A big moment for Arthur Fils, as he rolls to victory at the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati and moves up to a career high No. 11.

It’s been health, not talent, that has held the charismatic Frenchman back. And he seemed to get a fair bit of glee out of quieting the naysayers and the critics with the win.

Who can blame him.

There are a ton of rankings changes going way, way down the list this week.

For the complete, updated ATP Tour rankings for Aug. 24, click here.

********************************* 

Alexander Zverev (GER): No. 3 =========> No. 2
(Zverev is back in the No. 2 spot. And with the absence of Jannik Sinner in New York, that means he’ll be the No. 1 seed in the tournament).

Flavio Cobolli (ITA): No. 10 =========> No. 6 
(The Italian is at a new career high after making the semifinals in Cincinnati. He had good wins over Jodar and Paul. Although after four consecutive and long three-setters, he didn’t have much for Fils on Saturday).

Arthur Fils (FRA): No. 21 =========> No. 11
(Fils has heard a LOT of smack in his 22 years, mostly because he has genuine star potential and with that come a lot of expectations at home. But he’s struggled with his back for a long time. Last week in Cincinnati, it all came together: great tennis and a fabulous draw. Title Town. He’s at a career high, and a little over 300 points behind Fritz for the top 10).

Frances Tiafoe (USA): No. 23 =========> No. 12
(A tough day for Tiafoe on Sunday against Fils, when th ebody wouldn’t cooperate despite mostly going straight sets on the way to the final. Not that the matches, or the opponents were easy. A hip issue looked to slow him down. But all in all he still had a great tournament. Especially as he had a quick operation to remove a cyst, and not many thought he’d either make the early hard-court season, or play this well. Including, probably, himself).

Brandon Nakashima (USA): No. 22 =========> No. 17 
(At 25, it seems as though the American has come into his own this summer. He made the quarterfinals in Washington, losing to Fritz. He made the final in Montreal, losing to Shelton. And he made the semis in Cincinnati, beating Fritz and Medvedev but losing to Tiafoe. So he has only lost to Americans all summer. And he’s at a new career high).

Luca Van Assche (FRA): No. 54 =========> No. 40
(Van Assche, another top French junior from that Mpetshi-Fils era, has been up and down but after qualifying and losing in the first round in Cincinnati, he came back over the border to uebec City. And he won the title. He also moves to a new career high).

Hubert Hurkacz (POL): No. 69 =========> No. 46
(Two years ago, Hurkacz was No. 6 in the world. But he’s had no ego about playing where he needs to play to get back there. After losing in the second round in Cincinnati he went to Cancun to play a Challenger. And he won it to move back into the top 50).  

—

Flavio Cobolli (ITA) (No. 6)
Arthur Fils (FRA) (No. 11)
Brandon Nakashima (USA) (No. 17)
Luca Van Assche (FRA) (No. 40)
Thiago Agustin Tirante (ARG) (No. 42)
Jaime Faria (POR) (No. 70)
Martin Damm (USA) (No. 92)
Titouan Droguet (FRA) (No. 102)
Michael Zheng (USA) (No. 106)
Nicolas Mejia (COL) (No. 115)
Stefanos Sakellaridis (GRE) (No. 136)
Jan Kumstat (CZE) (No. 186)
Moise Kouame (FRA) (No. 200)
Hayato Matsuoka (No. 250)

–

Carlos Alcaraz (ESP): No. 2 =========> No. 3
(Alcaraz drops his points from winning Cincinnati a year ago, And even though Alexander Zverev also drops some points, the German moves ahead of him. Alcaraz hasn’t played since giving Tomas Machac a walkkover in Barcelona in April. But he’s still right in the Tour Finals race and has still amassed more than $4 million in prize money. The good news is that he’s back in New York. He’s got Serena Williams in mixed doubles. But we’ll see if he’s got enough to go best-of-five sets after a wrist injury and such a long layoff).

Ben Shelton (USA): No. 6 =========> No. 9
(Shelton’s ranking has bounced around a little during this hard-court summer. But it was always going to be tough for him to make the quick transition to Cincinnati after winning the tournament in Montreal. And got a fairly tough customer in Portugal’s Jaime Faria. Shelton was a quarterfinalist there a year ago). 

Jiri Lehecka (CZE): No. 14 =========> No. 19
(It’s no shame to have lost in the third round in Cincinnati to Arthur Fils, who won the tournament. But he made the fourth round a year ago with a great draw. So he drops. He has quarter-final points to defend in New York, where he got another pretty sweet draw a year ago).

Andrey Rublev (RUS): No. 18 =========> No. 24
(Rublev isn’t doing as poorly as his doubles partner – see below – but he hasn’t won back to back matches in his last three tournaments, ince winning the ATP 250 in Estoril on clay after Wimbldeon. And he didn’t win a single match during the grass season).

Karen Khachanov (RUS): No. 39 =========> No. 49
(Another early loss for the Russian, this time to the American Kovacevic – ranked No. 96 – in a third-set tiebreak in Cincinnati. He also went out in his opener in Montreal, which might be the last time he’s seeded in awhile. He came in after a somewhat ignominious defeat at the hands of Bernard Tomic at the ATP 250 in Los Cabos. He began the season ranked No. 17. It’s as low as he’s been since the spring of 2017, when he first broke into the top 50).

Botic van de Zandschulp (NED): No. 59 =========> No. 71 
(The Dutchman went out to Fonseca in the second round in Cincinnati, after a nice run in Montreal. But he drops his points from making the final in Winston-Salem. He’s playing it this week, so has a shot at getting some of them back).

Terence Atmane (FRA): No. 45 =========> No. 90
(Atmane was close to his career high going into Cincinnati. And he made the third round, losing to Zverev in two tiebreaks. But a year ago he went from the qualifying to the semis – mowing past Cobolli, Fonseca, Fritz and Rune before going down to Jannik Sinner. So that drops him way down again. On the plus side, he’ll go over the $1 million mark in earnings for the season in New York. By a fair bit, too. For a guy who had earned less than $1.5 million in his career coming into 2026, that’s nice work).

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (FRA): No. 92 =========> No. 104
(The first g0-round on tour seemed so easy for the French colossus. But the second one has been a struggle. He’s 8-16 on the season and has lost in the first round of his last three tournaments: Wimbledon, Montreal and Cincinnati qualifying. On Monday, he lost in the first round of Winston-Salem in short order to Jenson Brooksby).

Gabriel Diallo (CAN): No. 105 =========> No. 114
Diallo injured himself in his second round match in Montreal, and had to retire. He’s pulled out of everything since then, including the upcoming US Open).

Marton Fucsovics (HUN): No. 82 =========> No. 121
(Fuscovics retired in his first-round match in Cincinnati against Terence Atmane after just four games. A year ago, he showed up on the hard courts the week before the US Open, at Winston-Salem. He beat Griekspoor, Bautista Agut, Munar and then beat Botic Van de Zandschulp in the final to win his third career title. He’s not playing it this week, so no change to recoup those points).

Holger Rune (DEN): No. 102 =========> No. 133
(He’s been practicing in Monaco, but Rune, who tore his Achilles last fall, ruled himself out for the US Open. Probably wisely).

Reilly Opelka (USA): No. 142 =========> No. 153
(A year ago Opelka was on Arthur Ashe Stadium court, practicing for the mixed doubles exhibition with partner Venus Williams. Since then he’s sort of been around, but not really. He began the season ranked No. 60, and has played eight tournaments this year, and gone 6-8. But his last win was against Jack Draper in Miami. That was the only tournament in which he posted back to back wins. He hasn’t played since losing in five sets to Federico Cina of Italy in the first round at Roland Garros.

–

–

 –

It’s another slightly confusing week, as the points from this week’s 500 in Monterrey are already coming off on this Monday (as well as those from Cleveland that players can’t even make up, because it’s not happening).

Everything is mostly a week later this year than last. So it’s not an uncommon occurrence. Victoria Mboko moves up two spots without even playing.

But in the end, it’s Coco Gauff who takes Cincinnati, over a sub-par Pegula who was clearly feeling the effects of her week. To take no credit away from Gauff, who played a flyer of a match.

For the complete updated WTA rankings for Aug. 24, click here.

********************************* 

Linda Noskova (CZE): No. 8 ===========> No. 6
(Noskova didn’t do much in Cincinnati. But she still moves to a new career high).

Iva Jovic (USA): No. 16 ===========> No. 14
(Jovic only made the third round in Cincinnati. But she still moves up to a career high after other players dropped).

Sara Bejlek (CZE): No. 34 ===========> No. 29
(Bejlek has been quiet since a great tournament in Abu Dhabi earlier in the year. She wet from the qualifying to the title in that one. But her ranking has sort of stayed around the same spot since that big move from just outside the top 100 to just outside the top 40. But she had another one in Cincinnati, making the semifinals, beating Sabalenka and moving into the top 30 for the first time. She has gotten herself seeded for the US Open, too).

Diane Parry (FRA): No. 66 ===========> No. 50
(Parry is rounding into form as she returns to the top 50. Her career high of No. 47 came in June. She made the fourth round in Cincinnati, which was her 20th event of the season.

Katie Boulter (GBR): No. 71 ===========> No. 60
(All the newlywed tennis players have had their struggles since tying the knot after Wimbldon. But for Boulter, in a really right section of the draw, just winning a round in Cincinnati moves her up 11 spots).

Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROU): No. 74 ===========> No. 63
(Ruse also won just one round in Cincinnati, retiring against Alexandra Eala down 6-1, 3-0 in the second round. But she makes a nice jump).

Alina Korneeva (RUS): No. 75 ===========> No. 67
(A career high despite losing in the final round of Cincinnati qualifying).

Lanlana Tararudee (THA): No. 79 ===========> No. 72
(A career high for the 22-year-old from Thailand, even though she lost in the final round of qualifying in Cincinnati and the first round of qualifying in Monterrey).

Wang Xiyu (CHN): No. 108 ===========> No. 82
(Wang gets back into the top 100 with her run to the fourth round from the qualifying in Cincinnati. She upset Leylah Fernandez en route).

Lois Boisson (FRA): No. 281 ===========> No. 236
(Boisson’s health always seems to be a question mark. But she makes the third round in Cincinnati and helps her actual ranking).

Rada Zolotareva (RUS): No. 533 ===========> No. 271
(The 17-year-old cuts her ranking in half as the results from TWO ITFs in Serbia come on. She had to qualify for both. And she made the quarterfinal in the first, a $60K, and won the second – a $15K – to move to a new career high. That’s a total of 12 matches to earn under 100 WTA ranking points). 

–

Linda Noskova (CZE): No. 6
Iva Jovic (USA): No. 14
Alexandra Eala (PHI): No. 18
Sara Bejlek (CZE) No. 29
Alina Korneeva (RUS): No. 67
Lanlana Tararudee (THA): No. 72
Hanne Vandewinkel (CZE) No. 77

–

Iga Swiatek (POL): No. 5 ===========> No. 8
(Just when she got herself back into the top five with her win in Toronto, so does Swiatek drop out after making the semifinals in Cincinnati. She was the defending champion, so that’s a big point differential. She has pulled out of the mixed doubles exhibition next week in New York).

Jasmine Paolini (ITA): No. 15 ===========> No. 20
(Paolini remains in the top 20, but barely, after dropping points from last year’s final and not playing Cincinnati at all this year. She hasn’t played since Wimbledon. But she is in New York. So that’s good news).

Wang Xinyu (CHN): No. 36 ===========> No. 41
(Wang made the third round in Cincinnati, losing to Sabalenka. But she made the second round last year and then the semifinals at the WTA 250 in Cleveland, so she drops out of the top 40). 

Magda Linette (POL): No. 62 ===========> No. 78
(Linette lost her opener in Cincinnati, after making the fourth round a year ago).

Antonia Ruzic (CRO): No. 61 ===========> No. 81
(After squeezing into the top 50 for the first time in last month, Ruzic hasn’t done much. She lost her opener in Cincinnati and drops her points from a quarterfinal run in Monterrey a year ago).

Alycia Parks (USA): No. 63 ===========> No. 89
(Parks’ ranking is like a yo-yo, mostly because she’ll have a good result in a place one year, and not come back and match it the next year. She was 23-24 on the year going into Cincinnati, which tells you something. In this case, she went out quickly in the first round of Cincinnati to Golubic, after a semifinal run in Monterrey last year). 

\-

 –

If a two-week Grand Slam was long, they’re not three weeks.

Right from the get-go during qualifying week, the top players who signed up for the … sketchy mixed doubles event already have to get in Grand Slam mode.

And there are six players in the qualifying – four women, and two men.

Interesting that Leylah Fernandez – who could really use some matches – skipped the 500 in Monterrey this week. It’s a place she plays well.

But perhaps sponsorship considerations in New York, with fellow Lulu Lemon endorsee Frances Tiafoe in the mixed doubles – took priority.

(Not complete)

*********************************************

US Open
Flushing, New York (Grand Slam)

Mixed doubles

Félix Auger-Aliassime / Alexandra Eala (PHI)
1st rd: vs [WC] Gael Monfils (FRA) / Elina Svitolina (UKR)

[WC] Leylah Fernandez / Frances Tiafoe (USA)
1st rd: vs [1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) / Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)

Mixed doubles qualifying

Erin Routliffe (NZL) / Lloyd Glasspool (GBR)
1st rd: def [3] Luisa Stefani (BRA) / Neal Skupski (GBR) 41 35 [10-7]
Final rd: vs. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) / Marcelo Arevalo (ESA)

[2] Gabriela Dabrowski / Harri Heliovaara (FIN)
1st rd: lost to Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) / Marcelo Arevalo (ESA) 24 41 [10-8]

Women’s singles qualifying

Bianca Andreescu
1st rd: vs Eva Vedder (NED)

[PR] Carson Branstine
1st rd: vs. [PR] Clervie Ngounoue (USA)

[PR] Rebecca Marino
1st rd: def. [30] Fiona Ferro (FRA) 61 64
2nd rd: vs. Elena Pridankina (RUS)

Kayla Cross
1st rd: vs. Robin Montgomery (USA)

Katherine Sebov
1st rd: vs. Julia Avdeeva (RUS)

Men’s singles qualifying

Alexis Galarneau
1st rd: vs Keegan Smith (USA)

Liam Draxl
1st rd: vs [13] Nicolas Mejia (COL)

*********************************************

W35 Alphaville Tenis Clube
Barueri, Brazil (ITF $30K)

Singles 

[3] Cadence Brace
1st rd: vs Julia Konishi Camargo Silva (BRA)

*********************************************

Verbier Open
Verbier, Switzerland (ITF $30K)

Singles  

[8] Ana Grubor
1st rd: vs [4] Julia Stusek (GER)

*********************************************

W50 Kursumlijska Banja
Kursumlijska Banja, Serbia (ITF $40K)

Singles qualifying

[WC] Havana Kaur Kaier
1st rd: vs [7] Sara Cakarevic (FRA)  60 61

*********************************************

*********************************************

The Zachary Goines Open
Champaign, Ill. (ITF $15K)

Singles 

Mikael Arseneault
1st rd: vs TBA

Nicolas Arseneault
1st rd: vs TBA

Doubles

Mikael Arseneault / Nicolas Arseneault
1st rd: vs TBA

Singles qualifying

[1] Joshua Peck
1st rd: Bye
Final rd: vs. TBA

[11] Adam Farag-Cao
1st rd: vs. Cameron Muller (USA)

Alexander Mitric
1st rd: vs. [13] Hiroki Sakagawa (JPN)

Eric Crivei
1st rd: vs. [8] Logan Zapp (USA)

*********************************************

Magic Hotel Tours by FTT
Monastir, Tunisia (ITF $15K)

Women’s singles 

[1] Alexandra Vagramov
1st rd: vs Juliette Mazzoni (FRA)

Women’s doubles

[1] Alexandra Vagramov / Clarissa Blomqvist (FIN)
1st rd: vs. Daisy Mewett (GBR) / Elizaveta Smirnova (RUS)

Men’s singles qualifying

[10] Chetanna Amadike
1st rd: def Karl William Wurth Mac-Leay (CHI) WALKOVER
2nd rd: def Federico Sartori (ITA) 62 64
Final rd: vs. [7] Renaud Lefevre (USA)

Jaden Weekes
1st rd: def [13] Aswin Vaithianatha (USA) 61 60
2nd rd: def. Bhavya Singhmar (IND) 61 64
Final rd: vs. [4] Abdulhamid Mubarak (KUW)

*********************************************

Egypt 7 Somabay Men’s Future
Hurghada, Egypt (ITF $15K)

Singles 

[6] Alvin Thomas Tudorica
1st rd: vs Yassine Smiej (MAR)

Doubles

Alvin Thomas Tudorica / Rohan Mehra (IND)
1st rd: vs Zachary Mintz (USA) / Vadym Ursu (UKR)

Singles qualifying

Nicola Ion
1st rd: lost to Issah Ali (KSA) 67 (4) 55 retd

*********************************************

M15 Bucharest
Bucharest, Romania (ITF $15K)

Doubles

Alexandru Toubi Hebhang Balan / Gabriel Sardo (ITA)
1st rd: vs. Matei Florin Breazu / Vlad Cristian Breazu (ROU)

Singles qualifying

[6] Alexandru Toubi Hebhang Balan
1st rd: def Luca Frunza (ROU) 63 75
2nd rd: def Bernardo Bueno (BRA) 63 76 (5)
Final rd: vs. [15] Lucian Stefan Andrei (ROU)

*********************************************

Tiriac Foundation Futures
Brasov, Romania (ITF $15K)

Doubles

Keira Blackbeard / Maria Eleni Poulka (GRE)
1st rd: vs Simona Ogescu / Ana Ioana Varsa (ROU)

Singles qualifying

Keira Blackbeard
1st rd: def [14] Asia Scuppa (ITA) 76 (0) 63
2nd rd: def Claudia Ogescu (ROU) 60 62
Final rd: vs. [7] Alexia-Shara Iancu (ROU)

*********************************************

Kuikma Open Cap D’Agde 2026
Cap D’Agde, France (ITF $15K)

Singles

[WC] Filip Malis
1st rd: vs. [1] Maxime Chazal (FRA)

Doubles

Filip Malis / Yuto Hisano (JPN)
1st rd: vs. Nicola Senn (SUI) / Elias Julian Werner (GER)

Singles qualifying

[12] Pascal Tylek
1st rd: def Jules Alias (FRA) 64 76 (10)
Final rd: lost to [1] Massimo Pizzigoni (ITA) 60 62

*********************************************

The ATP did the same as the women – backdating the rankings update to last Sunday, even though it includes the Canadian event, which finished Thursday night.

But it doesn’t seem to include the work that other players did this week at the Challenger level and below.

At least not yet. Perhaps they’ll do another “Aug. 10” update. Or perhaps an “Aug. 17” update.

Got that straight?

At any rate, Ben Shelton got the points he lost a week ago, before the Canadian event even ended, returned to him as he defended his title.

The other thing is that the calendar is also a bit wonky, because last year some tournaments were as early as they can be. And this year they’re at the latest. Wimbledon began June 23 last year, June 29 this year.

The Washington, D.C. points came off before the tournament was even played; It started on July 21st last year, but on July 27th this year.

So, all in all, a dog’s breakfast.

For the complete, updated ATP Tour rankings for Aug. 10, click here.

********************************* 

Ben Shelton (USA): No. 10 ========> No. 6
(Shelton gets back the points he dropped last week, from last year’s Toronto title. But he drops about 200 by going out in his opener in Cincinnati, which could drop him a few spots).

Rafael Jodar (ESP): No. 15 ========> No. 11
(Jodar comes into Cincinnati at No. 11. It’s not as close to the top 10 as you’d think, because there’s a 700-point gap. So that’s about as well as he could have done short of winning in Montreal. He did make the semis. And he came back from 1-5 in the third set vs. Denis Shapovalov to win his opener in Cincinnati. What a rise).

Learner Tien (USA): No. 19 ========> No. 12
(It is indeed a shocker to see the 20-year-old Amreican at No. 12 in the world. But it’s been kind of a wacky season. He also makes the semis in Montreal).

Brandon Nakashima (USA): No. 31 ========> No. 22
(A career high for Nakashima, whose just 40 points out of his top 20 debut and showed in making the Montreal final that he also has jokes!)

Daniel Merida (ESP): No. 63 ========> No. 40
(Another Spaniard at a career high, after a nice effort in Montreal).

Thiago Agustin Tirante (ARG): No. 65 ========> No. 50
(A top-50 debut for Tirante, who at 25 is absolutely smacking the ball and serving in a way he hadn’t shown, ever. And he takes out Novak Djokovic in Cincinnati, too).

Tallon Griekspoor (NED): No. 69 ========> No. 56

Juncheng Shang (CHN): No. 281 ========> No. 228
(Shang has played with a protected ranking as he’s coming back from injury. But he puts a dent in his real ranking). 

––

Rafael Jodar (ESP) (No. 11)
Learner Tien (USA) (No. 12)
Brandon Nakashima (USA) (No. 22)
Daniel Merida (ESP) (No. 40)
Tom Gentzsch (GER) (No. 145)

–

Denis Shapovalov (CAN): No. 43 ========> No. 48
(Shapovalov had to retire in Montreal, which wasn’t helpful. And he went out in the second round in Cincinnati after leading Rafael Jodar 5-1 in the third. But at least he wasn’t defending any points).

Sebastian Korda (USA): No. 50 ========> No. 64
(Korda just had back surgery, so we won’t see him for awhile).   

–

–

 –

It’s dated last Sunday, but it reflects the results of the Toronto 1000 and came out Friday. If that makes sense.

The biggest takeaway is that Toronto finalist Elena Rybakina is now only 354 points behind Aryna Sabalenka in what is now a genuine race for No. 1.

Those four points are big, though. If both manage to get to the final, Rybakina would be four points short even if she wins it all.

And judging by how she said every body part was barking at the end of Toronto, that would be quite a feat.

For the complete updated WTA rankings for Aug. 10, click here.

********************************* 

Iga Swiatek (POL): No. 8 ============> No. 5
(With her title in Toronto – her first of 2026, Swiatek is back in the top five for the first time since she dropped out after not defending her Wimbledon title. It will still be tricky for her at the US Open if she can’t move up one more; you can see how the draw shook out in Cincinnati, where she could meet Toronto finals opponent Rybakina in the … quarterfinals).

Diana Shnaider (RUS): No. 17 ============> No. 14
(Shnaider moves up after making the quarterfinals in Toronto. She beat Anna Kalinskaya and Jessica Pegula en route).

Leylah Fernandez (30): No. 34 ============> No. 31
(Fernandez’s effort in Toronto, which included a win over Mirra Andreeva, kept her in the running for a seeded spot at the US Open.

Liudmila Samsonova (RUS): No. 55 ============> No. 43
(Samsonova’s peak, which she displayed last week in taking Elena Rybakina the distance in the fourth round, is much higher than her current ranking. But she at least makes a move in the right direction).

Karolina Pliskova (CZE): No. 66 ============> No. 57
(Pliskova gets back into the top 60, just by winning a round in Toronto before getting just two games against Mirra Andreeva. But she didn’t build on that in Cincinnati as she managed just two games against young compatriot Sara Bejlek in the first round).

Alina Korneeva (RUS): No. 89 ============> No. 75
(Still just 19, Korneeva fell off the map because of injury in the wake of winning that Australian Open junior title over Mirra Andreeva. Andreeva, of course, leaped to the top of the rankings very quickly. But Korneeva won her qualifying match in Toronto, and then went through Emma Navarro and Iva Jovic before falling to Coco Gauff).

Taylor Townsend (USA): No. 110 ============> No. 94
(Townsend is back into the top 100 after a good run in Toronto. Better news – she got into the Cincinnati draw directly. And she also is officially qualified for the WTA Finals – to be held at home, at Indian Wells – with partner Katerina Siniakova).

Carol Young Suh Lee (USA): No. 165 ============> No. 140
(The obscure 24-year-old American, who actually was born in the Mariana Islands and played NCAA tennis at Georgia Tech, move to a career high after winning the WTA 125 in Warsaw. She also nailed down the USTA’s main draw wild card at the US Open).  

–

Nikola Bartunkova (CZE): No. 39
Alina Korneeva (RUS): No. 75
Hanne Vandewinkel (BEL): No. 82
Susan Bandecchi (CZE) No. 152
Kayla Cross (CAN): No. 163

–

Victoria Mboko (CAN): No. 12 ============> No. 17
(Mboko has been out since before Wimbledon with a knee injury. And not being able to defend her Canadian title means she’s out of the top 15).

Clara Tauson (DEN): No. 30 ============> No. 42
(Tauson doesn’t make many waves in general. But she lost her opener after going all the way to the semifinals a year ago (beating Swiatek and Keys), and drops out of the top 40).

Emma Raducanu (GBR): No. 49 ============> No. 59
(Not much chatter about when Raducanu will return to action. In the meantime, she drops her points from making the third round in Montreal a year ago).

Petra Marcinko (CRO): No. 53 ============> No. 72
(Marcinko won an ITF 100K in Landisville, PA a year ago. But didn’t play last week).

Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (ESP): No. 63 ============> No. 90
(The 23-year-old Spaniard had a nice run in Montreal last year, with a sweet draw she made the quarters and lost to eventual champ Mboko. But she couldn’t back it up this year, losing a tight, tight one to Elina Svitolina in the second round).

Laura Siegemund (GER): No. 88 ============> No. 98
(Siegemund, who is 38, has announced she’s taking a mental break as she has navigated a tough season and, at her age, surely has some life decisions to make).

Dayana Yastremska (UKR): No. 87 ============> No. 107
(Yastremska, now 26 – when did THAT happen?) hasn’t had much of a season. And she drops out of the top 100).

\-

 –

It’s the second week of the Cincinnati tournament, with Félix Auger-Aliassime just getting started with a first match win on Sunday.

That, and some women’s doubles players, are all that remain along with Chilean-Canadian Alejandro Tabilo.

But there are two high level Challengers up for grabs. With Denis Shapovalov entered in Cancun (although he didn’t make the date)

A new Challenger in Quebec City had plenty of Canadian content although Gabriel Diallo, who pulled out of the Cincinnati qualifying after getting injured in Montreal, has also withdrawn from that event.

But the pickup team of Justin Boulais and Duncan Chan reached the final. They lost to a kid, Alexander Donski, who was bor in Philly, played for Canada as a junior but now represents Bulgaria.

*********************************************

Cincinnati Open
Mason, Ohio (ATP 1000/WTA 1000)

Men’s singles

[2] Félix Auger-Aliassime
1st rd: Bye
2nd rd: def. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 63 75
3rd rd: def Juan Manuel Cerundolo (ARG) 75 61
4th rd: lost to [17] Frances Tiafoe (USA) 63 64

[22] Alejandro Tabilo (CHI)
1st rd: Bye
2nd rd: def Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 63 64
3rd rd: lost to [12] Rafael Jodar (ESP) 62 61

Women’s singles

[30] Leylah Fernandez
1st rd: Bye
2nd rd: lost to [Q] Wang Xiyu (CHN) 36 62 62

Women’s doubles

[7] Erin Routliffe (NZL) / Aldila Sutjiadi (INA)
1st rd: def Asia Muhammad (USA) / Fanny Stollar (HUN) 75 75
2nd rd: def. Shuko Aoyama (JPN) / En-Shuo Liang (TPE) 63 62
QF: lost to Linda Noskova / Marie Bouzkova (CZE) 75 75

Gabriela Dabrowski / Barbora Krejcikova (CZE)
1st rd: def. [4] Cristina Bucsa (ESP) / Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) 64 16 [10-4]
2nd rd: vs. Linda Noskova / Marie Bouzkova (CZE) 63 16 [10-7]

Leylah Fernandez / Sara Errani (ITA)
1st rd: def Mirra Andreeva (RUS) / Sorana Cirstea (ROU) [ALT] Tamara Korpatsch (GER) / Emily Webley-Smith (GBR) 62 76 (2)
2nd rd: lost to Hao-Ching Chan (CHN) / Maya Joint (AUS) 76 (4) 61

Men’s doubles

[ALT] Alejandro Tabilo (CHI) / Mariano Navone (ARG)
1st rd: lost to Alexander Zverev (GER) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) 76 (4) 63

*********************************************

Challenger Banque Nationale de Québec
Quebec, Canada (ATP Challenger 125)

Singles 

[WC] Alexis Galarneau
1st rd: def [7] Dino Prizmic (CRO) 64 64
2nd rd: lost to [ALT] Jacob Fearnley (GBR) 62 63

[WC] Duncan Chan
1st rd: lost to [Q] Taro Daniel (JPN) 63 62

[WC] Justin Boulais
1st rd: lost to [6] Benjamin Bonzi (FRA) 76 (4) 63

Doubles

[WC] Justin Boulais / Duncan Chan
1st rd: def [3] Sander Gille (BEL) / Sem Verbeek (NED) 75 76 (4)
QF: def Ugo Blanchet / Kyrian Jacquet (FRA) 76 (11) 61
SF: def. Ariel Behar (URU) / Fernando Rombolli (BRA) 16 61 [10-6]
F: lost to [ALT] Alexander Donski (BUL) / Ajeet Rai (NZL) 63 46 [10-3]

[WC] Nicolas Arseneault / Alexander Rozin
1st rd: def. [4] Finn Reynolds / James Watt (NZL) 26 63 [10-6]
QF: lost to [ALT] Alexander Donski (BUL) / Ajeet Rai (NZL) 76 (3) 76 (5)

Singles qualifying

[WC] Alexander Rozin
1st rd: lost to [1] Dusan Lajovic (SRB) 62 64

[WC] Maxime St-Hilaire
1st rd: lost to [5] Taro Daniel (JPN) 75 63

[WC] Nicolas Arseneault
1st rd: lost to [6] Tristan Schoolkate (AUS) 75 64

*********************************************

Kingston Open 1
Kingston, Jamaica (ATP Challenger 75)

Singles 

Liam Draxl
1st rd: lost to Andres Andrade (COL) 62 63

[WC] Dan Martin
1st rd: lost to [8] Lautaro Midon (ARG) 63 57 64

Doubles

[WC] Dan Martin / Aidan Kim (USA)
1st rd: lost to [3] Igor Marcondes / Marcelo Zormann (BRA) 76 (2) 63

*********************************************

Lexus Roehampton Challenger 1
Roehampton, England (ATP Challenger 50)

Singles 

[Q] Filip Peliwo (POL)
1st rd: lost to [6/WC] Charles Broom (GBR) 61 61

Singles qualifying

[4] Filip Peliwo (POL)
1st rd: def Giulio Perego (ITA) 64 62
FInal rd: def. [8] Nicolas Tepmahc (FRA) 64 26 76 (7)

*********************************************

Verbier Open
Verbier, Switzerland (ITF $30K)

Singles  

[7] Ana Grubor
1st rd: def Federica Trevisan (ITA) 64 62
2nd rd: def [SR] Vicky Van der Peer (BEL) 76 (3) 62
QF: def [WC] Elsa Bonelli (SUI) 62 76 (7)
SF: lost to [2] Jenny Lim (FRA) 60 63

Doubles

Ana Grubor / Mara Guth (GER)
1st rd: def. Corinne Cornaz / Claudia Soro (ITA) 62 61
QF: lost to [1] Valentini Grammatikopoulou (GRE) / Tiphanie Lemaitre (FRA) 63 63

*********************************************

Erwitte Open
Erwitte, Germany (ITF $30K)

Singles qualifying

Keira Blackbeard
1st rd: def Chiara Heine (GER) 57 76 (4) [0-4]
2nd rd: lost to [4] Carolin Raschdorf (GER) 62 60

*********************************************

W35 Bistrita
Bistrita, Romania (ITF $30K) 

 
Singles qualifying

Kayla Lorrimer
1st rd: lost to Anastasiya Zaparyniuk (UKR) 64 46 [10-8]

*********************************************

*********************************************

M15 Arad
Arad, Romania (ITF $15K)

Singles 

[Q] Alexandru Toubi Hebhang Balan
1st rd: lost to [LL] Federico Valle (ITA) 76 (5) 63

Singles qualifying

[12] Alexandru Toubi Hebhang Balan
1st rd: bye
2nd rd: def Pablo de la Cierva Sanchez (ESP) 64 67 (7) [13-11]
Final rd: def. [5] Federico Valle (ITA) 26 64 [10-8]

*********************************************

World Tennis Tour Tianjin
Tianjin, China (ITF $15K)

Women’s singles qualifying

[ALT] Jasmine Li
1st rd: def Min Young Choi (KOR) 63 60
2nd rd: lost to Maiko Uchijima (JPN) 63 62

*********************************************

2026 Ma’anshan Open
Ma’anshan, China (ITF $15K)

Singles qualifying

Jay Lin Gibson
1st rd: lost to [2] James Van Herzeele (THA) 63 62

*********************************************

A final between a rising again Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina (who has a shot at getting the No. 1 spot this summer with the lukewarm form of Aryna Sabalenka) will, hopefully, be blockbuster.

They are 6-6 in their head-to-head in their careers, so this is a tiebreaker of sorts.

Rybakina had won the last two, including the 2026 Australian Open quarterfinal.

But Swiatek was all over her.

(Toronto is on EDT)

************************************

National Bank Open
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Surface: Hard
Category: WTA 1000 (Joint event with the ATP Tour)
Dates: Aug. 2 – 13, 2026
Prize money: $7,433,076
Draws: S96 – D32

Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026
Final results

–

Singles final 

[7] Iga Swiatek (POL) def [2] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) 62 63

—

Doubles final

[1] Katerina Siniakova (CZE) / Zhang Shuai (CHN) def [3] Sara Errani (ITA) / Nicole Melichar Martinez (USA) 63 64

 – 

–

********************************* 

–

With all the upsets and absences, anything could have happened by the time the Montreal event got to the final.

But in the end, the No. 5 seed and defending Toronto champion Ben Shelton wasn’t a shocker to get to the final night.

As for No. 28 seed Brandon Nakashima, he’s under the radar but right there on level with a lot of the players who had a shot at getting there.

Problem for Nakashima is that he’s … 0-5 v Shelton.

Now, 0-6.

(Montreal is on EDT).

********************************* 

National Bank Open 
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Category: ATP 1000 (Joint event with the WTA Tour)
Surface: Hard
Dates:  Aug. 2 – 13, 2026
Prize Money: $9,415,724
Draws: S96 – D32

Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026
Final results

–

Singles final 

[5] Ben Shelton (USA) def [28] Brandon Nakashima (USA) 63 76 (4)

–

–

Doubles final 

Orlando Luz / Rafael Matos (BRA) def [3] Marcelo Arevalo (ESA) / Mate Pavic (CRO) 57 64 [10-6]

–

********************************* 

A lot of top seeds make the final four in Montreal.

And No. 4 Coco Gauff will be the most rested. Because she didn’t have to play her quarterfinal match on Tuesday.

Belinda Bencic gave her the default.

Is this the tournament where Iga Swiatek announces her revival? It’s been low-key so far. Just getting through. And she has one more to go.

(Toronto is on EDT)

************************************

National Bank Open
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Surface: Hard
Category: WTA 1000 (Joint event with the ATP Tour)
Dates: Aug. 2 – 13, 2026
Prize money: $7,433,076
Draws: S96 – D32

Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026
Final results

–

Singles, semifinals

[2] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) def [4] Coco Gauff (USA) 57 62 62

[7] Iga Swiatek (POL) def. [9] Elina Svitolina (UKR) 63 16 63

—

Doubles semifinal

[1] Katerina Siniakova (CZE) / Zhang Shuai (CHN) def Tereza Mihalikova (SVK) / Olivia Nicholls (GBR) 61 75

 – 

–

********************************* 

A lot of kids.

And three of them American.

The hot hand is Ben Shelton – by far the highest seed remaining. And one of three Americans out of the four.

(Montreal is on EDT).

********************************* 

National Bank Open 
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Category: ATP 1000 (Joint event with the WTA Tour)
Surface: Hard
Dates:  Aug. 2 – 13, 2026
Prize Money: $9,415,724
Draws: S96 – D32

Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026
Final results

–

Singles, semifinals

[5] Ben Shelton (USA) def [12] Learner Tien (USA) 62 63

[28] Brandon Nakashima (USA) def [20] Rafael Jodar (ESP) 76 (3) 64

–

–

Doubles, semifinals

[3] Marcelo Arevalo (ESA) / Mate Pavic (CRO) def. Théo Arribage / Albano Olivetti (FRA) 64 64

Orlando Luz / Rafael Matos (BRA) def Francisco Cerundolo / Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG)  64 76 (7)

–

*********************************