Tennis | DD News

August 25, 2025 9:43 AM

Djokovic battles past Tien to reach US Open second round

Novak Djokovic delivered a lesson in Grand Slam tenacity to Learner Tien in the first round of the U.S. Open on Sunday as he battled past the American teenager 6-1 7-6(3) 6-2 and launched his latest quest for a record 25th major title. Competing in his first singles match since reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals last month, and swapping the whites for a sleek all-black outfit, the 38-year-old Serb fought through physical issues to secure his 80th win at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Victory also meant ...

August 25, 2025 9:43 AM

Sabalenka moves on, Raducanu notches first US Open win since 2021 triumph

Defending U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka was given an early test before she moved into the second round while Emma Raducanu won her first match at the Grand Slam since her 2021 triumph as the tournament began a day earlier than usual on Sunday. Under the new extended 15-day format, first-round singles action will be contested from Sunday to Tuesday, rather than two days as in previous years, spreading out the star attractions and allowing access for another 70,000-odd spectators. Sabalenka...

August 19, 2025 1:09 PM

Swiatek downs Paolini to claim first Cincinnati Open title

Iga Swiatek captured her first Cincinnati Open title on Monday by beating Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4, with the Pole third seed, sending a powerful message ahead of the U.S. Open. The six-time Grand Slam winner did not drop a set on her way to the title and was clinical in the final, converting all six of her break points to clinch her 11th WTA 1000 crown and first since last year's Italian Open. She is now the second all-time winner in the WTA 1000 format history, trailing only Serena Williams (...

August 19, 2025 12:56 PM

Alcaraz wins Cincinnati Open after ailing Sinner retires in final

Carlos Alcaraz won the Cincinnati Open after top seed Jannik Sinner retired as he was feeling unwell on Monday, raising concerns about the Italian's fitness just days before he is due to begin the defence of his U.S. Open title. The Spanish second seed snapped the world number one's 26-match winning streak on hardcourts when his ailing rival signalled he could no longer continue while trailing 5-0 in the first set of the final. "This is not the way that I want to win trophies, I just have to s...

August 18, 2025 9:49 AM

Swiatek downs Rybakina, faces Paolini in Cincinnati Open final

A ruthless Iga Swiatek won 10 of the last 13 games to beat Elena Rybakina 7-5 6-3 on Sunday and reach her first Cincinnati Open final after losing in the penultimate stage of the U.S. Open tune-up event in each of the last two years. In the other semi-final, Italy's Jasmine Paolini was a 6-3 6-7(2) 6-3 winner over unseeded Russian Veronika Kudermetova. Third seed Swiatek had her hands full in the early stages of the 98-minute match but took advantage of a sudden dip in Rybakina's form to win f...

August 15, 2025 3:31 PM

Defending champion Sinner storms into Cincinnati Open semi-finals

Defending champion Jannik Sinner swept past Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-0 6-2 on Thursday to reach the Cincinnati Open semi-finals, with the world number one extending his hardcourt winning streak to 25 matches. Sinner delivered a dominant performance, capitalising on his opponent's 29 unforced errors to claim his first win in three meetings against the Canadian 23rd seed in just 71 minutes. "Today I felt great on court. I think you saw that but every day is going to be different," Sinner said. "T...

August 15, 2025 3:28 PM

Italian Matteo Berrettini withdraws from US Open

Former world number six Matteo Berrettini has withdrawn from the U.S. Open, tournament organisers said on Thursday. The Italian, currently ranked 59th, has not competed since a first-round lost at Wimbledon in June after he had recovered from an abdominal injury. Berretini skipped the Swiss Open in Gstaad, and the Masters 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati ahead of the Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows, where he reached the semi-finals in 2019. American Brandon Holt will take his place in the...

August 14, 2025 12:46 PM

Defending champions Sabalenka, Sinner advance in rain-hit Cincinnati Open

World number one Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on Wednesday, while men's top seed Jannik Sinner beat Adrian Mannarino following a lengthy rain delay. Fresh off a thrilling third-round battle with Emma Raducanu, women's reigning champion Sabalenka had an easier ride against the Spaniard Bouzas Maneiro, earning her tour-leading 50th win in one hour and 20 minutes. "I was up a break, made a couple of mistakes and...

August 13, 2025 9:39 AM

Alcaraz eases past Medjedovic in Cincinnati before rain forces suspension

Carlos Alcaraz beat Hamad Medjedovic 6-4 6-4 to reach the Cincinnati Open last 16 on Tuesday, battling the sweltering Ohio heat to notch a tour-leading 50th victory of the season before the evening session was suspended due to rain. The Spanish second seed also secured his 13th consecutive win at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament, converting three of seven break points in a deliberate, slow-paced contest. Treated for neck pain after the first set, Serbia's Medjedovic ramped up in the second to sh...

August 11, 2025 12:42 PM

Zverev rolls past home hope into Cincinnati third round, Shelton advances

German third seed Alexander Zverev swatted aside home hope Nishesh Basavareddy 6-3 6-3 in the second round of the Cincinnati Open on Sunday, as Canadian Open winner Ben Shelton advanced when Argentina's Camilo Ugo Carabelli retired injured. The 2021 champion Zverev never faced a break and closed out the evening programme on the Grandstand with one of a dozen aces across the match, as he tuned out the rowdy U.S. crowd that was squarely in his opponent's corner. He will meet American Brandon Nak...