Tennis Weekly — 2026-08-24

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Tournament Recap

The 2026 Cincinnati Open concluded its WTA singles competition with Coco Gauff producing a dominant performance to defeat Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 and win the title. The 22-year-old American completed a remarkable week in Ohio without dropping a single set, reclaiming her crown at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.

On the ATP side, the tournament featured semifinal action on Saturday, August 22, leading up to the men's final. The final preview highlights a 22-year-old player who has reached the quarterfinals or better in eight of his 13 events in 2026, marking the biggest ATP Tour final of his career.

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Player Spotlight

The narrative around the upcoming US Open has been dominated by injury news affecting the top of the rankings. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner announced his withdrawal from the 2026 US Open, citing a persistent right knee injury. This decision came less than 24 hours after Carlos Alcaraz confirmed his comeback at the tournament, significantly impacting the highly anticipated rivalry between the two stars.

Britain's Jack Draper also pulled out of the upcoming US Open through injury, further thinning the field of top contenders. With Sinner absent, Alcaraz faces his biggest rankings test of the year at Flushing Meadows, as the list of former US Open champions reflects such contrasting fortunes this season.

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Coming Up

The 2026 US Open begins on August 24 with the mixed doubles championship and singles qualifying rounds. The tournament serves as the last major of the year, ramping up the North American hard court swing.

With the new ATP and WTA rankings updated following the Cincinnati Open, players will look to solidify their positions before the Grand Slam concludes. The absence of Sinner and Draper leaves the door open for other top players to make significant strides in the draw.