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ATP Cincinnati Open Masters

Cincinnati’s renovation, the weather and a harsh day for American hopes

Cincinnati’s overhaul couldn’t change August weather as American hopes fell before quarterfinals….

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The Cincinnati Open arrived this year with a $260 million renovation, new buildings, sunken courts, expanded draws and $5 million more in prize money. The upgrades have reshaped the grounds, but August weather here remains the same: stifling heat that can give way to sudden, heavy rain. Fans have spent hours under the tournament’s new shaded tables and the schedule has relied on built-in off days to keep the event roughly on track for the quarterfinals.

Practice courts offered a different drama. Daniil Medvedev and Tomas Machac, both gone from the draw after opening losses, spent a humid afternoon exchanging level strokes that often looked effortless. Watching them reminded observers that even players with difficult seasons can find clarity in practice, and that match pressure is a separate animal.

The competitive court produced tougher stories. Frances Tiafoe began strongly against Holger Rune, leading early, then suffered a recurrence of pain at 4-4. He called the trainer, downed Tylenol and by the second set was asking his coaches if he should stop. When the moment arrived he screamed an f-bomb and hit a ball out of the stadium. His run in Cincinnati was over and his path to a deep US Open showing now feels uncertain.

Adrian Mannarino supplied one of the day’s liveliest moments. After striking an especially thin ball he exclaimed, “Ay yi-yi-yi-yi!” The 37-year-old pushed Jannik Sinner for almost two hours, and briefly drew visible frustration from Sinner, who gave his coaches, including Darren Cahill, a sarcastic thumbs up after a big point. Mannarino could not seize the final opportunity.

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Carlos Alcaraz drew a different crowd at practice. When he appeared, fans sprinted across the grounds to watch; Ben Shelton even joined a session beside him. At the other end of the scoreboard the United States suffered a sweep of disappointments: Jessica Pegula, Taylor Fritz and Madison Keys all lost by evening. Pegula fell to an aggressive Magda Linette, Keys was pushed back by Elena Rybakina and Fritz was beaten by Terence Altman. Sometimes you play like you’re No. 1. Other times your opponent plays like you’re No. 1.

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ATP simplifies its brand as tennis organizations refresh identities in 2025

ATP unveils a simplified logo in 2025 as major tennis organizations refresh their visual identities.

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The ATP has rolled out a new logo described as “simplified and reimagined for the digital age,” becoming the latest major tennis organization to update its visual identity in 2025. The governing body of men’s professional tennis revealed the sixth logo in its 54-year history. The redesign drops the word “Tour” from the previous mark and retires the swinging forehand silhouette introduced in 2018. The updated sign keeps the familiar typography and adds a “curved trajectory that reflects the motion of a tennis ball in play.” ATP Tour (2018-2025) | ATP (2026-Present)

“Tennis is constantly evolving,” said Eno Polo, ATP CEO, in a statement. “To keep pace with our global fan base, we need to tell our story with creativity and energy. Our new identity captures the drama, precision, and momentum of the Tour, connecting with today’s fans while inspiring the next generation discovering tennis for the first time.”

The ATP refresh is the third major rebrand this year among the T7: the sport’s three governing bodies and the four Grand Slams. In February the WTA introduced a new identity and launched its “Rally the World” campaign. In October the International Tennis Federation announced it will rebrand to “World Tennis” effective January 1, 2026, with a new visual identity to follow in summer 2026.

“World Tennis better reflects who we are today; the global governing body and guardian of tennis, working hard with our members to deliver tennis for life,” said ITF President David Haggerty. “This evolution follows extensive consultation across the global tennis community and reflects our shared ambition to strengthen, unify and grow the game worldwide. We look forward to revealing our new identity and wider plans in the coming months.”

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Michael Sutton-Long said, “There’s a practical reason,” “Some of the old logos maybe are outdated or just don’t work on all formats. You need a logo that’s instantly recognizable and flexible—something that reads well on a phone screen, a TV broadcast, or a stadium banner. Brands need to evolve to stay relevant.” “But beyond that,” he added, “tennis is cool again. There’s so much attention on the sport right now—everyone knows (Carlos) Alcaraz, (Jannik) Sinner, and Coco (Gauff). With new fans tuning in and new sponsors coming on board, this feels like the right moment for brands to evolve their visual identities.”

The WTA move centered on bold block letters and a player-focused Rally the World message. The Grand Slams have taken varied approaches, from the Australian Open’s bold AO redesign to Wimbledon’s subtle tweaks that emphasize heritage. US Open (1997-2018) | US Open (2018-Present) Australian Open (2007-2016) | (2016-Present)

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Musetti outlasts Wawrinka in Athens, keeps ATP Finals bid alive

Musetti beat Wawrinka 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in Athens and must win the title to qualify for Turin. Plus.

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Lorenzo Musetti survived an inspired challenge from Stan Wawrinka, rallying to a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory in Athens to reach his 12th quarterfinal of the season and remain in contention for the ATP Finals.

He needs to win the title this week to punch his ticket to Turin. “It’s not easy to play with that in my mind,” Musetti told the crowd in his on-court interview. “But of course if I want to qualify for the ATP Finals I have to lift the trophy here, so I hope I have your support, guys, and I will try my best.”

Wawrinka threatened to derail those hopes from the start, breaking for a 4-3 lead in the first set en route to taking it. After 12 consecutive holds between them in set two, the Swiss reached 5-4 in the tie-break and was two points from victory, only for Musetti to win the final three points to level the match. Musetti then broke in the opening game of the third set; that proved to be the second and final break of the contest. He served out the match on his first match point, finishing with a down-the-line backhand winner.

“First of all, I want to say thanks for sharing the court with a legend,” the Italian said of Wawrinka. “He’s been an inspiration since I was a kid. Stan showed really impressive tennis today and I had to raise the level to win this match. Especially in the third set he was not struggling physically at his age, so hopefully when I will be 40, I will be the same! So a really big effort from Stan, and I’m really, really happy for the win.”

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Wawrinka produced more winners than unforced errors, 36 to 28, and served an outstanding 22 aces. Musetti finished with 33 winners to 35 unforced errors.

If Musetti does not win the tournament, Felix Auger-Aliassime will round out the field for Turin. The No. 2-seeded Musetti now faces No. 5-seeded Alexandre Muller in the quarterfinals; Muller earlier defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-7 (2), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3), saving a match point at 5-6 in the second set and overcoming a 4-1 deficit in that tie-break. Muller beat Musetti in their only prior meeting in Marrakech in 2023, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.

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ATP Masters Rolex Shanghai Masters

Hanfmann’s team reboot and a home Challenger set the tone for a strong finish

Hanfmann used a home Challenger title and a team reshuffle to fuel late-season momentum in 2025. Now

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Yannick Hanfmann closed the 2025 season on an upswing after a deliberate reshaping of his team and training approach. The 33-year-old German’s victory at the Platzmann Open ATP Challenger in Hagen in early August was his first success under new coach Petar Popovic and offered early evidence that the changes were working.

The partnership with Popovic began after the French Open, when Hanfmann ended his collaboration with Juan Pablo Brzezicki. Hanfmann described the recruitment as immediate and natural. “I had originally planned to go through the grass season just with a fitness coach,” he said. “Then the opportunity with Petar came up. We already knew each other from before. He has a lot of experience. After one phone call, we met spontaneously in Stuttgart, and it clicked right away.”

On court, the effects have been tangible. Observers noted sharper match instincts, more structure in key rallies, and a calmer presence in pressure moments. Hanfmann remains explicit about his goals: “Of course, I’ve been playing more on the Tour level in recent years,” he said. “I still hope to win a title there as well. But it’s obviously very nice to win a Challenger in Germany.”

Hanfmann’s routine is intentionally mobile. Based mainly in Antwerp while still spending time in his hometown of Karlsruhe, he organizes training around tournament schedules and works closely with his fitness coach and Popovic to refine details. “I live in Antwerp and still spend some time in Karlsruhe, but most of the time I’m on the road,” he said. “As a tennis player, it’s hard to really be at home anywhere.” He also spent a week in Munich for focused clay-court preparation earlier in the year.

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Competing near Antwerp added resonance to his season. He came through qualifying at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open in Brussels to reach the second round before falling to Lorenzo Musetti. Off court, Hanfmann brings depth to his profile: born in Karlsruhe, he has lived with a hearing impairment in both ears, is a former University of Southern California standout who helped the Trojans win two NCAA titles, and maintains interests in football and basketball clubs. At 33, his changes have produced momentum rather than a rebuild, culminating in a strong showing at the Rolex Shanghai Masters to end the year.

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