Category: Articles

  • ‘F****** the players over’ – Tennis legend calls for huge reform after Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina farce

    Tennis organisers have been accused of “f******” the players over with the much-maligned schedule.

    In Toronto last week, Elena Rybakina finally closed out a three-set thriller against Coco Gauff at 1 am, before having to come back for the final against Iga Swiatek the following evening.

    The Australian Open champion was outplayed by the rejuvenated Pole in a 6-2, 6-3 victory at the Canadian Open, but she did look somewhat fatigued for the showpiece event last Thursday.

    Players, pundits, and fans alike have heavily criticised the elongated Masters 1000 events, with many top stars either pulling out through injury or being exhausted by an increasingly physical sport that is exacting a heavy toll on their bodies.

    Now, Rennae Stubbs has taken aim at tournament directors for not playing matches earlier in the day to maximise recovery and accusing them of not protecting the players.

    More WTA Tour News

    Aryna Sabalenka tops the WTA Tour in one key area after latest victory

    Coco Gauff states if she would ever play Carlos Alcaraz in a singles match

    Want more from Tennis365? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for tennis coverage you can trust.

    She said on the latest episode of her podcast, “I was thinking to myself when Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina played in the final, you guys had 10 days to finish this event.

    “And yet a player plays a semi-final and finishes at 1am and then has to come back the next day and play at 6pm. I do not understand how a sport can make one person suffer a lot more than the other and it’s supposed to be equal. That is not fair.

    “Why are you starting at 7pm plus when you have all f***** day to play a tennis match? Now, do you want to play in the evening because people can come after work or it’s a little bit nicer of an experience and all that sort of stuff? Yeah, okay. But is Canada going to sell out in the day? Hell yeah.”

    The final was pushed back an hour or so due to rain but Stubbs still insisted that it was unacceptable that the semi-final and final were played so close to one another.

    The Australian also said it was great to see Swiatek back to her best after a difficult year or so. But Rybakina was not at her usual high level and Stubbs blames the scheduling for that.

    The former world No 1 doubles player continued, “Now, why wasn’t she? Oh, I don’t know. I would guarantee you, she did not go to bed, like I’m talking sleep, until 3.30am-4am. And you expect that girl to get up when? What’s the circadian rhythm of her sleep now? What’s the rhythm of her practice? How does she feel?

    “Iga probably finished and went to bed around midnight which is still not ideal for a tennis player to wake up and play a match the next day at 6pm. But I’ll take that over 4am going to sleep.”

    Her co-host, Caitlyn Thompson, said that the ATP, who “spearheaded” the idea for these lengthier tournaments, were so clear in articulating that the longer events would lead to more rest for the players.

    Thompson said this had proven to be “false”, with Stubbs adding, “I start to wonder and think that people that put the events on, people that run the tournaments, people that run the WTA and ATP, have no idea what it takes to be a professional tennis player at their best.

    “Start the f****** match in the day. It just bothers me to the nth degree that we are still continually f****** the players over with schedule.”

    GO DEEPER: Aryna Sabalenka responds when asked what she’s trying to add to her game

    The post ‘F****** the players over’ – Tennis legend calls for huge reform after Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina farce appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Jack Draper urged to make major change as tennis analyst offers solution to injury struggles

    Jack Draper has been urged to avoid being under the “microscope” and alter his schedule for the foreseeable future amid a torrid spell of injuries and losses.

    Just under two years ago, Draper was being talked about as a player who could potentially challenge Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the top of the game.

    However, 23 months on from his breakout semi-final run at the 2024 US Open, the 24-year-old is 139th in the world, with injuries limiting him to just 14 matches (8-6) this season.

    The former world No 4 has struggled with bone bruising in his left arm, and knee tendonitis has been an issue earlier this year, too. The Brit has suffered early exits in Canada and Cincinnati and is unlikely to get a wildcard ahead of this year’s US Open.

    In a bid to get his confidence up, tennis content creator Gill Gross thinks Draper should drop down into the Challengers again, a level he had a great deal of success in back in 2022.

    More Jack Draper News

    Jack Draper explains mindset shift with injuries ahead of US Open despite hitting ‘rock bottom’

    Jack Draper US Open participation in doubt as concerning update emerges

    Want more from Tennis365? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for tennis coverage you can trust.

    The left-hander was scheduled to play at the Brownsburg ATP 75 Challenger earlier in August but he ended up withdrawing. Going forward, though, Gross thinks playing at that level is the right call.

    The American commentator commended the former British No 1 for making some changes to try and fix the arm issue but his inner demons may not go away until he starts regularly winning matches again.

    He said on his YouTube channel, “This is a very tricky situation, difficult to watch at times. In terms of solutions, he has looked towards the racket technology, softer strings, and a more forgiving frame. I think that’s a good move, although perhaps it has affected his confidence a bit. Perhaps it is something that Jack resents having to do in the first place.

    “The only thing that I can say from this position that he hasn’t done is go to the lower levels to try to work things out. Because right now, tennis is a brutal sport this way. You are so exposed. You are absolutely naked in front of millions and millions of people.

    “And if you don’t feel like yourself out there, and especially with the high standards that Jack has, and if there are a lot of demons rattling around in the head, and there’s fear, and there’s emotions around it, like there clearly are, there’s no hiding in tennis.

    “There is a degree of hiding if you go down to play tournaments that don’t have such a microscope on them, so that you’re not in this fishbowl playing in the largest stadiums in the world against the best players in the world. And maybe that could offer Jack some relief, or at least some time to figure himself out with a little bit less pressure, fewer eyeballs, less media, and worse opponents.

    “Just an idea for Jack, something to consider if he feels like he’s having trouble making progress at the highest level of the sport. And if he feels like he’s struggling with the mental components of even attempting to do that, maybe look towards going down to the challenger level.”

    READ MORE: Jack Draper’s Instagram account has disappeared – what happens next?

    The post Jack Draper urged to make major change as tennis analyst offers solution to injury struggles appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Rafael Jodar gets blunt ‘potential’ verdict as he is compared to Carlos Alcaraz & Jannik Sinner

    Former world No 3 Nikolay Davydenko has made a telling statement about Rafael Jodar’s potential as he compared the rising Spanish star with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

    Jodar‘s ascent in 2026 has been meteoric, with the 19-year-old currently at his career-high ranking of 11th after he started the year as the world No 165.

    Starting with his run to his maiden ATP title in Marrakech, Jodar has won 21 of his last 28 matches during a stellar period since late-March.

    After Marrakech, Jodar reached the Barcelona Open semi-finals before making quarter-finals in Madrid, Rome and at Roland Garros.

    Jodar has amassed a 10-2 record so far during the North American summer hard-court season.

    Speaking on the BB Tennis YouTube channel, Davydenko gave his verdict on Jodar being likened to Alcaraz and Sinner.

    “I wouldn’t say Jodar’s tennis potential is that much higher than the others,” said the Russian, who won 21 ATP Tour titles.

    More Tennis News

    Exclusive: Carlos Alcaraz’s lengthy injury absence could be a ‘good sign’, according to leading expert

    Felix Auger-Aliassime explains how his upcoming US Open partnership with Alex Eala came about

    Want more from Tennis365? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for tennis coverage you can trust.

    “I don’t think he can improve like Sinner or Alcaraz, and finish the match.

    “Right now, he’s outplaying them through physicality and pressure. But it’s not clear he’s head and shoulders above the rest.”

    In his opening match at the Cincinnati Open, Jodar recovered from 5-1 down in the third set to beat Denis Shapovalov in dramatic fashion.

    In an interview with Tennis Channel, Jodar spoke about the mentality that helped him fight back.

    “Until you lose the last point… the match is not over. Just try to be there, try to play your game,” said the world No 11.

    “It’s difficult because you’re not playing your best tennis and the other player is playing very well, a very high level.

    “It’s easy to say, but very difficult to do it. In those moments, it’s just about yourself, you’re just trying to go for it, and just thinking about the next point, and not thinking more than that.”

    Jodar added: “I think I’m playing good tennis right now. I think I’m doing the things right, and I think when you play a lot of matches, you have rhythm of competition, which is very important.

    “Physically, I think I’m in doing very well. I’m taking advantage of the days off, with light practice. Overall, I think I’m doing a great job outside the court, which is very important when you’re playing a lot of matches.”

    READ NEXT: Carlos Alcaraz could stage a very public US Open fitness test as he is set for final decision

    The post Rafael Jodar gets blunt ‘potential’ verdict as he is compared to Carlos Alcaraz & Jannik Sinner appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Nick Kyrgios’ five biggest controversies examined as Aussie suspended after positive cocaine test

    Nick Kyrgios says he made a “huge mistake” after testing positive for cocaine, resulting in a provisional suspension.

    The former Wimbledon finalist submitted a sample during the Mallorca Open on 22 June that was later found to have benzoylecgonine – a metabolite of cocaine.

    The Australian has been provisionally suspended since 4 August, with the International Tennis Integrity Agency saying the 31-year-old could appeal but has not done so.

    Kyrgios – who cannot coach or attend Grand Slams or any ATP or WTA Tour events pending the outcome of a tribunal – took “full responsibility” for his actions in a social media post but said his knee and wrist injuries have taken a huge toll on him, both physically and mentally.

    The former world No 13 added he would be stepping away from social media and public life for the next 28 days to “focus on getting myself right”. While he does that, here is a rundown of five other controversies from Kyrgios’ career.

    More Tennis News

    Cincinnati Open chiefs are making a huge mistake – will they stop it?

    Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune may have alternative US Open comeback plan

    Want more from Tennis365? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for tennis coverage you can trust.

    1) Nick Kyrgios trolls Stan Wawrinka

    When Kyrgios was 20, he got into unsavoury scenes when playing world No 5 Stan Wawrinka at the Canadian Open in Montreal.

    During their second round clash, Kyrgios was heard telling the Swiss, “Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you that, mate.”

    Kyrgios later claimed he had been provoked into making the remarks, which centred around Wawrinka’s rumoured partner Donna Vekic getting with fellow Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis.

    The multi-major winner was clearly disgusted by Kyrgios’ outburst and called for the ATP to take “major action” against him following the defeat.

    Kyrgios later apologised for his actions, saying they were “unacceptable”. But the damage was already done. Moreover, he was fined $10,000 by the ATP for his comments, along with a suspended 28-day ban.

    2) Defaulted in Rome

    In May 2019, Kyrgios was defaulted from the Italian Open during his second round match against Casper Ruud.

    When the Norwegian broke back to make it 1-1 in the deciding set, the Aussie was given a game penalty, ostensibly for swearing at a line judge.

    That did not go down well with the 6ft 4in player, who slammed down his racket, kicked a bottle of water, and hurled a chair on to the court.

    Just as the umpire called the referee, Kyrgios told the crowd, “I’m done,” and trudged off court, prompting loud whistlers and jeers.

    Despite saying “sorry Roma” as part of an Instagram post, Kyrgios was docked his €33,635 in prize money and 45 ATP points. Plus, he was fined €20,000 for three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and was ordered to cover the cost of his tournament hospitality.

    3) Record fine for Kyrgios

    Later that year at the Cincinnati Masters, Kyrgios had a heated clash with umpire Fergus Murphy during his defeat to Karen Khachanov.

    The former two-time junior Grand Slam champion accused Murphy of starting the shot clock too early, before being hit with a point penalty for allegedly swearing at the official.

    The then 24-year-old proceeded to leave the court, for an apparent bathroom break, and was seen smashing his rackets in the tunnel.

    Kyrgios, who also called Murphy the “worst ref in the game”, refused to shake the Irish umpire’s hand after the match and was later hit with a whopping $113,000.

    $85,000 of that was for unsportsmanlike conduct, $20,000 was for verbal abuse, $5,000 came from the audible obscenity and a further $3,000 for leaving the court.

    4) Lengthy ban

    Kyrgios was banned for eight tournament weeks and fined $25,000 for his behaviour during the 2016 Shanghai Masters.

    The then 21-year-old was accused of tanking during his straight set defeat to Mischa Zverev. In one instance, he began walking back to his chair before the German’s serve had landed.

    Kyrgios received a code violation for swearing during the contest, which led to a $16,500 fine for breaching the ATP code of conduct. He then agreed to an ATP plan to consult a sports psychologist, which reduced the ban to three weeks.

    At the time, Kyrgios said, “I regret that my year is ending this way. I do understand and respect the decision by the ATP. The season has been a long one as I battled several injuries and other challenges towards the end of the summer.

    “My body finally just gave out in Shanghai both physically and mentally. This is no excuse, and I know very well that I need to apologise to the fans.”

    5) Common assault case

    In February 2023, Kyrgios admitted to assaulting his former girlfriend, Chiara Passari, but avoided a criminal conviction (common assault).

    Kyrgios’ lawyers reportedly failed to have the charged dismissed on mental health grounds, with the Canberra court hearing that he pushed Passari onto the pavement during a row in January 2021.

    The magistrate called the incident a “single act of stupidity or frustration”, with Kyrgios shoving Passari after she stopped his car from driving way amidst a heated argument.

    Passari reported the incident to police the following month but did not make a complaint. The couple reconciled but after they broke up, she made a formal complaint to the force in December 2021.

    He said after the hearing, “I was not in good place when this happened and I reacted to a difficult situation in a way I deeply regret. I know it wasn’t OK and I’m sincerely sorry for the hurt I caused.”

    READ NEXT: Nick Kyrgios makes bold Joao Fonseca prediction despite Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz dominance

    The post Nick Kyrgios’ five biggest controversies examined as Aussie suspended after positive cocaine test appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Stan Wawrinka issues the perfect response to not receiving a US Open wildcard

    The US Open wildcards have been dished out and, surprisingly, Stan Wawrinka is yet to receive one in his final year as an active tennis player.

    The Swiss star will retire at the end of the year and he has been on a whistlestop tour of some of his old haunts across the 2026 ATP Tour season.

    Wawrinka has received wildcards into some very high-profile events in 2026, including the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon, but the US Open are yet to follow suit.

    Instead, Gael Monfils, Michael Zheng, Martin Damm, Jack Kennedy, Sebastian Gorzny, J.J Wolf, and Alexei Popyrin have received access into the US Open main draw.

    While there is one more spot up for grabs for Wawrinka to claim, the three-time Grand Slam champion has issued the perfect response to missing out on the first wave of wildcards.

    More ATP Tour news

    Carlos Alcaraz could stage a very public US Open fitness test as he is set for final decision

    Felix Auger-Aliassime explains how his upcoming US Open partnership with Alex Eala came about

    Not one to rest on his laurels, Wawrinka is instead competing at the ATP 125 event in Cancun and he picked up his first victory since June to earn a place in the second round.

    Wawrinka won a two and a half hour clash against defending champion Dalibor Svrcina to claim the victory in a nail-bitting straight sets match that needed two tie-breaks.

    The Swiss star will play one of the biggest breakout stars of Wimbledon, Roman Safiullin, in the next round of the event as he continues to stake his claim for a US Open wildcard.

    Safiullin defeated Andrey Rublev, Botic van de Zandschulp, and Joao Fonseca to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon, before he was beaten by Novak Djokovic.

    He will provide a tough test for Wawrinka, but no matter what happens with the three-time Grand Slam champion, he should receive a US Open wildcard.

    The star is a former champion of the US Open, having lifted the title at the 2026 event, after beating Juan Martin del Potro, Kei Nishikori, and Djokovic back-to-back to win the Grand Slam.

    Wawrinka also reached the semi finals of the Flushing Meadows event a further two times, and he also has two other quarter finals to his name at the US Open.

    He holds a 74% winning rate at the Grand Slam, which makes the US Open his best-performing major, so he’s often played his best tennis at the New York event.

    If that’s not enough to earn a wildcard into your final-ever US Open, then absolutely nothing is. But the three time Grand Slam champion is certainly the favourite to claim the final remaning spot.

    The post Stan Wawrinka issues the perfect response to not receiving a US Open wildcard appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Alex Eala makes prize money breakthrough despite her defeat at the Cincinnati Open

    Alex Eala is rapidly rising up the WTA Rankings after her first tour title in Washington and more encouraging wins in WTA 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati, with her prize money haul getting a boost over the last few weeks.

    The Filipina superstar has emerged as one of the most talked about players in the women’s game over the last few weeks, with her win against defending champion Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon firing her into the headlines around the world.

    Her continued success of North American hard courts looks set see Eala take centre stage at the US Open, with night session appearances likely in the opening week for the 21-year-old.

    With new sponsors knocking on her door, the financial rewards for her success are certain to build from this point forward and she is also making strides up the all-time WTA Tour prize money charts.

    Eala may have lost in a tight match against 2025 US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova on Monday in Cincinnati, but her run to the third round secured her $47,605 in prize money.

    More Tennis News

    WTA Rankings Race To Indian Wells: Elena Rybakina overtakes Aryna Sabalenka, Alex Eala 15th

    Alex Eala’s US Open outfit is revealed as excitement builds around Filipina superstar

    That new cash sees Eala break through the $3m barrier for career earnings, which is an impressive effort for a player who has only just started out on her career.

    Eala has a long way to go before she catches the all-time prize money record of $94,932,862, with current world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka second in the list on $50,341,247.

    Six-time Grand Slam champion is in third place on $46,971,769 and Venus Williams is in fourth with $43,162,380.

    Want more from Tennis365? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for tennis coverage you can trust.

    Eala could make a massive jump up the prize money charts if she enjoys success at the US Open, with official confirmation for the cash on offer in this year’s tournament set to be confirmed by USTA chiefs.

    Last year’s prize money for the final major of the tennis year broke all records, as $5m was offered to the champions for the first time in the history of a Grand Slam tournament.

    If Eala matches her run to the last-16 at Wimbledon with the same performance at the US Open, he will look to collect in excess of $400,000, while the boost in profile she will get in New York will add to her appeal to sponsors.

    She already has sponsorship deals with Nike, Globe Telecom, Babolat, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Milo Philippines and Locally Juice, with the premium brands now certain to be fighting to add her to their list of ambassadors.

    READ NEXT: Alex Eala’s ranking, prize money, sponsors and her next tournament

    The post Alex Eala makes prize money breakthrough despite her defeat at the Cincinnati Open appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Carlos Alcaraz’s lengthy injury absence could be a ‘good sign’, according to leading expert

    A leading athlete welfare and injury expert has told Tennis365 that Carlos Alcaraz’s lengthy absence due to a wrist injury is a result of “one of two things.”

    Alcaraz has not played since injuring his wrist during his opening round win at the Barcelona Open on 14 April.

    The seven-time Grand Slam winner is reportedly suffering from tenosynovitis — which is an inflammation of the tendon sheath in the wrist.

    The world No 2 has already missed the last two Grand Slams and last four Masters 1000 tournaments, and he is yet to confirm when he will return to the match court.

    Alcaraz remains on the entry list for the 2026 US Open, but many think that the New York major — which will begin on Sunday 30 August — will come too soon for the defending champion.

    The Spanish superstar withdrew from the Cincinnati Masters, and he is not scheduled to play any tournaments before the US Open.

    More Tennis News

    Carlos Alcaraz could now return at another high-profile event instead of the US Open

    Carlos Alcaraz sent brutally honest US Open message by Patrick Mouratoglou

    Want more from Tennis365? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for tennis coverage you can trust.

    Smith, who is the founder and CEO of Kitman Labs — the world’s leading sports science and performance intelligence company — assessed that Alcaraz’s significant spell on the sidelines could be “a good sign.”

    “I would say they are managing it very carefully, and I would think, in some ways, it’s a good sign because they’re obviously taking it really seriously,” Smith said in an exclusive interview with Tennis365.

    “I think it was suggested that this [injury] was tenosynovitis, which is an overuse injury — like Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper’s injuries. All three are overuse injuries where they’re not coping with the load and demands of the game.

    “We’ve seen other players drop out for shorter periods and try to jump back in… I think we’re seeing potentially a very different philosophical approach [from Alcaraz], to say, let’s potentially pause, let’s not have an issue when we come back out and it flares back up again.

    “So, I would think it’s one of two things. It’s either really, really challenging, and he’s still having a lot of symptoms, or they’re being really patient and they’re thinking about how to do this the right way, and how to bring him back and ensure this doesn’t rear its head and they don’t have recurrences.

    “Obviously, without being in that team, it’s hard for us to understand which of those that is. But for his sake, you would hope that it’s the latter.”

    Smith has also told Tennis365 that he would be “shocked” if Alcaraz played the US Open.

    “Given how patient they’ve been, I would be shocked to see him at the US Open,” said Smith.

    “If you’re taking that patient approach and you’re progressively building, why throw somebody back in to the hardest thing they might do all year? Surely, you want that to be a progressive build.”

    READ NEXT: Carlos Alcaraz sent big warning as he weighs up ‘risky’ US Open decision

    The post Carlos Alcaraz’s lengthy injury absence could be a ‘good sign’, according to leading expert appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Novak Djokovic heaps praise on Jannik Sinner as he compares him to himself

    Novak Djokovic’s hunt for a 25th Grand Slam title has largely been nipped in the bud by the emergence of Jannik Sinner on the ATP Tour.

    The Serbian star has been dumped out of the latter stages of four Grand Slams by sinner since their meeting at the Australian Open back in 2024.

    In that time, Djokovic has only been able to beat Sinner once at a Grand Slam, which came in stunning circumstances.

    Djokovic pulled off one of the most impressive victories of his career to topple Sinner in five sets in the semi finals of the Australian Open earlier this year.

    Djokovic has always been full of praise for Sinner and his abilities and he has once again compared the Italian’s game style to his ahead of their appearances at the US Open.

    Speaking to Corriere Della Sera, Djokovic heaped praise on Sinner for his domination of the ATP Tour throughout the past two seasons.

    More Jannik Sinner news

    Jannik Sinner out of the US Open? Rumours are swirling as final decision looms

    Jannik Sinner’s controversial decision has been proven right after shocking events in Cincinnati

    “He has a constant and total dedication to tennis. I observe his and I completely identify with it: the desire to improve, grow, evolve in every aspect,” he said.

    “Jannik, like me, is never satisfied. He has the mentality of a champion, he always had it. He’s a dominant force, yet he wakes up every morning with the desire to be better than the day before.

    “And, believe me, no victory can satisfy that hunger, not even 24 Grand Slam titles. Tennis aside, it’s the aspect of his character that brings me closest to Sinner.”

    Sinner’s victory at Wimbledon earlier this summer was the fifth Grand Slam title of his career by the age of 24-years-old.

    That is coincidentally the amount Djokovic had at the same age, so there is every chance the Italian can go on to break the Serbian’s incredible Grand Slam record.

    However, Djokovic was able to win three Grand Slams a year in three season after he turned 25, which is a feat Sinner has not been able to achieve yet in his career.

    Carlos Alcaraz challenging him every step of the way, and his worrying health issues, are realistically the only things stopping Sinner from landing as many Grand Slam titles at Djokovic.

    But, of course, anything can happen in the next 10-15 years and nothing is certain when it comes to dominating at the very top of elite tennis.

    Another set of major stars could emerge very quickly, or Sinner could lose form and confidence, which is just testament to Djokovic’s incredible longevity in the sport.

    Djokovic and Sinner’s next potential meeting could be as soon as the US Open.

    The post Novak Djokovic heaps praise on Jannik Sinner as he compares him to himself appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Novak Djokovic told what is ‘more worrying’ than his Cincinnati loss ahead of US Open

    Novak Djokovic’s defeat at the Cincinnati Open raised “a pretty bad sign” for the tennis icon ahead of the 2026 US Open, according to a former WTA Tour player.

    World No 5 Djokovic fell to a 6-2, 4-6, 4-6 loss to 50th-ranked Tirante in the second round at the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati on Saturday.

    The 39-year-old Serbian was playing his first match since his straight-set defeat to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals.

    While Djokovic dominated the opening set against the 25-year-old Argentine, he suffered physically for large spells of a match played in brutal afternoon heat and humidity in Cincinnati.

    Camille Pin, a retired French player turned commentator, shared her thoughts on Djokovic’s Cincinnati struggles while speaking on Eurosport France.

    “What’s rather odd is that it didn’t happen in a third set after 2 hours and 40 minutes of play,” said Pin, who played between 1999 and 2010.

    More Tennis News

    Greg Rusedski says Novak Djokovic ‘has to be protected’ after what happened at Cincinnati Open

    Jack Draper’s US Open participation looks in doubt as mixed doubles update emerges

    Want more from Tennis365? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for tennis coverage you can trust.

    “From the very beginning of the match, Novak was struggling to breathe, and that’s a pretty bad sign.

    “So that’s what’s worrying, more so than the loss to Tirante, who just reached the round of 16 in Montreal by beating [Taylor] Fritz.

    “Why did he feel so much discomfort in the humidity, when he’s won this tournament three times?

    “Of course, he’s not the same age, but he’s still incredibly fit. He’ll have to check with his team before the US Open.”

    After his defeat to Tirante, Djokovic divulged that he has been dealing with a health problem that causes “a lot of issues” when he plays in difficult weather conditions.

    “It’s just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years. A lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot,” the 24-time Grand Slam champion explained.

    “I did anticipate it, but there are all these things, like nerves and everything involved that make it worse, and that’s what happened.”

    Djokovic’s next appearance will be at the US Open mixed doubles event, where he will partner Aryna Sabalenka.

    The former world No 1 will then aim to win a record-extending 25th men’s Grand Slam singles title — and his first since the 2023 US Open.

    READ NEXT: Brad Gilbert urges tennis to make several rule changes following Novak Djokovic’s match in Cincinnati

    The post Novak Djokovic told what is ‘more worrying’ than his Cincinnati loss ahead of US Open appeared first on Tennis365.

  • Alex Eala’s Cincinnati Open ranking points and prize money after Amanda Anisimova loss

    Alex Eala’s 2026 Cincinnati Open campaign ended with a third round loss to Amanda Anisimova, but how much prize money and how many ranking points did the Filipina star earn at the event?

    The world No 20 was beaten 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 by 10th-ranked Anisimova in a two hour-and-28 minute battle that finished shortly before 1am on Tuesday morning in Cincinnati.

    Eala won a gruelling opening set lasting an hour and five minutes after she battled back from being a break down at 3-4. The set featured a marathon 20-minute game, which Eala won when serving at 2-2.

    Ninth seed Anisimova earned the only break of the second set at 3-3 en route to levelling the contest.

    In the decider, Eala broke to take a 2-0 lead, but her 24-year-old American opponent won the next six games to seal her progress to the fourth round.

    Eala, who was making her debut at the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati, defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the second round after receiving a first round bye.

    WTA Tour News

    Amanda Anisimova has a message for Alex Eala after beating her at the Cincinnati Open

    Alex Eala told what she must do to become an even bigger threat to her WTA rivals

    Want more from Tennis365? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for tennis coverage you can trust.

    Prior to her appearance in Cincinnati, Eala reached the fourth round at the WTA 1000 event in Toronto.

    The 21-year-old began the North American summer hard-court season by securing her maiden title at the WTA 500 in Washington DC.

    Alex Eala’s Cincinnati Open ranking points

    Eala, who was seeded 17th in Cincinnati, has collected 65 WTA ranking points for reaching the third round at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.

    Having started Cincinnati at her career-high ranking of world No 20, Eala has improved her points total to 2,281.

    This has lifted Eala two places to a projected new best ranking position of 18th in the Live WTA Rankings.

    Cincinnati Open WTA ranking points breakdown

    Champion: 1,000 points
    Runner-up: 650 points
    Semi-finalists: 390 points
    Quarter-finalists: 215 points
    Fourth round: 120 points
    Third round: 65 points
    Second round: 35 points (10 points for seeded players)
    First round: 10 points

    Alex Eala’s Cincinnati Open prize money

    Eala has secured $47,605 in prize money for her third round result in Mason, Ohio.

    Cincinnati Open WTA prize money breakdown

    Champion: $1,085,220
    Runner-up: $564,920
    Semi-finalists: $297,315
    Quarter-finalists: $154,354
    Fourth round: $81,800
    Third round: $47,605
    Second round: $28,425
    First round: $18,420

    READ NEXT: Alex Eala gets candid verdict about avoiding key ‘mistakes’ as Rafael Nadal comparison made

    The post Alex Eala’s Cincinnati Open ranking points and prize money after Amanda Anisimova loss appeared first on Tennis365.