass court swing. She has played doubles alongside Venus Williams, Victoria Mboko, and Karolina Muchova so far.

    They have all been star attractions at the tournaments they took place at, but her new partnership with Alcaraz is set to be a whole new level of popularity and headline-grabbing.

    The post Who Carlos Alcaraz is set to practice with when he arrives at the US Open appeared first on Tennis365.

  • US Open 2026 projected men’s seeds: Zverev, Alcaraz, Djokovic move up in Sinner’s absence

    The 2026 US Open has been rocked by the withdrawal of Jannik Sinner, but how will the Italian star’s absence affect the men’s seeding positions.

    The US summer hard-court season will conclude with the US Open, with main draw singles action at Flushing Meadows getting underway on 30 August.

    In the US Open men’s draw, there will be 128 players, including 32 seeds. The cutoff date for seeds is Monday 24 August — which is the last time the ATP Rankings will be updated before the New York major begins.

    The ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati is the final tournament from which ranking points will impact US Open seeding positions.

    Six men have withdrawn from the US Open, with Sinner and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina the two players who would have been seeded.

    Sinner has pulled out due to a right knee injury, with the world No 1’s last match his victory in the Wimbledon final.

    More US Open News

    Jannik Sinner sends 106-word message as he becomes 15th US Open withdrawal

    Projected US Open women’s seeds: Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina headline; Alex Eala’s highest position

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    In the absence of Sinner, Alexander Zverev will be the top seed as he will climb from third to second in the ATP Rankings on Monday.

    Carlos Alcaraz has confirmed his US Open participation, having been out of action for over four months due to a right wrist injury.

    The Spaniard is currently the world No 2, but he will drop to third when he loses the points from his 2025 Cincinnati Open title next week.

    Felix Auger-Aliassime will be the third seed in New York, while Novak Djokovic is set to be the No 4 seed.

    Flavio Cobolli, who is currently projected to be the No 5 seed, can overtake Djokovic if he reaches the Cincinnati final.

    Taylor Fritz, who is currently 10th in the Live ATP Rankings, can also surpass Djokovic’s points total if he progresses to the title match at the Masters event.

    Projected 2026 US Open ATP seedings (based on ATP Live Rankings)

    1. Alexander Zverev
    2. Carlos Alcaraz
    3. Felix Auger-Aliassime
    4. Novak Djokovic
    5. Flavio Cobolli
    6. Alex de Minaur
    7. Daniil Medvedev
    8. Ben Shelton
    9. Taylor Fritz
    10. Rafael Jodar
    11. Lorenzo Musetti
    12. Learner Tien
    13. Arthur Fils
    14. Alexander Bublik
    15. Jakub Mensik
    16. Jiri Lehecka
    17. Casper Ruud
    18. Brandon Nakashima
    19. Frances Tiafoe
    20. Tommy Paul
    21. Luciano Darderi
    22. Valentin Vacherot
    23. Andrey Rublev
    24. Francisco Cerundolo
    25. Joao Fonseca
    26. Alejandro Tabilo
    27. Arthur Rinderknech
    28. Ugo Humbert
    29. Tomas Martin Etcheverry
    30. Alexander Blockx
    31. Cameron Norrie
    32. Matteo Arnaldi

    READ NEXT: Andre Agassi makes huge Carlos Alcaraz claim about Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

    The post US Open 2026 projected men’s seeds: Zverev, Alcaraz, Djokovic move up in Sinner’s absence appeared first on Tennis365.

  • ‘I wouldn’t be surprised’ – Greg Rusedski makes US Open prediction for Alex Eala

    Greg Rusedski has backed Alex Eala to have her best Grand Slam run to date as she prepares for her second US Open.

    Heading into the fourth and final major of the year, the 21-year-old is at a career-high 18th in the WTA Tour rankings.

    The left-hander has enjoyed an excellent summer, including winning the Birmingham Open, the Washington Open, and reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon.

    She ended last year 50th in the world, and at this rate, Eala is not far off cracking the top 10 for the first time. The Filipina sits 15th in the WTA Tour Race, just under 1,300 points behind six-time major winner Iga Swiatek in 10th.

    The youngster will be seeded at a Grand Slam for the second time in her career, after enjoying that honour for the first time at Wimbledon, with the Quezon City-born player likely to be in the top 20 seeds at Flushing Meadows.

    More WTA Tour News

    Projected US Open women’s seeds: Alex Eala’s highest position, Aryna Sabalenka headlines

    Cincinnati Open: Elena Rybakina issues worrying update after retiring as Iga Swiatek left ‘scared’

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    She has already achieved more than any other tennis player from the Philippines in the country’s history but the 5ft 9in athlete is not done yet.

    While some have said that Eala’s serve will stop her from winning a major, others feel that if she can make a few tweaks, that is well within the realms of possibility.

    One such Eala enthusiast, Rusedski, believes that the rising WTA star is likely to reach the quarter-finals in New York and if the draw opens up, she could go even further.

    He said on the latest episode of Off Court, “She’s going to be seeded as well. So she’s going to have an open section to get into the third round and then push it, hopefully past the fourth round.

    “The best Filipino result ever at a major was at Wimbledon. I wouldn’t be surprised if she gets the quarters and onwards, depending on how the draw works out.”

    Eala has won a lot of matches in the North American hard court swing. But she knows that momentum only goes so far.

    Back at Cincinnati, she said, “Momentum is a thing, I guess, but it’s not concrete and it doesn’t give you any 100% answers. A lot of matches can help with your confidence, but it doesn’t guarantee anything.”

    Not many will want to face her at this year’s US Open.

    READ NEXT: Jannik Sinner speaks out as he becomes 15th star to withdraw from US Open

    The post ‘I wouldn’t be surprised’ – Greg Rusedski makes US Open prediction for Alex Eala appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Jannik Sinner sends 106-word message as he becomes 15th US Open withdrawal

    Jannik Sinner said he is “very sad and disappointed” as he announced his withdrawal from the 2026 US Open due to a knee injury.

    The world No 1 has not played since beating Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final last month to secure his fifth Grand Slam title.

    Sinner pulled out of the Canadian Open, which was not entirely surprising given he also skipped the tournament in 2025.

    The Italian raised concern, though, when he withdrew from the Cincinnati Open and revealed a right knee issue had been bothering him.

    Here is the full statement Sinner shared on social media.

    “Even though I have been working hard with my team and my medical staff, we have now had to make the difficult decision that I will not be able to compete at the US Open this year,” Sinner wrote.

    More Tennis News

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    “We have been back on court in Monte Carlo over the last couple of days and have realised that I still need more time to recover from my right knee issue.

    “I’m obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart.

    “I was very much looking forward to coming back and playing in the electric atmosphere in front of the great fans there.”

    Sinner is the fifth man to withdraw from the 2026 US Open, and the 15th player to pull out across both the men’s and women’s events.

    2026 US Open ATP withdrawal list

    • Jannik Sinner (world No 1) – replaced by Carlos Taberner
    • Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (world No 27) – replaced by Alexei Popyrin
    • Ethan Quinn (world No 58) – replaced by Martin Damm
    • Sebastian Korda (world No 64) – replaced by Aleksandar Vukic
    • Gabriel Diallo (world No 105) – replaced by Wu Yibing
    • Emilio Nava (world No 108) – replaced by Benjamin Bonzi

    2026 US Open WTA withdrawal list

    • Victoria Mboko (world No 17) – replaced by Mananchaya Sawangkaew
    • Hailey Baptiste (world No 32) – replaced by Kaitlin Quevedo
    • Jaqueline Cristian (world No 40) – replaced by Darja Vidmanova
    • Emma Raducanu (world No 59) – replaced by Anna Blinkova
    • Ajla Tomljanovic (world No 93) – replaced by Ella Seidel
    • Laura Siegemund (world No 98) – replaced by Nadia Podoroska
    • Varvara Gracheva (world No 106) – replaced by Anastasia Zakharova
    • Jil Teichmann (world No 167) – replaced by Julia Grabher
    • Irina-Camelia Begu (world No 462) – replaced by Elsa Jacquemot

    READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic lifts lid on ‘bitterness’ he felt at Australian Open – and it wasn’t the deportation scandal

    The post Jannik Sinner sends 106-word message as he becomes 15th US Open withdrawal appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Elena Rybakina gives injury update after retiring at Cincinnati Open as Iga Swiatek reacts

    Elena Rybakina has given an injury update after she retired early in her quarter-final match against Iga Swiatek at the 2026 Cincinnati Open.

    World No 2 Rybakina was forced to retire due to a left ankle injury when trailing 1-4 in the opening set of her clash with Swiatek on Thursday evening.

    The issue appeared to surface during a point Rybakina lost when she was serving at 1-4, 40-15.

    Play was stopped as Rybakina had a mid-game medical evaluation, and the 26-year-old Kazakh then determined that she was unable to continue.

    “Of course, now I feel not the greatest, I couldn’t even push from the serve,” the two-time Grand Slam champion said afterwards. “It’s painful to walk, and we will know more tomorrow when I do the MRI.

    “It’s been bothering me for a long period of time. It was under control, but then after playing a lot of matches in Canada and coming here playing two matches in a row. The match against [Magdalena] Frech stopping with the rain delays, I started to feel it more, and I took a day off completely after.

    “It was feeling okay before the match, but unfortunately one wrong movement, one landing, and something happened.”

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    World No 5 Swiatek gave her reaction to Rybakina’s retirement and admitted she had been “scared.”

    “Honestly, I felt a bit, like, scared because I don’t know if I see a player having an injury like that,” said the 25-year-old Pole.

    “I wasn’t sure because she didn’t look good obviously. But then she wanted a treatment, so I wasn’t sure if she’s going to be back or not.

    “So, I wanted to be really focused on just being ready because breaks like that can really throw you off of your rhythm and the momentum. But then I felt really sorry for her, but hopefully it’s nothing serious.

    “I was feeling anxious just looking at this situation. I hope Elena will be fine. The next tournament is the priority. I know this one is important as well. But US Open is US Open. I hope she’s gonna be ready for that.

    “She’s super close to being No 1 in the world. It’s a shame. I thought we were playing a good match. But health is a priority. I hope she’s gonna be okay.”

    Swiatek is on a 10-match winning streak and is aiming to win consecutive WTA 1000 titles following her victory at the Canadian Open.

    The six-time major champion is also trying to secure back-to-back titles in Cincinnati.

    READ NEXT: The top 10 WTA stars with the most matches played in 2026: Alex Eala No 1

    The post Elena Rybakina gives injury update after retiring at Cincinnati Open as Iga Swiatek reacts appeared first on Tennis365.

  • The 8 most decorated tennis players on the ATP Tour ranked by titles won: Carlos Alcaraz 3rd

    Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic might steal the headlines when it comes to the ATP Tour, but there are several illustrious names still playing at the top of the game.

    Seven active players on the ATP Tour have won a Grand Slam, following Alexander Zverev’s long-awaited major triumph at Roland Garros in 2026.

    There have also been a myriad of Masters champions and ATP champions away from the bigger names in the sport.

    Here are the top eight players when it comes to the current ATP Tour.

    More ATP Tour news

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    Will Jannik Sinner play the US Open? Leading Italian tennis voice gives his verdict

    8) Stan Wawrinka – 16 titles

    Stan Wawrinka is set to bring his illustrious career to a close at the end of the 2026 season, and he has a well-deserved place on this list with 16 titles.

    The Swiss icon saved his best tennis for the big stages, collecting an impressive three Grand Slam titles in the era of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.

    The star won the Australian Open in 2014 and followed it up by claiming the Roland Garros title in 2015 and the US Open crown in 2016, but he did also claim some other significant trophies.

    He claimed one Masters title, at the Monte Carlo Masters in 2014, and also won 500 events in Dubai, Tokyo, and Rotterdam.

    To date, the Swiss star’s last title came on home soil at the Geneva Open in 2017, as he beat Mischa Zverev in the final of the clay court tournament.

    7) Andrey Rublev – 18 titles

    Andrey Rublev might be falling away from the player that teased being the next big thing on the ATP Tour, but he’s still collected an impressive number of titles in tennis.

    The star holds seventh place when it comes to most titles, winning 17 since his debut in 2014.

    The Russian star is yet to claim a Grand Slam title in his career, having only reached as far as the quarter finals at the majors, but he has claimed Masters titles.

    Rublev won the Monte Carlo Masters in 2023, as well as the Madrid Open in 2024, and he’s also won 500 events in Qatar, Dubai, Vienna, and Rotterdam.

    His last ATP Tour title came at the Swedish Open in 2026, when he defeated Luciano Darderi in straight sets in the final.

    6) Marin Cilic – 21 titles

    Marin Cilic is another of the very few active stars who have claimed a Grand Slam title in their career and he’s also won 21 career titles on the ATP Tour.

    Cilic won the US Open in 2014, which is his sole Grand Slam title to date. The Croatian also claimed the Cincinnati Open two years later by defeating Andy Murray in the final.

    He has claimed 19 other titles in his career since making his debut in 2005 and he continues to be in a thorn in the side of several of the top players on the ATP Tour.

    Cilic has won illustrious tournaments such as Queen’s on two occasions and the Croatian Open on home soil.

    His last taste of ATP title success came at the Hangzhou Open in 2024, where he defeated Zhang Zhizhen in the final of the Chinese tournament.

    5) Daniil Medvedev – 23 titles

    Into the top five and Daniil Medvedev is one of the more illustrious names on the list when it comes to ATP Tour titles, with 22 victories to his name.

    The Russian star might have taken a slight tumble down the rankings in recent years, but he has collected some of the very best titles on offer in the sport.

    Medvedev won the US Open for the first and only time in 2021 to become a Grand Slam champion and he’s also won six Masters events in his career.

    The star the ATP Finals too in 2020, a trophy that many consider to be the biggest outside of the four Grand Slams.

    He continues to collect ATP titles too, having won the Almaty Open, the Brisbane International, and the Dubai Tennis Championships in the last year.

    4) Alexander Zverev – 25 titles

    Zverev ended his long-awaited quest for a Grand Slam title at Roland Garros in 2026, but he’s also won an incredible 24 other titles in his career.

    As well as his Roland Garros triumph, Zverev has also won the ATP Finals on two occasions, as well as an Olympic Gold Medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

    The German has won seven Masters titles, including the Italian Open and the Madrid Open on two different occasions.

    He’s one of the most decorated players in the sport, but he is still only fourth on the list when it comes to current ATP Tour stars.

    3) Carlos Alcaraz – 26 titles

    At just 23 years of age, Alcaraz is already the third most decorated player on the ATP Tour currently.

    The star’s victory at the Australian Open in 2026 ensured he earned the Career Grand Slam, having previously won Wimbledon, Roland Garros, and the US Open.

    The Spaniard has won eight Masters titles, with the only ATP 1000 events he’s yet to win being the Paris Masters, the Canadian Open, and the Shanghai Masters.

    The only other major left on the list for Alcaraz to win is the ATP Finals. He was beaten in the final of the tournament in 2025 by Jannik Sinner.

    Alcaraz’s last title was at the Qatar Open in 2026, which saw him dominate Arthur Fils in the final by a scoreline of 6-2, 6-1.

    2) Jannik Sinner – 30 titles

    Despite already claiming five Grand Slam titles, Sinner is still only fourth on the list of the most ATP titles collected by current players.

    However, still at only 25 years old, the Italian has already won 24 career titles.

    That includes every single one of the nine Masters events on offer, as well as every Grand Slam title except for Roland Garros.

    The Italian has also claimed the ATP Finals on two occasions, as well as seven ATP 500 events.

    In 2026 to date, Sinner has already lifted six titles, including Wimbledon and the Sunshine Double of Indian Wells and the Miami Open.

    1) Novak Djokovic: 101 titles

    Djokovic holds most records on the ATP Tour and this one is no different.

    He is far and away the most decorated current ATP Tour star, with an incredible 101 titles to his name.

    That includes 24 Grand Slam titles, 40 Masters titles, and an Olympic Gold Medal, the latter of which he won by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the final at the Paris Games in 2024.

    Djokovic is just eight titles away from Jimmy Connors’ record of 109 trophies in the Open Era. However, the Serbian has been more selective of what tournaments he plays recently, so he looks increasingly unlikely to beat that one.

    Nevertheless, no one comes close to Djokovic’s record of 101 titles on the current ATP Tour.

    The post The 8 most decorated tennis players on the ATP Tour ranked by titles won: Carlos Alcaraz 3rd appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Andy Murray responds when asked if he would ever return to competitive tennis

    Andy Murray retired from tennis in 2024, but he has still kept in touch with the sport since hanging up his racket.

    Following his final-ever tennis match at the Paris Olympics in 2024, Murray almost instantly went into coaching by joining Novak Djokovic’s team.

    Djokovic and Murray worked together for the early part of the 2026 season, including the Australian Open, but the all-star partnership did not end with any success.

    In recent months, Murray has worked with Jack Draper sporadically, overseeing the star’s run to the Eastbourne Open semi finals and flying across to the Washington Open to work with the star, before his eventual withdrawal from the tournament.

    More Andy Murray news

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    Andy Murray has already warned Carlos Alcaraz what will happen when he returns from his wrist injury

    Despite his forays into tennis, Murray has no desire whatsover to play the sport competitively again.

    Asked by BBC Sport Scotland if he would ever return to tennis like Serena Williams has, Murray responded: “Nah I’ve got no interest and I’m really happy about that.

    “Like, I’ve not missed it at all. Don’t really hit balls anymore, you know, unless I have to. Just enjoying being away from the sport for a bit. Yeah, playing golf, being with my family, and just doing normal things for a while.”

    Murray will likely have a keen eye on what Williams is doing once again in tennis, despite having no desire to join her.

    The pair are firm friends and they even joined forces for a memorably run in the Wimbledon mixed doubles back in 2019.

    They reached the third round of the Grand Slam, but eventually fell to Bruno Soares and Nicole Melichar-Martinez in three sets.

    As for Murray’s partnership with Draper, it is currently unclear whether that will continue any longer.

    The British star, who has been riddled with injuries over the past year, is set to play the US Open qualifying at Flushing Meadows during the opening week.

    Should Murray appear alongside Draper, it will be his first appearance at the US Open since 2023, when he reached the second round of the tournament.

    The Scot defeated Corentin Moutet in round one, before being beaten in straight sets by Grigor Dimitrov.

    Murray has plenty of history at the US Open, having claimed his very first Grand Slam title at the event in 2012, when he beat Novak Djokovic in the final.

    He also reached the final in 2008 and claimed the US Open juniors title in 2004, beating Sergiy Stakhovsky in the final.

    Currently, Murray is enjoying another tennis-adjacent project, having launched The Set YouTube channel alongside his brother Jamie Murray, who retired earlier this year.

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  • US Open announce prize money for 2026 is the ‘largest package in tennis history’

    The amount of prize money at Grand Slams has been one of the biggest talking points of the year, with the top players protesting over its distribution across the 2026 season.

    The best players on the ATP and WTA Tours introduced a media boycott at Roland Garros in protest over better distribution across the board for players.

    They threatened another at Wimbledon, before pulling out at the last-minute, which has led many to ponder on what the US Open would do with their prize money.

    The American Grand Slam is often the biggest payer in the sport and this year is now different.

    More US Open news

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    Jannik Sinner’s latest training schedule revealed and it’s a good sign for his US Open chances

    The Grand Slam has announced it will be paying out $108 million at the 2026 US Open, which is a tournament record.

    That’s a 20% increase from the 2025 US Open, which at the time also set a record for the most prize money dealt out.

    New USTA CEO Craig Tiley, who previously worked at the Australian Open said, “This is a significant first step in a multi-year investment in athletes as the US Open continues to be the best economic opportunity for players and the most valuable platform in tennis for players, fans and partners.

    “We are proud to deliver record-setting prize money and expanded player benefits as well as providing a new platform to work together with players.”

    It’s quite clear that the players concerns have been listened to as well, as the US Open as revealed plans for a Player Support Programme and a Grand Slam Player Council.

    The player support programme will see an initial $2 million commitment in 2026, equally split between men and women players, and it is very similar to the pension-like fund players have been lobbying for.

    Likewise, the Grand Slam Player Council will provide better dialogue between organisers and players, presumably to try and avoid the protests we have seen throughout 2026.

    In a statement, Brian Vahaly, Chairman of the Board and President of the USTA. said: “The US Open has a long history of listening to players, and this player support program and Council builds on that commitment.

    “We look forward to working directly with players to better understand the opportunities and challenges they face, and to continue finding meaningful ways to support them both on and off the court.”

    Although players are yet to confirm whether they will protest at the US Open, these steps are very much in the right direction and it would be a surprise if they top brass on the ATP and WTA Tours were unhappy with the new moves.

    The post US Open announce prize money for 2026 is the ‘largest package in tennis history’ appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner rivals told ‘no one is going to be in the mix’ with the duo

    Legendary coach Rick Macci has told Tennis365 why he does not think any current ATP Tour players will reach the same level as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

    Alcaraz and Sinner have been the two dominant forces in men’s tennis since the start of 2024, with the pair having each secured five of the last 11 Grand Slam titles since Novak Djokovic won his 24th and most recent major at the 2023 US Open.

    In 2026, Alcaraz and Sinner have triumphed at the Australian Open and Wimbledon respectively, while Alexander Zverev claimed his maiden Grand Slam at Roland Garros.

    Alcaraz has seven Grand Slam titles to his name, while Sinner is a five-time major champion.

    Rafael Jodar and Joao Fonseca are two rising ATP Tour stars who have been identified as potential long-term challengers to Alcaraz and Sinner.

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    In an exclusive interview, Tennis365 asked Macci if he feels Fonseca and Jodar will compete with Alcaraz and Sinner in the future.

    The American suggested that the duo can reach the top five, but went on to break down why he believes Sinner and Alcaraz will remain a cut above the competition.

    “Fonseca can definitely be in the mix,” said Macci. “A lot of those guys are going to go into the top five because they’re so young.

    “But, the way Sinner plays – he has firepower off both sides, and he can produce quality off of quality. He’s hitting the ball 80 miles an hour eight times in a row, and holding the baseline.

    “And his mind’s made of granite — that’s why he’s number one on the planet! He has the most important thing, he doesn’t have all the motor skills like Carlos.

    “Alcaraz, he checks every box. The only time he gets in trouble is when he has too many options. But what a good situation… his toughest opponent, a lot of times, is in the mirror. It’s not the other guy.

    “So, these other guys can make a cameo and be top five, but no one that I see right now is going to be in that mix [with Alcaraz and Sinner], because they still have a few things not like them — whether it be a little different movement, or maybe not as strong at this or that.

    “Whereas, Alcaraz checks every box, and the way Sinner plays, especially in 2026, you can’t penetrate the guy on any surface.”

    Macci has coached five players who went on to become world No 1: Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Maria Sharapova and Andy Roddick.

    READ NEXT: Will Jannik Sinner play the US Open? Leading Italian tennis voice gives his verdict

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  • US Open withdrawal list: 11 stars now out as Carlos Alcaraz & Jannik Sinner among 4 players in doubt

    The start of the 2026 US Open is just over a week away, and the number of players to withdraw from the season’s final Grand Slam has reached double figures.

    The ATP and WTA tours are currently in Cincinnati for the combined 1000 tournament — which is the last big event before the US Open.

    This year’s US Open will mark the 146th edition of the historic tournament, and the reigning champions are Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka.

    Main draw singles action at Flushing Meadows will take place between Sunday 30 August and Sunday 13 September.

    There are 11 players who have pulled out of the 2026 US Open across both the men’s and women’s main draw singles entry lists.

    Nine of those withdrawals are on the WTA side, with Victoria Mboko, Hailey Baptiste and Emma Raducanu among the high-profile absentees.

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    Mboko and Baptiste are both sidelined due to serious knee injuries they sustained during the clay and grass seasons respectively.

    Raducanu, meanwhile, has not played since June due to a grade four stress fracture in her right shin.

    2026 US Open WTA withdrawal list

    • Victoria Mboko (world No 17) – replaced by Mananchaya Sawangkaew
    • Hailey Baptiste (world No 32) – replaced by Kaitlin Quevedo
    • Jaqueline Cristian (world No 40) – replaced by Darja Vidmanova
    • Emma Raducanu (world No 59) – replaced by Anna Blinkova
    • Ajla Tomljanovic (world No 93) – replaced by Ella Seidel
    • Laura Siegemund (world No 98) – replaced by Nadia Podoroska
    • Varvara Gracheva (world No 106) – replaced by Anastasia Zakharova
    • Jil Teichmann (world No 167) – replaced by Julia Grabher
    • Irina-Camelia Begu (world No 462) – replaced by Elsa Jacquemot

    2026 US Open ATP withdrawal list

    On the men’s side, American players Sebastian Korda and Emilio Nava are the only players who have withdrawn to date.

    Korda has not played since the Miami Open in March due to a back injury, and he underwent surgery at the start of the month.

    • Sebastian Korda (world No 64) – replaced by Aleksandar Vukic
    • Emilio Nava (world No 108) – replaced by Benjamin Bonzi

    Doubts over high-profile ATP stars

    More ATP Tour players could join the US Open withdrawal list as there are doubts over the fitness of a quartet of big name stars.

    Carlos Alcaraz has not played since April due to a wrist injury, while Jannik Sinner missed the Cincinnati Masters with a knee issue.

    Jack Draper played in Montreal and Cincinnati, but he continues to struggle with a bone bruising injury in his left arm that has plagued him for over a year.

    Holger Rune, meanwhile, has not played since rupturing his Achilles in October last year.

    As things stand, though, these four players remain on the US Open entry list.

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