Elena Rybakina’s title-winning run at the US Open has been followed by an enforced pause, with the Kazakh player ruled out for two weeks because of an Achilles injury. The setback means she will miss the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.

Rybakina produced a remarkable fortnight in New York. She captured her third major title and also moved above Aryna Sabalenka in the WTA Rankings to become world No 1 for the first time, while also becoming the first player from Kazakhstan to reach that position.

Her progress came while managing a problem that began at the Cincinnati Open in mid-August. The Achilles tendon issue became severe enough that she was forced to retire from her quarter-final against Iga Swiatek. She later admitted, “it’s painful to walk”, a comment that cast doubt over whether she would even be able to compete at the US Open.

She made it to the tournament, used painkillers to get through it, and still went on to win the title. But the physical toll has now led to a longer recovery period, and that has taken her out of this week’s team event.

Kazakhstan must now face fourth-seeded Spain in Shenzhen, China, without their top player. The country’s tennis federation has confirmed that she will undergo further tests.

A statement released last week said: “Her Achilles tendon continued to trouble her during the 2026 US Open, forcing her to take painkillers. Despite the injury, she managed to win the title.

“According to Rybakina’s coaching staff, she needs at least two weeks for treatment and recovery.”

If her recovery stays on course, she is not expected to miss any WTA Tour events beyond this spell. Her next scheduled appearance is the China Open, which begins on 28 September. Wuhan follows on 12 October, and she also played Ningbo and the Pan Pacific Open last year before finishing at the WTA Finals.

That remains the biggest target, although she will face a difficult rankings battle, with 2,410 points to defend before the season ends.

Coco Gauff and Caty McNally have reunited on court at this year’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia, teaming in doubles for the first time since April 2023. The American pairing, who adopted the nickname “McCoco” during the 2019 season after winning their first title in Washington D.C., reached the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

The two players have a shared history at the biggest stages. They recorded a run to the 2021 US Open final before splitting on tour after the 2022 Miami Open. McNally later returned to the US Open title match in 2022 with Taylor Townsend. Gauff celebrated her first doubles major with Katerina Siniakova at 2024 Roland Garros. Their most recent partnership before Rome came in April 2023, when they helped the U.S. win a Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier over Austria.

Back together in Rome, Gauff and McNally opened with a match in which they saved a match point against Aldila Sutjiadi and Janice Tjen. They then defeated Marie Bouzkova and Alexandra Panova on SuperTennis Arena, closing out the match 6-3, 7-5 on McNally’s serve. Play was briefly suspended when rain began during the changeover.

The match included gritty moments and flashes of the pair’s chemistry. Gauff fell mid point but rose to continue the rally, later missing the next shot. McNally produced a hustle dig that helped give them another opportunity after they failed to serve the match out initially. The pair kept the mood light at times, laughing through the highs and lows, and in their rush to celebrate they slightly mistimed their celly.

Photographs from the victory, captured by Matt Fitzgerald, document Gauff’s attacking volley, the occasional mishap and the partnership’s renewed energy as they move deeper into the Italian Open doubles draw.

Belinda Bencic has added a new incentive to her service practice: every ace now fuels a cause. In March the Swiss announced a partnership with Purina Switzerland to promote the Pro Plan line, and as part of that deal Purina will donate 1,000 meals to animals in need for every ace she hits.

The initiative recently expanded at a Billie Jean King Cup Finals qualifier to include her teammates, and Bencic discussed the collaboration after winning her opening match at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Thursday.

“I’m very motivated to hit aces. I think it’s just a great project together, with a partnership that I really believe in,” Bencic told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj. “I love dogs, I love cats. I would love to have an animal shelter once I stop playing.

“I’m super proud and I’m practicing my serve a lot to do ace! It’s more tough here but in Madrid, I did quite well.”

The No. 12 seed opened her Rome campaign by defeating Bianca Andreescu 6-4, 6-1, a follow-up to a fourth-round showing at the Mutua Madrid Open. Bencic has also balanced tournament life with family responsibilities; her two-year-old daughter Bella is not at this event and is staying with her grandparents.

“I miss her so much, but I’m getting like hundreds of videos per day. I miss her but it’s also nice to go out to restaurants, sleep in, and have a lot of time,” she laughed.

The partnership gives Bencic an added reason to focus on a traditionally high-payoff shot. By tying aces to meals for animals, the agreement with Purina Switzerland has become a tangible motivator on court and an opportunity to involve teammates and supporters off court. Photo: © 2026 Robert Prange