Just more than half a year ago, Coco Gauff was openly questioning whether the serve changes she had been making were helping at all. By the time she reached the Cincinnati Open final, the picture looked very different, with the American finding clarity and confidence at the right time before the US Open.

Gauff’s serve has been one of the most closely watched parts of her game, and the issue came into sharp focus during her Dubai Tennis Championships semi-final against Elina Svitolina in February. After dropping the first set, she double faulted at 2-2 [15-15] in the second and turned to biomechanics coach Gavin MacMillan with clear frustration: “I’ve been doing everything you’ve wanted for the last six months, and it’s gotten not better at all, bro.”

MacMillan had joined her team before the 2025 US Open with the specific aim of improving that area of her game. At the time, Gauff felt the work was not producing results. That changed in Cincinnati, where there was little reason to discuss the serve after she beat Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 in the final and committed only one double fault across the match.

In comments to WTATennis.com, the two-time Grand Slam champion acknowledged how difficult that Dubai moment had been, while also stressing that the work is moving in the right direction.

“That was a tough moment for me, and I felt bad after I said it, but they’re understanding people [laughing]. They knew it was out a frustration, but that was a tough moment because I was like, ‘Bro, we’ve been working on it and it’s not getting better.’

“It was getting better, honestly, but it just didn’t feel like it in that moment. After the match, my coach said ‘No, you’re in the right track,’ especially JC [Faurel] because he’s been with me through the worst of my serve, and now he’s on the better half, better side of it.

“He says the double faults aren’t the same. Obviously they’re still double faults, but he’s like ‘You’re just improving.’ That gave me a good confidence that one day I will find it, and I feel now, I know that I can find it even if I throw two or something in a game. I know that I’m capable of finding Plan A again and at some point in the match.”

Twelve months ago, Gauff was in a far less comfortable place, losing in the first round at Wimbledon before making the decision to replace Matt Daly, who had joined her team in September 2024 and later guided her to the 2025 French Open title, with MacMillan. There was no immediate turnaround, as she then fell in the fourth round at the US Open.

This year feels different. Speaking after her Cincinnati victory in Ohio, she said: “I think last year, I was just frustrated with my game and I felt like I was declining. It’s not something any player wants to feel”

“You always want to feel like you’re getting better or, at the worst, just plateauing. So last year I was in a weird predicament. I made sudden decisions that most people probably wouldn’t do before a Slam, but I think it was worth it. I feel like it’s night and day where I am from last year to now.”

Novak Djokovic’s build-up to the US Open has become more uneasy after a difficult stretch that left questions about his condition before singles play begins.

The 24-time Grand Slam winner has played sparingly in recent months, a pattern he has chosen in order to focus his energy on the majors. In a rare adjustment, he entered the Cincinnati Open and returned there for the first time since winning the title in 2023.

That stay was brief. Djokovic lost in the round of 64 to Thiago Agustin Tirante, and after the match, the 39-year-old, who vomited mid-match and required medical attention, said he was dealing with “a lot of issues”.

“It’s just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years. A lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot,” he explained.

“I did anticipate it, but there are all these things, like nerves and everything involved that make it worse, and that’s what happened.”

Djokovic then continued into the mixed doubles event with Aryna Sabalenka. The top seeds were beaten 4-1, 1-4, [2-10] by Henri Patten and Katerina Siniakova on Arthur Ashe on Tuesday.

His day did not end there. A practice match against Zizou Bergs later in the day was cut short after 40 minutes, with Djokovic trailing 3-0 when he called it off. There were no signs of injury, but he did appear fatigued after the earlier competitive outing.

Djokovic is scheduled to return to the practice courts at Flushing Meadows on Wednesday and is set to take on Alexander Zverev at 15:00 local time. He still has time to recover before the singles main draw begins on Sunday 30 August, with first-round matches spread across three days.

Seeded fourth, Djokovic can only face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or top seed Alexander Zverev in the semi-final or final. Last year, he lost to Alcaraz in straight sets in the semi-final.

Arthur Fils said the criticism directed at him this year helped fuel his response at the 2026 Cincinnati Open, where he captured the biggest title of his career.

The Frenchman defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 in Sunday’s final in Mason, Ohio to win his first Masters 1000 crown. It was the fifth ATP Tour title of his career, and by far the most significant to date.

After sealing the win, Fils wrote “Who’s gonna talk now?” on the camera lens, a pointed message that reflected the scrutiny he has faced in 2026. In his press conference, he explained the thinking behind it.

“Because people were talking very bad. You know, in France, it’s very easy sometimes… to criticise,” the 22-year-old said.

“It’s very easy to criticise, and I didn’t play the French Open. I lost early in Washington, and then people think that I’m done, and I don’t know how to play tennis.

“But here we are, I got the title, and I think no one’s going to talk now.”

Asked by French media whether that criticism bothers him, Fils was clear that he does not let it define him.

“To say it affects me is a bit of an exaggeration. But it’s certainly never pleasant when you come across it,” Fils said.

“But actually, I use it as motivation. When things get tough, I tell myself I have no choice.

“What I do, I do for myself, for my team, but also to show them they’re wrong. It’s so easy to criticise.

“When I didn’t play at Roland Garros or when I lost in the first round in Washington, it was as if I’d forgotten how to play tennis, according to some people.”

The result lifted Fils 10 places to a career-high world No 11. He now owns a 32-10 record in 2026, a winning percentage of 76.2%.