WTA Finals delivered some entertaining matches – especially Amanda Anisimova vs Iga Swiatek – but it was Elena Rybakina who went unbeaten in Riyadh, seeing off world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final and collecting a $5.2m cheque. 

The final unfortunately made the news for the wrong reasons after Rybakina refused to take a picture with WTA CEO Portia Archer during the trophy ceremony. We discuss.

On the men’s side, the ATP Finals field was confirmed in the 25th hour after Novak Djokovic made everybody wait. The 24-time Grand Slam champion announced his withdrawal shortly after beating Lorenzo Musetti in a dramatic Athens final.

We have three black men competing at the year-end event which is a first for Black Spin Global. In singles, World No 6 Ben Shelton and world No 8 Félix Auger-Aliassime are in the Bjorn Borg alongside Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.

In doubles, debutant Evan King and partner Christian Harrison, the eighth-ranked pair in the race, are in the John McEnroe group.

To close, we share our predictions for Turin.

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Victoria Mboko, the Queen of Canadian Tennis, closed out 2025 in style winning her second title of the year in Hong Kong. The 19-year-old Canadian saw off Filipina Alexandra Eala and countrywoman Leylah Fernandez en route. Mboko, who started the year ranked 333 in the world, is now at a career high 18.

The WTA Finals are well under way in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Defending champion Coco Gauff fell to Jessica Pegula in her opening match in the Stefanie Graf group. As did Jasmine Paolini, against Aryna Sabalenka. Gauff versus Paolini is now a must-win match for both.

Madison Keys, playing for the first time since the US Open, is also in action. The Australian Open champion is in the Serena Williams group alongside Iga Swiatek, Amanda Anisimova and Elena Rybakina.

In the doubles event, Paolini and Sara Errani are the top seeds in the Martina Navratilova group alongside debutant Asia Muhammad and Demi Schuurs. Second seeds Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova are in the Liezel Huber group.

Félix Auger-Aliassime played himself into an ATP Finals spot with his run to the Paris Masters final. The 25-year-old Canadian, who currently occupies the eighth and final place in the Race to Turin, lost to Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s championship match. Sinner returns to No 1 in the world.

World No 6 Ben Shelton also qualified for Turin following his run in Paris where he lost to eventual champion Sinner in the quarter-finals.

To close, we share our thoughts on the ATP adding a 10th Masters event to the calendar from 2028.

This is another celebratory episode in response to Coco Gauff’s incredible run to the Wuhan title.

“Big Coco, never the little one” won all of her matches in straight sets at the WTA 1000. It’s the American’s second crown of the year following her French Open triumph earlier this season. The 21-year-old world No 3 now has 11 singles titles to her name, including two majors and three WTA 1000s (and don’t forget the year-end Finals title last year).

Jasmine Paolini also did herself proud in Wuhan with a 6-1, 6-2 statement-victory over Iga Swiatek – a player she had never beaten before – in the quarter-finals. Paolini was beaten by eventual champion Gauff in a competitive semi-final. The Italian is now in Ningbo looking to secure a WTA Finals singles spot.

To close we share our thoughts on the family affair in Shanghai – shout out to champion Valentin Vacherot and his runner-up cousin Arthur Rinderknech. We also ask why it’s proving so difficult for guys to step up in the absence of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.”

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We are back after a post US Open break! 

Italy go back-to-back at Billie Jean King Cup with Jasmine Paolini leading the charge. Félix Auger-Aliassime ties the knot in Morocco, Gaël Monfils shares his retirement plans, Team World win Laver Cup. Plus, Beijing chat and the latest from Shanghai.

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Naomi Osaka fell short to an impressive and in-form Amanda Anisimova in a very entertaining semi-final which followed a three-set thriller between defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula. Osaka made a bright start but was pipped by the eighth seed who was able to hold her nerve and maintain her level in the deciding set.

Take nothing away from Osaka, who has had a superb fortnight and has a top-20 ranking to show for the brilliant work she has put in during this North American hard-court swing.

In the women’s doubles final, Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova fell to third seeds Erin Routliffe and Gabriela Dabrowski in straight sets – 6-4, 6-4. The top seeds were three-love-down in the second set and fought their way back into proceedings before the New Zealand-Canadian duo eventually saw them off.

Regardless, it has been an incredible, “life changing” tournament for Townsend who made a run to the fourth round in singles, taking out a Grand Slam champion and the world No 5 en route and was within a set of beating Barbora Krejcikova.

In the second men’s semi-final, Felix Auger-Aliassime gave a good account of himself in a four-set defeat to defending champion Jannik Sinner. The 25-year-old Canadian looked a completely different player to the one that was outplayed by Sinnner in Cincinnati last month and was hanging with the world No 1 from the baseline.

Auger-Aliassime, who returns to the top 20, can now focus on his wedding before returning to the ATP Tour where it feels like a another breakthrough is imminent.

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Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova are through to the women’s doubles final after dominant performances in the last eight against Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez and then another straight-sets victory against Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudermetova in the semi-finals. They will play third seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe in the final after the Canadian-New Zealand duo took out second seeds Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani.

In singles, Felix Auger-Aliassime came through a four-set scrap against eighth seed Alex de Minaur to book his place in his second US Open semi-final. The 25-year-old Canadian had to be patient against the world No 8 but managed the match brilliantly. FAA has his swagger back and we are very excited to see what the Canadian does in the semi-final.

In the second women’s quarter-final of the day, Naomi Osaka beat 11th seed Karolina Muchova in straight sets in another smooth performance on Arthur Ashe. Osaka was brilliant in the first set and stayed solid in the second after Muchova was showing signs of a fightback. The four-time Grand Slam champion, in the middle of another deep run in just her second tournament with new coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, will play eighth seed Amanda Anisimova in the semi-final.

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Taylor Townsend pushed two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejickova close in an epic three-set battle on Louis Armstrong. The American had eight match points but was unable to convert. The doubles world No 1 still has unfinished business in New York with doubles partner Katerina Siniakova.

Felix Auger-Aliassime is looking more and more like the top 10 player he was back in 2022. The 25th seed took out 15th seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets on Arthur Ashe in the opening match on Labor Day. FAA, through to the last eight in New York for the first time since 2019, is playing with a swagger that can carry him a long way. 

In the day’s most anticipated match, Naomi Osaka was too hot to handle for third seed Coco Gauff. The two-time US Open champion saw off the American 6-3, 6-2 in 64 minutes to set up a quarter-final clash with 11th seed Karolina Muchova. 

We cannot wait for Osaka vs Gauff when both players are in peak form.

Listen out for post-match press snippets from Auger-Aliassime and Gauff.

Credits: US Open Tennis Championships.

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Coco Gauff beat Magdelena Frech 6-2, 6-3 in the first match on Arthur Ashe. The third seed, who said she “felt a lot lighter going on court”, put up some good numbers against Frech. Stat sheet made for nice reading for the 2023 champion, too. Was nearly perfect at the net 10/11, won 71% of points on first serve and only hit four double faults (one in the first and three in the second).

Naomi Osaka handled (15)Daria Kasatkina in three sets – 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 on Louis Armstrong. The two-time champ was near flawless in the first set, had a wobble in the second after Kasatkina raised her level, but locked back in during the third set to close out the match and book her place in the second week. The Japanese shared her thoughts on facing Gauff.

Felix Auger-Aliassime took down third seed Alexander Zverev in four sets – 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 – in a performance that took us back to the days when FAA was a top 10 player. The Canadian was teeing off from the forehand wing and was evidently loving the conditions in New York, which he alluded to during his post-match presser.

Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez are going strong in doubles, they beat Ulrikke Eikeri and Eri Hozumi 7-6(1), 6-1. So are top seeds Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova, who beat Alycia Parks and Dayana Yastremska 6-3, 6-3 on a packed Court 12.

Credits: US Open Tennis Championships.

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Taylor Townsend picked up from where she left off against Jelena Ostapenko, this time seeing off world No 5 Mirra Andreeva inside a busy Arthur Ashe stadium. Townsend was an example of staying in the moment, recovering from an early break down in the first set and seemingly going on to cruise in set two. The doubles world No 1’s stardom continues to rise.

Now to the defeats, Jasmine Paolini fell to Marketa Vondrousova on Grandstand. The Italian seventh seed was the better player in the first set and had two looks at a break point but was unable to convert. The second set was a complete switchup, and to Paolini’s credit she admitted nerves got the better of her.

Frances Tiafoe, the 17th seed, had no answer for qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff, who took the American down in three sets. The two-time US Open semi-finalist was unable to create any real openings and was not looking to make any excuses afterwards.

And finally, Ben Shelton, the sixth seed, was forced to retire against crafty Frenchman Adrian Mannarino at two sets all. Shelton, who left the court in tears, appeared to have hurt his left shoulder. The 22-year-old was able to put things into perspective in his post-match presser.

Credits: US Open Tennis Championships.

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In a match that had three sets written all over it coming in, Naomi Osaka beat Hailey Baptiste in straights – 6-3, 6-1. The American made a nervy start and was unable to force her way into the match as a result of Osaka’s level which was ultimately too good. We asked about her tactics.

Gabriel Diallo lost out in three close sets to Jaume Munar. The Canadian 31st seed was unable to take control like he has done in previous meetings against the Spaniard.

Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Roman Safiullin 6-1, 7-6, 7-6. FAA seems to be finding his confidence in New York. His next opponent is third seed Alexander Zverev. The head-to-head is one-sided in Zverev’s favour, but the Canadian has beaten the German in their only meeting at a Grand Slam.

Our last match of the day was Coco Gauff versus Donna Vekic on Arthur Ashe. Many expected a three-setter but the American third seed got things done in straights. She was emotional both during the match and during the on-court interview, but was incredible in her post-match presser.

To finish, we talk doubles where Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez got their campaign off to a winning start, as did top seeds Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova. Meanwhile…

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