&nbsp;Serena Williams and older sister Venus have accepted a doubles wildcard for the U.S. Open, tournament organisers said on Saturday.

The Williams sisters are two-times doubles champions at season's final major, having triumphed together in 1999 and 2009. Together they have won 14 women's Grand Slam doubles titles.

The U.S. Open, which begins on Monday, could be the final tournament of Serena's glittering career as she announced last month her pending retirement but never confirmed the Aug. 29-Sept. 11 as her final event.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/biggest-controversies-involving-tennis-legend-serena-williams-510936">Biggest controversies involving tennis legend Serena Williams</a>

Serena, 40, and Venus, 42, are also competing in the singles draw.

 
&nbsp;

Serena Williams and older sister Venus have accepted a doubles wildcard for the U.S. Open, tournament organisers said on Saturday. The Williams sisters are two-times doubles champions at season's final major, having triumphed together in 1999 and 2009.

Serena Williams and older sister Venus have accepted a doubles wildcard for the U.S. Open, tournament organisers said on Saturday. The Williams sisters are two-times doubles champions at season's final major, having triumphed together in 1999 and 2009. Together they have won 14 women's Grand Slam doubles titles. The U.S. Open, which begins on Monday, could be the final tournament of Serena's glittering career as she announced last month her pending retirement but never confirmed the Aug. 29-Sept. 11 as her final event. Also Read: Biggest controversies involving tennis legend Serena Williams Serena, 40, and Venus, 42, are also competing in the singles draw.

Serena and Venus Williams get US Open doubles wild-card entry

Biggest controversies involving tennis legend Serena Williams

Montenegro's Danka Kovinic will find herself in an unfamiliar place in the tennis spotlight on the sport's biggest stage on Monday playing the part of potential party pooper at Serena Williams's U.S. Open retirement bash.

Since turning professional in 2010, Kovinic has yet to crack the top 40 in the world rankings and is still chasing a maiden WTA Tour title but for a few hours on Monday the 27-year-old will have the attention of the tennis world.

A first round win over Williams and Kovinic will in one match achieve the fame that has overlooked her during an unspectacular 12-year career.&nbsp;

Her name would forever be linked to the 23-times Grand Slam winner widely considered the greatest woman to swing a racket. For a brief moment the 80th ranked Kovinic would go from obscurity to arguably the sport's most famous player.

No matter what Kovinic may achieve later in life, she would find enduring fame as the answer to a sport question on pub quiz nights or Trivia Pursuit: "Who was the last person to beat Serena Williams".

Williams, 40, signalled her intention to retire in a Vogue article in early August, saying she was "evolving away from tennis" but never confirming the U.S. Open as her final event.

The tennis world, however, is preparing a massive retirement party at Flushing Meadows and the hope is the celebrations carry on past opening day at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/she-has-this-legendary-energy-daniil-medvedev-believes-serena-williams-will-be-talked-about-after-100-years-510650">&nbsp;'She has this legendary energy'- Medvedev believes Serena Williams will be talked about after 100 years</a>

Kovinic, an anonymous figure who has spent much of her career grinding away on outside courts, playing qualifiers and minor tournaments, will walk into a seething cauldron.

The match on Arthur Ashe Center Court, the world's largest tennis stadium, will be packed with most of the nearly 25,000 cheering for the tennis icon standing across from her.

Williams will feel different emotions but the surroundings and scene will be familiar as she plays in her 21st U.S. Open, having hoisted the title six times, though not since 2014.

In contrast, Kovinic has won just two matches at Flushing Meadows, beating Serbian Aleksandra Krunic in the opening round in 2015 and Australian Lisette Faith Cabrera in 2020.

If Kovinic is experiencing stage fright she is not showing it, instead choosing to embrace the opportunity by posting on Instagram and Twitter, "WHAT A MOMENT. Looking forward to this".

Having been world number one for 319 weeks, Williams arrives in New York ranked below 600 and unseeded. She now plays sporadically, competing at just three events this season. In fact, since being beaten in the last 16 at Roland Garros in June 2021, she has won only one match.

While few expect Williams to end her career with a fairytale run to a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title, fewer still would bet on Kovinic, the aggressive baseliner from Cetinje, to show her the exit.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mama-bear-mode-serena-williams-husband-recalls-how-she-cared-for-her-daughter-ahead-of-2018-french-open-510378">‘Mama bear mode’- Serena Williams’ husband recalls how she cared for her daughter ahead of 2018 French Open</a>

Reigning U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu, one of the few players to have recently taken them on - beating Williams last week in Cincinnati and falling to Kovinic in the second round of the Australian Open - is making no predictions.

"For me facing her (Williams) the other week, I couldn't think about who was on the other side of the court because I knew as soon as I did, my mind would probably start going," said British teenager Raducanu. "It's really, really challenging.

"I'm going to know how Danka feels in that sort of situation. I remember she (Kovinic) was really, really solid, was staying with you, counter-punching. She's happy to run, happy to rally. It's going to be a good match-up, I think."

Montenegro's Danka Kovinic will find herself in an unfamiliar place in the tennis spotlight on the sport's biggest stage on Monday playing the part of potential party pooper at Serena Williams's U.

Montenegro's Danka Kovinic will find herself in an unfamiliar place in the tennis spotlight on the sport's biggest stage on Monday playing the part of potential party pooper at Serena Williams's U.S. Open retirement bash. Since turning professional in 2010, Kovinic has yet to crack the top 40 in the world rankings and is still chasing a maiden WTA Tour title but for a few hours on Monday the 27-year-old will have the attention of the tennis world. A first round win over Williams and Kovinic will in one match achieve the fame that has overlooked her during an unspectacular 12-year career. Her name would forever be linked to the 23-times Grand Slam winner widely considered the greatest woman to swing a racket. For a brief moment the 80th ranked Kovinic would go from obscurity to arguably the sport's most famous player. No matter what Kovinic may achieve later in life, she would find enduring fame as the answer to a sport question on pub quiz nights or Trivia Pursuit: "Who was the last person to beat Serena Williams". Williams, 40, signalled her intention to retire in a Vogue article in early August, saying she was "evolving away from tennis" but never confirming the U.S. Open as her final event. The tennis world, however, is preparing a massive retirement party at Flushing Meadows and the hope is the celebrations carry on past opening day at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center. Also Read: 'She has this legendary energy'- Medvedev believes Serena Williams will be talked about after 100 years Kovinic, an anonymous figure who has spent much of her career grinding away on outside courts, playing qualifiers and minor tournaments, will walk into a seething cauldron. The match on Arthur Ashe Center Court, the world's largest tennis stadium, will be packed with most of the nearly 25,000 cheering for the tennis icon standing across from her. Williams will feel different emotions but the surroundings and scene will be familiar as she plays in her 21st U.S. Open, having hoisted the title six times, though not since 2014. In contrast, Kovinic has won just two matches at Flushing Meadows, beating Serbian Aleksandra Krunic in the opening round in 2015 and Australian Lisette Faith Cabrera in 2020. If Kovinic is experiencing stage fright she is not showing it, instead choosing to embrace the opportunity by posting on Instagram and Twitter, "WHAT A MOMENT. Looking forward to this". Having been world number one for 319 weeks, Williams arrives in New York ranked below 600 and unseeded. She now plays sporadically, competing at just three events this season. In fact, since being beaten in the last 16 at Roland Garros in June 2021, she has won only one match. While few expect Williams to end her career with a fairytale run to a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title, fewer still would bet on Kovinic, the aggressive baseliner from Cetinje, to show her the exit. Also Read: ‘Mama bear mode’- Serena Williams’ husband recalls how she cared for her daughter ahead of 2018 French Open Reigning U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu, one of the few players to have recently taken them on - beating Williams last week in Cincinnati and falling to Kovinic in the second round of the Australian Open - is making no predictions. "For me facing her (Williams) the other week, I couldn't think about who was on the other side of the court because I knew as soon as I did, my mind would probably start going," said British teenager Raducanu. "It's really, really challenging. "I'm going to know how Danka feels in that sort of situation. I remember she (Kovinic) was really, really solid, was staying with you, counter-punching. She's happy to run, happy to rally. It's going to be a good match-up, I think."

Danka Kovinic who? Unknown from Montenegro prepares to send Serena Williams into retirement

World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev recently offered his take on the impact that Serena Williams has left on the sport of tennis. He recalled how Williams was a household name at the time he started getting into the sport of tennis at the age of 6.&nbsp;

Medvedev was fortunate enough to share the same stage as Williams during his Grand Slam debut at the 2017 Australian Open, where she went on to shatter the Open Era record set by Stefanie Graf by beating her sister Venus Williams in the finals.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mama-bear-mode-serena-williams-husband-recalls-how-she-cared-for-her-daughter-ahead-of-2018-french-open-510378" hreflang="en">‘Mama bear mode’- Serena Williams’ husband recalls how she cared for her daughter ahead of 2018 French Open</a>

Discussing her exploits in the realm of tennis while in conversation with the media, Medvedev waxed lyrical about the aura that she carried into tournaments, admitting that he is always left star-struck.

"It's just legendary. Every time I saw her in person, she just has this legendary energy around her, which I guess is not easy to live with, because that's why everybody is a fan of her.

"Maybe Paparazzi. You come around here, and you're like, ‘I'm a fan,’ something special. She for sure has and will have an amazing legacy in tennis. I'm sure in hundred years we're still going to talk about Serena Williams," the top seed admitted.

After what can only be described as an extremely successful and storied career, Serena Williams has decided to hang her racquet up and bow out of the sport for good.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/moderna-comes-under-fire-after-novak-djokovic-withdraws-from-us-open-due-to-covid-protocol-510366" hreflang="en">Moderna comes under fire after Novak Djokovic withdraws from US Open due to Covid protocol</a>

The upcoming US Open will mark her swansong in the realm of tennis as she prepares herself to ride out into the sunset. Williams will hope to fight her way to the top of the food chain and part ways with the sport with a bang.

However, should she tumble out of the competition in the initial stages, she can rest easy knowing that she has done more than enough to etch her name in tennis folklore with her brilliant performances.

World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev recently offered his take on the impact that Serena Williams has left on the sport of tennis. He recalled how Williams was a household name at the time he started getting into the sport of tennis at the age of 6.

World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev recently offered his take on the impact that Serena Williams has left on the sport of tennis. He recalled how Williams was a household name at the time he started getting into the sport of tennis at the age of 6. Medvedev was fortunate enough to share the same stage as Williams during his Grand Slam debut at the 2017 Australian Open, where she went on to shatter the Open Era record set by Stefanie Graf by beating her sister Venus Williams in the finals. ALSO READ: ‘Mama bear mode’- Serena Williams’ husband recalls how she cared for her daughter ahead of 2018 French Open Discussing her exploits in the realm of tennis while in conversation with the media, Medvedev waxed lyrical about the aura that she carried into tournaments, admitting that he is always left star-struck. "It's just legendary. Every time I saw her in person, she just has this legendary energy around her, which I guess is not easy to live with, because that's why everybody is a fan of her. "Maybe Paparazzi. You come around here, and you're like, ‘I'm a fan,’ something special. She for sure has and will have an amazing legacy in tennis. I'm sure in hundred years we're still going to talk about Serena Williams," the top seed admitted. After what can only be described as an extremely successful and storied career, Serena Williams has decided to hang her racquet up and bow out of the sport for good. ALSO READ: Moderna comes under fire after Novak Djokovic withdraws from US Open due to Covid protocol The upcoming US Open will mark her swansong in the realm of tennis as she prepares herself to ride out into the sunset. Williams will hope to fight her way to the top of the food chain and part ways with the sport with a bang. However, should she tumble out of the competition in the initial stages, she can rest easy knowing that she has done more than enough to etch her name in tennis folklore with her brilliant performances.

'She has this legendary energy'- Daniil Medvedev believes Serena Williams will be talked about after 100 years

Former world number one Roger Federer retained his place at the top of the list of the world's highest-paid tennis players for the 17th year despite not playing a match for nearly 14 months, according to Forbes.

WION Fineprint | Federer highest paid player in 2022 despite the year-long absence

Swiss maestro Roger Federer's last appearance came in Wimbledon 2021, where he bowed out of the showpiece event in the quarter-finals. Since then, the former World number one has been missing from action. Despite being out of action, Federer still hogs the headlines as he has been named the highest-paid tennis player for the 17th year in a row (since 2005), as revealed by Forbes.

The list continues to be headed by Argentina captain and Paris Saint Germain (PSG) Lionel Messi whereas the likes of LeBron James (2nd spot) Cristiano Ronaldo (3rd spot), Neymar (4th spot), Stephen Curry (5th spot) make the top-five. Here's the top ten of the highest-paid athletes:

1. Lionel Messi - $130 million

2. LeBron James - $121.2 million

3. Cristiano Ronaldo - $115 million

4. Neymar - $95 million

5. Stephen Curry - $92.8 million

6. Kevin Durant - $92.1 million

7. Roger Federer - $90.7 million

8. Canelo Alvarez - $90 million

9. Tom Brady - $83.9 million

10. Giannis Antetokounmpo - $80.9 million

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cristiano-ronaldo-brutally-axed-by-man-united-manager-erik-ten-hag-infront-of-entire-squad-report-510275">Cristiano Ronaldo brutally 'axed' by Man United manager Erik Ten Hag infront of entire squad: Report</a>

Talking about Federer, it is to be noted that the 20-time Grand Slam winner was out of action but still raked in an approximate $90 million before taxes and agents' fees over the last year to top the list among the tennis players, with the heavy amount coming in the form of "endorsements, appearances and other business endeavours". 
 
Among the female tennis players, Naomi Osaka (19th spot) and Serena Williams (31st position) are the top two. Soon-to-retire Williams&nbsp;earned a whopping $35.1 million this year, going past former men's number one&nbsp;Rafael Nadal ($31.4 million) and Novak Djokovic ($27.1 million). Among the top-ten tennis players, Emma Raducanu (sixth), Daniil Medvedev (seventh),&nbsp;Kei Nishikori,&nbsp;Venus Williams and&nbsp;Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz complete the top 10 respectively.

Overall, the top-50 list features Tiger Woods (14th spot), Lewis Hamilton (17th), Max Verstappen (21st), Phil Mickelson (joint-31st with Serena), Mohammad Salah (33rd), Frenchman Kylian Mbappe and Conor McGregor (35th), Jake Paul (46th).&nbsp;

Swiss maestro Roger Federer's last appearance came in Wimbledon 2021, where he bowed out of the showpiece event in the quarter-finals. Since then, the former World number one has been missing from action.

Swiss maestro Roger Federer's last appearance came in Wimbledon 2021, where he bowed out of the showpiece event in the quarter-finals. Since then, the former World number one has been missing from action. Despite being out of action, Federer still hogs the headlines as he has been named the highest-paid tennis player for the 17th year in a row (since 2005), as revealed by Forbes. The list continues to be headed by Argentina captain and Paris Saint Germain (PSG) Lionel Messi whereas the likes of LeBron James (2nd spot) Cristiano Ronaldo (3rd spot), Neymar (4th spot), Stephen Curry (5th spot) make the top-five. Here's the top ten of the highest-paid athletes: 1. Lionel Messi - $130 million 2. LeBron James - $121.2 million 3. Cristiano Ronaldo - $115 million 4. Neymar - $95 million 5. Stephen Curry - $92.8 million 6. Kevin Durant - $92.1 million 7. Roger Federer - $90.7 million 8. Canelo Alvarez - $90 million 9. Tom Brady - $83.9 million 10. Giannis Antetokounmpo - $80.9 million ALSO READ | Cristiano Ronaldo brutally 'axed' by Man United manager Erik Ten Hag infront of entire squad: Report Talking about Federer, it is to be noted that the 20-time Grand Slam winner was out of action but still raked in an approximate $90 million before taxes and agents' fees over the last year to top the list among the tennis players, with the heavy amount coming in the form of "endorsements, appearances and other business endeavours". Among the female tennis players, Naomi Osaka (19th spot) and Serena Williams (31st position) are the top two. Soon-to-retire Williams earned a whopping $35.1 million this year, going past former men's number one Rafael Nadal ($31.4 million) and Novak Djokovic ($27.1 million). Among the top-ten tennis players, Emma Raducanu (sixth), Daniil Medvedev (seventh), Kei Nishikori, Venus Williams and Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz complete the top 10 respectively. Overall, the top-50 list features Tiger Woods (14th spot), Lewis Hamilton (17th), Max Verstappen (21st), Phil Mickelson (joint-31st with Serena), Mohammad Salah (33rd), Frenchman Kylian Mbappe and Conor McGregor (35th), Jake Paul (46th).

Roger Federer highest-paid tennis player in Forbes' list of athletes with Lionel Messi at top

In a shocking update that has left fans heartbroken, the former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic recently revealed that he will not be competing in the forthcoming US Open.

Djokovic declared that he will be unable to travel to The Big Apple ahead of the Grand Slam which is set to kick off next week. He took to Twitter to offer fans some insight into the same merely hours before the draw for the event was to be revealed.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/its-a-joke-john-mcenroe-slams-authorities-for-barring-novak-djokovic-from-competing-in-us-open-2022-509687" hreflang="en">'It's a joke'- John McEnroe slams authorities for barring Novak Djokovic from competing in US Open 2022</a>

The Serbian is unable to compete in the Grand Slam as he has not been vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, which has rendered him ineligible to travel to the United States. &nbsp;

"Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open," Djokovic wrote on Twitter. "Good luck to my fellow players! I'll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again."

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Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open. Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoleFam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NoleFam</a> for your messages of love and support. ❤️ Good luck to my fellow players! I’ll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again. 💪🏼 See you soon tennis world! 👋🏼
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole/status/1562806952136085504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Djokovic&nbsp;has repeatedly expressed great reluctance in getting vaccinated against the virus that held the world in a chokehold for quite some time. Furthermore, he declared that he would be more than willing to miss out on Grand Slams that required players to be inoculated.

The US Tennis Association declared that it will be following the safety protocol that the government has in place, including those regarding the&nbsp;vaccination status of players.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-world-no1-angelique-kerber-announces-pregnancy-withdraws-from-us-open-509904" hreflang="en">Former World No.1 Angelique Kerber announces pregnancy, withdraws from US Open</a>

However, it is interesting to note that there is no such vaccine mandate for American nationals, and the spectators&nbsp;will not be required to wear masks.

Other notable players who will not be making an appearance at Flushing Meadows include,&nbsp;No. 2-ranked Alexander Zverev,&nbsp;2016 champion Angelique Kerber,&nbsp;Reilly Opelka, Gael Monfils and Marketa Vondrousova.

In a shocking update that has left fans heartbroken, the former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic recently revealed that he will not be competing in the forthcoming US Open.

In a shocking update that has left fans heartbroken, the former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic recently revealed that he will not be competing in the forthcoming US Open. Djokovic declared that he will be unable to travel to The Big Apple ahead of the Grand Slam which is set to kick off next week. He took to Twitter to offer fans some insight into the same merely hours before the draw for the event was to be revealed. ALSO READ: 'It's a joke'- John McEnroe slams authorities for barring Novak Djokovic from competing in US Open 2022 The Serbian is unable to compete in the Grand Slam as he has not been vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, which has rendered him ineligible to travel to the United States. "Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open," Djokovic wrote on Twitter. "Good luck to my fellow players! I'll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again." Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open. Thank you #NoleFam for your messages of love and support. ❤️ Good luck to my fellow players! I’ll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again. 💪🏼 See you soon tennis world! 👋🏼 — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) August 25, 2022 × Djokovic has repeatedly expressed great reluctance in getting vaccinated against the virus that held the world in a chokehold for quite some time. Furthermore, he declared that he would be more than willing to miss out on Grand Slams that required players to be inoculated. The US Tennis Association declared that it will be following the safety protocol that the government has in place, including those regarding the vaccination status of players. ALSO READ: Former World No.1 Angelique Kerber announces pregnancy, withdraws from US Open However, it is interesting to note that there is no such vaccine mandate for American nationals, and the spectators will not be required to wear masks. Other notable players who will not be making an appearance at Flushing Meadows include, No. 2-ranked Alexander Zverev, 2016 champion Angelique Kerber, Reilly Opelka, Gael Monfils and Marketa Vondrousova.

'Unable to travel to New York'- Novak Djokovic drops bombshell, pulls out of US Open

Two-time Wimbledon champion&nbsp;Petra&nbsp;Kvitova announced her engagement to coach Jiri Vanek on Wednesday, posing with an engagement ring on her hand in her "special place".

"Happy news we wanted to share with you guys... I said 'yes' in my special place," the 32-year-old world number 21 tweeted, adding a photo of the couple from the All England Club.

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Happy news we wanted to share with you guys… I said “yes” in my special place ❤️💍 <a href="https://t.co/WlgDcKWMjr">pic.twitter.com/WlgDcKWMjr</a>
— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) <a href="https://twitter.com/Petra_Kvitova/status/1562243695524585472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-world-no1-angelique-kerber-announces-pregnancy-withdraws-from-us-open-509904">Former World No.1 Angelique Kerber announces pregnancy, withdraws from US Open</a>

Kvitova, who won Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014, hired the 44-year-old Vanek in 2016. Vanek has two sons from his previous marriage.

Kvitova lost to Caroline Garcia in the final of the WTA Cincinnati Masters last week in the run-up to the US Open which begins next week

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova announced her engagement to coach Jiri Vanek on Wednesday, posing with an engagement ring on her hand in her "special place".

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova announced her engagement to coach Jiri Vanek on Wednesday, posing with an engagement ring on her hand in her "special place". "Happy news we wanted to share with you guys... I said 'yes' in my special place," the 32-year-old world number 21 tweeted, adding a photo of the couple from the All England Club. Happy news we wanted to share with you guys… I said “yes” in my special place ❤️💍 pic.twitter.com/WlgDcKWMjr — Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) August 24, 2022 × ALSO READ | Former World No.1 Angelique Kerber announces pregnancy, withdraws from US Open Kvitova, who won Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014, hired the 44-year-old Vanek in 2016. Vanek has two sons from his previous marriage. Kvitova lost to Caroline Garcia in the final of the WTA Cincinnati Masters last week in the run-up to the US Open which begins next week

Two-time Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova gets engaged to coach, shares news in tweet

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has landed in trouble once again after making an absurd comment to a fan during the Wimbledon 2022 final against Novak Djokovic earlier this year. Kyrgios is set to be sued by a lawyer, who he had accused of having '700 drinks' during the Wimbledon 2022 final. She is suing the Aussie tennis ace for defamation.

Kyrgios is set to be dragged into some more courtroom drama after Polish lawyer Anna Palus confirmed she is suing the tennis star. Palus was removed from the crowd after Kyrgios accused her of distracting him in the final and said she looked like she had&nbsp;downed&nbsp;'700 drinks'.&nbsp;

Confirming legal action against Kyrgios, Palus said she is suing the tennis star to 'clear her name'. She slammed Kyrgios for making a reckless and baseless allegation which caused 'substantial damage' to her and her family as millions around the world read and watched the Aussie's comments.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-angry-stefanos-tsitsipas-tries-to-hit-nick-kyrgios-with-wild-smash-nearly-hits-a-fan-too-494099">WATCH: Angry Stefanos Tsitsipas tries to hit Nick Kyrgios with wild smash, nearly hits a fan too</a>

“On Sunday 10 July 2022 I attended the final of the Wimbledon tennis championships with my mother. It was an event we had been looking forward to for some time. During the course of the final, Nick Kyrgios made a reckless and entirely baseless allegation against me," Palus said in a statement through her solicitor.

“Not only did this cause considerable harm on the day, resulting in my temporary removal from the arena, but Mr Kyrgios’s false allegation was broadcast to, and read by, millions around the world, causing me and my family very substantial damage and distress.

“I am not litigious, but after much consideration, I have concluded that I have no alternative but to instruct my solicitors Brett Wilson LLP to bring defamation proceedings against Mr Kyrgios in order to clear my name. The need to obtain vindication, and to prevent repetition of the allegation, are the only reasons for taking legal action," she added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/novak-djokovic-beats-nick-kyrgios-to-win-4th-straight-wimbledon-title-clinches-21st-grand-slam-496184">Novak Djokovic beats Nick Kyrgios to win 4th straight Wimbledon title, clinches 21st Grand Slam crown</a>

Kyrgios lost the Wimbledon 2022 final against Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(3) to miss out on his maiden Grand Slam title. During the third set of the final against the Serb, Kyrgios complained to the umpire claiming he was being distracted during his serve by Palus. He urged the umpire to get her kicked out before accusing her of looking drunk.

“She’s distracting me when I’m serving in a Wimbledon final,” he told the umpire. There’s no other bigger occasion, you didn’t believe me and then she did it again. It nearly cost me the game.

“Why is she still here? She’s drunk out of her mind and speaking to me in the middle of a game. What’s acceptable? Ok kick her out. I know exactly which one it is. The one in the dress, who looks like she’s had about 700 drinks bro," Kyrgios was heard telling the umpire.

The incident soon grabbed headlines as Kyrgios' comments went viral. Revealing her side of the story, Palus said she had only had&nbsp;a Pimm’s and a glass of rose, and was trying to support Kyrgios not distract him during the final.

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has landed in trouble once again after making an absurd comment to a fan during the Wimbledon 2022 final against Novak Djokovic earlier this year.

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has landed in trouble once again after making an absurd comment to a fan during the Wimbledon 2022 final against Novak Djokovic earlier this year. Kyrgios is set to be sued by a lawyer, who he had accused of having '700 drinks' during the Wimbledon 2022 final. She is suing the Aussie tennis ace for defamation. Kyrgios is set to be dragged into some more courtroom drama after Polish lawyer Anna Palus confirmed she is suing the tennis star. Palus was removed from the crowd after Kyrgios accused her of distracting him in the final and said she looked like she had downed '700 drinks'. Confirming legal action against Kyrgios, Palus said she is suing the tennis star to 'clear her name'. She slammed Kyrgios for making a reckless and baseless allegation which caused 'substantial damage' to her and her family as millions around the world read and watched the Aussie's comments. Also Read: WATCH: Angry Stefanos Tsitsipas tries to hit Nick Kyrgios with wild smash, nearly hits a fan too “On Sunday 10 July 2022 I attended the final of the Wimbledon tennis championships with my mother. It was an event we had been looking forward to for some time. During the course of the final, Nick Kyrgios made a reckless and entirely baseless allegation against me," Palus said in a statement through her solicitor. “Not only did this cause considerable harm on the day, resulting in my temporary removal from the arena, but Mr Kyrgios’s false allegation was broadcast to, and read by, millions around the world, causing me and my family very substantial damage and distress. “I am not litigious, but after much consideration, I have concluded that I have no alternative but to instruct my solicitors Brett Wilson LLP to bring defamation proceedings against Mr Kyrgios in order to clear my name. The need to obtain vindication, and to prevent repetition of the allegation, are the only reasons for taking legal action," she added. Also Read: Novak Djokovic beats Nick Kyrgios to win 4th straight Wimbledon title, clinches 21st Grand Slam crown Kyrgios lost the Wimbledon 2022 final against Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(3) to miss out on his maiden Grand Slam title. During the third set of the final against the Serb, Kyrgios complained to the umpire claiming he was being distracted during his serve by Palus. He urged the umpire to get her kicked out before accusing her of looking drunk. “She’s distracting me when I’m serving in a Wimbledon final,” he told the umpire. There’s no other bigger occasion, you didn’t believe me and then she did it again. It nearly cost me the game. “Why is she still here? She’s drunk out of her mind and speaking to me in the middle of a game. What’s acceptable? Ok kick her out. I know exactly which one it is. The one in the dress, who looks like she’s had about 700 drinks bro," Kyrgios was heard telling the umpire. The incident soon grabbed headlines as Kyrgios' comments went viral. Revealing her side of the story, Palus said she had only had a Pimm’s and a glass of rose, and was trying to support Kyrgios not distract him during the final.

Nick Kyrgios sued by fan for defamation after accusing her of having '700 drinks' at Wimbledon final

Three-time Grand Slam champion and former World No.2 Angelique Kerber on Wednesday announced that she is pregnant and will miss this season`s last Grand Slam US Open. Kerber, 34, last played at Wimbledon, where she fell in the third round. The German fully plans to continue her career. Talking to Twitter Kerber wrote," I really wanted to play the @usopen but eventually I decided that two against one just isn`t a fair competition. For the next months, I will take a break from travelling the globe as a tennis player but then again, I believe it`s for the best possible reason!"

"New York has often been a turning point in my career and it feels like this year will be no different in some way! From restarting my career in 2011 (ranked 92 she reached the semi-finals) to winning the title in 2016 and becoming #1 in the world."Kerber the 2016 Australian Open and 2018 Wimbledon champion said that she was excited about her new chapter." Being a professional athlete means everything to me but I`m grateful for the new path I`m heading to," she said.

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I really wanted to play the <a href="https://twitter.com/usopen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@usopen</a> but eventually I decided that two against one just isn‘t a fair competition 👼🫶🏻🍼❤️ <a href="https://t.co/Y6rRYOIUDR">pic.twitter.com/Y6rRYOIUDR</a>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/there-will-be-tennis-great-martina-navratilova-on-serena-williams-fate-at-us-open-509848">'There will be.....': Tennis great Martina Navratilova on Serena Williams' fate at US Open</a>

Kerber is currently ranked No.52 in the world. In 2016, following her first two Grand Slam titles, at the Australian and US Opens, Kerber ascended to the No.1 ranking for the first time. She held the top spot for 20 successive weeks. Combined, she has had three separate stints as the No.1 player for a total of 25 weeks. Earlier this year, Kerber won a clay event at the Internationaux de Strasbourg, her 14th career title.

Three-time Grand Slam champion and former World No.2 Angelique Kerber on Wednesday announced that she is pregnant and will miss this season`s last Grand Slam US Open.

Three-time Grand Slam champion and former World No.2 Angelique Kerber on Wednesday announced that she is pregnant and will miss this season`s last Grand Slam US Open. Kerber, 34, last played at Wimbledon, where she fell in the third round. The German fully plans to continue her career. Talking to Twitter Kerber wrote," I really wanted to play the @usopen but eventually I decided that two against one just isn`t a fair competition. For the next months, I will take a break from travelling the globe as a tennis player but then again, I believe it`s for the best possible reason!" "New York has often been a turning point in my career and it feels like this year will be no different in some way! From restarting my career in 2011 (ranked 92 she reached the semi-finals) to winning the title in 2016 and becoming #1 in the world."Kerber the 2016 Australian Open and 2018 Wimbledon champion said that she was excited about her new chapter." Being a professional athlete means everything to me but I`m grateful for the new path I`m heading to," she said. I really wanted to play the @usopen but eventually I decided that two against one just isn‘t a fair competition 👼🫶🏻🍼❤️ pic.twitter.com/Y6rRYOIUDR — Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) August 24, 2022 × ALSO READ | 'There will be.....': Tennis great Martina Navratilova on Serena Williams' fate at US Open Kerber is currently ranked No.52 in the world. In 2016, following her first two Grand Slam titles, at the Australian and US Opens, Kerber ascended to the No.1 ranking for the first time. She held the top spot for 20 successive weeks. Combined, she has had three separate stints as the No.1 player for a total of 25 weeks. Earlier this year, Kerber won a clay event at the Internationaux de Strasbourg, her 14th career title.

Former World No.1 Angelique Kerber announces pregnancy, withdraws from US Open

In her own way, Serena Williams hinted at her possible retirement in a Vogue article in early August. While there are speculations regarding the forthcoming US Open 2022 edition being Serena's last Grand Slam appearance, her message was clear to the tennis world that the superstar is set to call it quits post the showpiece event, which commences on August 29.&nbsp;

Ahead of her last major event, Serena is sweating hard for a memorable farewell from the game that she given her a lot of recognition and applause worldwide. Wtih 23 Grand Slam titles, Serena would be desperately eyeing the&nbsp;24th Slam which will see her end at&nbsp;level with Aussie great&nbsp;Margaret Court at the top of the all-time list. Thus, there's a lot riding on her shoulders ahead of the American's swansong.

Nonetheless, tennis great Martina Navratilova feels Serena won't have a fairytale ending. Martina reflected on her retirement decision and told Reuters, "It's hard. When I retired in '93 I told the press it was my last year which was a mistake because every single tournament was a freaking tear-jerker."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nick-kyrgios-sued-by-fan-for-defamation-after-accusing-her-of-having-700-drinks-at-wimbledon-final-509664">Nick Kyrgios sued by fan for defamation after accusing her of having '700 drinks' at Wimbledon final</a>

"Serena did it her way, which was announcing in a very glamorous way on Vogue magazine, but then she is not accepting the losses, she is not accepting what comes with it which is saying goodbye,"&nbsp;Navratilova further asserted.

The 65-year-old Martina came hard on Serena for not even acknowleding the crowd post her recent defeat to teenager Emma Raducanu in the&nbsp;Cincinnati Open last week. Hence, the veteran feels Serena should accept results the way they come and opined that a memorable end might not be in store for her compatriot given her rusty form (with only a solitary win since last year's Round of 16 defeat in French Open).

"Emotions can only carry you so far, I don't see a Cinderella happy ending where she wins the tournament. The way she has looked it doesn't look like she is going to make a miraculous comeback and win the tournament. And with the stress of knowing this is likely your last tournament it doesn't help. But if anyone can overcome it would be Serena," added Navratilova.

In her own way, Serena Williams hinted at her possible retirement in a Vogue article in early August. While there are speculations regarding the forthcoming US Open 2022 edition being Serena's last Grand Slam appearance, her message was clear to the tennis world that the superstar is set to call it quits post the showpiece event, which commences on August 29.

In her own way, Serena Williams hinted at her possible retirement in a Vogue article in early August. While there are speculations regarding the forthcoming US Open 2022 edition being Serena's last Grand Slam appearance, her message was clear to the tennis world that the superstar is set to call it quits post the showpiece event, which commences on August 29. Ahead of her last major event, Serena is sweating hard for a memorable farewell from the game that she given her a lot of recognition and applause worldwide. Wtih 23 Grand Slam titles, Serena would be desperately eyeing the 24th Slam which will see her end at level with Aussie great Margaret Court at the top of the all-time list. Thus, there's a lot riding on her shoulders ahead of the American's swansong. Nonetheless, tennis great Martina Navratilova feels Serena won't have a fairytale ending. Martina reflected on her retirement decision and told Reuters, "It's hard. When I retired in '93 I told the press it was my last year which was a mistake because every single tournament was a freaking tear-jerker." ALSO READ | Nick Kyrgios sued by fan for defamation after accusing her of having '700 drinks' at Wimbledon final "Serena did it her way, which was announcing in a very glamorous way on Vogue magazine, but then she is not accepting the losses, she is not accepting what comes with it which is saying goodbye," Navratilova further asserted. The 65-year-old Martina came hard on Serena for not even acknowleding the crowd post her recent defeat to teenager Emma Raducanu in the Cincinnati Open last week. Hence, the veteran feels Serena should accept results the way they come and opined that a memorable end might not be in store for her compatriot given her rusty form (with only a solitary win since last year's Round of 16 defeat in French Open). "Emotions can only carry you so far, I don't see a Cinderella happy ending where she wins the tournament. The way she has looked it doesn't look like she is going to make a miraculous comeback and win the tournament. And with the stress of knowing this is likely your last tournament it doesn't help. But if anyone can overcome it would be Serena," added Navratilova.

'There will be.....': Tennis great Martina Navratilova on Serena Williams' fate at US Open

Tennis icon John McEnroe recently rallied behind Novak Djokovic, saying that the move to prevent Novak Djokovic from competing in the upcoming US Open due to his COVID-19 vaccination status is a joke. Although Djokovic&nbsp;is on the entry list for the final Grand Slam of the year, his future in the tournament remains shrouded in mystery.

Djokovic has refused to get inoculated against the virus that wreaked havoc across the globe, a decision that may cost him heavily as he runs the risk of missing out on the opportunity to participate at the Flushing Meadows as rules in&nbsp;the United States require travellers to be vaccinated against COVID-19&nbsp;to board flights and enter the country.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nick-kyrgios-sued-by-fan-for-defamation-after-accusing-her-of-having-700-drinks-at-wimbledon-final-509664" hreflang="en">Nick Kyrgios sued by fan for defamation after accusing her of having '700 drinks' at Wimbledon final</a>

However, it is interesting to note that the Serbian had previously declared that he was prepared to miss Grand Slams that require players to produce proof of their vaccination status. In the wake of these revelations, McEnroe, a four-time US Open winner, offered fans his take on the situation while in conversation with the media:&nbsp;"I don't think it's fair. I think it's a joke. I would have had the vaccine and gone and played but he's got very strong beliefs and you have to respect that. At this point, in the pandemic, we're two-and-a-half years in, I think people in all parts of the world know more about it, and the idea that he can't travel here to play, to me is a joke."

McEnroe further argued that repeatedly missing out on Grand Slams would eventually exact a heavy toll on Djokovic's legacy and title tally as his contemporaries continue to compete in tournaments.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-roger-federer-shares-training-footage-hints-at-return-to-court-508936" hreflang="en">WATCH: Roger Federer shares training footage, hints at return to court</a>

Early this year, Djokovic lost the opportunity to compete at the Australian Open and defend his title to lay claim to&nbsp;his&nbsp;21st men's grand slam title, which at the time would have been a record-breaking feat,&nbsp;after he was deported from the country over his vaccination status. However, Rafael Nadal has since&nbsp;moved clear of Djokovic and Roger Federer, accumulating a whopping 22 Grand Slam titles.&nbsp;

Tennis icon John McEnroe recently rallied behind Novak Djokovic, saying that the move to prevent Novak Djokovic from competing in the upcoming US Open due to his COVID-19 vaccination status is a joke.

Tennis icon John McEnroe recently rallied behind Novak Djokovic, saying that the move to prevent Novak Djokovic from competing in the upcoming US Open due to his COVID-19 vaccination status is a joke. Although Djokovic is on the entry list for the final Grand Slam of the year, his future in the tournament remains shrouded in mystery. Djokovic has refused to get inoculated against the virus that wreaked havoc across the globe, a decision that may cost him heavily as he runs the risk of missing out on the opportunity to participate at the Flushing Meadows as rules in the United States require travellers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to board flights and enter the country. ALSO READ: Nick Kyrgios sued by fan for defamation after accusing her of having '700 drinks' at Wimbledon final However, it is interesting to note that the Serbian had previously declared that he was prepared to miss Grand Slams that require players to produce proof of their vaccination status. In the wake of these revelations, McEnroe, a four-time US Open winner, offered fans his take on the situation while in conversation with the media: "I don't think it's fair. I think it's a joke. I would have had the vaccine and gone and played but he's got very strong beliefs and you have to respect that. At this point, in the pandemic, we're two-and-a-half years in, I think people in all parts of the world know more about it, and the idea that he can't travel here to play, to me is a joke." McEnroe further argued that repeatedly missing out on Grand Slams would eventually exact a heavy toll on Djokovic's legacy and title tally as his contemporaries continue to compete in tournaments. ALSO READ: WATCH: Roger Federer shares training footage, hints at return to court Early this year, Djokovic lost the opportunity to compete at the Australian Open and defend his title to lay claim to his 21st men's grand slam title, which at the time would have been a record-breaking feat, after he was deported from the country over his vaccination status. However, Rafael Nadal has since moved clear of Djokovic and Roger Federer, accumulating a whopping 22 Grand Slam titles.

'It's a joke'- John McEnroe slams authorities for barring Novak Djokovic from competing in US Open 2022

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza shocked the tennis fraternity by claiming that the 2022 season will be her last as she plans to retire. However, the 35-year-old has now indicated that she might tweak her retirement plans after withdrawing from the forthcoming US Open 2022 edition, starting from August 29. Sania has pulled out of the last Grand Slam of the year -- which was set to be her final&nbsp;appearance at a Grand Slam event -- and, hence, has hinted at her retirement plans to be tweaked a little.

"Hi guys, a quick update. I just have some not-so-great news. I hurt my forearm/elbow while playing in Canada 2 weeks ago and obviously, didn't realize how bad it was until I got my scans yesterday and unfortunately, I have in fact torn a little bit of my tendon," Mirza wrote on Instagram.

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"I will be out for weeks and have pulled out of the US Open. This isn't ideal and it's terrible timing and it will change some of my retirement plans but I will keep you posted," she added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bwf-world-championships-2022-saina-nehwal-defeats-cheung-ngan-yi-to-advance-to-pre-quarters-509388">BWF World Championships 2022: Saina Nehwal defeats Cheung Ngan Yi to advance to pre-quarters</a>

For the unversed, Sania had decided to call it quits from the sport in January 2022 citing that she doesn't have a lot of energy to continue for a long period. However, it seems fate has something else in store for the superstar athlete. "I think my body is wearing down. My knee was really hurting today and I'm not saying that's the reason we lost but I do think that it is taking time to recover as I'm getting older," Sania had stated earlier. "The energy is not the same anymore. There are more days than there used to be where I don't feel like doing that."

The US Open will kick off on August 29 and will conclude on September 11. With Sania out of action due to injury concerns, she will aim to recover and return back to action at the earliest and will aim to end her illustrious career on a high.&nbsp;The Indian star has so far won as many as 6 Grand Slam titles, including a US Open mixed doubles title with Bruno Soares in 2014. Overall, she has also clinched the Wimbledon, Australian Open and US Open trophies in the women’s doubles. Among her mixed doubles titles, she has emerged victorious in French Open, Australian Open and the US Open.

Will she add more to her tally before retiring? Only time will tell...
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Indian tennis star Sania Mirza shocked the tennis fraternity by claiming that the 2022 season will be her last as she plans to retire. However, the 35-year-old has now indicated that she might tweak her retirement plans after withdrawing from the forthcoming US Open 2022 edition, starting from August 29.

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza shocked the tennis fraternity by claiming that the 2022 season will be her last as she plans to retire. However, the 35-year-old has now indicated that she might tweak her retirement plans after withdrawing from the forthcoming US Open 2022 edition, starting from August 29. Sania has pulled out of the last Grand Slam of the year -- which was set to be her final appearance at a Grand Slam event -- and, hence, has hinted at her retirement plans to be tweaked a little. "Hi guys, a quick update. I just have some not-so-great news. I hurt my forearm/elbow while playing in Canada 2 weeks ago and obviously, didn't realize how bad it was until I got my scans yesterday and unfortunately, I have in fact torn a little bit of my tendon," Mirza wrote on Instagram. "I will be out for weeks and have pulled out of the US Open. This isn't ideal and it's terrible timing and it will change some of my retirement plans but I will keep you posted," she added. ALSO READ | BWF World Championships 2022: Saina Nehwal defeats Cheung Ngan Yi to advance to pre-quarters For the unversed, Sania had decided to call it quits from the sport in January 2022 citing that she doesn't have a lot of energy to continue for a long period. However, it seems fate has something else in store for the superstar athlete. "I think my body is wearing down. My knee was really hurting today and I'm not saying that's the reason we lost but I do think that it is taking time to recover as I'm getting older," Sania had stated earlier. "The energy is not the same anymore. There are more days than there used to be where I don't feel like doing that." The US Open will kick off on August 29 and will conclude on September 11. With Sania out of action due to injury concerns, she will aim to recover and return back to action at the earliest and will aim to end her illustrious career on a high. The Indian star has so far won as many as 6 Grand Slam titles, including a US Open mixed doubles title with Bruno Soares in 2014. Overall, she has also clinched the Wimbledon, Australian Open and US Open trophies in the women’s doubles. Among her mixed doubles titles, she has emerged victorious in French Open, Australian Open and the US Open. Will she add more to her tally before retiring? Only time will tell...

Indian star Sania Mirza opts out of US Open, reveals it might tweak her retirement plans

Legendary tennis icon Roger Federer recently sent the rumour mill into a frenzy after sharing footage of himself returning shots on the court, presumably during a training session. Federer, much to the delight of tennis fans across the world,&nbsp;is seemingly all set to make his way back to active contention.

Federer has long been shackled to the sidelines owing to a series of knee surgeries, which have kept him away from the sport for over a year since he tumbled out of the Wimbledon last year. However, fans were vying for a swansong from the 20-time Grand Slam winner, which seems to be a dream that could become reality sometime soon.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/made-it-very-physical-stefanos-tsitsipas-delighted-by-beating-daniil-medvedev-at-cincinnati-open-508905" hreflang="en">'Made it very physical'- Stefanos Tsitsipas delighted by beating Daniil Medvedev at Cincinnati Open</a>

In a video that was shared by Federer himself, he was seen letting some forehands loose on the court and breaking out into a celebratory leap before ducking out of the frame. He was seen sporting a cap with the iconic 'RF' logo on it, in addition to a Uniqlo t-shirt while training, expressing love for the sport in the caption of the post.&nbsp;

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The post, unsurprisingly enough, attracted a lot of attention and love from the fans, with a myriad of admirers predicting his return to the court. The post also caught fellow tennis player Stan Wawrinka's attention, who took to the comment section to share some love.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lyudmyla-kichenok-and-jelena-ostapenko-lay-claim-to-womens-doubles-title-at-the-cincinnati-open-508829" hreflang="en">Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko lay claim to women's doubles title at the Cincinnati Open</a>

Fans and pundits would have loved to witness a bit more from Federer in the video to make a better judgement of how far along he had come in terms of his recovery. However, the progress that he has made is certainly quite impressive and visible in the video that he shared with his fans on social media.&nbsp;

Federer has already confirmed that he will be competing in the 2022 Laver Cup which is scheduled to kick off merely a week after the US Open wraps up. The action is set to unfold at the&nbsp;O2 Arena in London from September 23-25.

Legendary tennis icon Roger Federer recently sent the rumour mill into a frenzy after sharing footage of himself returning shots on the court, presumably during a training session.

Legendary tennis icon Roger Federer recently sent the rumour mill into a frenzy after sharing footage of himself returning shots on the court, presumably during a training session. Federer, much to the delight of tennis fans across the world, is seemingly all set to make his way back to active contention. Federer has long been shackled to the sidelines owing to a series of knee surgeries, which have kept him away from the sport for over a year since he tumbled out of the Wimbledon last year. However, fans were vying for a swansong from the 20-time Grand Slam winner, which seems to be a dream that could become reality sometime soon. ALSO READ: 'Made it very physical'- Stefanos Tsitsipas delighted by beating Daniil Medvedev at Cincinnati Open In a video that was shared by Federer himself, he was seen letting some forehands loose on the court and breaking out into a celebratory leap before ducking out of the frame. He was seen sporting a cap with the iconic 'RF' logo on it, in addition to a Uniqlo t-shirt while training, expressing love for the sport in the caption of the post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) × The post, unsurprisingly enough, attracted a lot of attention and love from the fans, with a myriad of admirers predicting his return to the court. The post also caught fellow tennis player Stan Wawrinka's attention, who took to the comment section to share some love. ALSO READ: Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko lay claim to women's doubles title at the Cincinnati Open Fans and pundits would have loved to witness a bit more from Federer in the video to make a better judgement of how far along he had come in terms of his recovery. However, the progress that he has made is certainly quite impressive and visible in the video that he shared with his fans on social media. Federer has already confirmed that he will be competing in the 2022 Laver Cup which is scheduled to kick off merely a week after the US Open wraps up. The action is set to unfold at the O2 Arena in London from September 23-25.

WATCH: Roger Federer shares training footage, hints at return to court

World No. 7 Stefanos Tsitsipas recently overcame the challenge presented by Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Open. Tsitsipas advanced to the final stage of the Cincinnati Masters by beating the&nbsp;World No. 1 at Centre Court by&nbsp;7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 6-3.&nbsp;

He admitted that he was forced to play a number of tough shots in order to eventually move past Medvedev. He offered fans some insight into the same while in conversation with the media in the aftermath of their action-packed match.

In addition to an absolutely nail-biting affair between the duo, fans were also offered the opportunity to watch Tsitsipas show off his dancing skills on the court shortly after outplaying Medvedev.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lyudmyla-kichenok-and-jelena-ostapenko-lay-claim-to-womens-doubles-title-at-the-cincinnati-open-508829" hreflang="en">Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko lay claim to women's doubles title at the Cincinnati Open</a>

"There were some difficult shots I had to play a bit more. A few short balls I really took advantage of and came in. A lot of courageous serves and volleys, approaches to the net that definitely gave me that great win today,” Tsitsipas admitted.

“I knew I had to sign up for a difficult task, the third set, it wasn’t going to be easy. He made it very physical and really demanding for me. I just took advantage of some of his missed first serves. I think I had a couple opportunities where it seemed to be going towards my side," he said further.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/looking-forward-to-it-emma-raducanu-determined-to-defend-her-miracle-us-open-title-508368" hreflang="en">'Looking forward to it' - Emma Raducanu determined to defend her US Open title</a>

Tsitsipas is currently hurtling towards a clash against&nbsp;Croatia’s Borna Coric, who consolidated his position&nbsp;in the final of the Western and Southern Open by outperforming eighth seed Cameron Norrie of Britain in straight sets&nbsp;at Grandstand.&nbsp;

Should he emerge triumphant at the Cincinnati Masters, Tsiptipas will hope to replicate this success at the forthcoming US Open, which is set to kick off on August 29th.

World No. 7 Stefanos Tsitsipas recently overcame the challenge presented by Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Open. Tsitsipas advanced to the final stage of the Cincinnati Masters by beating the World No.

World No. 7 Stefanos Tsitsipas recently overcame the challenge presented by Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Open. Tsitsipas advanced to the final stage of the Cincinnati Masters by beating the World No. 1 at Centre Court by 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 6-3. He admitted that he was forced to play a number of tough shots in order to eventually move past Medvedev. He offered fans some insight into the same while in conversation with the media in the aftermath of their action-packed match. In addition to an absolutely nail-biting affair between the duo, fans were also offered the opportunity to watch Tsitsipas show off his dancing skills on the court shortly after outplaying Medvedev. ALSO READ: Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko lay claim to women's doubles title at the Cincinnati Open "There were some difficult shots I had to play a bit more. A few short balls I really took advantage of and came in. A lot of courageous serves and volleys, approaches to the net that definitely gave me that great win today,” Tsitsipas admitted. “I knew I had to sign up for a difficult task, the third set, it wasn’t going to be easy. He made it very physical and really demanding for me. I just took advantage of some of his missed first serves. I think I had a couple opportunities where it seemed to be going towards my side," he said further. ALSO READ: 'Looking forward to it' - Emma Raducanu determined to defend her US Open title Tsitsipas is currently hurtling towards a clash against Croatia’s Borna Coric, who consolidated his position in the final of the Western and Southern Open by outperforming eighth seed Cameron Norrie of Britain in straight sets at Grandstand. Should he emerge triumphant at the Cincinnati Masters, Tsiptipas will hope to replicate this success at the forthcoming US Open, which is set to kick off on August 29th.

'Made it very physical'- Stefanos Tsitsipas delighted by beating Daniil Medvedev at Cincinnati Open

Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko continued a powerful season by winning their biggest team title so far at the Western and Southern Open on Saturday.

Kichenok and Ostapenko defeated Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez 7-6(5), 6-3 in one hour and 24 minutes to capture the WTA 1000 title in Cincinnati.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/looking-forward-to-it-emma-raducanu-determined-to-defend-her-miracle-us-open-title-508368" hreflang="en">'Looking forward to it' - Emma Raducanu determined to defend her US Open title</a>

After finally getting on the court after multiple rain delays, it was the Melichar-Martinez and Perez duo who originally held the upper hand, breaking Ostapenko in the first game of the match and building a 4-2 lead.

Kichenok and Ostapenko, though, got back on serve at 4-4.In the tiebreak, a powerful Ostapenko return gave her team a duo of set points, and Kichenok and Ostapenko transformed the second of the two to eke out the one-set lead.

There were no break points through 3-3 in the second set, but after that, Kichenok and Ostapenko cruised to the title, winning the final four games of the match.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/daniil-medvedev-breaks-into-the-final-four-of-cincinnati-open-as-wimbledon-champion-elena-rybakina-tumbles-out-508651" hreflang="en">Daniil Medvedev breaks into the final four of Cincinnati Open as Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina tumbles out</a>

"It`s my biggest title and I`m very happy," Kichenok said after the match. "It`s hard to describe, it`s amazing. I just can`t find the words. I`m still a bit shaky after the match, it`s very exciting," she added.

"It doesn`t matter what the score is, [the key was] to be aggressive and to put pressure on them," WTA.com quoted Ostapenko. "That was a thing they didn`t like, and it helped us in the important moments," she added.

Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko continued a powerful season by winning their biggest team title so far at the Western and Southern Open on Saturday. Kichenok and Ostapenko defeated Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez 7-6(5), 6-3 in one hour and 24 minutes to capture the WTA 1000 title in Cincinnati.

Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko continued a powerful season by winning their biggest team title so far at the Western and Southern Open on Saturday. Kichenok and Ostapenko defeated Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez 7-6(5), 6-3 in one hour and 24 minutes to capture the WTA 1000 title in Cincinnati. ALSO READ: 'Looking forward to it' - Emma Raducanu determined to defend her US Open title After finally getting on the court after multiple rain delays, it was the Melichar-Martinez and Perez duo who originally held the upper hand, breaking Ostapenko in the first game of the match and building a 4-2 lead. Kichenok and Ostapenko, though, got back on serve at 4-4.In the tiebreak, a powerful Ostapenko return gave her team a duo of set points, and Kichenok and Ostapenko transformed the second of the two to eke out the one-set lead. There were no break points through 3-3 in the second set, but after that, Kichenok and Ostapenko cruised to the title, winning the final four games of the match. ALSO READ: Daniil Medvedev breaks into the final four of Cincinnati Open as Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina tumbles out "It`s my biggest title and I`m very happy," Kichenok said after the match. "It`s hard to describe, it`s amazing. I just can`t find the words. I`m still a bit shaky after the match, it`s very exciting," she added. "It doesn`t matter what the score is, [the key was] to be aggressive and to put pressure on them," WTA.com quoted Ostapenko. "That was a thing they didn`t like, and it helped us in the important moments," she added.

Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko lay claim to women's doubles title at the Cincinnati Open

Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos&nbsp;Tsitsipas advanced to a semi-final showdown after both dismissed&nbsp;American opponents at the ATP and WTA Cincinnati&nbsp;Masters&nbsp;on Friday. Top seed Medvedev fired 18 aces among 30 winners in a 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 defeat of Taylor Fritz in their Friday quarter-final.

Tsitsipas, semi-finalist at the last two editions, weathered a brief first-set rain interruption on the way to his 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 6-3, defeat of John Isner, playing here for the 15th time at age 37 and the oldest quarter-finalist since 1969.

In the bottom half of the draw, Croat Borna Coric crushed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-4 to set up a semi-final against Britain's Cameron Norrie, who had to work for more than three hours for a 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (4/7), 6-4 defeat of Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aryna-sabalenka-outplays-zhang-shuai-to-make-her-way-into-semi-finals-at-cincinnati-open-508642" hreflang="en">Aryna Sabalenka outplays Zhang Shuai to make her way into semi-finals at Cincinnati Open</a>

The tight battle ended just before midnight as Norrie completed what he called one of his best career wins.&nbsp;He stumbled leading a set and 4-1 as Alcaraz pushed back, winning the second set to level the match.

"I was thinking too much about the finish line," the winner said. "I got tight and he raised his level. I had to take my time or the match could have gotten away from me...I managed to turn it around."

Greek fourth seed Tsitsipas was relieved to have passed his examination by Isner.

"It's never easy to play him, due to all his variations of play," Tsitsipas said. "The most important thing is to stay patient. The match came down to a few points. I was able to hang in there and make one more ball - he didn't give me a lot to work with."&nbsp;

Tsitsipas added: "Against Medvedev, I need to be concentrated and approach my game in a precise manner. "I will let my&nbsp;tennis&nbsp;do the talking."&nbsp;

Medvedev, the 2019 tournament winner, strengthened his grip on the world number one ranking at the last major tune-up prior to the US Open, earning his victory over 11th seed Fritz in one hour,&nbsp;40 minutes.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-no-1-daniil-medvedev-outclasses-denis-shapovalov-to-enter-the-quarter-finals-of-cincinnati-masters-508445" hreflang="en">World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev outclasses Denis Shapovalov to enter the quarter finals of Cincinnati Masters</a>

"The second set was much&nbsp;better than the first," Medvedev said. "Taylor is a great player,&nbsp;from the baseline he didn't&nbsp;give you much space. "He was hitting the ball strong, making a&nbsp;lot of good points. "But I'm&nbsp;happy with my level. If I can continue&nbsp;to play this way and raise my level during matches&nbsp;I can beat anybody," added Medvedev, who leads semi-final opponent Tsitsipas 7-2 in head-to-head meetings.

<h2>- Keys downs Rybakina -</h2>

In the women's quarter-finals, Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina saved three match points before falling 6-2, 6-4 to Madison Keys.&nbsp;The Kazakh, who lifted the All England Club trophy last month against the odds, exited the pre-US Open event in 92 minutes as she went down to the American titleholder from 2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Elena is a remarkable player who can turn a match around at any moment," unseeded Keys said. "I needed to stay out front.&nbsp;It felt like I needed 12 match points, so I'm very happy to get the win," added Keys who on Thursday ousted world number one Iga Swiatek.&nbsp;

Keys next plays&nbsp;Petra Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion who defeated Australian qualifier Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2, 6-3.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Second seed Aryna Sabalenka ended the dream run of Zhang Shuai with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/1), defeat after the Chinese player had put out Naomi Osaka and second seed Anett Kontaveit.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/looking-forward-to-it-emma-raducanu-determined-to-defend-her-miracle-us-open-title-508368" hreflang="en">'Looking forward to it' - Emma Raducanu determined to defend her US Open title</a>

Sabalenka plays for the final against qualifier Caroline Garcia, who defeated American Jessica Pegula, the winner over US Open champion Emma Raducanu in the previous round, 6-1, 7-5 in 74 minutes.&nbsp;

The French winner leads the Tour with 25 main-draw victories since June; she was the first from her nation to play a Cincinnati quarter-final since Marion Bartoli 12 years ago.&nbsp;

"I had the worst warmup of the week today," Garcia said. "But that doesn't mean you will play badly. "I was able to play the aggressive style that I like. I hit very freely against a solid opponent. I had to play my best today to beat Jessica. I did it and I'm very happy I got the win."

Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced to a semi-final showdown after both dismissed American opponents at the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters on Friday.

Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced to a semi-final showdown after both dismissed American opponents at the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters on Friday. Top seed Medvedev fired 18 aces among 30 winners in a 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 defeat of Taylor Fritz in their Friday quarter-final. Tsitsipas, semi-finalist at the last two editions, weathered a brief first-set rain interruption on the way to his 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 6-3, defeat of John Isner, playing here for the 15th time at age 37 and the oldest quarter-finalist since 1969. In the bottom half of the draw, Croat Borna Coric crushed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-4 to set up a semi-final against Britain's Cameron Norrie, who had to work for more than three hours for a 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (4/7), 6-4 defeat of Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz. ALSO READ: Aryna Sabalenka outplays Zhang Shuai to make her way into semi-finals at Cincinnati Open The tight battle ended just before midnight as Norrie completed what he called one of his best career wins. He stumbled leading a set and 4-1 as Alcaraz pushed back, winning the second set to level the match. "I was thinking too much about the finish line," the winner said. "I got tight and he raised his level. I had to take my time or the match could have gotten away from me...I managed to turn it around." Greek fourth seed Tsitsipas was relieved to have passed his examination by Isner. "It's never easy to play him, due to all his variations of play," Tsitsipas said. "The most important thing is to stay patient. The match came down to a few points. I was able to hang in there and make one more ball - he didn't give me a lot to work with." Tsitsipas added: "Against Medvedev, I need to be concentrated and approach my game in a precise manner. "I will let my tennis do the talking." Medvedev, the 2019 tournament winner, strengthened his grip on the world number one ranking at the last major tune-up prior to the US Open, earning his victory over 11th seed Fritz in one hour, 40 minutes. ALSO READ: World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev outclasses Denis Shapovalov to enter the quarter finals of Cincinnati Masters "The second set was much better than the first," Medvedev said. "Taylor is a great player, from the baseline he didn't give you much space. "He was hitting the ball strong, making a lot of good points. "But I'm happy with my level. If I can continue to play this way and raise my level during matches I can beat anybody," added Medvedev, who leads semi-final opponent Tsitsipas 7-2 in head-to-head meetings. - Keys downs Rybakina - In the women's quarter-finals, Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina saved three match points before falling 6-2, 6-4 to Madison Keys. The Kazakh, who lifted the All England Club trophy last month against the odds, exited the pre-US Open event in 92 minutes as she went down to the American titleholder from 2019. "Elena is a remarkable player who can turn a match around at any moment," unseeded Keys said. "I needed to stay out front. It felt like I needed 12 match points, so I'm very happy to get the win," added Keys who on Thursday ousted world number one Iga Swiatek. Keys next plays Petra Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion who defeated Australian qualifier Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2, 6-3. Second seed Aryna Sabalenka ended the dream run of Zhang Shuai with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/1), defeat after the Chinese player had put out Naomi Osaka and second seed Anett Kontaveit. ALSO READ: 'Looking forward to it' - Emma Raducanu determined to defend her US Open title Sabalenka plays for the final against qualifier Caroline Garcia, who defeated American Jessica Pegula, the winner over US Open champion Emma Raducanu in the previous round, 6-1, 7-5 in 74 minutes. The French winner leads the Tour with 25 main-draw victories since June; she was the first from her nation to play a Cincinnati quarter-final since Marion Bartoli 12 years ago. "I had the worst warmup of the week today," Garcia said. "But that doesn't mean you will play badly. "I was able to play the aggressive style that I like. I hit very freely against a solid opponent. I had to play my best today to beat Jessica. I did it and I'm very happy I got the win."

Daniil Medvedev breaks into the final four of Cincinnati Open as Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina tumbles out

World No. 7 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus relied on her strong return of serve to overcome the challenge of China`s Zhang Shuai 6-4, 7-6(1) and make her maiden hard-court semifinal in nearly a year at the Western &amp; Southern Open here.

The strong Belarusian beat Zhang for the fourth time in five meetings, including a second time this year, in 1 hour, 49 minutes.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-no-1-daniil-medvedev-outclasses-denis-shapovalov-to-enter-the-quarter-finals-of-cincinnati-masters-508445" hreflang="en">World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev outclasses Denis Shapovalov to enter the quarter finals of Cincinnati Masters</a>

All five matches between the two have been decided in straight sets, and to do so this time, Sabalenka needed to fight back from several deficits. She won the first set from a break down at 4-3, and was also a break down four times in the second set.

This is the 24-year-old Sabalenka`s first hard-court semifinal since last year`s US Open, and her second last-four in Cincinnati having first reached the stage in 2018.

"It was a tough match and she played unbelievable tennis," Sabalenka was quoted as saying by wtatennis.com following the win. "I`m super happy that, even if my serve didn`t work well in the second set, I was able to stay focused in return games. I did everything I could to stay focused in return games."

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Sabalenka will look to secure a place in the third final of the season, after finishing second best to Iga Swiatek at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart and to Veronika Kudermetova at the Libema Open on grass. To reach the final, she`ll have to beat either No.7 seed Jessica Pegula or Caroline Garcia.

World No. 7 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus relied on her strong return of serve to overcome the challenge of China`s Zhang Shuai 6-4, 7-6(1) and make her maiden hard-court semifinal in nearly a year at the Western & Southern Open here.

World No. 7 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus relied on her strong return of serve to overcome the challenge of China`s Zhang Shuai 6-4, 7-6(1) and make her maiden hard-court semifinal in nearly a year at the Western & Southern Open here. The strong Belarusian beat Zhang for the fourth time in five meetings, including a second time this year, in 1 hour, 49 minutes. ALSO READ: World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev outclasses Denis Shapovalov to enter the quarter finals of Cincinnati Masters All five matches between the two have been decided in straight sets, and to do so this time, Sabalenka needed to fight back from several deficits. She won the first set from a break down at 4-3, and was also a break down four times in the second set. This is the 24-year-old Sabalenka`s first hard-court semifinal since last year`s US Open, and her second last-four in Cincinnati having first reached the stage in 2018. "It was a tough match and she played unbelievable tennis," Sabalenka was quoted as saying by wtatennis.com following the win. "I`m super happy that, even if my serve didn`t work well in the second set, I was able to stay focused in return games. I did everything I could to stay focused in return games." ALSO READ: 'Looking forward to it' - Emma Raducanu determined to defend her US Open title Sabalenka will look to secure a place in the third final of the season, after finishing second best to Iga Swiatek at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart and to Veronika Kudermetova at the Libema Open on grass. To reach the final, she`ll have to beat either No.7 seed Jessica Pegula or Caroline Garcia.

Aryna Sabalenka outplays Zhang Shuai to make her way into semi-finals at Cincinnati Open

World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev on Thursday produced a great performance in the Western and Southern Open to defeat Denis Shapovalov of Canada in a thrilling hard-fought clash. The 26-year-old overwhelmed Canadian Shapovalov 7-5, 7-5 in one hour and 45 minutes clash to book a spot in the quarter-finals.

Medvedev shot his flat backhand with consistency, while he stood deep behind the baseline on return to dismiss Canadian`s lefty serve and piercing forehand. In a hard-fought first clash, Shapovalov constantly tried to pull Medvedev around the court, dancing around the ball to strike his forehand into the corners.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/looking-forward-to-it-emma-raducanu-determined-to-defend-her-miracle-us-open-title-508368" hreflang="en">'Looking forward to it' - Emma Raducanu determined to defend her US Open title</a>

However, the top seed has become famous for being able to dig deep and perform well under pressure. Medvedev`s watertight groundstrokes forced the Canadian to make one error to multiple on serve at 5-5. Medvedev then swept through his final service game to advance. World No. 1 will next play American Taylor Fritz after the Indian Wells champion edged Andrey Rublev in three sets.

"The match was pretty tight. I felt that it was a great level. I felt that he was missing a bit more than me but making more points, but that is how Shapo plays," Medvedev said in his on-court interview. "My goal was to stay there at every point possible and try and put pressure on him when I had the chance. But there were many points where I was just running across the baseline, trying to get back his shots. Generally happy with the level," he added.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-need-to-move-forward-rafael-nadal-trains-his-aim-at-us-open-following-loss-against-borna-coric-508061" hreflang="en">'I need to move forward'- Rafael Nadal trains his aim at US Open following loss against Borna Coric</a>

On the other hand, Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced to the quarter-finals with a dominant 6-3, 6-3 win against Diego Schwartzman. Carlos Alcaraz continues his winning run at the Western and Southern Open, where his 7-6(4), 6-1 triumph against Marin Cilic on Thursday made him the event`s youngest quarter-finalist since Andy Murray, 16 years ago.

World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev on Thursday produced a great performance in the Western and Southern Open to defeat Denis Shapovalov of Canada in a thrilling hard-fought clash.

World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev on Thursday produced a great performance in the Western and Southern Open to defeat Denis Shapovalov of Canada in a thrilling hard-fought clash. The 26-year-old overwhelmed Canadian Shapovalov 7-5, 7-5 in one hour and 45 minutes clash to book a spot in the quarter-finals. Medvedev shot his flat backhand with consistency, while he stood deep behind the baseline on return to dismiss Canadian`s lefty serve and piercing forehand. In a hard-fought first clash, Shapovalov constantly tried to pull Medvedev around the court, dancing around the ball to strike his forehand into the corners. ALSO READ: 'Looking forward to it' - Emma Raducanu determined to defend her US Open title However, the top seed has become famous for being able to dig deep and perform well under pressure. Medvedev`s watertight groundstrokes forced the Canadian to make one error to multiple on serve at 5-5. Medvedev then swept through his final service game to advance. World No. 1 will next play American Taylor Fritz after the Indian Wells champion edged Andrey Rublev in three sets. "The match was pretty tight. I felt that it was a great level. I felt that he was missing a bit more than me but making more points, but that is how Shapo plays," Medvedev said in his on-court interview. "My goal was to stay there at every point possible and try and put pressure on him when I had the chance. But there were many points where I was just running across the baseline, trying to get back his shots. Generally happy with the level," he added. ALSO READ: 'I need to move forward'- Rafael Nadal trains his aim at US Open following loss against Borna Coric On the other hand, Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced to the quarter-finals with a dominant 6-3, 6-3 win against Diego Schwartzman. Carlos Alcaraz continues his winning run at the Western and Southern Open, where his 7-6(4), 6-1 triumph against Marin Cilic on Thursday made him the event`s youngest quarter-finalist since Andy Murray, 16 years ago.

World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev outclasses Denis Shapovalov to enter the quarter finals of Cincinnati Masters

A local breakfast staple will be on the menu when Emma Raducanu returns to New York next week to begin preparations for defending her US Open title. The London teenager who won the Grand Slam from a qualifying start without dropping a set has her mind set on scratching a particular non-tennis itch.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-need-to-move-forward-rafael-nadal-trains-his-aim-at-us-open-following-loss-against-borna-coric-508061" hreflang="en">'I need to move forward'- Rafael Nadal trains his aim at US Open following loss against Borna Coric</a>

"I've really been craving a bagel for the last year," the 19-year-old said after Thursday's 7-5, 6-4 third-round loss to US seventh seed Jessica Pegula at the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters. I'm really looking forward to&nbsp;seeing the city. But of course the tournament -- I've got&nbsp;special memories there from the juniors... and then last year, obviously that happened. I'm looking forward to it."

Raducanu and her team are taking a look back at her run to glory which ended with the title last September. "I'm rewatching my matches from the US Open," she said. "There are certain moments where I was given a lot of gifts (opponent errors) or maybe they got a bit tight. I think I've improved as a player. I'm finding freedom in my swinging. I think I achieved something great... but I was playing completely free (at last year's Open). I'm starting to do that again."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/borna-coric-ends-his-idol-rafael-nadals-run-at-the-cincinnati-open-in-a-shock-upset-508039" hreflang="en">Borna Coric ends his idol Rafael Nadal's run at the Cincinnati Open in shock upset</a>

Raducanu, who was seeded 10th, is relatively untroubled over her exit in Cincinnati after knocking out Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka in back-to-back matches. "I did really enjoy this week. If I made an error, it was almost like a positive thing — good, you are going for it," Raducanu said. "It paid off a lot more than it didn't. But I also think, honestly, that my opponents have&nbsp;been playing a lot better this year. This week was a great&nbsp;step for me. It's one of the few tournaments that I have actually started going for my shots."

A local breakfast staple will be on the menu when Emma Raducanu returns to New York next week to begin preparations for defending her US Open title. The London teenager who won the Grand Slam from a qualifying start without dropping a set has her mind set on scratching a particular non-tennis itch.

A local breakfast staple will be on the menu when Emma Raducanu returns to New York next week to begin preparations for defending her US Open title. The London teenager who won the Grand Slam from a qualifying start without dropping a set has her mind set on scratching a particular non-tennis itch. ALSO READ: 'I need to move forward'- Rafael Nadal trains his aim at US Open following loss against Borna Coric "I've really been craving a bagel for the last year," the 19-year-old said after Thursday's 7-5, 6-4 third-round loss to US seventh seed Jessica Pegula at the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters. I'm really looking forward to seeing the city. But of course the tournament -- I've got special memories there from the juniors... and then last year, obviously that happened. I'm looking forward to it." Raducanu and her team are taking a look back at her run to glory which ended with the title last September. "I'm rewatching my matches from the US Open," she said. "There are certain moments where I was given a lot of gifts (opponent errors) or maybe they got a bit tight. I think I've improved as a player. I'm finding freedom in my swinging. I think I achieved something great... but I was playing completely free (at last year's Open). I'm starting to do that again." ALSO READ: Borna Coric ends his idol Rafael Nadal's run at the Cincinnati Open in shock upset Raducanu, who was seeded 10th, is relatively untroubled over her exit in Cincinnati after knocking out Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka in back-to-back matches. "I did really enjoy this week. If I made an error, it was almost like a positive thing — good, you are going for it," Raducanu said. "It paid off a lot more than it didn't. But I also think, honestly, that my opponents have been playing a lot better this year. This week was a great step for me. It's one of the few tournaments that I have actually started going for my shots."

'Looking forward to it' - Emma Raducanu determined to defend her US Open title

Borna Coric of Croatia on Wednesday produced a stunning performance to end Rafael Nadal's run after a&nbsp;hard fought battle at the Western and Southern Open and advance to the third round in Cincinnati Open.

Coric spoiled the return of the Spaniard after a five-year absence from the ATP Cincinnati Masters on Wednesday with a 7-6 (11/9), 4-6, 6-3 upset in the second round. The Croatian fought for two hours, 51 minutes to secure his biggest win of the season by both opponent and stage.

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Both players opened confidently, the Spaniard made a remarkably strong start, playing shots into a down-the-line backhand on the very first point and not making an unforced error until the seventh game.

With Nadal double-faulting on Coric's third set point, the Croatian made amends after a clumsy drop shot on a short ball at 9/8. He supported the breakthrough with a love hold and had no problems serving out the match after extending his final service game with a statement winner to cap a victory.

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He will next face Roberto Bautista Agut, who cruised to the third round with a 6-3, 6-3 victory against home hope Marcos Giron earlier on Wednesday.

"It`s going to be a very interesting match," said Coric, who holds a 5-4 ATP Head2Head series lead against the Spaniard. "I need to be very aggressive for sure, especially because I was playing for a very long time today and I also finished very late. So I'm going to be even more aggressive probably," he added.&nbsp;

Borna Coric of Croatia on Wednesday produced a stunning performance to end Rafael Nadal's run after a hard fought battle at the Western and Southern Open and advance to the third round in Cincinnati Open.

Borna Coric of Croatia on Wednesday produced a stunning performance to end Rafael Nadal's run after a hard fought battle at the Western and Southern Open and advance to the third round in Cincinnati Open. Coric spoiled the return of the Spaniard after a five-year absence from the ATP Cincinnati Masters on Wednesday with a 7-6 (11/9), 4-6, 6-3 upset in the second round. The Croatian fought for two hours, 51 minutes to secure his biggest win of the season by both opponent and stage. ALSO READ: Cincinnati Masters: Daniil Medvedev downs Van de Zandschulp to enter R3; Carlos Alcaraz defeats McDonald Both players opened confidently, the Spaniard made a remarkably strong start, playing shots into a down-the-line backhand on the very first point and not making an unforced error until the seventh game. With Nadal double-faulting on Coric's third set point, the Croatian made amends after a clumsy drop shot on a short ball at 9/8. He supported the breakthrough with a love hold and had no problems serving out the match after extending his final service game with a statement winner to cap a victory. ALSO READ: Serena Williams beaten by Raducanu at WTA Cincinnati Masters He will next face Roberto Bautista Agut, who cruised to the third round with a 6-3, 6-3 victory against home hope Marcos Giron earlier on Wednesday. "It`s going to be a very interesting match," said Coric, who holds a 5-4 ATP Head2Head series lead against the Spaniard. "I need to be very aggressive for sure, especially because I was playing for a very long time today and I also finished very late. So I'm going to be even more aggressive probably," he added.

Borna Coric ends his idol Rafael Nadal's run at the Cincinnati Open in shock upset

Rafael Nadal made his way back to the Western &amp; Southern Open for the first time in five years and, with his short stint in the tournament, he reminded fans why waiting for the 2013 champion's return for so long&nbsp;was time well spent. However, the World No. 12 Borna Coric was his undoing as he was forced to bow out of the ATP Masters 1000 event after a gruelling battle that lasted nearly three hours.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/borna-coric-ends-his-idol-rafael-nadals-run-at-the-cincinnati-open-in-a-shock-upset-508039" hreflang="en">Borna Coric ends his idol Rafael Nadal's run at the Cincinnati Open in a shock upset</a>

Featuring in his first match after he was forced to pull out of the Wimbledon semi-finals against Nick Kyrgios due to an abdominal tear, the Spaniard succumbed to a&nbsp;7-6(9), 4-6, 6-3 loss at the hands of the Croatian as he struggled with consistency, which carried him to&nbsp;four tour-level titles this season.&nbsp;

Although an issue forced the 36-year-old to pull out of last week's&nbsp;ATP Masters event in Montreal, it did not prove to be an issue against Coric. In turn, he attributed his loss to a severe lack of court time. Furthermore,&nbsp;in the aftermath of tumbling out of the Cincinnati Open, Nadal admitted that he is determined to put on a better show at the forthcoming US Open.

"I need to move forward and just start to think about the energy that the crowd gives me in New York," he said. "I know it's a very special place for me, and I enjoy it. [I've had] unforgettable moments there, and I'm going to try my very best every single day to be ready for that."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cincinnati-masters-daniil-medvedev-downs-van-de-zandschulp-to-enter-r3-carlos-alcaraz-defeats-mcdonald-507726" hreflang="en">Cincinnati Masters: Daniil Medvedev downs Van de Zandschulp to enter R3; Carlos Alcaraz defeats McDonald</a>

Nadal has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success at&nbsp;Flushing Meadows, walking away with the title on four different occasions, with his latest title coming in 2019. He will hope&nbsp;to replicate his success at the US Open as he prepares to take his tally up to five. The US Open action is set to unfold from August 29th.&nbsp;

Rafael Nadal made his way back to the Western & Southern Open for the first time in five years and, with his short stint in the tournament, he reminded fans why waiting for the 2013 champion's return for so long was time well spent.

Rafael Nadal made his way back to the Western & Southern Open for the first time in five years and, with his short stint in the tournament, he reminded fans why waiting for the 2013 champion's return for so long was time well spent. However, the World No. 12 Borna Coric was his undoing as he was forced to bow out of the ATP Masters 1000 event after a gruelling battle that lasted nearly three hours. ALSO READ: Borna Coric ends his idol Rafael Nadal's run at the Cincinnati Open in a shock upset Featuring in his first match after he was forced to pull out of the Wimbledon semi-finals against Nick Kyrgios due to an abdominal tear, the Spaniard succumbed to a 7-6(9), 4-6, 6-3 loss at the hands of the Croatian as he struggled with consistency, which carried him to four tour-level titles this season. Although an issue forced the 36-year-old to pull out of last week's ATP Masters event in Montreal, it did not prove to be an issue against Coric. In turn, he attributed his loss to a severe lack of court time. Furthermore, in the aftermath of tumbling out of the Cincinnati Open, Nadal admitted that he is determined to put on a better show at the forthcoming US Open. "I need to move forward and just start to think about the energy that the crowd gives me in New York," he said. "I know it's a very special place for me, and I enjoy it. [I've had] unforgettable moments there, and I'm going to try my very best every single day to be ready for that." ALSO READ: Cincinnati Masters: Daniil Medvedev downs Van de Zandschulp to enter R3; Carlos Alcaraz defeats McDonald Nadal has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success at Flushing Meadows, walking away with the title on four different occasions, with his latest title coming in 2019. He will hope to replicate his success at the US Open as he prepares to take his tally up to five. The US Open action is set to unfold from August 29th.

'I need to move forward'- Rafael Nadal trains his aim at US Open following loss against Borna Coric

World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev started his Western &amp; Southern Open campaign on a winning note as he defeated Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands on Tuesday. The World No. 1 faced a tough test against the Dutch. He made a fast start behind an instant break but had to survive the second set to secure a 6-4, 7-5 victory and advance to the third round in Cincinnati. The second set of the match was hard fought, Medvedev built a lead of a set and a break but immediately surrendered his advantage as van de Zandschulp levelled at 3-3 in the second.

The top seed survived thanks to an error from his opponent, then broke for the third time in the match as van de Zandschulp double-faulted three times on serve at 5-all."The second set was not that clean," ATP.com quoted Medvedev as saying. "The first set was great. Everything was working. I had three games where I had break points but managed to break in the first game, which was enough," said Medvedev, who surrendered a break advantage and saved a set point on serve in the set. 
 
"The second set was going not that bad. He was not serving especially well today, doing a lot of double faults. So I tried to keep pressure and use my chances. Actually, in return, I feel like I did a good job. Two breaks on these fast courts are enough to win and I should have done a little bit better on my serve. But the first match is tricky and I`m happy that I managed to go through, and hopefully I will raise my level in the next matches," he added.

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He will next face Montreal quarter-finalist Tommy Paul or Denis Shapovalov, with a potential rematch with Kyrgios looming in the quarter-finals. On the other hand, Spanish teen sensation&nbsp;Carlos Alcaraz produced a dominant performance against Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 6-2 to earn his first win in his second Cincinnati appearance. 
 
"I'm really happy with the performance today. One of the goals in this tournament is to grow with the pressure... to enjoy as I did at the beginning of the year and last year. To enjoy playing great tennis, to try to be relaxed. I think in this round I did it and I`m really happy with it," Carlos Alcaraz said.

World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev started his Western & Southern Open campaign on a winning note as he defeated Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands on Tuesday. The World No.

World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev started his Western & Southern Open campaign on a winning note as he defeated Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands on Tuesday. The World No. 1 faced a tough test against the Dutch. He made a fast start behind an instant break but had to survive the second set to secure a 6-4, 7-5 victory and advance to the third round in Cincinnati. The second set of the match was hard fought, Medvedev built a lead of a set and a break but immediately surrendered his advantage as van de Zandschulp levelled at 3-3 in the second. The top seed survived thanks to an error from his opponent, then broke for the third time in the match as van de Zandschulp double-faulted three times on serve at 5-all."The second set was not that clean," ATP.com quoted Medvedev as saying. "The first set was great. Everything was working. I had three games where I had break points but managed to break in the first game, which was enough," said Medvedev, who surrendered a break advantage and saved a set point on serve in the set. "The second set was going not that bad. He was not serving especially well today, doing a lot of double faults. So I tried to keep pressure and use my chances. Actually, in return, I feel like I did a good job. Two breaks on these fast courts are enough to win and I should have done a little bit better on my serve. But the first match is tricky and I`m happy that I managed to go through, and hopefully I will raise my level in the next matches," he added. ALSO READ | Serena Williams beaten by Raducanu at WTA Cincinnati Masters He will next face Montreal quarter-finalist Tommy Paul or Denis Shapovalov, with a potential rematch with Kyrgios looming in the quarter-finals. On the other hand, Spanish teen sensation Carlos Alcaraz produced a dominant performance against Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 6-2 to earn his first win in his second Cincinnati appearance. "I'm really happy with the performance today. One of the goals in this tournament is to grow with the pressure... to enjoy as I did at the beginning of the year and last year. To enjoy playing great tennis, to try to be relaxed. I think in this round I did it and I`m really happy with it," Carlos Alcaraz said.

Cincinnati Masters: Daniil Medvedev downs Van de Zandschulp to enter R3; Carlos Alcaraz defeats McDonald

World no.1 Iga Swiatek has revealed she has always struggled to talk to Serena Williams, who has been an inspiration to her since she was a child. The American legend had recently confirmed she will be retiring from tennis after the upcoming US Open 2022. Williams is currently on her final ATP tour and will be taking part in the upcoming Cincinnati Open.

Swiatek is also set to take part in Cincinnati Open and is eager to meet Williams. The world no.1 was recently asked about the American great amid her farewell tour and the Polish star went on to reveal she has had a hard time trying to catch up with Williams, purely because of her aura.

Swiatek said she just wants to say 'Hi' to Williams but always becomes nervous when she is in front of the 23-Grand Slam champion. The Polish world no.1 said she feels like a child from kindergarten in front of Williams.

“I have a hard time catching eye contact with Serena. And I just wanted to say ‘Hi’ a few times. But it’s tough because she always has so many people around her and I’m pretty shy,” Swiatek told reporters in the pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday.

“When I look at her, I suddenly kind of forget that I’m here as the World No. 1. I see Serena and it’s, ‘Wow, Serena!’ You know? And I feel like I’m a kid from kindergarten just looking at her. So it’s tough. I haven’t talked to her, but I’m just trying to say hi," she added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/one-of-the-greatest-sad-that-she-is-leaving-rafael-nadal-pays-tribute-to-inspirational-serena-williams-507426">One of the greatest, sad that she is leaving: Rafael Nadal pays tribute to 'inspirational' Serena Williams</a>

Swiatek is aware this can be her final chance to play against Williams and doesn't want to lose out on an opportunity to lock horns with one of the greatest of all time. The Polish star said she wants to experience what it would be like to face Williams from the other side of the court.

“It would be the last chance to play her. I’d love to, if only to see how it is to face her on the other side of the net,” said Swiatek.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-not-play-more-than-what-i-believe-works-well-for-my-body-rafael-nadal-opens-up-on-his-abdominal-injury-507161">Will not play more than what I believe works well for my body: Nadal opens up on his abdominal injury</a>

Williams will open her campaign against British teenage sensation Emma Raducanu in the Cincinnati Open on August 17. The 23-time Grand Slam champion will be looking to find her groove ahead of the US Open where she will be gunning for a record 24th Grand Slam singles crown.

&nbsp;

World no.1 Iga Swiatek has revealed she has always struggled to talk to Serena Williams, who has been an inspiration to her since she was a child. The American legend had recently confirmed she will be retiring from tennis after the upcoming US Open 2022.

World no.1 Iga Swiatek has revealed she has always struggled to talk to Serena Williams, who has been an inspiration to her since she was a child. The American legend had recently confirmed she will be retiring from tennis after the upcoming US Open 2022. Williams is currently on her final ATP tour and will be taking part in the upcoming Cincinnati Open. Swiatek is also set to take part in Cincinnati Open and is eager to meet Williams. The world no.1 was recently asked about the American great amid her farewell tour and the Polish star went on to reveal she has had a hard time trying to catch up with Williams, purely because of her aura. Swiatek said she just wants to say 'Hi' to Williams but always becomes nervous when she is in front of the 23-Grand Slam champion. The Polish world no.1 said she feels like a child from kindergarten in front of Williams. “I have a hard time catching eye contact with Serena. And I just wanted to say ‘Hi’ a few times. But it’s tough because she always has so many people around her and I’m pretty shy,” Swiatek told reporters in the pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday. “When I look at her, I suddenly kind of forget that I’m here as the World No. 1. I see Serena and it’s, ‘Wow, Serena!’ You know? And I feel like I’m a kid from kindergarten just looking at her. So it’s tough. I haven’t talked to her, but I’m just trying to say hi," she added. Also Read: One of the greatest, sad that she is leaving: Rafael Nadal pays tribute to 'inspirational' Serena Williams Swiatek is aware this can be her final chance to play against Williams and doesn't want to lose out on an opportunity to lock horns with one of the greatest of all time. The Polish star said she wants to experience what it would be like to face Williams from the other side of the court. “It would be the last chance to play her. I’d love to, if only to see how it is to face her on the other side of the net,” said Swiatek. Also Read: Will not play more than what I believe works well for my body: Nadal opens up on his abdominal injury Williams will open her campaign against British teenage sensation Emma Raducanu in the Cincinnati Open on August 17. The 23-time Grand Slam champion will be looking to find her groove ahead of the US Open where she will be gunning for a record 24th Grand Slam singles crown.

I feel like I’m a kid from kindergarten: World no.1 Iga Swiatek on feeling shy to say 'hi' to Serena Williams

Serena Williams recently dropped a bomb when she confirmed she will be retiring from the game soon. Williams, who is regarded as one of the greatest female tennis players of all time, is all set to quit the sport after making her final appearance at the upcoming US Open 2022 at home.

The American legend&nbsp;currently has 23 Grand Slam titles to her name and will be gunning for a record 24th title at the US Open this year. Williams has had a glorious career spanning over two decades where she has dominated across all major Grand Slam events.

She is arguably one of the most successful tennis players of all time and is an inspiration to millions around the world. Williams is currently playing her final WTA Tour tournament at the ongoing Cincinnati Masters ahead of the US Open. She had confirmed her retirement earlier this month stating that she is 'evolving away from the game'.

Rafael Nadal paid a heartfelt tribute to Williams after her retirement decision and said the American ace will be missed. Calling her one of the greatest to have graced the game, the 22-time Grand Slam champion hailed her as an inspiration, who can't be thanked enough for what she has done for tennis.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-not-play-more-than-what-i-believe-works-well-for-my-body-rafael-nadal-opens-up-on-his-abdominal-injury-507161">Will not play more than what I believe works well for my body: Nadal opens up on his abdominal injury</a>

"Plenty of memories. She is one of the greatest sports [people] of all time. I feel lucky to share a tour for a long period of time with her. Of course, from a selfish point of view, it’s sad that she’s leaving the tour but, on the other hand, we can’t thank her enough for all the things that she did for our sport," Nadal told reporters ahead of the start of Cincinnati Masters.

"I think she’s an amazing inspiration for a lot of people around the world and I think she deserves to choose whatever works for her better at this stage of her life. So I wish her all the best," he added.

While it will be Williams' last ATP tour, 36-year-old Nadal is all set to make his comeback at the Cincinnati Masters after withdrawing from his semi-final clash against Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon 2022 earlier this year. Nadal had to pull out of the all-important game due to a tear in his abdomen.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/simona-halep-battles-past-beatriz-haddad-maia-to-clinch-toronto-title-507104">Simona Halep battles past Beatriz Haddad Maia to clinch Toronto title</a>

The Spaniard has already won two Grand Slam titles this year at the Australian Open and the French Open and looked well on course to fight for a third straight title before his injury at Wimbledon 2022. Nadal's participation at the upcoming US Open 2022 remains in doubt as he asserted he will not put too much pressure on his body considering his abdominal injury.

Serena Williams recently dropped a bomb when she confirmed she will be retiring from the game soon. Williams, who is regarded as one of the greatest female tennis players of all time, is all set to quit the sport after making her final appearance at the upcoming US Open 2022 at home.

Serena Williams recently dropped a bomb when she confirmed she will be retiring from the game soon. Williams, who is regarded as one of the greatest female tennis players of all time, is all set to quit the sport after making her final appearance at the upcoming US Open 2022 at home. The American legend currently has 23 Grand Slam titles to her name and will be gunning for a record 24th title at the US Open this year. Williams has had a glorious career spanning over two decades where she has dominated across all major Grand Slam events. She is arguably one of the most successful tennis players of all time and is an inspiration to millions around the world. Williams is currently playing her final WTA Tour tournament at the ongoing Cincinnati Masters ahead of the US Open. She had confirmed her retirement earlier this month stating that she is 'evolving away from the game'. Rafael Nadal paid a heartfelt tribute to Williams after her retirement decision and said the American ace will be missed. Calling her one of the greatest to have graced the game, the 22-time Grand Slam champion hailed her as an inspiration, who can't be thanked enough for what she has done for tennis. Also Read: Will not play more than what I believe works well for my body: Nadal opens up on his abdominal injury "Plenty of memories. She is one of the greatest sports [people] of all time. I feel lucky to share a tour for a long period of time with her. Of course, from a selfish point of view, it’s sad that she’s leaving the tour but, on the other hand, we can’t thank her enough for all the things that she did for our sport," Nadal told reporters ahead of the start of Cincinnati Masters. "I think she’s an amazing inspiration for a lot of people around the world and I think she deserves to choose whatever works for her better at this stage of her life. So I wish her all the best," he added. While it will be Williams' last ATP tour, 36-year-old Nadal is all set to make his comeback at the Cincinnati Masters after withdrawing from his semi-final clash against Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon 2022 earlier this year. Nadal had to pull out of the all-important game due to a tear in his abdomen. Also Read: Simona Halep battles past Beatriz Haddad Maia to clinch Toronto title The Spaniard has already won two Grand Slam titles this year at the Australian Open and the French Open and looked well on course to fight for a third straight title before his injury at Wimbledon 2022. Nadal's participation at the upcoming US Open 2022 remains in doubt as he asserted he will not put too much pressure on his body considering his abdominal injury.

One of the greatest, sad that she is leaving: Rafael Nadal pays tribute to 'inspirational' Serena Williams

During the ongoing Cincinnati Open, a huge controversy erupted recently. A fan draped herself in a Ukrainian flag and was asked to remove it after objection from a Russian athlete.&nbsp;The incident occurred&nbsp;during a qualifying match between Russian players Anna Kalinskaya and Anastasia Potapova.&nbsp;

Thus, when a spectator was spotted with a Ukraine flag, the officials asked her to remove following a complaint from a Russian player. The incident grabbed a lot of eyeballs and the video of the chair umpire's interaction with the fan has also gone viral on social media platforms. Here's the video:

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...but after the Russian player complained to the umpire, the umpire descended from her chair and confronted the fan about her presence with the flag, telling her it was "not nice"...to be sitting with the flag. 
 
Lola responded that it was "not nice to invade a country."
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/1559251920342106112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Video of some of this incident surfaced hours later on social media, via <a href="https://twitter.com/TrashyTennis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@trashytennis</a><a href="https://t.co/bYlFL38L9X">pic.twitter.com/bYlFL38L9X</a>
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/1559251921914978304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-not-play-more-than-what-i-believe-works-well-for-my-body-rafael-nadal-opens-up-on-his-abdominal-injury-507161">Will not play more than what I believe works well for my body: Rafael Nadal opens up on his abdominal injury</a>

Following her interaction with chair umpire, the fan left the court and was&nbsp;reportedly approached by the head of security too, informing&nbsp;her the flag was above the allowed size.

Issuing a clarification on the whole matter, a spokesperson for the tournament said in a statement, “Per the Western &amp; Southern Open’s bag policy, as stated on the tournament’s website, flags or banners larger than 18 x 18 are prohibited. Therefore, the patron was asked to remove the flag from the grounds and after doing so was allowed to remain at the tournament."

“Any inquiries about the chair umpire should be directed to the WTA Tour,” it further added. So far, there has been no reaction from the WTA on the incident. However, many fans have lashed out at the officials for asking the spectator to remove her country's flag.&nbsp;

Russia and Ukraine have been involved in a war following Vladamir Putin's decision&nbsp;of invading&nbsp;the European country. To date, there has been no resolution to the conflict.

During the ongoing Cincinnati Open, a huge controversy erupted recently. A fan draped herself in a Ukrainian flag and was asked to remove it after objection from a Russian athlete.

During the ongoing Cincinnati Open, a huge controversy erupted recently. A fan draped herself in a Ukrainian flag and was asked to remove it after objection from a Russian athlete. The incident occurred during a qualifying match between Russian players Anna Kalinskaya and Anastasia Potapova. Thus, when a spectator was spotted with a Ukraine flag, the officials asked her to remove following a complaint from a Russian player. The incident grabbed a lot of eyeballs and the video of the chair umpire's interaction with the fan has also gone viral on social media platforms. Here's the video: ...but after the Russian player complained to the umpire, the umpire descended from her chair and confronted the fan about her presence with the flag, telling her it was "not nice"...to be sitting with the flag. Lola responded that it was "not nice to invade a country." — Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 15, 2022 × Video of some of this incident surfaced hours later on social media, via @trashytennispic.twitter.com/bYlFL38L9X — Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 15, 2022 × ALSO READ | Will not play more than what I believe works well for my body: Rafael Nadal opens up on his abdominal injury Following her interaction with chair umpire, the fan left the court and was reportedly approached by the head of security too, informing her the flag was above the allowed size. Issuing a clarification on the whole matter, a spokesperson for the tournament said in a statement, “Per the Western & Southern Open’s bag policy, as stated on the tournament’s website, flags or banners larger than 18 x 18 are prohibited. Therefore, the patron was asked to remove the flag from the grounds and after doing so was allowed to remain at the tournament." “Any inquiries about the chair umpire should be directed to the WTA Tour,” it further added. So far, there has been no reaction from the WTA on the incident. However, many fans have lashed out at the officials for asking the spectator to remove her country's flag. Russia and Ukraine have been involved in a war following Vladamir Putin's decision of invading the European country. To date, there has been no resolution to the conflict.

Controversy erupts after spectator asked to remove Ukraine flag at Cincinnati Open by officials - WATCH

The former World No. 1 Andy Murray showed his fighting qualities on Monday as he defeated Stan Wawrinka in the opening round of the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati. Murray registered a hard-fought victory against long-time rival Stan Wawrinka 7-6(3), 5-7, 7-5 to advance to the next round. The 35-year-old Scot consistently found depth on his watertight groundstrokes as he forced the Swiss into making mistakes, who combined moments of erratic play. After both stayed firm on serve, a tie-break was left to decide the opener, with Murray claiming the set when Wawrinka shot a forehand long. In the third set, the Scot fought hard from 0-2 down, eventually breaking to lead 6-5 before successfully holding to triumph.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/controversy-erupts-after-spectator-asked-to-remove-ukraine-flag-at-cincinnati-open-by-officials-watch-507359">Controversy erupts after spectator asked to remove Ukraine flag at Cincinnati Open by officials - WATCH</a>

"The court is pretty lively when the weather is like this. Physically I feel tired," Murray said in his on-court interview. "I had some issues with cramp during the match, the same as Washington, so that is something I need to get on top of. "I tried to take the ball on a little more and finish points at the net. I wasn`t that successful&nbsp;when I came up, but the intention was there. I was a little more offensive on the second-serve return. Last game I was just fighting, trying to find a way through," he added. "He is very different to how Stan plays, being a lefty. Flat on the backhand, heavy topspin on the forehand. We have spent a little bit of time on the court together, so there won`t be many surprises out there for me," Murray said when looking ahead to his match against Norrie.

The former World No. 1 Andy Murray showed his fighting qualities on Monday as he defeated Stan Wawrinka in the opening round of the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati.

The former World No. 1 Andy Murray showed his fighting qualities on Monday as he defeated Stan Wawrinka in the opening round of the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati. Murray registered a hard-fought victory against long-time rival Stan Wawrinka 7-6(3), 5-7, 7-5 to advance to the next round. The 35-year-old Scot consistently found depth on his watertight groundstrokes as he forced the Swiss into making mistakes, who combined moments of erratic play. After both stayed firm on serve, a tie-break was left to decide the opener, with Murray claiming the set when Wawrinka shot a forehand long. In the third set, the Scot fought hard from 0-2 down, eventually breaking to lead 6-5 before successfully holding to triumph. ALSO READ | Controversy erupts after spectator asked to remove Ukraine flag at Cincinnati Open by officials - WATCH "The court is pretty lively when the weather is like this. Physically I feel tired," Murray said in his on-court interview. "I had some issues with cramp during the match, the same as Washington, so that is something I need to get on top of. "I tried to take the ball on a little more and finish points at the net. I wasn`t that successful when I came up, but the intention was there. I was a little more offensive on the second-serve return. Last game I was just fighting, trying to find a way through," he added. "He is very different to how Stan plays, being a lefty. Flat on the backhand, heavy topspin on the forehand. We have spent a little bit of time on the court together, so there won`t be many surprises out there for me," Murray said when looking ahead to his match against Norrie.

Cincinnati Masters: Andy Murray goes past Stan Wawrinka to enter second round

Rafael Nadal has been unstoppable so far this season and has been enjoying a stellar run on the court having already won two Grand Slam titles and missing out closely on a third straight Grand Slam final appearance this year. The Spaniard had to pull out of the Wimbledon 2022 semi-final against Nick Kyrgios due to an abdominal injury.

Nadal looked on course to reach his third straight Grand Slam final this year after he defeated Taylor Fritz in the quarters. However, he ended up suffering a tear in his abdomen and had to pull out of the semi-final clash against Kyrgios, who went on to lose against Novak Djokovic in the final.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion recently opened up on his abdominal injury ahead of the upcoming Cincinnati Open and said he is aware of putting too much pressure on his body. Nadal said he doesn't want to play more than what is good for his body.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/spains-pablo-carreno-busta-defeats-hubert-hurkacz-to-clinch-montreal-title-507048">Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta defeats Hubert Hurkacz to clinch Montreal title</a>

"The main thing is to stay healthy and play the events that I want to play. I will not play more than what I believe works well for my body. I am happy to be back in Cincinnati after a couple of years without the chance of being able to be here. I had a small tear in the abdomen, so it is dangerous," Nadal told reporters ahead of the start of the&nbsp;Cincinnati Open.

"The abdominal is a place that is dangerous because on every serve you put a lot of effort there. I am trying to do things properly, trying to be a bit more conservative. I hope I can be ready for the action here. I want to play tennis again on the Tour. I am having a good season and I am enjoying it. I want to enjoy this week in Cincinnati," he added.

The world no.3 had a brilliant start to the year as he went on to win the Australian Open title to clinch his 21st Grand Slam crown and move past his arch-rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer on the list of male players with most Grand Slams. He extended his lead further after his dominant victory at the French Open 2022.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/simona-halep-battles-past-beatriz-haddad-maia-to-clinch-toronto-title-507104">Simona Halep battles past Beatriz Haddad Maia to clinch Toronto title</a>

Djokovic then managed to close the gap on Nadal at the Wimbledon 2022 after the Spaniard had to pull out of his semi-final meeting against Kyrgios. Djokovic defeated the Australian star in the final to notch up his 21st Grand Slam crown and now stands just one title away from equalling Nadal.

Rafael Nadal has been unstoppable so far this season and has been enjoying a stellar run on the court having already won two Grand Slam titles and missing out closely on a third straight Grand Slam final appearance this year.

Rafael Nadal has been unstoppable so far this season and has been enjoying a stellar run on the court having already won two Grand Slam titles and missing out closely on a third straight Grand Slam final appearance this year. The Spaniard had to pull out of the Wimbledon 2022 semi-final against Nick Kyrgios due to an abdominal injury. Nadal looked on course to reach his third straight Grand Slam final this year after he defeated Taylor Fritz in the quarters. However, he ended up suffering a tear in his abdomen and had to pull out of the semi-final clash against Kyrgios, who went on to lose against Novak Djokovic in the final. The 22-time Grand Slam champion recently opened up on his abdominal injury ahead of the upcoming Cincinnati Open and said he is aware of putting too much pressure on his body. Nadal said he doesn't want to play more than what is good for his body. Also Read: Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta defeats Hubert Hurkacz to clinch Montreal title "The main thing is to stay healthy and play the events that I want to play. I will not play more than what I believe works well for my body. I am happy to be back in Cincinnati after a couple of years without the chance of being able to be here. I had a small tear in the abdomen, so it is dangerous," Nadal told reporters ahead of the start of the Cincinnati Open. "The abdominal is a place that is dangerous because on every serve you put a lot of effort there. I am trying to do things properly, trying to be a bit more conservative. I hope I can be ready for the action here. I want to play tennis again on the Tour. I am having a good season and I am enjoying it. I want to enjoy this week in Cincinnati," he added. The world no.3 had a brilliant start to the year as he went on to win the Australian Open title to clinch his 21st Grand Slam crown and move past his arch-rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer on the list of male players with most Grand Slams. He extended his lead further after his dominant victory at the French Open 2022. Also Read: Simona Halep battles past Beatriz Haddad Maia to clinch Toronto title Djokovic then managed to close the gap on Nadal at the Wimbledon 2022 after the Spaniard had to pull out of his semi-final meeting against Kyrgios. Djokovic defeated the Australian star in the final to notch up his 21st Grand Slam crown and now stands just one title away from equalling Nadal.

Will not play more than what I believe works well for my body: Rafael Nadal opens up on his abdominal injury

Former World No.1 Simona Halep stormed her way into the Top 10 rankings, as she captured the National Bank Open for the third time in her career on Sunday.

The 2016 and 2018 champion Halep ended the run of Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil winning 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in a match that lasted for two hours and 16 minutes, claiming her 24th career WTA Tour singles title.

In the closely contested affair, Halep shot four fewer unforced errors despite nine double faults in the first set. Haddad Maia created a hefty lead in the second set, jumping out to 4-0, and this time the Brazilian held on to level the match.

After an early exchange of breaks in the third set, Halep held on to her ground and stayed aggressive to finding excellent overhead winners en route to a victor for 6-3. "It`s never easy to play against [Haddad Maia]," Halep said in her post-match press conference.

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"She beat me a few weeks ago. ... I knew that it was going to be a good challenge and a good fight. So it`s been a battle today, and I`m really happy that I could actually be stronger in the important moments," she added.

"It makes it even more special because I really wanted to win it in Toronto as well. Here there are many Romanians and they always come to support me. So I`m really happy that I could also win here," Halep said.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/spains-pablo-carreno-busta-defeats-hubert-hurkacz-to-clinch-montreal-title-507048">Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta defeats Hubert Hurkacz to clinch Montreal title</a>

"I feel like it`s a big deal to be back in the Top 10. When I started the year I was not very confident and I set the goal to be, at the end of the year, Top 10. And here I am. So it`s a very special moment. I will enjoy it. I will give myself credit. I`m just dreaming for more," Halep added.&nbsp;

Former World No.1 Simona Halep stormed her way into the Top 10 rankings, as she captured the National Bank Open for the third time in her career on Sunday. The 2016 and 2018 champion Halep ended the run of Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil winning 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in a match that lasted for two hours and 16 minutes, claiming her 24th career WTA Tour singles title.

Former World No.1 Simona Halep stormed her way into the Top 10 rankings, as she captured the National Bank Open for the third time in her career on Sunday. The 2016 and 2018 champion Halep ended the run of Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil winning 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in a match that lasted for two hours and 16 minutes, claiming her 24th career WTA Tour singles title. In the closely contested affair, Halep shot four fewer unforced errors despite nine double faults in the first set. Haddad Maia created a hefty lead in the second set, jumping out to 4-0, and this time the Brazilian held on to level the match. After an early exchange of breaks in the third set, Halep held on to her ground and stayed aggressive to finding excellent overhead winners en route to a victor for 6-3. "It`s never easy to play against [Haddad Maia]," Halep said in her post-match press conference. Also Read: Brittney Griner's lawyers file an appeal against her 9-year Russian prison sentence for drugs possession "She beat me a few weeks ago. ... I knew that it was going to be a good challenge and a good fight. So it`s been a battle today, and I`m really happy that I could actually be stronger in the important moments," she added. "It makes it even more special because I really wanted to win it in Toronto as well. Here there are many Romanians and they always come to support me. So I`m really happy that I could also win here," Halep said. Also Read: Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta defeats Hubert Hurkacz to clinch Montreal title "I feel like it`s a big deal to be back in the Top 10. When I started the year I was not very confident and I set the goal to be, at the end of the year, Top 10. And here I am. So it`s a very special moment. I will enjoy it. I will give myself credit. I`m just dreaming for more," Halep added.

Simona Halep battles past Beatriz Haddad Maia to clinch Toronto title

Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain produced a stellar performance to clinch the National Bank Open on Sunday, defeating Hubert Hurkacz in the final. The Spaniard claimed his seventh tour-level title with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Hurkacz. The 31-year-old worked his way into the final by dialling up his charge and locking in on a return to control the last two sets.

After getting the momentum-shifting break early in the second set, Carreno Busta earned his breakthrough in the third game of set three as he closed in the win. He sealed victory in style, converting on his third break point of the match at the National Bank Open. In the first two sets, there were no other breakpoints and just one deuce game, on the Hurkacz serve midway through the second. Carreno Busta forced the match to a decider with an unreturned serve after just one hour and five minutes of play on Court Central. Forty minutes later, he finished the match as the Montreal champion.

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"It`s an amazing feeling to be a Masters 1000 winner," he said post-match."It`s the best title of my career for sure and I don`t know how I`m feeling in this moment. I know that during all the week we worked very hard, also the weeks before. It`s very important to be very positive all the time. It`s not my best season this year. I lost some matches that probably other seasons I didn`t lose, but I just tried to continue believing in my team, in myself and in my game," he added.

"I lost the first set, just one break, but you know when you play against these kinds of players who have a really good serve it`s really tough to be there. But I just continued believing because I know that I was playing better and better. I tried to be aggressive with my serves and I could make two breaks, enough to be a winner," he said.

Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain produced a stellar performance to clinch the National Bank Open on Sunday, defeating Hubert Hurkacz in the final. The Spaniard claimed his seventh tour-level title with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Hurkacz.

Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain produced a stellar performance to clinch the National Bank Open on Sunday, defeating Hubert Hurkacz in the final. The Spaniard claimed his seventh tour-level title with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Hurkacz. The 31-year-old worked his way into the final by dialling up his charge and locking in on a return to control the last two sets. After getting the momentum-shifting break early in the second set, Carreno Busta earned his breakthrough in the third game of set three as he closed in the win. He sealed victory in style, converting on his third break point of the match at the National Bank Open. In the first two sets, there were no other breakpoints and just one deuce game, on the Hurkacz serve midway through the second. Carreno Busta forced the match to a decider with an unreturned serve after just one hour and five minutes of play on Court Central. Forty minutes later, he finished the match as the Montreal champion. ALSO READ | Simona Halep fights off Coco Gauff, Haddad Maia stuns Bencic in Canadian Open "It`s an amazing feeling to be a Masters 1000 winner," he said post-match."It`s the best title of my career for sure and I don`t know how I`m feeling in this moment. I know that during all the week we worked very hard, also the weeks before. It`s very important to be very positive all the time. It`s not my best season this year. I lost some matches that probably other seasons I didn`t lose, but I just tried to continue believing in my team, in myself and in my game," he added. "I lost the first set, just one break, but you know when you play against these kinds of players who have a really good serve it`s really tough to be there. But I just continued believing because I know that I was playing better and better. I tried to be aggressive with my serves and I could make two breaks, enough to be a winner," he said.

Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta defeats Hubert Hurkacz to clinch Montreal title

Romania`s Simona Halep fought off a late rally from Coco Gauff and Brazil`s Beatriz Haddad Maia pulled off another three-set upset as both made the semi-finals of the Canadian Open on Friday. Twice champion Halep secured a nervy 6-4 7-6(2) win on Friday and advance to the last four for a fifth time.

The former world number one, up a set and leading 4-1 in the second, looked headed for an easy passage into the last four. But Gauff dug in and rallied to force the second set to a tiebreak before 15th-seeded Halep finish off the 10th seed in the tiebreak to maintain her dominance over the American.

In four career meetings, including three this year, Gauff has yet to take a set off Halep, who next faces another American in seventh seed Jessica Pegula - a 6-3 6-3 winner over Kazakh Yulia Putintseva.

"I`m really pleased with the way I stayed there strong mentally," said Halep, after reaching her 29th career semi-final at a WTA 1000 event - more than any other player.

"And I fought for every point which was really important because she`s doing the same thing. Mentally I`m strong even if I struggled a little bit in the second set."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/if-i-was-a-guy-serena-williams-claims-sexism-played-a-major-role-in-her-retirement-506591">‘If I was a guy’- Serena Williams claims sexism played a major role in her retirement call</a>

Halep certainly struggled in the second as she twice served for the match at 5-4 and 6-5 only to be broken each time. But the twice Grand Slam winner refocused in the tiebreak to stop the contest going to a third and registered her 36th win this season behind only Iga Swiatek (48) and Ons Jabeur (37).

The 30-year-old also had to wrestle with her serve, committing eight double faults while giving French Open finalist Gauff plenty of chances with 12 break opportunities. Haddad Maia humbled 12th seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to become the first Brazilian to reach the semi-finals of a WTA 1000 tournament.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-big-boost-to-novak-djokovics-participation-after-usa-confirms-changes-to-covid-norms-506484">US Open: Big boost to Novak Djokovic's participation after USA confirms changes to COVID norms</a>

The 26-year-old from Sao Paulo, who stunned Polish world number one Iga Swiatek in the previous round, needed two hours and 11 minutes to edge past 2015 champion Bencic. She will meet former world number one Karolina Pliskova who prevailed 4-6 6-4 6-4 against Zheng Qinwen of China in the last quarter-final match.

Romania`s Simona Halep fought off a late rally from Coco Gauff and Brazil`s Beatriz Haddad Maia pulled off another three-set upset as both made the semi-finals of the Canadian Open on Friday.

Romania`s Simona Halep fought off a late rally from Coco Gauff and Brazil`s Beatriz Haddad Maia pulled off another three-set upset as both made the semi-finals of the Canadian Open on Friday. Twice champion Halep secured a nervy 6-4 7-6(2) win on Friday and advance to the last four for a fifth time. The former world number one, up a set and leading 4-1 in the second, looked headed for an easy passage into the last four. But Gauff dug in and rallied to force the second set to a tiebreak before 15th-seeded Halep finish off the 10th seed in the tiebreak to maintain her dominance over the American. In four career meetings, including three this year, Gauff has yet to take a set off Halep, who next faces another American in seventh seed Jessica Pegula - a 6-3 6-3 winner over Kazakh Yulia Putintseva. "I`m really pleased with the way I stayed there strong mentally," said Halep, after reaching her 29th career semi-final at a WTA 1000 event - more than any other player. "And I fought for every point which was really important because she`s doing the same thing. Mentally I`m strong even if I struggled a little bit in the second set." Also Read: ‘If I was a guy’- Serena Williams claims sexism played a major role in her retirement call Halep certainly struggled in the second as she twice served for the match at 5-4 and 6-5 only to be broken each time. But the twice Grand Slam winner refocused in the tiebreak to stop the contest going to a third and registered her 36th win this season behind only Iga Swiatek (48) and Ons Jabeur (37). The 30-year-old also had to wrestle with her serve, committing eight double faults while giving French Open finalist Gauff plenty of chances with 12 break opportunities. Haddad Maia humbled 12th seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to become the first Brazilian to reach the semi-finals of a WTA 1000 tournament. Also Read: US Open: Big boost to Novak Djokovic's participation after USA confirms changes to COVID norms The 26-year-old from Sao Paulo, who stunned Polish world number one Iga Swiatek in the previous round, needed two hours and 11 minutes to edge past 2015 champion Bencic. She will meet former world number one Karolina Pliskova who prevailed 4-6 6-4 6-4 against Zheng Qinwen of China in the last quarter-final match.

Simona Halep fights off Coco Gauff, Haddad Maia stuns Bencic in Canadian Open

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