Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka will form a blockbuster mixed doubles partnership at this year’s US Open in New York, which begins on 30 August.
The 24-time Grand Slam men’s champion and the Belarusian women’s world number one are joining forces for the very first time.
Between them, the superstar duo have lifted six singles trophies at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
They will now attempt to secure additional hard-court silverware in the prestigious mixed event.
Ruud and Swiatek return to action
Last year’s runners-up Casper Ruud and Iga Swiatek headline the remaining confirmed pairings.
The Norwegian-Polish team were defeated in the 2025 final by Italian specialists Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.
Errani and Vavassori will be aiming for a remarkable third consecutive title at Flushing Meadows this year.
Elsewhere in the draw, women’s world number two Elena Rybakina will play alongside American favourite Taylor Fritz.
High-profile absentees remain
Several major names are noticeably absent from the initial mixed doubles entry list.
Reigning men’s singles stars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have not yet committed to a partnership.
Legendary American sisters Venus and Serena Williams are also yet to be confirmed in any pairing, despite featuring on the singles roster.
Showcasing tennis at its best
United States Tennis Association chief executive Craig Tiley expressed his excitement over the star-studded field.
“Any time you can bring men and women together on the same team, you showcase tennis at its best,” Tiley said.
“We are proud to again bring the world’s top players together in a format that will provide exciting entertainment for our fans.”
“The Mixed Doubles Championship is an innovation that will engage new audiences and give our fans another opportunity to see the biggest stars compete together.”
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have withdrawn from the Canadian Open in Montreal, prompting the tournament director to call for urgent changes to the demanding tennis calendar.
The recent Wimbledon champion stated his decision to skip the August ATP event was strictly to prioritise his physical health.
He will be joined on the sidelines by the 24-time Grand Slam winner, with both men repeating their absences from last year’s edition in Toronto.
Carlos Alcaraz is also missing the Masters 1000 tournament as the Spaniard continues his recovery from a wrist injury that has sidelined him since April.
Canadian Open demands calendar adjustments
Valerie Tetreault, the tournament director, expressed deep disappointment over the high-profile absences.
“We respect their decisions and understand that, with such a demanding schedule, players’ health must remain the priority.”
She warned that the frequency of late withdrawals from flagship events raises a broader, systemic issue for the sport.
“We are already in discussions with the ATP to ensure this matter receives serious consideration.”
The tournament chief firmly believes future adjustments are required to protect the integrity of the Masters 1000 tier while acknowledging the realities athletes face.
Growing concerns over congested 11-month season
The Montreal event sits precariously in a packed summer swing, directly preceding the Cincinnati Open and the US Open.
Seven of the nine Masters 1000 tournaments have recently expanded to a demanding 12-day format.
This expansion has intensified criticism of a gruelling tennis calendar that now stretches across 11 months of the year for elite competitors.
Top players have repeatedly voiced frustration over the physical toll of the tour.
“They are going to kill us in some way,” stated Alcaraz in September 2024.
Late pull-outs spark penalty debate
The issue of player fatigue and sudden exits has permeated both major professional circuits.
British pair Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu recently withdrew from Wimbledon on the eve of the tournament due to fitness concerns.
Draper, managing a long-term arm injury, admitted that the sheer volume of physical setbacks among leading players is highly concerning.
Earlier this year, top-ranked WTA stars Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek pulled out of the Dubai Championships just two days before it commenced.
That incident led Dubai tournament director Salah Tahlak to controversially suggest that athletes making late withdrawals should be docked ranking points.
The Belarusian star swiftly branded that criticism as “ridiculous”, warning she may never play the tournament again.
The Women’s Tennis Association will require all players to undergo mandatory genetic sex testing in order to compete on the professional tour.
The updated women’s eligibility policy will demand a cheek swab, blood, or saliva sample from every competitor.
This single lifetime assessment specifically tests for the SRY gene, a component of the Y chromosome responsible for male characteristic development.
Only individuals returning a negative result for the gene will receive immediate clearance to participate on the elite tennis circuit.
Medical assessments and disciplinary action
Competitors who test positive will not face an automatic ban but must undergo further medical evaluation before returning to the court.
The governing body has also introduced strict compliance measures to enforce the newly established screening regulations.
Athletes refusing to submit to the test must sign a document acknowledging they could face severe disciplinary action.
Moving away from testosterone thresholds
The organisation’s previous guidelines, updated as recently as 2024, permitted transgender women to compete provided they maintained lowered testosterone levels for two consecutive years.
This policy shift aligns the tour with a growing movement across international sports focusing on biological sex rather than hormonal suppression.
There are currently no known transgender women participating at the highest level of professional tennis.
“The WTA’s women’s eligibility policy is designed to promote equal athletic opportunities in women’s professional tennis and maintain fair competition for all players participating in WTA tournaments.”Women’s Tennis Association
“Following the most recent review, which included consultation with WTA members and evolving standards across women’s sport, the WTA board approved an updated WTA women’s eligibility policy beginning in 2026 based on biological sex.”Women’s Tennis Association
Aligning with global sporting standards
The latest mandate mirrors recent regulatory changes implemented by other major international sporting federations.
World Athletics introduced comparable regulations requiring a one-time gene test for female category competitors, which were scheduled to take effect in September 2025.
World Boxing also established mandatory SRY testing for athletes entering the women’s category in May 2025.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has ended a 16-month trophy drought by defeating Raphael Collignon 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 to win the Swiss Open in Gstaad.
The former world number three claimed the 13th ATP title of his career after overcoming a resilient challenge from his Belgian opponent.
Sunday’s victory marks the Greek star’s first tournament success since lifting the Dubai Open trophy in March 2025.
Serving masterclass on the clay
Operating efficiently on his preferred surface, the 27-year-old showcased a highly impressive serving performance in the championship match.
He struck four aces without hitting a single double fault throughout the gruelling three-set battle.
The three-time Monte Carlo Masters champion also protected his delivery well, winning a commanding 21 out of 29 points on his second serve.
He was equally composed when pushed onto the defensive, successfully saving two of the four break points he faced against the debutant finalist.
Rankings boost and Collignon’s breakthrough
I would like to start by mentioning how amazing the final was today.
It’s been a long time so it does mean a lot to me.
This triumph in Switzerland will see the two-time major finalist climb significantly in Monday’s updated world rankings.
He is guaranteed to jump 30 places, moving from 85th back up to 55th in the global standings as he looks to re-establish himself among the elite.
Meanwhile, Collignon can take immense pride from reaching his first ever ATP final on the tour.
The 24-year-old, currently ranked 42nd in the world, demonstrated enormous potential despite falling just short of securing maiden silverware.
Jannik Sinner has successfully defended his men’s crown while 21-year-old Linda Noskova claimed her maiden major title to conclude a dramatic, rain-free Wimbledon 2026.
Sinner secures consecutive crowns
The world number one bounced back from recent disappointment in Paris to dispatch second seed Alexander Zverev in a gruelling four-set final.
In doing so, the Italian confirmed his dominance on the grass and capitalised on a fatigued Novak Djokovic in their semi-final clash.
Noskova makes history in tense finale
The Czech prodigy became the youngest women’s champion at SW19 since Petra Kvitova lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish in 2011.
Her victory against compatriot Karolina Muchova provided the tournament’s most psychologically taxing encounter.
Leading 6-2 5-2, the youthful contender squandered five match points before ultimately sealing the title on her sixth attempt following a remarkable deciding set.
It means the prestigious grass-court tournament has now crowned 10 different female champions in the last decade.
Veterans and wildcards light up SW19
Beyond the champions, the fortnight was defined by astonishing individual runs that captivated the home crowds.
British wildcard Arthur Fery produced a career-defining performance to storm all the way to the men’s semi-finals.
Elsewhere, 44-year-old Serena Williams made a sensational return to the singles draw, adding immense star power to the championships.
Meanwhile, 39-year-old Djokovic played out the longest Wimbledon match of his illustrious career against Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The Serbian veteran won the five-hour, 15-minute quarter-final epic but later admitted that going the distance is becoming harder every year.
German second seed Alexander Zverev will be without his grandmother for Sunday’s Wimbledon final against Jannik Sinner after she was denied entry to the UK due to visa restrictions.
The French Open champion secured his place in the tournament’s showpiece by dispatching British wildcard Arthur Fery in straight sets on Friday.
However, family celebrations in London will be severely limited following the expiration of his grandmother’s 90-day visitation allowance.
Extended background checks prevent travel
As a Russian passport holder, she is subject to extended background checks that make securing a late visa practically impossible.
The world number two expressed faint hope that high-level diplomatic intervention might resolve the situation before the weekend.
With the German Chancellor expected to attend Centre Court, the finalist joked that political strings could be pulled to expedite the process.
Despite the optimistic plea, strict immigration protocols mean his long-time supporter will have to watch the grass-court final from home.
World number one stands in way of back-to-back majors
On the court, the newly crowned Paris champion faces a monumental challenge to secure his second consecutive Grand Slam title.
The defending Wimbledon champion booked his spot in Sunday’s clash by overcoming legendary Serbian Novak Djokovic in their semi-final.
The Italian top seed holds a formidable psychological advantage, having triumphed in all nine of their previous professional meetings.
Their most recent Grand Slam encounter saw the world number one successfully defend his Australian Open crown against the German earlier in 2025.
Novak Djokovic has declared his intention to return to Wimbledon at least one more time after suffering a straight-sets semi-final defeat to Jannik Sinner.
The 39-year-old was comprehensively beaten on Friday, ending his latest bid for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title.
Despite facing mounting questions over his future in the sport, the Serbian insists he feels no immediate pressure to end his illustrious tennis career.
“I would like to [return to Wimbledon], at least one more time. Let’s see,” said Djokovic.
Dealing with the highest expectations
The veteran has spent the past two years relentlessly chasing the elusive 25th major that would take him clear of any male or female player in history.
He previously defeated Sinner in the Australian Open semi-finals earlier this year, only to fall short against Carlos Alcaraz in the Melbourne final.
“I guess for 99 per cent of the players, that would be a very good set of Grand Slam results,” added the 24-time major champion.
“For me, it’s good but not good enough, because I’m blessed and cursed to be used to something of a highest degree in terms of results and achievements.”
An exhausting route to the last four
Many observers viewed this grass-court campaign as the final realistic opportunity for the global tennis icon to add to his historic tally before he turns 40 next year.
His path through the draw proved physically demanding, featuring gruelling victories over Stefanos Tsitsipas and a five-set thriller against Felix Auger-Aliassime.
“I have proven to myself and others that I can still play at the highest level, and I have,” he reflected on his tournament performance.
The former world number one acknowledged the internal struggle of balancing his aging physical reality with his relentless competitive drive.
Accepting defeat to the world’s best
“Losing in straight sets against the best player in the world, okay. It is what it is. It’s the reality you have to accept,” he admitted.
Despite the comprehensive loss, he maintained that his attitude, fighting spirit, and dedication on the court remain as strong as ever.
Attention will now turn to next month’s US Open, where he will once again attempt to capture that historic 25th Grand Slam crown.
Novak Djokovic has criticised Wimbledon tournament officials for closing the Centre Court roof prematurely during his quarter-final match against Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The Serbian was angered when tournament referee Denise Parnell opted to shut the retractable structure at 7:40pm local time following the end of the second set.
With sunset not scheduled until after 9:15pm, the 24-time Grand Slam champion argued there was ample daylight remaining to continue play in natural conditions.
Parnell defended the decision by citing the need to avoid halting the match midway through a subsequent set as the evening progressed.
‘We are an outdoor tournament’
The explanation did not satisfy the tournament favourite, who confronted the umpire over the perceived inconsistency of the timing.
“Why now? Why? The other day you didn’t want to close it until, like, 8.20, 8.30, and now you want to close it?”
“You don’t want to get to 8.30? It’s 7.40 now. We can play a whole another set. Outdoors. We are an outdoor tournament.”
When Parnell referenced earlier roof protocols used during Jannik Sinner’s fourth-round tie, the frustrated veteran dismissed the comparison.
“With Jannik, I don’t care what happens. I care about our match right now.”
The debate over the use of the Centre Court roof, originally installed to prevent rain delays, has frequently resurfaced during late evening sessions at SW19.
Nadal and Murray echo roof concerns
Djokovic is not alone in his discontent, as historic rivals Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray have previously voiced identical grievances.
The Spanish 14-time French Open winner famously questioned the logic of keeping the roof closed during his 2018 semi-final defeat to the Belgrade native despite dry weather.
“I don’t think it’s right, it’s an outdoor tournament. If the previous part of the match started with the roof on, there was logic, but I don’t understand why it had to be closed.”
Meanwhile, the two-time Wimbledon champion from Scotland has historically criticised the lack of communication from officials regarding scheduled roof closures.
Murray has previously noted that the enclosed environment severely alters playing conditions by increasing humidity and making the tennis balls significantly heavier.