Iva Jovic and Alex Eala delivered one of the standout matches of the 2026 US Open in the third round, with Jovic prevailing 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match played out before a loud crowd and ended with the two long-time friends sharing a hug at the net.

Jovic moves on to the fourth round, where she will meet Coco Gauff. Eala, meanwhile, turns her attention to the WTA Tour’s Asian swing after a run that made a strong impression both on and off the court.

Andy Roddick, speaking on Served, was taken by the standard set by both players and also spoke about the Filipino support behind Eala in New York. “Fans were into it, cheering for their person, but doing it with class. Like Eala’s fan base is obviously massive. It’s obviously loyal. And I’m sorry, they’re so respectful,” said the American.

“They are,” he continued. “I wanted to see it in person in the big arena tonight. And I was sitting up top for the first set and a half and it was just everything about this match was why we love tennis.”

Eala’s matches were among the best attended of the tournament, with all three of her appearances staged on either Louis Armstrong or Arthur Ashe. Her matches also attracted surge pricing and drew strong support from the Filipino community in the area.

Reflecting on that backing after the match, Eala said: “It’s indescribable to sum up the support and how it makes me feel in just a few words. It’s a real privilege to experience this in a lifetime.

“Playing on Arthur Ashe, and feeling the support, being in those environments, learning these lessons, and fighting and doing what I love. I’m really happy.

“I’m really lucky to have these opportunities, to have these people support me, and to be working hard, to be able to work hard… to be able to live this life how I’m living it.”

Eala is set for time away from competition after her US Open campaign. Her next event is the Singapore Open, which begins on Monday, 21st September. She will then represent the Philippines at the Asian Games, scheduled from 19th September to 4th October, with tennis starting on 27th September.

She has chosen that route instead of the China Open, and is expected to return to WTA action at the Wuhan Open, which begins on October 12th.

Aryna Sabalenka arrives at the 2026 US Open carrying the heaviest burden among the leading names, with a large points haul to defend after her title run a year ago. By contrast, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and Alex Eala have a clearer path, with the rankings picture giving them opportunities to climb.

Sabalenka won her fourth Grand Slam in New York in 2025, beating Amanda Anisimova in the final at Flushing Meadows, but the WTA Rankings work on a rolling 52-week system. That means the points earned at last year’s tournament come off at the start of this event before players begin adding fresh points through their results.

For Sabalenka, that means 2,000 points disappear from her total. She begins from 8,575 in the official rankings, which leaves her effectively on 6,575 once the adjustment is made, and she would slip to No 2 in the Live Rankings with Rybakina moving ahead. Her only route back to No 1 after the tournament is to win the title, though even that does not fully guarantee control of the race.

Anisimova also faces a significant hit after collecting 1,300 points as runner-up last year, while Jessica Pegula and Naomi Osaka each have 780 points to defend after reaching the semi-finals. Swiatek, Marketa Vondrousova, Barbora Krejcikova and Karolina Muchova are among those losing 430 points from their quarter-final results, while Rybakina, Gauff and Marta Kostyuk each drop 240.

Rybakina has the clearest opening at the top. A semi-final would send her past Sabalenka and make her world No 1 for the first time. Gauff is also in the mix, but she must win the title and hope Rybakina falls before the semi-finals. Kostyuk, meanwhile, is positioned to break into the top 10 for the first time.

Elsewhere, Iva Jovic drops 570 points after accounting for points from Guadalajara and SP Open, while Alex Eala sheds 135 and still has an opening to push toward the top 15. Emma Raducanu, who is not playing in New York this year, will also lose 130 points after reaching the third round in 2025.

Roger Federer and Mary Carillo are set for a high-profile International Tennis Hall of Fame induction celebration, with nine Grand Slam winners confirmed for the event.

The ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, August 29 in Newport, Rhode Island, and the Hall has said that roughly 30 Hall of Famers are expected across the Induction Celebration Weekend. The scale of the turnout reflects the standing of both honorees, whose achievements have left a lasting mark on the sport in different ways.

Federer entered tennis history as the first man to reach 20 Grand Slam singles titles. That milestone was later passed by Rafael Nadal, who closed his career with 22 majors, and then by Novak Djokovic, who now holds 24 Slam trophies.

Carillo’s on-court resume includes the 1977 French Open mixed doubles title, but her influence has extended far beyond results. She became one of the sport’s most respected and recognisable voices through her work as a broadcaster.

It is still unknown whether Nadal or Djokovic will follow the example of Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams by appearing as surprise guests in Newport. Sharapova was inducted into the Hall of Fame 12 months ago and asked Williams to introduce her, keeping the plan secret for months.

“I had some of the toughest moments and some of the biggest victories on the court with Serena,” Sharapova told Gayle King. “At the end of the day, we have so much deep respect for each other, and there was no one that I wanted to see other than her up on stage.”

The weekend begins on Thursday, when Federer is due to play doubles alongside Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi and John McEnroe. Doubles specialists Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, along with Stefan Edberg, Lleyton Hewitt, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Martina Navratilova and Gabriela Sabatini, are also scheduled to appear on the grass courts in Newport.

Joey Graziadei, Michael Kosta and Garbine Muguruza will likewise take part, with Lindsay Vonn set to serve as umpire. Dan Faber, CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, said: “The induction of Roger Federer and Mary Carillo has generated extraordinary excitement across the tennis world. We’re proud to bring this historic celebration to fans everywhere, ensuring audiences around the world can share in one of the sport’s most meaningful weekends,”