The Tiger Edition is based on Wilson’s Blade v10, launched in April 2026 to celebrate 20 years of the Blade franchise. Designed for aggressive players, the v10 combines enhanced power with precise control and responsive feedback.

Sabalenka has been using Wilson Blade racquets since she was 15 and tested prototype versions of the v10 before competing with it. “The Blade v10 gives me everything that is important for me in a racquet—confidence, control and the ability to compete as aggressively as possible,” she said.

 

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Featuring the same specs and playability as the standard version, the Tiger Edition stands out with its green tiger-skin print and a tiger face on the inside of the racquet’s throat, mirroring the tiger tattoo Sabalenka has on her inner arm.

The victory makes Gauff only the third two-time Cincinnati champion, joining Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.

Gauff dominated the opening set, racing to a 5-0 lead before closing it out 6-2. Pegula made the second set more competitive, fighting back to 5-4, but Gauff held her nerve to finish the match in straight sets. The fourth seed converted five of six break-point opportunities.

The title is especially encouraging ahead of the US Open. When Gauff won Cincinnati in 2023, she went on to capture her maiden Grand Slam title in New York three weeks later. This time, she arrives as a two-time major champion, having won the 2025 French Open in addition to her 2023 US Open triumph.

Cincinnati also ended Gauff’s wait for a title. Her previous WTA singles trophy came in Wuhan last October, where she defeated Pegula in the final.

Gauff’s road to the Cincinnati title included wins over Liudmila Samsonova, Ann Li, Marie Bouzkova, Marta Kostyuk, Sara Bejlek and Pegula. She dropped only one set throughout the WTA 1000 tournament.

Sunday’s victory also brings her career head-to-head with Pegula to 5-5. It was their second meeting in a final, with Gauff winning both.

The all-American championship match was a notable one as well, marking the first Cincinnati women’s final between two Americans since Rosie Casals defeated Nancy Richey in 1970.

The 34-year-old, who retired from professional tennis in 2024 but plans to return in 2027, looks lean, happy and very much at peace in her latest Instagram Stories. Her recent captions also reveal a more introspective side, with Giorgi writing about femininity, transformation and motherhood.

“Motherhood, even before it begins, is a new way of looking inward,” she wrote in one post, while another described motherhood as “the most precious chapter of my life.”

 

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Perhaps most strikingly, Giorgi has deleted almost her entire Instagram feed, leaving just four recent posts. The oldest of those is less than a month old, effectively giving her account a fresh start just as she prepares to become a mother.

Giorgi married Pasutti in Buenos Aires in February 2026, revealing the news just days after announcing her pregnancy with an ultrasound photo.

Trailblazing Woman Honor

Stephens recently received the Trailblazing Woman Honor at PlayersTV’s second annual Players Honors presented by Novartis in Las Vegas, recognizing her leadership in empowering women, breaking barriers and inspiring future generations.

The WTA star founded the Sloane Stephens Foundation in 2013, when she was just 20, to expand access to tennis and use the sport as a vehicle to help young people build confidence, develop life skills, and feel supported and valued as they pursue their dreams.

“I’ve been so privileged, honored and grateful that I’ve been able to play tennis and do all these incredible things,” Stephens said in her speech. “But I think my life’s work, and what I’ve been put on this earth to do, is to give back — to give other people the opportunity to experience what I’ve experienced, and to give the resources to people who don’t have them.”

The tennis champion also highlighted the work of her mother, the foundation’s executive director, emphasizing the impact they have made together in changing lives and strengthening communities.

Serving Up Dreams Award

Her work will receive another major honor at the upcoming US Open. The USTA Foundation announced that Stephens will receive the Serving Up Dreams Award at its Opening Night Gala on August 30. The award recognizes her commitment to using tennis, education and mentorship to create opportunities for young people from under-resourced communities.

With three locations in Compton, Calif., Fresno, Calif., and Miami Gardens, Fla., the Sloane Stephens Foundation is part of the USTA Foundation’s national network of organizations using tennis to create opportunities and build brighter futures. In 2025 alone, it served 7,500 young people through 1,500 hours of tennis, education, and life skills programming.

In addition, Stephens has recently been named as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Philanthropy and was honored with the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award at the 2025 ESPY Awards for her work with the foundation.

After reaching a career-high No. 3 ranking and becoming only the fifth American woman in the Open Era to win the US Open, Stephens is now building a legacy that reaches well beyond her achievements in tennis.

This will mark Williams’ competitive return to the US Open, where she last played in 2022. The 23-time Grand Slam champion and six-time US Open singles champion won the US Open Mixed Doubles title in 1998 alongside Max Mirnyi.

Earlier this week, we revealed 11 of the 16 teams set to compete in the second edition of the reimagined championship. At the time, three main-draw spots were still expected to be awarded as wildcards, while two additional spots would go to qualifiers. We now know all three main-draw wildcard teams, as well as the two teams receiving wildcard spots in qualifying.

There have been several changes to the lineup involving previously announced players:

• Following Elena Rybakina’s withdrawal, Jessica Pegula will partner with Taylor Fritz as direct entrants into the main draw.
• The teams of Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev and Peyton Stearns and Christian Harrison received the two wildcard entries into the eight-team qualifying draw.
• Diana Shnaider, who was previously entered directly into the main draw with Daniil Medvedev, will have the opportunity to re-pair and retain direct entry before the draw is made mid-afternoon Sunday.
• Following Jelena Ostapenko’s withdrawal, Marcelo Arevalo has re-paired with Kristina Mladenovic. The new team retained direct entry into the qualifying draw.

2026 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship: Confirmed teams

MAIN DRAW

Direct entrants

• Aryna Sabalenka/Novak Djokovic
• Jessica Pegula/Taylor Fritz
• Iga Swiatek/Casper Ruud
• Belinda Bencic/Flavio Cobolli
• Amanda Anisimova/Learner Tien
• Diana Shnaider/TBA

Wildcards

• Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori
• Alex Eala/Felix Auger-Aliassime
• Leylah Fernandez/Frances Tiafoe
• Taylor Townsend/Alexander Zverev
• Elina Svitolina/Gael Monfils
• Serena Williams/Carlos Alcaraz
• Karolina Muchova/Jakub Mensik
• Emma Navarro/Tommy Paul

Qualifiers (2)

QUALIFYING

Direct entrants*

• Katerina Siniakova/Henry Patten
• Gabriela Dabrowski/Harri Heliövaara
• Luisa Stefani/Neal Skupski
• Aleksandra Krunic/Mate Pavic
• Kristina Mladenovic/Marcelo Arevalo
• Erin Routliffe/Lloyd Glasspool

Wildcards

• Mirra Andreeva/Andrey Rublev
• Peyton Stearns/Christian Harrison

*Direct entry into qualifying was based on the best combined singles or doubles ranking.

The event will feature a unique fast-paced format: qualifying through the semifinals will use best-of-three sets with sets played to four games, no-ad scoring, and a 10-point match tiebreak in place of a third set. The final will follow a traditional six-game set format, also with no-ad scoring and a 10-point match tiebreak deciding the third set.

Adidas is bringing back the Billie Jean King Blue Suede Shoe, originally worn during the historic 1973 “Battle of the Sexes,” when King defeated Bobby Riggs in front of a global audience of around 90 million people.

King recalls becoming the first woman to have a signature shoe, praises Adidas for its courage

In a recent interview with Cosmopolitan, King reflected on becoming the first woman to have her own signature shoe.

“Today, people are used to women getting signature shoes, but not in those days,” she said. “I was the very first one, I think.”

King wanted something that would stand out on the newly colorized television broadcasts.

“I told them I wanted a shoe with color instead of just black and white because television was now in color,” she explained. “And I love blue.”

Adidas listened.

“You had to move heaven and earth for any change in those days and they did it,” King said, adding that she has “always been indebted to Adidas, because they have the guts.”

Every time she sees a woman receiving a signature shoe today, she remembers where that history began.

“Anytime a woman gets a signature shoe, I know it started with Adidas and with me,” King said. “And it makes me happy.”

New Blue Suede Shoe

The new Blue Suede Shoe has been reimagined as a lifestyle silhouette while keeping details that celebrate King and the 1973 match. Her portrait and signature appear on the tongue, “1973” is featured on the left heel, and the match’s set scores appear on the right.

For King, however, the shoes represent much more than one historic tennis match.

“These blue shoes will always represent so much more to me than one match,” she said in Adidas’ announcement. “They remind me of the progress we’ve made, but also of the work that is still ahead of us.”

King urges younger generations to know their history—and their worth

King believes the growing financial investment in women’s sports is an important part of the progress she has spent decades fighting for.

“People are starting to think of us, women’s sports, as a great investment—and we are. You can make sales on it, you can sell shoes, everything, but they didn’t pay attention to us. Are they now? Starting to. Women can make you money if you just do what you’ve been doing for the guys for over 100 years…”

Her advice to female athletes can be summed up as: know the business you’re in, understand your worth, and stick together not matter the sport you’re in.

For King, knowing your worth also means knowing the history that made today’s opportunities possible. She wants younger generations to understand the struggles and achievements of the women who came before them and use that knowledge to shape what comes next.

“I hope that women feel they can do anything and that they believe in themselves. And just keep going for it and never give up and have dreams for themselves. I’d also like them to know history. The more you know about history, the more you know about yourself. But more importantly, it’s for the future—you can shape the future, and that’s what I want the younger generations to do.”

That message feels especially powerful at a time when women’s sports are attracting unprecedented attention, investment and commercial interest.

“My dream is finally coming true,” King told Cosmopolitan. “I’m so glad I’m still alive to watch this.”

The Billie Jean King Blue Suede Shoe will be available beginning August 24 on adidas.com, the Adidas app and at select retailers.

 

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The Southern California-based company shared their immense excitement regarding the cooperation, stating:

We’ve been fans for a while. Now we get to make it official. Meet the newest addition to Gorjana Sports Club—Iva Jovic.

At just 18, she’s already making her mark on the game and is just getting started. We can’t wait to see what’s ahead for Iva and are excited to bring you all along!

By becoming part of the Gorjana Sports Club, Jovic follows in the footsteps of fellow WTA player Jessica Pegula, who joined the brand as its first-ever athlete ambassador back in October 2023.

Youth, power, and historic achievements

At just 18 years old, Iva Jovic is already being recognized as tennis’s next superstar. Born on December 6, 2007, in Torrance, California, Jovic has spent her teenage years tearing up the junior circuit and making massive waves on the pro tour.

Jovic truly announced herself to the world with a stunning historic run at the 2026 Australian Open. She surged into the quarterfinals, making her the youngest American player to reach the Australian Open final eight since the legendary Venus Williams in 1998! Along the way, she secure her first-ever Top 10 win by defeating world No. 7 Jasmine Paolini and completely dismantled Yulia Putintseva 6-0 6-1.

Her fearless, aggressive baseline play propelled her to a sensational career-high WTA singles ranking of world No. 16.

A magnet for top-tier global sponsors

Gorjana is the latest addition to an already powerhouse portfolio of corporate partnerships for Jovic. Even at this early stage in her career, global brands are identifying her massive marketability and long-term potential. Alongside her new jewelry pieces, you can spot Iva sporting gear from her other major sponsors:

• Adidas (Apparel and footwear; prominently featured in the brand’s latest New York collection campaign)
• Yonex (Tennis racquets and technical gear)
• Red Bull (A rare endorsement in women’s tennis, marking their ultimate confidence in her future)

After world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka’s fourth-round exit in Cincinnati, an opportunity opened up for Rybakina to overtake her at the top of the WTA rankings by reaching the final, but the Kazakhstani managed just five games against Poland’s Iga Swiatek before leaving injured.

Trailing 4-1, the Australian Open champion called for a medical timeout at 40-40 during her service game as trainers attended to her left ankle, which she appeared to injure during the previous point. After returning to the court following treatment, she played just one more point before retiring.

After the match, Rybakina explained that the injury was not new and had been bothering her for a long time, but she had managed to keep it under control. In Thursday’s quarterfinal, however, one wrong movement was enough to push her over the edge, leaving the second seed unable to even walk properly, just ten days before the start of the US Open.

“It’s painful to walk,” Rybakina explained. “We’ll know more tomorrow when we have the MRI. It’s been bothering me for a long period of time, but felt like I had it under control.”

Defending champion Swiatek, who beat Rybakina in the Canadian Open final last week, will face American world No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the Cincinnati semifinals.

The two-day tie will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s action will feature two singles matches between the countries’ top two nominated players, while Sunday’s schedule will open with doubles before two additional singles matches decide the tie. The first nation to reach three victories will advance.

The U.S. will once again be led by captain Lindsay Davenport, the International Tennis Hall of Famer who guided the American team to the Billie Jean King Cup final in 2025. The final five-player rosters will be announced no later than four weeks before the competition.

American fans could see some of the country’s biggest stars on home soil. Recent U.S. Billie Jean King Cup teams have included Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, both South Florida natives, although the official roster for November has yet to be announced.

Delray Beach has been a winning venue for the USA

The choice of Delray Beach is particularly promising for the Americans. The U.S. is 4-0 all-time at the Delray Beach Tennis Center in Billie Jean King Cup competition, with the most recent victory coming in 2023. That year, Gauff and Pegula helped the Americans defeat Austria in front of a near-sellout crowd.

Tickets go on sale August 21

Two-day ticket packages will be available to the general public beginning August 21 at 10 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster, with prices starting at $50. USTA and USTA Coaching Members have access to an advance presale beginning August 20.

The Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open said the new council will provide a direct channel for communication, feedback and collaboration between players and the sport’s four biggest tournaments.

The council will launch after the 2026 US Open, with its initial composition, framework and operating structure currently being developed with player input. Interested players will be invited to apply, with those selected expected to address the full range of sporting matters affecting the Grand Slams.

Prize money and player welfare on the agenda

The creation of the council could be particularly significant as players have increasingly sought a stronger voice in decisions affecting their careers, including compensation, prize money and player welfare.

According to the Grand Slams, matters affecting all four tournaments collectively will be discussed jointly through the council. However, player welfare and compensation issues, including prize money, will also be discussed with individual Grand Slams because each tournament has its own economic structure, governance and decision-making process.

The announcement comes just as the US Open prepares to stage its 2026 tournament, which will offer a record $108 million in player compensation.

Players welcomed the new initiative, with American stars Ben Shelton and Jessica Pegula among those expressing their support.

“Having a seat at the table with the Grand Slams is something we have wanted for some time,” Shelton said. “It gives us, as players, a real opportunity to have a voice, contribute to the conversation and help shape the tournaments beyond what happens on the court.”

Pegula stressed the enormous importance of the Grand Slams to players’ careers and said that having a say in matters concerning the tournaments is therefore essential.

“The Grand Slams are the biggest events of the year and the events that the players prioritize and focus on throughout the season,” Pegula said. “Their impact on a player’s career cannot be overstated, and that is why it is so important that we have a voice in matters at these tournaments.”

The leaders of the four Grand Slams described the initiative as a way to improve the player experience while strengthening the sport as a whole.

The singles champions will each receive $5.5 million, the largest winner’s prize ever offered at a tennis tournament. The increase also extends to players at the bottom of the main draw, with first-round singles losers receiving $140,000, up 27% from last year and the highest first-round payout in Grand Slam history.

Qualifiers will also benefit, with first-round qualifying losers receiving $32,000, a 16% increase. The men’s, women’s and mixed doubles champions will earn $1 million per team, unchanged from last year.

Men’s and Women’s Main Draw Singles

Champion — $5,500,000
Finalist — $2,800,000
Semifinalists — $1,450,000
Quarterfinalists — $780,000
Fourth Round — $480,000
Third Round — $290,000
Second Round — $190,000
First Round — $140,000

Men’s and Women’s Qualifying Singles

Third Round — $66,000
Second Round — $48,000
First Round — $32,000

Men’s and Women’s Doubles (Per Team)

Champions — $1,000,000
Finalists — $500,000
Semifinalists — $250,000
Quarterfinalists — $125,000
Third Round — $80,000
Second Round — $50,000
First Round — $35,000

Mixed Doubles Main Draw (Per Team)

Champions — $1,000,000
Finalists — $500,000
Semifinalists — $250,000
Quarterfinalists — $120,000
First Round — $40,000

Mixed Doubles Qualifying (Per Team)

Second Round — $20,000
First Round — $10,000

Wheelchair — Men’s, Women’s and Quad Singles

Champion — $104,000
Finalist — $52,000
Semifinalist — $33,000
Quarterfinalist — $25,000
First Round — $22,500

Wheelchair — Men’s, Women’s and Quad Doubles (Per Team)

Champions — $25,000
Finalists — $20,000
Semifinalists — $16,500
Quarterfinalists — $13,350

The USTA said the increases were designed in particular to provide greater support for emerging and lower-ranked players competing at the year’s final Grand Slam. The tournament is also introducing a new Player Support Program with an initial $2 million commitment for 2026, split equally between male and female players.

Sabalenka led 5-1 in the opening-set tiebreak and was up 4-1 in the second, but world No.35 Bejlek produced two remarkable comebacks to stun the top seed 7-6(7) 6-4 in the fourth round.

The result has opened the door for Rybakina to claim the No.1 ranking. The Kazakhstani will face Iga Swiatek in a blockbuster Cincinnati quarterfinal, knowing that a run to the final would be enough to knock Sabalenka off the summit.

For Sabalenka, the loss is another worrying sign just days before she begins her bid for a third consecutive US Open title. The 28-year-old is attempting to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to win the New York major three years in a row, but her hard-court preparations have been far from ideal.

Sabalenka has now suffered early defeats in both Cincinnati and Toronto. Since completing the Indian Wells-Miami Sunshine Double in March, she has reached only one semifinal, losing to Jessica Pegula in Berlin.

Bejlek, meanwhile, has pulled off the biggest win of her career. The Czech had never beaten a Top 10 opponent before this week and had never reached the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 tournament.

The 20-year-old’s breakthrough is particularly impressive given that she began the year by winning the Abu Dhabi title as a qualifier. She will now attempt to continue her Cincinnati run against former Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the quarterfinals.

Favier, a Parisian and prominent figure in the fashion and luxury industries, was best known for her role as Dior Couture’s public relations director. The 57-year-old played an important part in shaping the French fashion house’s public image and managing its relationships with celebrities, influencers, and the media.

 

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Favier died alongside French film producer Nicolas Altmayer, 61, in the tragic accident.

Raducanu was among the many public figures who knew Favier and paid tribute to her following the news of her death. The British tennis star shared Dior’s announcement on her Instagram Story, adding a white heart and dove emojis.

Agostinelli was Raducanu’s first publicly known boyfriend following her rise to global fame. The pair are believed to have started dating in May 2023, after they were spotted together in Mexico City. Their relationship became public over the summer of that year, although they generally kept their romance away from the spotlight. Their breakup became known in 2024.

Raducanu has since moved on. In June 2026, she was photographed with her new boyfriend during a visit to a London park. (via Tennis World USA)

The 46-year-old Williams has not won a singles match since July last year, but she will have another chance to finally end that negative stretch at the US Open, where she triumphed twice, albeit a quarter century ago, in 2000 and 2001. Her recent results in New York have been far less successful, as she has not made it past the first round since 2019.

Stephens, who captured her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2017, has also been awarded a wildcard into the main draw.

The remaining confirmed main-draw wildcards have gone to 24-year-old Carol Young Suh Lee, winner of the US Open wildcard challenge; 21-year-old Reese Brantmeier, winner of the American collegiate player wildcard playoff; and 17-year-old Thea Frodin, the USTA girls’ 18s national champion.

France’s Leolia Jeanjean, 31, received her spot through a reciprocal agreement with the French Tennis Federation, while Australia’s Taylah Preston, 20, was awarded a wildcard through a reciprocal agreement with Tennis Australia. One additional main-draw wildcard is still to be announced.

The USTA also announced eight women’s qualifying wildcards. The list includes 16-year-old Janae Preston, the USTA girls’ 18s singles finalist, and 22-year-old Katrina Scott, who was the American collegiate player wildcard challenge finalist.

Former world No. 41 Caroline Dolehide, currently ranked No. 246, and Ayana Akli, currently No. 266, will also enter qualifying with wildcards. The group is completed by 16-year-old Annika Penickova, a former Top-20 world-ranked junior; 17-year-old Julieta Pareja, a USTA girls’ 18s singles semifinalist and current world No. 290; former world junior No. 1 Kristina Penickova, 16; and 23-year-old Savannah Broadus, currently ranked No. 307.

The final qualifying wildcard will go to the winner of the newly introduced US Open qualifying wildcard challenge, which features four rising American women and four men competing in semifinals and finals on August 23 on Courts 4-7 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The women’s field includes Chukwumelije Clarke, Welles Newman, Jordyn Hazelitt, and Kennedy Drenser-Hagmann.

The first item that immediately catches the eye is the metallic Nike Women’s Fall NO Skirt, available in both black and silver. Honestly, I don’t immediately see the basketball connection here, even though the open mesh layer peeking out underneath is apparently meant to evoke the sport. To me, the overall effect feels much more futuristic. Precisely, the kind of metallic, robotic vision of the future we imagined back in the ’90s.

The skirt’s outer layer does look a bit heavy at first glance, but Nike promises its Dri-FIT technology will provide sweat-wicking performance on court.

Osaka’s new dress is a sleeveless design featuring a stand-up collar with a half-zip front and a two-tiered pleated skirt. The lower layer extends longer and features denser, micro pleats.

The jacket is an an oversized bomber-style design with a slightly edgy, motorcycle-meets-streetwear vibe. A ruffle-like detail adds volume at the shoulder, while the asymmetric front features an overlay panel secured with snap closures.

Matching the aesthetic, Osaka’s shoes are black, with contrasting silver “NYC” lettering on the inner side, marking the tournament where she will wear them.

EXPLORE MORE 2026 US OPEN FASHION STORIES:

Players & their looks

• Alexandra Eala‘s royal blue Nike dress
• Aryna Sabalenka‘s extra revealing Nike mesh dress
• Elina Svitolina, Karolina Muchova and Wang Xinyu showcase Adidas’ retro-inspired outfits
• Jessica Pegula and Iva Jovic in Adidas’ ’90s New York nightlife looks
• Iga Swiatek‘s latest On separates
• Belinda Bencic’s new Asics outfit
• Eva Lys promotes Lacoste’s New York whites

Brand collections & new designs

• Much-loved Wilson serves up another standout tennis collection
• Nike’s controversial fishnet designs have a basketball connection
• Adidas takes a risk with its bold new bodysuit and onesie
• New Balance’s subtle twist on the pleated tennis skirt
• Yonex introduces one-shoulder dresses and diagonal lines

Among the newly confirmed main-draw wildcards are rising Filipino star Alex Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime, married couple Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils, and two-time defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori. Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe, as well as Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev, have also been awarded wildcards.

At the top of the direct-entry list are Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic, followed by Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz, Diana Shnaider and Daniil Medvedev, Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, and Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien.

The latest update does not, however, complete the 16-team main draw. Three additional wildcards are still to be announced, while the final two places will go to the winners of an eight-team qualifying competition.

Six teams have already been confirmed for qualifying: Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten, Gabriela Dabrowski and Harri Heliövaara, Luisa Stefani and Neal Skupski, Aleksandra Krunic and Mate Pavic, Jelena Ostapenko and Marcelo Arevalo, and Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool. Two more teams will receive qualifying wildcards.

The second edition of the reimagined championship will take place from Monday, August 24, through Wednesday, August 26, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, with free-to-attend action on Monday and Tuesday at Grandstand and Louis Armstrong Stadium, respectively.

2026 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship: Current Entry List

MAIN DRAW

Direct entrants

• Aryna Sabalenka/Novak Djokovic
• Elena Rybakina/Taylor Fritz
• Diana Shnaider/Daniil Medvedev
• Iga Swiatek/Casper Ruud
• Belinda Bencic/Flavio Cobolli
• Amanda Anisimova/Learner Tien

Wildcards

• Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori
• Alex Eala/Felix Auger-Aliassime
• Leylah Fernandez/Frances Tiafoe
• Taylor Townsend/Alexander Zverev
• Elina Svitolina/Gael Monfils
• To be announced
• To be announced
• To be announced

Qualifiers (2)

QUALIFYING

Direct entrants*

• Katerina Siniakova/Henry Patten
• Gabriela Dabrowski/Harri Heliövaara
• Luisa Stefani/Neal Skupski
• Aleksandra Krunic/Mate Pavic
• Jelena Ostapenko/Marcelo Arevalo
• Erin Routliffe/Lloyd Glasspool

Wildcards

• To be announced
• To be announced

*Direct entry into qualifying was based on the best combined singles or doubles ranking.

The event will feature a unique fast-paced format: qualifying through the semifinals will use best-of-three sets with sets played to four games, no-ad scoring, and a 10-point match tiebreak in place of a third set. The final will follow a traditional six-game set format, also with no-ad scoring and a 10-point match tiebreak deciding the third set.

The reunion that was supposed to happen at Wimbledon finally came to life at the 2026 Cincinnati Open, as legendary sisters Serena and Venus Williams drew a packed Grandstand Court. The excited crowd gathered to watch the iconic duo play together again, and even their opponents were in awe of sharing the court with two of tennis’ greatest champions.

Thanks to Jimmie48, we have plenty of photos from this memorable Monday night match, and it’s also interesting to take a closer look at what the former world No. 1s wore for their long-awaited team-up.

Nearly four years after their last doubles appearance together at the 2022 US Open, the Williams sisters partnered to face Marta Kostyuk and Cincinnati native Peyton Stearns. The match went all the way to a deciding tiebreak, with Kostyuk and Stearns eventually edging out the 14-time Grand Slam doubles champions 6-2 1-6 [10-8]. In this case, the result was secondary to the occasion itself.

Serena wore the Nike Fall Advantage Novelty Tank, a cropped design crafted from double-knit mesh and finished with contrast tape binding. The 44-year-old paired it with the Nike Fall Advantage Novelty Skirt, distinguished by its eye-catching contrast pleated hemline.

When it comes to Venus’ style, she opted for a navy polo dress featuring a contrasting white ribbed collar and a dramatic open lower back framed by white stripes. A closer look reveals a breathable jacquard knit fabric decorated with subtle V motifs. The dress is the Lacoste Heritage Technical Dress.

“I thought it was fun, I thought it was special, I thought it was good,” Serena said after the match. “We kicked off a little rust in the middle of the match. We were starting to feel it, and it was really fun. It was really cool to be able to do this again.”

“I think we’ve waited a long time to get back on the doubles court, even this year,” added Venus, who also competed in the singles draw before falling to Emilia Arango in the first round. “Eventually, we find our way to each other.”

The latest loss has further intensified the debate around Williams’ continued participation in singles as a wildcard, with some fans questioning whether the 46-year-old should consider stepping away before a remarkable career becomes dented by one of the WTA’s worst losing streaks.

Back in April, Williams became the first former world No. 1 to lose 10 consecutive matches when she was beaten in the first round of the Madrid Open. That run has now stretched to 14, leaving her just one defeat away from entering the Top 5 for the longest losing streak in women’s tennis.

The Top 5 worst WTA losing streaks in history

Kristina Mladenovic currently occupies fifth place, having lost 15 consecutive matches across 2017 and 2018. Sandy Collins and Arantxa Rus are tied for third with 17 straight defeats, while Zhang Shuai is second after losing 24 consecutive matches between 2023 and 2024.

At the top of the unwanted list is Madeleine Pegel, who lost 29 consecutive matches over a four-year period between 1968 and 1972.

Williams’ current run began after her return to the tour following a 16-month hiatus. She made a winning comeback in Washington in July 2025, defeating Peyton Stearns, but has not won a singles match since.

The players who defeated Venus during her losing streak

The 14 players who have defeated Williams during her current losing streak are listed below, alongside their rankings at the time:

1. Magdalena Frech #24
2. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro #42
3. Karolina Muchova #13
4. Magda Linette #52
5. Tatjana Maria #42
6. Olga Danilovic #69
7. Ajla Tomljanovic #74
8. Diane Parry #111
9. Francesca Jones #93
10. Kaitlin Quevedo #140
11. Irina-Camelia Begu #211
12. Anastasia Potapova #27
13. Kamilla Rakhimova #83
14. Emilia Arango #95

Venus: “Winning and losing knows no age.”

Williams’ struggles are hardly surprising given her age and the physical demands of professional tennis. Yet her continued access to singles wildcards inevitably raises questions about whether tournament opportunities could instead go to younger players trying to establish themselves on tour.

The American, who has not won a title on the WTA Tour since lifting the Taiwan Open in February 2016, appears to have no intention of letting the losing streak dictate when her career ends.

“I feel great. If there’s the one thing I know, it’s that you’re never too young or too old to win or to lose. Winning and losing knows no age,” Williams said. “The only way to go forward is growth. There’s always so much to learn, and there’s always still much to learn about myself, new hurdles to get over.”

There is no question that having Venus’ name in the draw remains a major attraction for tournaments. Her legacy, popularity and ability to generate interest are unmatched by most players competing for those same wildcards. And for now, one of the WTA’s all-time greats is showing no signs of walking away. She will play doubles with her sister Serena today at the Cincinnati Open, where they face Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns.

The former world No. 58, currently ranked No. 172, Juvan explained that she has been dealing with stomach issues since March, which have prevented her from training and competing at the highest level. “I’ve tried to rest and then come back to competition a few times this year, but the pain, nausea and fatigue made it difficult for me to perform or even function normally,” the 25-year-old gave more insight into her condition.

She last competed during the grass-court season in June, losing in the first round of qualifying at the Lexus Nottingham Open. Juvan was determined to play Wimbledon, but her condition worsened just before the tournament and her body “just collapsed.”

To this day, she has been unable to resolve the issues and get her body back to the level required to withstand the demands of professional competition. As heartbreaking as it is to be forced to step away, Juvan has decided that the best course of action is to take a few months off and give her body the time it needs to recover.

Given the color palette, you might mistake this for a Wimbledon campaign rather than a collection intended for the US Open, where vibrant shades and eccentric designs tend to take center stage. Lys is pictured wearing the white version of the Lacoste Women’s Fall Players Dress, a design defined by large skirt pleats and breathable mesh panels across the upper chest and back.

The dress is also available in purple, which, in my opinion, feels much more in tune with the energy of New York.

For those who prefer separates, the same aesthetic is available in a pleated skirt and a sleeveless polo featuring a ribbed, bomber-style collar and partial-zip front.

Below is a photo of Lys at the recent National Bank Open, wearing the white versions of the polo and skirt.

The Lacoste New York collection is available at both Tennis Warehouse USA and Tennis Warehouse Europe.

EXPLORE MORE 2026 US OPEN FASHION STORIES:

Players & their looks

• Naomi Osaka’s metallic Nike fit: jacket, skirts, dress and shoes
• Alexandra Eala‘s royal blue Nike dress
• Aryna Sabalenka‘s extra revealing Nike mesh dress
• Elina Svitolina, Karolina Muchova and Wang Xinyu showcase Adidas’ retro-inspired outfits
• Jessica Pegula and Iva Jovic in Adidas’ ’90s New York nightlife looks
• Iga Swiatek‘s latest On separates
• Belinda Bencic’s new Asics outfit

Brand collections & new designs

• Much-loved Wilson serves up another standout tennis collection
• Nike’s controversial fishnet designs have a basketball connection
• Adidas takes a risk with its bold new bodysuit and onesie
• New Balance’s subtle twist on the pleated tennis skirt
• Yonex introduces one-shoulder dresses and diagonal lines