Tennis

Tennis

Team Europe's Carlos Alcaraz returns to Team World's Taylor Fritz during a Laver Cup tennis tournament match in London, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)

Alcaraz advances to Tokyo semifinals after Shapovalov injury

The Associated Press 2 minute read 1:24 AM CDT

TOKYO (AP) — Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the semifinals of the Japan Open on Sunday, continuing his strong return from a four-month wrist injury layoff.

Alcaraz moved into the final four after his opponent Denis Shapovalov was forced to retire due to a hip injury during their quarterfinal match. The defending champion was leading 7-6 (4), 2-1 after 82 minutes when the Canadian player withdrew.

Alcaraz played in the Laver Cup last week, helping Europe claim the trophy with a singles win over Taylor Fritz.

Shapovalov had pushed the Spaniard in a grueling opening set, earning a set point at 5-4. Alcaraz defused the threat with a delicate drop shot before taking the set with a commanding tiebreak.

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Tennis

Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, reacts during the third round of the women's singles match against Nikola Bartunkova, of the Czech Republic, at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Sabalenka knocked out of China Open in straight sets by Bartunkova, Djokovic outlasts Zverev

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Sabalenka knocked out of China Open in straight sets by Bartunkova, Djokovic outlasts Zverev

The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 11:15 AM CDT

BEIJING (AP) — Second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka was bundled out in the third round of the China Open in straight sets by the Czech Republic's Nikola Bartunkova on Sunday. In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic maintained his perfect record at the tournament with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over U.S. Open champion Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals.

The No. 34-ranked Bartunkova defeated the four-time Grand Slam champion 6-4, 6-3 in just over an hour and a half leaving the tournament without its two top seeds in the first week.

Newly crowned world No. 1 Elena Rybakina was ousted from the tournament on Saturday and will now be joined by Sabalenka in exiting WTA-1000 event in Beijing early.

Sabalenka, who was denied a three-peat at the U.S. Open last month by Rybakina, squandered five break points in the first set as her historic struggles in Beijing continued. The 28-year-old Belorussian has never progressed past the quarterfinals at the event.

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Updated: 11:15 AM CDT

Health

Denis Shapovalov, of Canada, reacts in the fourth set against Ben Shelton, of the United States, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, early Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Canada’s Shapovalov retires from Japan Open quarterfinal vs. Alcaraz due to injury

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Canada’s Shapovalov retires from Japan Open quarterfinal vs. Alcaraz due to injury

The Canadian Press 1 minute read 12:42 AM CDT

TOKYO - Canada's Denis Shapovalov is out of the Japan Open.

The Richmond Hill, Ont., lost by way of walkover to top-seeded Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz after having to retire from their quarterfinal match due to injury on Sunday in Tokyo.

Alcaraz was leading 7-6 (3), 2-1 when Shapovalov retired.

Shapovalov converted on three of his four break-point chances by that point, while saving four of Alcaraz's seven opportunities.

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12:42 AM CDT

Tennis

Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, serves the ball to Jessica Pegula, of the United States, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Canada’s Leylah Fernandez ousted in second round of China Open

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canada’s Leylah Fernandez ousted in second round of China Open

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 11:26 AM CDT

BEIJING - Canada's Leylah Fernandez was ousted from the China Open women's tennis tournament with a three-set loss to Kamilla Rakhimova of Uzbekistan on Saturday.

Rakhimova prevailed 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the second round over the 23rd-seeded Fernandez from Laval, Que.

Fernandez was coming off her sixth career WTA win in the Singapore Open.

Rakhimova converted five of 11 break points to Fernandez's two of four Saturday. 

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Yesterday at 11:26 AM CDT

Tennis

Jannik Sinner is flanked by Anna Wintour during the Gucci women's Spring-Summer 2027 fashion show, presented in Milan, Italy, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

No. 1 Jannik Sinner extends absence by withdrawing from Shanghai Masters

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

No. 1 Jannik Sinner extends absence by withdrawing from Shanghai Masters

The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 5:48 AM CDT

SHANGHAI (AP) — Top-ranked Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Shanghai Masters as he deals with a knee problem.

Sinner has not played since beating Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final. He withdrew from the U.S. Open because of a right knee injury.

“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to play at the Rolex Shanghai Masters this year as I had hoped,” the Italian wrote on his Instagram account Saturday. "I always enjoy playing in front of the Shanghai fans and I’m very sorry that I won’t be able to do so next week. Thank you for all your support. I’m looking forward to seeing you again next year!”

Sinner announced last week that he wouldn't be able to defend his China Open title in Beijing, saying “my knee is not there where I would like to be and I am not ready to compete yet, but I will do everything possible to be there on court as soon as I can."

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Yesterday at 5:48 AM CDT

Tennis

Team Europe's Carlos Alcaraz returns to Team World's Taylor Fritz during a Laver Cup tennis tournament match in London, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)

Carlos Alcaraz is into the third round at the Japan Open

The Associated Press 1 minute read Preview

Carlos Alcaraz is into the third round at the Japan Open

The Associated Press 1 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:39 AM CDT

TOKYO (AP) — Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz beat Matteo Arnaldi 7-6 (6), 6-1 on Saturday in a second-round match at the Japan Open, continuing his strong return to play after a four-month layoff due to a wrist injury.

Alcaraz played in the Laver Cup last week, helping Europe claim the trophy with a singles win over Taylor Fritz. Alcaraz lost to Ben Shelton in an epic, early-morning finish at the U.S. Open quarterfinals after his injury return.

In an earlier second-round match Saturday, Denis Shapovalov beat Alejandro Tabilo 7-5. 3-6. 6-4. Alcaraz will play Shapovalov in the quarterfinals.

___

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Updated: Yesterday at 2:39 AM CDT

Tennis

Coco Gauff, of the United States, returns a ball to Camila Osorio, of Colombia, during the second round of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Rybakina loses in China Open second round while Zverev wins to face Djokovic

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Rybakina loses in China Open second round while Zverev wins to face Djokovic

The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:14 PM CDT

BEIJING (AP) — No. 1-ranked Elena Rybakina was ousted from the China Open by No. 118 Alina Charaeva of Armenia in the second round on Saturday.

Charaeva held her head in her hands in disbelief after winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

"I was just trying to stay really hard mentally and keep believing that at some point I could turn it around again to my side. And I guess I just never stopped believing,” said Charaeva, only the ninth woman outside the top 100 to beat a No. 1.

Rybakina had seven double faults and dropped her serve five times, the last time to fall behind 4-2 in the third set.

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Updated: Yesterday at 2:14 PM CDT

Tennis

Denis Shapovalov, of Canada, hits a return to Ben Shelton, of the United States, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Canada’s Shapovalov advances to Japan Open quarterfinals with win over Tabilo

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Canada’s Shapovalov advances to Japan Open quarterfinals with win over Tabilo

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Friday, Oct. 2, 2026

TOKYO - Canada's Denis Shapovalov is moving on to the quarterfinals of the Japan Open.

Shapovalov defeated Chile's Alejandro Tabilo 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 on Friday in second-round men's singles action at the tennis tournament.

The Richmond Hill, Ont., native had 11 aces but committed five double faults.

He also broke on four of his five opportunities in the match.

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Friday, Oct. 2, 2026

Tennis

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia reacts after defeating Bu Yunchaokete, of China in a men's singles second round match during the China Open tennis tournament held in Beijing, Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

“What a match” – Djokovic rallies to beat home favorite Bu and reach China Open quarterfinals

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

“What a match” – Djokovic rallies to beat home favorite Bu and reach China Open quarterfinals

The Associated Press 2 minute read Friday, Oct. 2, 2026

BEIJING (AP) — Novak Djokovic rallied to beat Bu Yunchaokete and maintain his flawless record at the China Open despite again needing a medical timeout on Friday.

The sixth-ranked Djokovic won 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals and extend his record to 31-0 at the Beijing tournament, which he has won six times, the last in 2015.

“I had to play very well. I had to serve well in the right moments,” Djokovic said. “He was so solid. I struggled to really find holes in his game and was hitting his spots really well with his serve.

“Credit to him for playing well. The atmosphere was amazing. Packed stadium again for three hours — what a match to be a part of.”

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Friday, Oct. 2, 2026

Tennis

Former tennis player Billie Jean King attends a match between Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, and Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

WTA announces ‘major milestone’ with equal prize money at Italian Open and other big events in 2027

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

WTA announces ‘major milestone’ with equal prize money at Italian Open and other big events in 2027

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 4 minute read Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026

ROME (AP) — Billie Jean King has often said that she was moved to form the women’s pro tennis circuit after earning $600 for her 1970 Italian Open title — while Ilie Nastase took home $3,500 for winning the men’s tournament the same year.

In 2027 — nearly six decades after King's title at the Foro Italico — the Rome clay-court event will finally award women the same amount of total prize money as men, as part a “major milestone” initiative that the WTA Tour announced Thursday.

The initiative means that all combined WTA 1000 events will award equal prize money for the first time. Besides the Italian Open, the holdouts had been the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open.

The other combined 1000 events in Indian Wells, California; Miami; Madrid and Beijing; as well as all four Grand Slams, already offer equal prize money.

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Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026

Tennis

Denis Shapovalov, of Canada, celebrates after a point against Ben Shelton, of the United States, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Canada’s Shapovalov cruises past Shimabukuro into Round of 16 at Japan Open

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Canada’s Shapovalov cruises past Shimabukuro into Round of 16 at Japan Open

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026

TOKYO - Canada's Denis Shapovalov is through to the second round of the Japan Open tennis tournament.

Shapovalov defeated Japan's Sho Shimabukuro 7-5, 6-1 on Thursday.

The 27-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., hit 11 aces to Shimabukuro's one and committed just two double faults compared with six for his opponent.

Shapovalov, ranked 46th in the world, evened his season record to 19-19 with the victory.

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Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026

Tennis

Frances Tiafoe, of the United States, right, greets Ben Shelton, of the United States, after Shelton won their match during the men's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

In his career swan song, Kei Nishikori loses to Frances Tiafoe at the Japan Open

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

In his career swan song, Kei Nishikori loses to Frances Tiafoe at the Japan Open

The Associated Press 2 minute read Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026

TOKYO (AP) — Kei Nishikori had an emotional farewell to his tennis career at the Japan Open.

Nishikori lost 6-4, 6-4 to second-seeded Frances Tiafoe in the first round on Thursday. The 36-year-old Nishikori, a former U.S. Open finalist with a career-high ranking of No. 4, said earlier in the week that he had mixed feelings about in his last elite-level tournament on home soil.

“I am excited to play in Japan but I also know this is my last moment,” he said. “So, it’s kind of sad.”

Nishikori announced in May that he planned to retire at the end of the year and was granted a wild-card entry to the Japan Open, which he won in 2012 and 2014. His career ended with the loss.

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Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026

Tennis

Emma Navarro to miss the rest of 2026 tennis season for treatment, plans return at Australian Open

The Associated Press 2 minute read Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — Emma Navarro says she’s taking the rest of the tennis season off to address two health issues and plans to return ahead of the Australian Open in January.

Navarro, who lost in the U.S. Open quarterfinals to Pegula last month, said in a social media post Wednesday that she'd been diagnosed with RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) and Hasshimoto’s hypothyroidism.

RED-S is a condition that causes the body to receive insufficient energy for heavy physical activities. Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid gland, causing slower metabolism.

“I have learned that there is no weight on the scale or leanness in your limbs that is more valuable than your health or your well-being,” Navarro said in the Instagram post. “I am taking the rest of this year to work on dialing in my medication and fueling protocols so that I can hopefully feel back to 100 percent again.”

Tennis

Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime plays the ball to France's Arthur Rinderknech during the fourth match at the Davis Cup qualifier second round match at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Canada’s Auger-Aliassime ousted by Khachanov again, this time at China Open

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canada’s Auger-Aliassime ousted by Khachanov again, this time at China Open

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2026

BEIJING - Canada's Félix Auger-Aliassime fell 6-3, 6-3 to Russian Karen Khachanov in opening round men's singles action at the China Open tennis tournament.

The Montreal native, who was the second seed in the tournament, had nine aces to one double fault but failed to get one break-point opportunity on Wednesday in Beijing.

Meanwhile, Khachanov broke on three of his four chances.

He also had four aces to two double faults.

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Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2026

Tennis

Alexander Zverev, of Germany, left, and Karen Khachanov, of Russia, right, meet at the net after Zverev won their match during the men's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Novak Djokovic starts China Open with first win since July

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Novak Djokovic starts China Open with first win since July

The Associated Press 2 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 30, 2026

BEIJING (AP) — Novak Djokovic maintained his flawless record at the China Open despite needing a medical timeout during his first round match on Wednesday.

The sixth-seeded Djokovic beat Nuno Borges 6-3, 7-6 (2) for his first victory since July 7 in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. The 39-year-old extended his record to 30-0 at the Beijing tournament, which he has won six times, the last in 2015.

It was Djokovic’s first match since a first-round loss at the U.S. Open on Aug. 31.

He was treated on court by a physio at 3-2 down in the second set, but he didn’t appear to be hindered by the undisclosed issue as he saw out his next two service matches to love and played some of his best tennis of the match after the medical timeout.

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Wednesday, Sep. 30, 2026

Tennis

Denis Shapovalov, of Canada, celebrates after a point against Ben Shelton, of the United States, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Canada’s Shapovalov falls to Hurkacz in Chengdu Open semifinal

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Canada’s Shapovalov falls to Hurkacz in Chengdu Open semifinal

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Monday, Sep. 28, 2026

CHENGDU - Canada’s Denis Shapovalov fell to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals of the Chengdu Open on Monday.

The 27-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., the No. 7 seed at the ATP 250 tournament, had 14 aces and four double faults in the two-hour, 27-minute match.

Hurkacz saved all three break points he faced, fired eight aces and won 85 per cent of his first-serve points.

The fifth-seeded Hurkacz improved to 6-1 against Shapovalov.

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Monday, Sep. 28, 2026

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