#us-open

#us-open

Since Sinner returned to the tour in May after a three-month suspension, the rivals have entered the same tournament five times. In all five instances, they have met in the final. They appear to be on such level terms now, across all surfaces and court speeds, that each match comes down to the idiosyncrasies of fatigue, form, and focus. The old, easy shorthands now feel obsolete.

Alcaraz moved up from No. 2 and swapped places with Sinner by virtue of a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over him in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday. Sinner had held No. 1 since making his debut there in June 2024, a 65-week stay. Alcaraz first reached that spot in September 2022 at age 19 -- making him the youngest No. 1 in ATP history -- by claiming his first major championship at that year's US Open. He relinquished that ranking in September 2023.

Every August, the US Open rolls into Queens with its ever-expanding rituals of consumption. Fans don't just buy in, they perform it: the $23 Honey Deuce held aloft for Instagram, the $40 lobster roll posted before the first serve, the $100 caviar-topped chicken nuggets bought as much for the flex as the flavor. The tennis has never been the cheapest day out, but lately the sticker shock feel less like a barrier than the point.

At last year's tournament, over 550,000 Honey Deuces were guzzled by thirsty tennis aficionados, according to the New York Times. The cups are even considered collectible, and many fans at the tournament can be seen walking around with a stack practically as tall as 6'10" tennis pro John Isner. Arguably the most profitable cocktail in sports, the Times named it the early winner of the annual, star-studded tennis tournament.

During Fan Week, held during qualifying on the grounds at the tournament, Muddy Paws Rescue brought some of their New York-based dogs to the player garden. Sabalenka, the world No. 1 and defending champion, met one very good boy appropriately named Wilson -- and she was immediately smitten. She quickly took to her Instagram story to share a picture of herself with Wilson outside of Arthur Ashe Stadium, and asked her fans and followers for some help.

When the match finished after 56 minutes in Louis Armstrong Stadium, Williams smiled as she walked to the net to shake hands with Siniakova, then hug Townsend. Thousands of spectators rose to give Williams a standing ovation; Townsend and Siniakova then joined in, applauding for Williams. "Growing up watching Venus and (her sister) Serena, for me and my sister, it was an inspiration," Townsend told the crowd. "It was an honor to share the court today."

NEW YORK -- Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez reached the women's doubles quarterfinals at the US Open, defeating the 12th-seeded duo of Ekaterina Alexandrova and Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-4 in their third-round match Monday in front of a capacity crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium. Williams and Fernandez had not played together until last week, when they received a wild-card entry into the field at the Grand Slam tournament. They are now 3-0 and have not lost a set in the process.