ATP Tour
Rajeev Ram ends his career after 2026 US Open farewell
Rajeev Ram has retired after the 2026 US Open, ending a decorated doubles career.
Rajeev Ram has called time on his tennis career after his final appearance at the 2026 US Open.
The American closed out his run at Flushing Meadows in doubles alongside Britain’s Joe Salisbury. Their campaign ended in the semifinals, where they were defeated by Tim Putz and Kevin Krawietz. That match proved to be Ram’s last on tour, bringing a distinguished career to a close.
Ram retires at 42 having established himself as one of the leading doubles players of his era. He won four Grand Slam titles in doubles, including three at the US Open, achievements that helped him rise to the top of the ATP Tour doubles rankings in 2022.
He confirmed the news on social media, writing: “All good things must come to an end, and with a whole host of emotions that I say goodbye to my playing career.
“The reality is that all of this started as just a game. I always thought tennis could be a sport for life for me, but I never envisioned that it would make my life.
“There were many wins and losses along the way, but I always felt like my purpose in this game was to simply work to be better today than I was yesterday.
“That was my driving force, my why, and the thing that kept me going for more than two decades. And I had the time of my life doing so.
“To any person who comes from South Asian heritage: I’m here to tell you that you can do anything you want if you commit to it. There’s no certain path you have to follow, and nothing is out of reach.
“If you set your mind to achieving your dream and surround yourself with the right people, it can happen… I’m living proof. And finally, to all of those who supported me, cheered for me, suffered with me, and loved me… Thank you.
“It’s you who took me from the boy with a passion in the first picture to the man with a lifetime of memories in the last picture. I hope I did you proud.
And Dad… there have been so many days I’ve wanted to share with you, and this is no exception. I miss you. I love you. Thank you. I hope I made you the proudest.”
His record also includes two mixed doubles Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open, in 2019 and 2021, both won with Barbora Krejčíková. Ram added two Olympic silver medals to his resume, earned in Paris and Rio, alongside Venus Williams and Austin Krajicek.
Williams later praised Ram after their run to the final of the Paris Olympics in 2024, saying: “With Serena, I expect to win — I’ve got to be honest,” she said of her younger sister, with whom she won three of those golds. We [her and Ram] had no idea how we were going to play together, so the emotion is almost even bigger because … you don’t know what to expect. It’s a wild feeling.”
“To feel what I feel with Serena with someone else, I never thought that would happen,” she said, which in many ways i the ultimate praise for the departing doubles icon.
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Darwin Blanch captures first ATP 125 title with Tiburon breakthrough
Darwin Blanch won his first ATP 125 title in Tiburon and climbed to world No 160.
Darwin Blanch has been viewed for some time as one of the leading young talents in men’s tennis, and the American has now taken a significant step forward on the ATP Challenger Tour.
Blanch, who made his Masters debut as a 16-year-old against Rafael Nadal at the 2024 Madrid Open, has been building his way through Challenger events and has now claimed his first ATP 125 title at the Tiburon Challenger in the United States.
The 18-year-old beat Michael Mmoh 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the final, a result that made him the youngest American to win an ATP 125 title. The victory has also lifted him to world No 160 and moved him up to sixth in the race to qualify for the NextGen Finals at the end of the year.
Blanch’s progress has been followed closely by Carlos Alcaraz, who has been a long-time admirer of the American. The two have practised together often, particularly at Juan Carlos Ferrero’s Academy, when both were still prospects.
Ahead of Blanch’s 2024 meeting with Nadal in Madrid, Alcaraz spoke warmly about his level. “I’ve practised with him a few times in the academy. I know that he has good tennis. He plays very well for his age,” said Alcaraz, when Blanch was just 16.
Asked what advice he offered before the match against the King of Clay, Alcaraz said: “I told him just to enjoy the moment [against Nadal]. This moment is going to be really helpful to his career.
“It was really important to mine, when I faced [Nadal] in 2021 for the first time. I learned a lot from that match and living that experience was really helpful. Just to try and enjoy the moment and give himself the opportunity to enjoy and get experience.”
Blanch now heads to San Diego for another Challenger event immediately after his title run. He is scheduled to face compatriot JJ Wolf in the round of 32 on Tuesday, 21st September.
His 2026 season has already included ATP-level appearances in Winston-Salem and at the US Open, both on wildcards. He lost in straight sets to Rinky Hijikata in Winston-Salem and then fell to Taylor Fritz by the same scoreline in the first round of the US Open.
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Arthur Fery named Laver Cup alternate after breakthrough season
Arthur Fery’s Laver Cup call-up follows a breakout year and a Wimbledon semi-final run.
Arthur Fery has been confirmed as an alternate for Team Europe at the Laver Cup, a further sign of his swift rise through the game this season.
The British player first turned heads at Wimbledon, where he reached the semi-finals as a wildcard before losing to Alexander Zverev in straight sets. That run lifted him sharply up the rankings and carried him to a career-high world No. 33.
Fery later reached the final of the Winston-Salem Open, adding another significant result to a year that has already pushed him closer to the ATP Tour elite. His US Open campaign ended in the first round against Lorenzo Musetti, but his schedule now brings another notable opportunity on home soil.
Discussing his role as an alternate, Fery said: “It’s really special for me. I grew up going to The O2, and now playing for Team Europe in the Laver Cup there is really special in front of all the British fans.
“I hope that I’m going to be able to have some great conversations with all the other players there, and get some great training in whether I’m playing on the court or not.
“Regardless, it’s going to be great spending time around the top players in the world, and also learning from them.” “I can be a good team player as well as an individual player, because it’s definitely different in a team environment.
“You’ve got to support each other and play for the team, not for yourself as much. I’m used to that with college, so that’s already a good step in the right direction for me, and I’m sure that will help me. I’ll be ready to support my teammates from the bench if that’s what’s required from me.”
He will link up with high-profile company that includes seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz and recent US Open champion Alexander Zverev. Team World alternate Ignacio Buse is also in the field, and both reserve players could well get a chance to feature.
Alcaraz is managing a wrist injury, Zverev has already logged plenty of tennis this season, while Casper Ruud has also dealt with injury concerns. Jakub Mensik and Rafael Jodar arrive after demanding Davis Cup ties.
The Laver Cup runs from 25 to 27 September at The O2 Arena in London. Team World will attempt to defend the title it won in San Francisco last year.
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Fonseca opts out of Asian swing after Davis Cup comeback
Fonseca pulls out of Asia after Davis Cup return, citing injuries, fatigue and the need for a break.
Joao Fonseca has become the latest player to withdraw from the Asian Swing’s biggest stop, after deciding he needs more time following his return to competition.
The 20-year-old was back on court at the weekend when Brazil met Switzerland in the Davis Cup. It was not a straightforward comeback. Fonseca had been dealing with an abdominal injury suffered before the US Open, yet still managed to grind out a three-set win over Dominic Stricker in Rio de Janeiro.
The Brazilian was overcome with emotion after the match, and only days after saying he was not fully fit, he has now chosen to sit out the coming tour stretch in Asia.
On Instagram, he wrote, “2026 has been a very challenging year for me. On top of everything the profession demands, a series of injuries ended up taking me out of important tournaments and keeping me from playing the way I would like to.
“I know that’s just part of an athlete’s life, but even so, it’s still frustrating. I made a huge effort to return and represent Brazil in the Davis Cup, but I still need more time.
“I talked a lot with my team, and we came to the conclusion that the best decision right now is to listen to my body, give my mind and body a break, and skip the Asian swing.”
Fonseca had been entered for the Japan Open, where he was listed alongside defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, US Open finalist Ben Shelton and top 10 player Taylor Fritz. With this withdrawal, he will not appear in Tokyo for the ATP 500 event, which runs from 30 September to 6 October.
His absence also removes him from the Shanghai Masters, the biggest tournament in the Asian Swing, which is scheduled for 7-18 October. The event will feature Alexander Zverev, while Jannik Sinner is expected to be there too if his knee injury does not worsen. Alcaraz, Shelton and Novak Djokovic are also on the entry list.
Raphael Collignon and Sebastian Korda are also out. Collignon said earlier this month that a knee problem had forced him to miss the Davis Cup and the Asian Swing, while Korda has been sidelined for more than five months with a back injury and has undergone surgery to “finally relieve the pain”.
Shanghai Masters withdrawal list
Joao Fonseca (world No 28) – replaced by TBC
Raphael Collignon (world No 47) – replaced by Marcos Giron
Sebastian Korda (world No 72) – replaced by Hamad Medjedovic
Darwin Blanch captures first ATP 125 title with Tiburon breakthrough
Arthur Fery named Laver Cup alternate after breakthrough season
Fonseca opts out of Asian swing after Davis Cup comeback
Alcaraz Confronts On‑court Microphones During US Open Practice Ahead of Opelka Match
Raducanu Arrives at US Open With Momentum After Strong Hard‑Court Swing
