Alex Eala has been working with Toni Nadal ahead of her opening US Open match, bringing one of tennis’s most respected coaching voices into her practice sessions in New York.

Toni Nadal, the uncle of 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, was central to the development of his nephew from the junior ranks into one of the sport’s all-time greats. His presence now around Eala underlines the standing he still holds inside a player’s team.

Eala came through the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, where Toni has also helped shape an academy that has produced several notable professionals in recent seasons. Casper Ruud, Jaume Munar, Martin Landaluce and Coleman Wong have all reached the ATP top 100 after time at the academy. On the WTA Tour, Argentina’s Solana Sierra and Alina Korneeva have also moved into the top 100 after emerging from the same setting.

Eala appears to be the strongest candidate yet to become the academy’s biggest breakthrough, and Toni seems eager to offer her guidance as she prepares to contest a Grand Slam as a contender for the first time.

Former British No 1 Greg Rusedski has been among her supporters, and on the latest edition of his podcast he praised Toni Nadal’s involvement while expecting a direct approach from the coach.

“Well, I think he’ll be direct and that’s what everybody respects,” declared Rusedski.

He added that the pair likely already have a solid working relationship from the academy, and stressed the importance of honesty, transparency, and keeping communication aligned with the player. Rusedski also said, “Having a guy who has won so many majors with his nephew in your team can only be good news for Eala.”

Rusedski then pointed to Eala’s history of record-breaking progress and said she could go on to win multiple Grand Slam titles. He described her as a major story for tennis, for the WTA, and for her country, and finished by calling her “the biggest star in women’s tennis right now, no question.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas delivered a notably direct reaction when asked about Nick Kyrgios’ positive test for cocaine, offering an answer that was far from guarded.

Former world No 13 Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Integrity Agency after failing a dope test at the Mallorca Championships in June this year. The Australian later addressed the issue on social media, writing “I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it” and adding that he would “do the work and come back better”. He now faces a possible ban of up to four years, the maximum penalty for an anti-doping violation.

Tsitsipas, however, suggested the case was not simply an isolated lapse. Speaking in a post-match press conference after his opening-round victory over Arthur Fils at the US Open, he was asked: “How did you react when you heard about Nick Kyrgios’ suspension for doping? Did it surprise you?”

After a pause, Tsitsipas said: “I don’t know what to tell you. I mean, to be entirely honest with you, I knew about this before the announcement. Myself, I knew about it.

“So what can I tell you? I will just tell you the truth. I knew about all of this before any announcement was made, and when I saw it on social media, I was, like, ‘here we go’. I kind of expected it, to be honest.”

When asked again, “Did you know about this from before?”, he responded: “I knew that those were things that were happening away from the tennis courts, I will tell you that.

“I’m not going to try and cover up someone that I know the truth for. I’ll consider myself a nice person with everyone, but these were behaviours that I personally heard on the tour and heard other people in that same environment saying those sort of things to me.

“Again, when I saw it, I was like, well, pretty much expected to be honest. I am surprised it came so late though.”

Kyrgios has also faced scrutiny because he previously criticised Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek and Simona Halep after their own failed dope tests and subsequent bans.

Novak Djokovic posted a short note on social media after his unexpected US Open exit, offering no hint about what came next after a difficult opening day in New York.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion was beaten by Mariano Navone in the round of 128 at Flushing Meadows, with the Argentine claiming Djokovic’s first-ever first-round loss in New York. The scoreline was 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.

The loss drew attention not only because of the result, but because of the way it unfolded. Djokovic was seen vomiting twice during the match and, after moving ahead 2-1 in the fourth set following an early break, he won only one more game. At 1-3 down in the final set, he was in tears as the end approached, before Navone completed the victory in four hours and 36 minutes.

Inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, the crowd responded with a standing ovation, and Djokovic acknowledged the support he received while struggling physically. Many fans also chanted his name during the contest.

Twelve hours after the defeat, Djokovic addressed the moment on Instagram with a simple message: “Forever grateful, New York.”

His future in New York next year remains uncertain, especially after a testing spell that has now included similar physical issues. After losing in the semi-final at Wimbledon, the 39-year-old returned at the Cincinnati Open, where his campaign ended after one match against Thiago Austin Tirante. That defeat also involved vomiting and physical problems.

A few weeks later, the same concerns surfaced again against Navone. Even so, Mats Wilander believes Djokovic is not finished.

“It was very sad,” the former world No 1 told TNT Sports. “I’m not exactly sure what happened to him, how bad he was feeling before, because he did throw up on the court. Was it because of the length of the match or was it something that he had fought with before?

“To see him in tears because he can’t play at 100% level, that’s very sad. But it just tells the whole story: he’s not retiring, he’s going to come back another year and he’s going to keep pushing and keep trying, because he feels like he can still be a threat.”

Johanna Kota also said it is too soon to suggest the career is nearing its end.

“He has been physically struggling – he hasn’t named what it is but he does struggle in humidity. He has alluded that something is going on but he also has said that he’s going to try to find a solution to it,” she said.

“I don’t think he’s going away. He is going to give it his best crack to find a way to keep playing on his own terms and retire on his own terms.”