ATP Tour
Raducanu confirms US Open absence as injury setback deepens
Raducanu will miss the US Open as her stress fracture recovery continues and ranking pressure builds.
Emma Raducanu will not feature at the US Open, with the Briton still recovering from the stress fracture that also ruled her out of Wimbledon.
In a statement relayed to Sky Sports, her team said: “After latest consultation with her team, Emma will have to miss the US Open.
“While she is working hard to rehab her stress fracture, given the nature of the injury, it needs time to heal. She is sad to be missing a tournament that is so special to her.”
The latest blow means Raducanu has missed much of the 2026 season so far. She did not play during the clay-court swing, and her run to the Queen’s final was her only grass-court tournament of the year.
On Sky Sports Tennis, Annabel Croft spoke about the repeated physical setbacks that have interrupted Raducanu’s progress. “It feels as if she’s been unbelievably unluck with the injury problems she’s faced throughout the course of her career. Don’t forget she’s had wrist surgery, feet problems, and now this stress fracture.
“And, you know there are so many injuries out there on the Tour, it seems like she never gets a clear run where she’s able to really go for it with her tennis, and her body, and her mind injury free. And just keep the momentum going because we’re all so excited with what she did at Queen’s Club, where she reached the final there just ahead of Wimbledon, where everyone is going ‘Wow’.
“She really ignited her tennis again and thing were really starting to look up, but this is just a major setback. It’s a tournament that is so special to her, that’s where she’s had her greatest success, a former US Open champion, and I’ve seen lots of pictures of her posting the boot on her leg, trying to serve still, keeping her racket going.
“Showing everybody that she’s doing everything she can, but clearly it’s not healed up and you need to be fully fit to play these tournaments. It wouldn’t be a surprise if she made that decision [to end her season now] and probably that wouldn’t be such a bad decision to take because you can fully heal, rest up, get as much treatment as possible, and then come out fully fit and raring to go at the start of next year.
“But the business side of tennis, I’m sure there’s a lot of enticing things coming her way down in Asia where she will want to play her best tennis there and she’ll be very much in demand.”
Croft also addressed the wider issue of rankings and recovery. “Who knows, maybe if there’s a worry about the ranking drop with so many points to defend, potentially that ranking could plummet. Although, she might benefit from the protected ranking.
“These factors have to be considered, but at the end of the day, your health is your wealth and that’s the most important factor. The problem for all of these players facing injury problems, and we see it for all those years with Juan Martin del Potro, everyone’s so worried about Alcaraz because it’s similar.
“Every time you go out there to practice, and I think Jack Draper’s alluded to this, you don’t know how much to push yourself because an injury that has been a problem, needs to be loaded up in training to see how far you can load it up before playing professional tennis matches.
“As we know on the Tour it’s so demanding what is required from all of these players and it’s relentless. If you get through one match, there’s one that’s coming a day later. Injuries can get into a players head mentally as much as anything, so psychologically you’re thinking ‘Can I play? Can I push up on my leg? Can I push off to serve?’ How much do all these factors come in emotionally. It’s very difficult, very tough.”
Croft then reflected on the nature of the injury itself, saying, “It’s quite an unusual injury actually. I’ve had calf muscle injuries, which were not nice at all and the minute you push off, you tweak it, but a shin.
“And stress fractures are always dangerous. Whatever you do, you do not want to weaken it anymore and cause anymore problems, so it doesn’t become a long-term injury. But you don’t hear too many stress fractures in the shin actually. It seems quite an unusual injury.
“One thing that I’ve always thought about Raducanu, particularly when we saw her at Queen’s on the grass, where she played such beautiful tennis. She’s very light on her feet.
“Movement for her has always been one of her strengths. She’s such a great athlete, she moves around the ball. She’s light on her feet and gets into great positions, where she never looks off balance. Movement will be part of a major strength on what she brings out on the court. That needs to be at 100%.”
Raducanu is currently world No 49, and her ranking is expected to fall further once last year’s points from Cincinnati and the US Open come off. If she misses more key events on the WTA Tour, she could soon slip out of the top 100.
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Zverev Arrives at Laver Cup With Europe’s Title Bid in Focus
Zverev arrives at the Laver Cup with Team Europe aiming to reclaim the trophy in London.
Alexander Zverev has already reached the Laver Cup as he continues a packed 2026 season, and his attention has quickly shifted to Team Europe’s attempt to reclaim the trophy.
The German has been a constant presence on the men’s tour this year, a run that has helped him take advantage of injuries to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. That consistency has also carried him to the biggest results of his career, with Zverev winning Roland Garros and the US Open to claim his first two Grand Slam titles. He is now close to Sinner’s world No 1 ranking.
For the moment, though, the Laver Cup is the immediate target. Team Europe were beaten by Team World at the 2025 event in San Francisco, and Zverev is determined to help put things right.
He has long been one of the event’s most familiar figures, and he explained why the format continues to appeal to him while practicing at the tournament.
Speaking during his practice sessions at the tournament, Zverev said: “I love the competition. I’ve been part of all the European teams that have won the Laver Cup.
“Of course, we want to bring the Laver Cup back to Europe and try to win it. I think we have the best players in the world here. It’s special to be on a team with them and to build a strong team. We will do everything to win this weekend.”
His record at the event helps explain that attachment. Since the Laver Cup began in 2017, Zverev has made seven appearances, more than any other player. He has won the competition five times, more than anyone else, and also owns the most singles wins, the most singles points and the most points overall.
Zverev’s career Laver Cup record stands at 9-7, a 56% winning rate. Over the years, he has shared the team environment with players such as Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz, and has beaten Frances Tiafoe and Milos Raonic in singles.
This year, he will line up alongside Alcaraz, Rafael Jodar, Casper Ruud, Jakub Mensik, and Flavio Cobolli under Yannick Noah and Tim Henman. Their opponents will be Team World, coached by Andre Agassi and Pat Rafter, with Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, Learner Tien, Brandon Nakashima, Alexander Bublik, and Francisco Cerundolo in the squad.
The tournament is scheduled for The O2 Arena in London from September 25th to 27th, with singles and doubles matches spread across the weekend.
ATP Tour
Zverev’s breakthrough season rewrites a long-running story
Zverev’s breakthrough year has changed the narrative after Noah recalled his doubts and frustration.
Alexander Zverev has finally put an end to years of frustration by winning two Grand Slam titles in 2026, a development that left Yannick Noah reflecting on how uncertain the German once felt about ever getting there.
Zverev first lifted a major trophy at the French Open in June, then reinforced that achievement by beating Ben Shelton in the US Open final earlier this month. After so many seasons of falling short against Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, it had sometimes appeared that the next wave of champions, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, would keep the door closed as well.
Noah, who captained Team Europe at last year’s Laver Cup in San Francisco, said Zverev was not in a strong place mentally at the time. The German went on to lose the event’s decisive match to Taylor Fritz, and Noah suggested confidence was part of the issue.
“This guy tried so hard, kept coming back, you know, he’s coming up against Nadal, then he’s coming up against Djokovic and then he’s coming again and it’s Roger,” began Noah, speaking on an episode of the Off Court with Greg Rusedski podcast that will be released on Thursday.
“Then it’s Alcaraz and it’s Sinner, but he kept coming back and suddenly it’s paid off. I was really happy when he won the French Open and then so happy to see his face when he won the US Open. He was like a little child and he didn’t even know he had won at the end.”
Noah expanded on the mood he sensed during that Laver Cup campaign, describing a player who was battling frustration but never stopped pushing.
“Last year he was not in a good place because I could tell that he was getting a little frustrated,” stated the 1983 French Open champion.
“He was tired of trying too hard. But he just kept trying. I think he showed so much resilience over the ten years. He has been No 2, No 3 and he always kept trying. As a player, this is something that you have and as a coach, as a parent. You always say, keep trying, never give up, never give up. But sometimes it’s very hard.
“And it was very hard on Sascha. I got some quality time with him when I say, you know, keep trying, your time will come. But you’re not sure. You hope. You’re trying to be positive about this. You’re trying to be optimistic, but you don’t know.
“And then all of a sudden you when I see him win, when I saw him win the French, I was happy for him because he deserved it. He’s worked so hard for these moments.”
Zverev and Alcaraz now sit at the centre of Noah’s Team Europe plans for the Laver Cup in London, which begins on Friday as they aim to respond to last year’s loss to Team World.
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Alcaraz relishes London return and hails Zverev ahead of Laver Cup
Alcaraz returns to London at Laver Cup and praises Zverev as he continues his comeback.
Carlos Alcaraz has said he is ready to make up for lost time as he prepares for his first matches in London in 2026 at the Laver Cup this week, while also offering a striking verdict on one of his European team-mates.
The Spaniard was forced to sit out the grass-court swing in England, missing planned appearances at Queen’s Club and Wimbledon after suffering a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open in April. He returned at the US Open last month, a comeback that many viewed as a surprise, and produced five strong performances before falling in an epic quarter-final to Ben Shelton.
His next stop is Team Europe at the Laver Cup, where he will line up alongside newly crowned US Open champion Alexander Zverev. Zverev had previously praised Alcaraz as ‘amazing’ after they played together in an earlier edition of the event, but this time it was Alcaraz who returned the compliment.
“I agree that he is probably the best player in the world right now,” Alcaraz said of Zverev.
“Having him by my side and on our team, it’s going to be a great weapon to have and we are going to use it.
“I missed lifting the (Laver Cup) trophy last year, so I’m going to do whatever it takes this year.
“The US Open was a great test for me and I can’t wait to play here.”
Alcaraz was beaten by Team World’s Taylor Fritz in last year’s Laver Cup and has made clear that he wants to put that right if they meet again in London.
“He destroyed me last year,” added Alcaraz with a smile. “If I play against him, I will be down with it and I will be ready, for sure.
“It’s great to be back in London. I missed it this year, so it’s going to be the first time I am touching London this year, so I’m excited.
“It’s my first time playing at the 02 Arena and it feels great to be here. It’s a super beautiful stadium and I can’t wait to see it packed and hear the atmosphere from the people.”
Although Alcaraz has faced criticism for playing too many exhibition events, this year’s Laver Cup offers him a useful setting to continue his comeback after the wrist problem. The best-of-three format, with no ranking points on offer, should suit his return while the event also brings a significant appearance fee.
The competition begins on Friday and finishes with the final session at the 02 Arena on Sunday.
Zverev Arrives at Laver Cup With Europe’s Title Bid in Focus
Alex Eala opens Singapore challenge against Prozorova as ranking gains loom
Zverev’s breakthrough season rewrites a long-running story
Raducanu Arrives at US Open With Momentum After Strong Hard‑Court Swing
Maestrelli Triumphs in Bergamo, Claims Challenger Title and Career‑High Ranking
