The debate over Grand Slam prize money has been one of the defining tennis issues of 2026, with leading players on the ATP and WTA Tours pressing for a fairer split across the sport.

That pressure has already been visible this season. At Roland Garros, the top players staged a media boycott in support of their calls for better distribution. A similar action was discussed for Wimbledon before being abandoned at the last moment, leaving the US Open as the next major checkpoint in the wider dispute.

The American major has now responded with a landmark announcement. The 2026 US Open will pay out $108 million, a tournament record and a 20% rise on the 2025 total, which had itself set a new benchmark.

New USTA CEO Craig Tiley, who previously worked at the Australian Open said, “This is a significant first step in a multi-year investment in athletes as the US Open continues to be the best economic opportunity for players and the most valuable platform in tennis for players, fans and partners.

“We are proud to deliver record-setting prize money and expanded player benefits as well as providing a new platform to work together with players.”

The tournament has also unveiled a Player Support Programme and a Grand Slam Player Council. The support programme begins with a $2 million commitment in 2026, split equally between men and women, and is designed in a way that closely resembles the pension-like fund players have been seeking.

The new council is intended to improve communication between players and organisers, with the aim of reducing the tension that has marked parts of the 2026 season.

In a statement, Brian Vahaly, Chairman of the Board and President of the USTA. said: “The US Open has a long history of listening to players, and this player support program and Council builds on that commitment.

“We look forward to working directly with players to better understand the opportunities and challenges they face, and to continue finding meaningful ways to support them both on and off the court.”

Players have not yet said whether they will protest at the US Open, but the latest steps point toward a more constructive relationship.

Jannik Sinner has been absent from competition since beating Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final, where he claimed the title for the second straight year.

The Italian has kept a selective schedule, especially after his early exit at Roland Garros following a demanding stretch on the European clay swing. He then skipped the Canadian Open, a decision that seemed likely even before the knee injury reports were confirmed ahead of Cincinnati.

That knee issue ruled him out of the Cincinnati Open and quickly raised doubts about whether the world No. 1 would be fit for the final Grand Slam of the season at the US Open.

There is now a more encouraging sign. Luigi Ansaloni, a journalist for Gazzetta, offered an update on Sinner’s preparations before a possible trip to Flushing Meadows at the end of August.

“Sinner has trained well, the last two days at the Monte Carlo club. He will also train this morning, according to the schedule,” said the Italian.

Asked for more detail on the sessions, he added: “He trained in the afternoon, after having reserved the court for 2 hours, at the club.”

Spending long hours on court is clearly a positive development as Sinner moves closer to a return. He will also avoid action during US Open ‘Opening Week’, which features exhibition matches and the Mixed Doubles, giving him extra time to prepare compared with his rivals.

His first match would most likely come on Monday, 31st August or Tuesday, 1st September, leaving him time to regain rhythm before the tournament begins in earnest.

His participation now looks increasingly likely, even with the knee concern still in the background. That said, returning to competition does not guarantee a title challenge. Sinner would still have to manage the expected rustiness that comes with time away, just as he did at Wimbledon after arriving without a competitive grass-court match.

He won there in the end, but not before surviving a five-set scare against Miomir Kecmanovic in the opening round. A return to the US Open would still be welcome after his long absence from the North American hardcourt swing.

For the first time, Novak Djokovic has been the subject of a detailed documentary focused on his life at the top of tennis.

Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter premiered on Amazon Prime on Thursday, 20 August, with the 24-time Grand Slam champion featured prominently through a series of interviews that revisit his career and examine what may still lie ahead.

Although Djokovic remains active on the ATP Tour, the film gives him space to reflect on how he has stayed at the highest level and why, at 39, he is still competing in elite sport. In one of the documentary’s central moments, he spoke candidly about his relentless standards and the pressure he places on himself.

“I cannot say I feel content with what I have and who I am. I am always looking to be more – better, faster, stronger. Often times I feel I am imprisoning myself,” he said in the documentary.

He also addressed retirement, making clear that he sees no reason to step away while he still believes he can contend for major titles.

“Why would I talk about retirement when I still keep proving to myself that I can still win? As long as I have the drive, the passion, but most of all, as long as I feel like I can be one of the best players in the world, I want to keep going.”

Djokovic went on to speak about the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles as a possible finishing point, saying: “It seems a long way out. I feel like I can make it. I would like to end with the Serbian flag on my shoulders. It would be a nice way to wrap up something I’m very proud of.”

His wife, Jelena, also appears in the documentary and describes her husband as conflicted about retirement. “He definitely has mixed feelings about his retirement,” said Jelena Djokovic in the Amazon documentary. “He carries that burden that he’s never enough. No matter how much he does, it will never be enough. Tennis is a fulfilling place for him – a place where he feels worthy.”

This season, Djokovic has played six tournaments, including all three Grand Slams so far. He reached the Australian Open final and the Wimbledon semi-finals, while Roland Garros brought his earliest major exit of the year, in the third round. He has also competed at Indian Wells, the Italian Open and the Cincinnati Open.

Despite some uneven results, he has again shown he remains capable of performing at the sport’s biggest events. His next scheduled appearance is the US Open, a tournament he has won four times.