Grigor Dimitrov’s impressive streak of appearing in 58 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments is set to end as he withdraws from the upcoming US Open due to injury. Since the 2011 Australian Open, Dimitrov’s name has been a fixture on every men’s singles main draw entry list. However, the Bulgarian will be absent from the US Open this year after sustaining a partial tear of his right pectoralis major muscle at Wimbledon.

During Wimbledon, Dimitrov was leading by two sets against eventual champion Jannik Sinner but was forced to retire due to the injury. Despite hopes for recovery, Dimitrov has not regained fitness in time for the American Slam. His manager, Georgi Stoimenov, confirmed to TennisKafe that Dimitrov will be sitting out this tournament, with the possibility of returning for events in China later in September still uncertain.

Dimitrov holds the record for the longest active consecutive Grand Slam appearance streak at 58 tournaments. Over these years, his performance at the majors has seen various milestones, including reaching the Wimbledon semi-final in 2014 and multiple quarter-final appearances at the Australian Open and French Open. His recent Grand Slam results reflect a seasoned career that continues to face challenges from injuries and form.

As he recovers, all eyes will be on his return to competitive play later this season. For now, the absence of a player who has been a constant presence on the major stage marks the end of an era in active Grand Slam participation count.

The final of the Mubadala Citi Open offered a vivid display of the mental challenges in tennis, as Alejandro Davidovich Fokina faltered against Alex de Minaur despite a strong position. Known for his aggressive style, Davidovich Fokina’s troubles often come from rushing shots rather than hesitation. Sunday’s match underlined this pattern, as he served for the title at 5-3 in the third set and went up 30-0, only to succumb to a sequence of unforced errors including a double fault and a misfired forehand.

His internal battle became increasingly visible, manifesting in intense frustration, arenas of disappointment, and a total collapse of composure in the final stages. Despite squandering three championship points, his competitive spirit never fully diminished during his match points, where he refrained from rushing and acknowledged de Minaur’s superior play.

Davidovich Fokina’s approach to anxiety and pressure, unfortunately, led to his losing from match point up for the second time this year, echoing previous losses in Delray and Acapulco. Yet, his post-match speech was composed and reflective, acknowledging de Minaur’s deserving victory and taking solace in achieving his season goal of breaking into the Top 20.

De Minaur exemplified sportsmanship, consoling his opponent openly on court. “You are a hell of a competitor, a hell of a player. No one on the tour wants to play you. This is not the end, this is only going up for you,” he told Davidovich Fokina. This interaction highlighted the respect and empathy shared between the two, reinforcing that this Washington final is but a waypoint in Davidovich Fokina’s rising career trajectory.

The emotional roller coaster of this match underscores the complexity of mental resilience in tennis, and while the choke remains a haunting foe, the capacity to regain composure and credit the opponent is a testament to true sportsmanship and character.

Following a strong performance in Washington D.C., Ben Shelton has achieved a new career-high ATP ranking of No. 7. This milestone positions him as the second-highest-ranked American male player since Mardy Fish last reached No. 7 in September 2011. Shelton’s consistent form over the last year includes 10 quarterfinal appearances or better, nine of which were at ATP 500 events or higher, highlighted by his Australian Open semifinal earlier this year and two ATP 500 finals last fall in Basel and this spring in Munich.

One ranking place below Shelton, Alex de Minaur moved up to No. 8 after winning the Washington D.C. ATP 500 tournament, marking his highest rank since May. The finalist and runner-up in Washington D.C., Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, makes his top 20 debut, jumping from No. 26 to No. 19. His breakthrough reflects his history of 25 career wins over top 20 opponents.

The ATP rankings also feature upward moves from Alexander Bublik (up from No. 30 to No. 25) after a title win in Kitzbuhel and Luciano Darderi (from No. 46 to No. 35) following his victory in Umag. Additionally, Frenchman Corentin Moutet and Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli both enter the top 50 for the first time based on strong semifinal showings in Washington D.C. and Umag respectively.

On the WTA side, Leylah Fernandez surged from No. 36 to No. 24 after securing her biggest career title in Washington D.C. She defeated Anna Kalinskaya, who also climbed to No. 31. Emma Raducanu improved her ranking from No. 45 to No. 33, reaching her highest position since the 2022 US Open, after a semifinal run in Washington D.C.

Taylor Townsend made significant strides on both fronts, rising from No. 97 to No. 75 in singles after reaching the Washington D.C. quarterfinals, and becoming the first mother to reach No. 1 in WTA doubles rankings following her doubles title win alongside Zhang Shuai.

Venus Williams returned to the WTA rankings for the first time since March 2025, positioned at No. 643 in singles after a second-round appearance in Washington D.C. She also re-entered the doubles rankings at No. 571 following a quarterfinal run in doubles alongside Hailey Baptiste.