Alex Eala’s strong stretch on North American hard courts carried into Cincinnati, where she opened her campaign with another convincing display and a further sign of how quickly her standing in the game is changing.

Seeded No 17 at the WTA 1000 event, Eala improved her recent hard-court record in North America to 8-1 after defeating Elena-Gabriela Ruse. She was ahead 6-1, 3-0 when Ruse was forced to retire, but the performance still reflected the level Eala has been producing in recent weeks.

“I think that I was playing well, I think I felt the ball good, was really focused and tried to keep myself in the zone, I think I did a good job of that,” said Eala.

“Of course, nobody likes to finish a match with a retirement, first and foremost, I just want to wish Gabriela-Ruse a speedy recovery. Injuries aren’t fun, so I hope she recovers soon.”

A large crowd was again on hand for her match, with Philippine flags prominent among the support. Eala said the growing attention around her has altered her routine, but in a way she is welcoming.

“My days have gotten a little more packed with the commitments and spending time with you guys (the media), but obviously in a very good way, and I’m enjoying it a lot,” added Eala.

“I think it’s a good sign, and it’s helping me become, I guess, a stronger player and be more kind of established on tour.”

Her victory lifted her to a career-high No 18 in the live WTA Rankings. The next challenge is Amanda Anisimova, the 2025 Wimbledon and US Open finalist. Former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski believes Eala is ready for that test, pointing to her title run in Washington earlier this month and her ability to keep competing through a demanding schedule.

“Why should she care whether she’s playing an Anisimova, whoever’s in the section?” asked Rusedski on his podcast.

“She competes, she fights, she’s so mentally tough that it doesn’t matter who’s in her way. You’ve got to play great tennis to beat her. And I see her only going one direction and that’s up.”

Jannik Sinner’s preparations for the 2026 US Open have taken another step forward after a report said the Italian has completed shockwave therapy on his knee.

Sinner has not competed since beating Alexander Zverev in four sets in the Wimbledon final on 12 July, a result that allowed him to retain the title at the All England Club. His absence from the Canadian Open did not come as a major surprise, as he had also skipped that event in 2025. The more notable setback arrived when he pulled out of the Cincinnati Open.

The five-time Grand Slam champion said he withdrew from the Masters 1000 event because of a right knee injury. “After consulting with my doctors and my team, I have to announce that I need to withdraw from the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati,” Sinner said.

“My right knee has been bothering me and even though we have been working hard with my medical team, I have to accept that I’m not ready to compete yet.

“I can’t wait to be back next year and I’m now focusing on getting ready for the US Open.”

That decision means Sinner is not scheduled to play another tournament before the 2026 US Open, which begins on Sunday 30 August. A report in La Gazzetta dello Sport from journalist Richard Crivelli provided the latest update on his condition.

“The world No 1 remained until yesterday at JMedical in Turin, one of his primary clinical facilities, to complete shockwave therapy on the inflamed area,” Crivelli wrote.

“Now, he has a couple of days in Monte Carlo to celebrate his 25th birthday with his family, then between Monday and Tuesday, he’ll be packing his bags for New York.

“At that point, Jannik will have a dozen days of training [before the US Open].”

Sinner will be targeting a second US Open title in New York after lifting the trophy at Flushing Meadows in 2024. In 2025, he was beaten in the final by his biggest rival, Carlos Alcaraz, in four sets.

Alexander Zverev will be back in Germany’s Davis Cup team when they face Croatia in their second-round tie in September.

He joins Yannick Hanfmann, Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz in a squad that is targeting a place in the Finals at the end of the year. For Zverev, it will be his first Davis Cup appearance since the 2025 finals.

The German said he is eager to represent his country again in front of home support. He also pointed to the response in Halle after his Grand Slam victory as a reminder of the level of passion for tennis in Germany. “I’m really looking forward to playing for Germany again in front of a home crowd.

“The reception in Halle after my Grand Slam victory meant a lot to me and showed how great the enthusiasm for tennis is here,” said Zverev. “We want to have a great tennis weekend together and qualify for the finals again.”

Zverev has not always been comfortable with the way the competition has changed. He has previously criticised the Davis Cup format, especially after the 2025 switch away from home and away ties and toward an eight-team final in Bologna, Italy.

Speaking during the 2025 event, he said: “The true Davis Cup is the home-and-away ties. The real Davis Cup is the atmosphere. To play against Italy in Italy, it would be a completely different atmosphere than playing Italy in Spain. I played against Nadal in a bullfighting arena. That’s for me the real Davis Cup.

His frustrations were also evident after Germany played Argentina in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Finals. “Don’t you think it’s maybe a bit sad that this kind of match and the doubles attract at most a thousand people in the stadium? If we had played in Argentina or Germany, there might have been 15,000 people. In that respect, I find it a bit sad.”

Even so, Germany go in as one of the leading contenders, helped by Zverev’s form this year. Team captain Michael Kohlmann is confident in the group and wants the right balance in Halle. “Now it’s about bringing the perfect mix to the pitch and, together with the fans in Halle, creating two successful days that we will fondly remember.”

Zverev is still chasing his first Davis Cup title. His run to the semi-finals in 2025 was his best result so far, and he also owns a strong individual record for Germany with 11 wins and five losses in singles.