Watch: Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek fly together to US Open after Cincinnati Open win
Weeks later in Cincinnati, Alcaraz dominated once again—leading 5-0 in the first set—when Sinner retired due to illness, handing Alcaraz his first Cincinnati Masters 1000 title of the season, his 22nd ATP crown, and his eighth Masters 1000 title overall.Alcaraz also became the third Spaniard after Carlos Moya (2002) and Rafael Nadal (2013) to lift the ATP Masters trophy. It was also Alcaraz's sixth title this year.Switek also continues her remarkable form, boasting a 49–12 win-loss record in 2025, winning 80% of her matches this year. At Wimbledon, she made history—claiming her first title there by defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0, the first women's 'double bagel' final since 1911.She dropped just 35 games en route, and that final marked her 100th Grand Slam match win. Riding that momentum, she swept through the Cincinnati Open unbeaten, winning all her matches in straight sets to secure her 11th WTA 1000 title, defeating Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4.- EndsMust Watch
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
With top stars, unique format, can US Open Doubles Championship revolutionise doubles tennis?
The US Open 2025 Mixed Doubles Championship aims to revolutionise tennis by enhancing the format's reach. But why exactly was the decision taken by USTA? Let's contemplate. You, me, and most tennis fans have something in common. Yes, we are all still reminiscing about the era when Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray engaged in monumental rivalries, producing classics on a weekly basis. That's one similarity, but there's something else as well that binds all of us enthusiasts. Are you ready for the big reveal? Here it is – we all closely follow the action and results in the singles category but often have little knowledge of the doubles category, especially mixed doubles. This is not a random assumption, it's a conclusion drawn from facts backed by numbers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to a 2024 survey by Tennis Tribe, a leading resource for doubles tennis information, 31 per cent of avid tennis fans prefer watching singles matches, 39 per cent enjoy singles and doubles equally, 19 per cent favor doubles over singles, and 11 per cent prefer mixed doubles. Additionally, The Sun reported that Wimbledon adjusted its singles final start time from 2 pm to 4 pm to improve scheduling for doubles finals and boost audience retention. Despite this, doubles matches struggle to retain viewership compared to singles. This indicates that singles matches generate the most excitement and keep tennis prominent globally, while mixed doubles attract a smaller audience. But why is it the case? Why does the mixed doubles category lack interest and viewership as compared to singles? According to a widely accepted assertion, it is because the popular singles players usually don't play doubles regularly, reducing their appeal to casual viewers. If you are still not convinced and see yourself as the minority, then tell me who won the mixed doubles title at the Australian Open 2025? Do not Google it, I'll tell you the answer in a few seconds. However, before that, let me serve you with some vital information. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) acknowledges the value of doubles and wants to enhance its reach. Therefore, it has introduced a Mixed Doubles Championship for 2025. Unlike the traditional Grand Slam format, where mixed doubles events run concurrently with singles and other doubles categories, the US Open will host its Mixed Doubles Championship before the singles events on August 19–20 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The US Open's decision to introduce the Mixed Doubles Championship in 2025 is driven by strategic goals to enhance the tournament's appeal and global reach. Here are several key objectives that likely contributed to the creation of this championship. Attracting top singles players By scheduling the Mixed Doubles Championship during the Fan Week (August 19-20, before the main singles draw), the US Open avoids date collision with singles matches. This allows top ATP and WTA stars, who often skip doubles to focus on singles, to participate without compromising their singles performance. Moreover, the $1 million prize for winners would certainly act as an impetus that could lure them. Increasing fan engagement The USTA might be aiming to kill two birds with the same stone by showcasing star-studded teams, such as Emma Raducanu with Carlos Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic with Olga Danilovic, in a high-profile format. This will create intrigue among the existing fans as well as attract the attention of potential fans. The US Open Mixed Doubles Championship draw is set! — US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 17, 2025 Innovative format for broader appeal The new format, the best-of-three sets to four games (six for the final), no-ad scoring, and a 10-point tiebreak instead of a third set creates fast-paced, entertaining matches. This fresh structure aims to draw casual fans and inspire recreational players, as mixed doubles mirrors how many amateurs play. Elevating mixed doubles' prestige Historically, mixed doubles has been overshadowed by singles and other doubles events. By giving it a dedicated spotlight during Fan Week, the USTA seeks to elevate its status as a legitimate Grand Slam title, emphasising tennis' unique gender-equal competition. While there is great excitement about the initiative of the USTA, there are also individuals who are sceptical about the changes. The move has sparked criticism from doubles specialists like Sara Errani, Andrea Vavassori, and Paul McNamee, who argue it devalues the event by prioritising singles players and reducing the field to 16 teams (eight based on singles rankings, eight wild cards). They see it as a 'pseudo-exhibition' that sidelines traditional doubles players, potentially undermining the competition's authenticity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Doubles specialists such as Italy's Andrea Vavassori have voiced their concerns regarding the US Open's Mixed Doubles Championship. Reuters Despite the controversy, USTA CEO Lew Sherr emphasises that the changes aim to create a 'blockbuster' event that grows the sport's global appeal while maintaining its competitive integrity. Thus, the knowers of the game will have varied views about the Mixed Doubles Championship, but in the end, it is the fans who will decide whether the initiative will be judged as a success or not. So, what do you think, is this enough for a regular tennis fan like you to forget everything and look forward to the mixed doubles' action? Your answer to this and action may determine the future of the tournament. Lastly, if you have come this long to know won the mixed doubles title at the Australian Open 2025, it was Olivia Gadecki and John Peers who defeated Kimberly Birrell and John-Patrick Smith in the final, 3–6, 6–4, [10–6] to win the mixed doubles tennis title at the 2025 Australian Open.
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
Why doubles World No 1 Rajeev Ram was called ‘not an actual tennis player' by fellow American Mardy Fish
Jannik Sinner's illness at Cincinnati Masters cataclysmed into the assumption that the Italian would not play at the US Open mixed doubles. The unintended fallout was calls for men's doubles World No 1 Rajeev Ram to be included in his stead. A Sports Illustrated journalist, Jon Wertheim, tweeted, 'No way is Jannik Sinner pulling out of @CincyTennis today and then playing a mixed doubles event tomorrow…. We renew our appeal to give Rajeev Ram a @usopen a mixed wild card!' The comment drew an acerbic dismissal from former Top 10 player Mardy Fish, who replied, 'How bout another actual tennis player.' traced back the obnoxious interjection, to an old feud, and wrote 'Mardy Fish threw brutal shade on Rajeev Ram, pretty much declaring him 'not an actual tennis player' after a tennis journalist suggested that the former doubles world No. 1 should replace Jannik Sinner if the Italian withdraws from the US Open mixed doubles.' How bout another actual tennis player — Mardy Fish (@MardyFish) August 18, 2025 According to when Fish was United States Davis Cup team captain in 2022, he had passed over Ram, choosing not to select him for the Davis Cup finals. Ram had been furious, thewebsite reported thereafter, and publicly criticised Fish. He even said Fish had blocked him on social media. 'That year, we had three players competing in the World Tour Finals. We had Taylor Fritz, Austin Krajicek and myself, and we left two on the bench. I don't think any other country would have done that. Mardy's blocked me on social media, so I'm gonna say no (laughs). We've not had a conversation since that day,' Ram was quoted by the website as saying, in one of his interviews. The throwing of shade ties in with the greater debate raging at the US Open on whether the American Grand Slam has shut the door on doubles specialists for commercial reasons, dragging singles players out to make more dough and get more eyeballs in a prelude spectacle to the actual event. Both Carlos Alcaraz (who will pair with Emma Raducanu) and Novak Djokovic who will partner Olga Danilovic are on the draw Arthur Ashe stadium, so is Iga Swiatek who will play with Casper Ruud. But the bona-fide doubles specialists have been frozen out, and Fish was stirring the pot, labelling Ram not an 'actual tennis player.' Ram had been restored in the Davis Cup team after famous half-twin, arguably greatest doubles player Bob Bryan, replaced him as US captain in 2023. But he wasn't exactly Fish' choice for the US Open, despite being a doubles World No 1.
India Today
5 hours ago
- India Today
Watch: Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek fly together to US Open after Cincinnati Open win
Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek wasted no time celebrating their victories in Cincinnati—both champions boarded the same private jet to jet off to New York and gear up for the revamped US Open mixed doubles event. On August 18, Alcaraz claimed the ATP Cincinnati Open title after Jannik Sinner retired early in their final, while Swiatek captured the WTA crown with a straight-sets win over Jasmine rapid departure underscores the grueling schedule: the new mixed doubles format begins on August 19-20, just one day after the Cincinnati finals. Paired with Emma Raducanu, Alcaraz is set to face top seeds Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula in round one; Swiatek teams up with Casper Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz sharing a plane to New champions ready for the US this. The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 19, 2025Swiatek, Alcaraz in tremendous formAlcaraz has been in stellar form in 2025, reaching the Wimbledon final before securing the Cincinnati Open title. At Wimbledon, Alcaraz, then world No. 1, lost the final to Jannik Sinner with a four-set score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, finishing as runner-up. Weeks later in Cincinnati, Alcaraz dominated once again—leading 5-0 in the first set—when Sinner retired due to illness, handing Alcaraz his first Cincinnati Masters 1000 title of the season, his 22nd ATP crown, and his eighth Masters 1000 title also became the third Spaniard after Carlos Moya (2002) and Rafael Nadal (2013) to lift the ATP Masters trophy. It was also Alcaraz's sixth title this also continues her remarkable form, boasting a 49–12 win-loss record in 2025, winning 80% of her matches this year. At Wimbledon, she made history—claiming her first title there by defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0, the first women's 'double bagel' final since dropped just 35 games en route, and that final marked her 100th Grand Slam match win. Riding that momentum, she swept through the Cincinnati Open unbeaten, winning all her matches in straight sets to secure her 11th WTA 1000 title, defeating Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4.- EndsMust Watch
