MARIANO NAVONE TAKES DOWN A LEGEND | NAVONE VS. DJOKOVIC

 

TAYLOR SWIFT ENGAGED | ' HOPEFULLY THIS ONE WILL STICK FOREVER': IGA SWIATEK REACTS TO ENGAGEMENT

For Iga Swiatek, the engagement news was as thrilling as her own record-breaking performance

Iga Swiatek's US Open victory was overshadowed by news of Taylor Swift's engagement to Travis Kelce. The tennis star, a devoted Swiftie, expressed her excitement for Swift, highlighting her long-standing admiration for the singer. Swiatek credited Swift's music with aiding her English learning and personal growth, even attending her 'Eras Tour' and receiving a handwritten note.

World No. 2 Iga Swiatek stormed into the second round of the US Open on Tuesday with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over Colombia’s Emiliana Arango — but it was Taylor Swift’s engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce that dominated her post-match spotlight.

The Polish star, a self-confessed “Swiftie,” barely had time to leave Arthur Ashe Stadium before news of the pop icon’s engagement swept through Flushing Meadows. For Swiatek, the update was as thrilling as her own record-breaking performance, which saw her notch a 65th consecutive first-round win at WTA-level events, surpassing Monica Seles’ historic mark.

"I’m just happy for her, because she deserves the best," Swiatek told reporters, her face lighting up at the mention of Swift.

"Obviously she had a lot of boyfriends, so we know all about that. Hopefully this one will stick forever. Travis seems like a great guy. She seems super happy, so I’m happy for her. I wish them all the best."

— Tennis (@Tennis)

Swiatek’s devotion to Swift runs deep. The 24-year-old has often credited the singer’s music with helping her learn English and cope with the challenges of adolescence. After her French Open triumph in 2023, she even attended Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ concert in Liverpool — a win that earned her a handwritten note from Swift herself.

Revealing her journey as a fan since 2014, Swiatek said: "I just followed everything. I was following her, but also fan pages to see the updates. When the Reputation album came out, I’ve got to say I didn’t really like it that much. So I had a little break. But then in 2019, and when Folklore and Evermore were released during Covid, I started listening to Taylor again. It’s great. But I like Reputation now. Don’t worry."

She also hit back at Swift’s detractors, insisting: "I don’t get it, because she just makes our world better."

So intense was the focus on Swift that when one reporter requested to move on to a "non-Taylor question," Swiatek playfully retorted: "No."

The six-time Grand Slam champion now turns her attention back to tennis, with a second-round clash against the Netherlands’ Suzan Lamens.

- TOI Sports Desk

LATE NIGHT DRAMA AS BIZZARE SCENES UNFOLD DURING DANIIL MEDVEDEV'S US OPEN MATCH

Medvedev loses his cool: this was the show he put on at the US Open. Photo: Getty

The opening night session of the US Open 2025 at Flushing Meadows turned into pure chaos as Daniil Medvedev staged a dramatic comeback in the third set, against Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, in a match that had everything—frustration, controversy, and even an unprecedented court invasion.

Bonzi came out firing, stunning the Russian top seed by taking the first two sets 6-3, 7-5. For Medvedev, who had already suffered a shocking first-round exit at this year’s French Open against Cameron Norrie, the prospect of another early Grand Slam disaster loomed large. For the first time in his career, he was staring at a first-round loss in New York.

Known for his raw emotions, Medvedev let his frustrations spill over throughout the night. At one point, he openly mocked Bonzi’s fist-pump celebrations, clearly trying to rattle his opponent while venting his own pent-up anger. For the Russian, the night session in New York has often been a stage of high octane drama—and this match was no different.

But the most bizarre twist came on match point for Bonzi. Just as the Frenchman prepared to serve, a photographer infiltrated the court in an unprecedented interruption. The incident forced the chair umpire to replay the point, awarding Bonzi a first serve back—a decision that sent Medvedev into an absolute meltdown.

The Russian’s protests fueled the already electric atmosphere inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. For over six long minutes, the match was halted as the crowd erupted in chants of “second serve!” and relentlessly booed, refusing to calm down.

When play finally resumed, the chaos seemed to weigh heavily on Bonzi. Distracted and rattled, he dropped the next two points, handing Medvedev a crucial break opportunity. Sensing his chance, the former US Open champion pounced, breaking serve to stay alive and flipping the momentum at the brink of defeat.

Medevedev dragged the match into a tie-breaker to stay afloat in the first round match, and secured two set points in a dramatic turnaround. Medevedev converted his second one and took the third set to keep his chances alive. Even fellow tennis players Taylor Fritz and Genie Bouchard took to twitter to voice their emotions.

And Taylor Fritz turned out to be right, as Medvedev breezed through the fourth set 6-0, as Bonzi struggled physically and mentally to stay in the match. He called for the physio to attend to his knee, and the focused and zoned in player that he was for the first two and a half sets, quickly crumbled under the lights.

- Vivek Devane

AMERICAN TEENAGER COCO GAUFF FIGHTS BACK TO BEAT ARYNA SABALENKA AND WIN THE U.S. OPEN

Reuters 

Teenager Coco Gauff mounted a fierce comeback to beat Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka 2-6 6-3 6-2 in the U.S. Open women's final on Saturday, claiming her first Grand Slam title and cementing her place in American tennis royalty.

With the win, sixth seed Gauff became the first American to win a U.S. Open singles title since Sloane Stephens in 2017.

Gauff, 19, fed off noisy local support as she fought back in the second set and kept the momentum going until the end of the battle, before falling to the court on Arthur Ashe Stadium as she clinched the title with a backhand winner.

Sabalenka had a superb start but could not keep the momentum going as unforced errors piled up and she closed her 2023 Grand Slam run, which included an Australian Open title and semi-finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, on a disappointing note.

VETERAN DJOKOVIC OVERCOMES SHELTON TO REACH U.S. OPEN FINAL

 

Reuters 

Novak Djokovic used his experience to overcome American Ben Shelton as the Serbian battled past his 20-year-old challenger 6-3 6-2 7-6(4) to reach his 10th U.S. Open final on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday.

Shelton had flummoxed opponents in New York with his big serve, but the 36-year-old second seed Djokovic was able to harness his experience to neutralise a third-set surge from the young American.

He next faces the winner of a match between top seed and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and third seed Daniil Medvedev.

"Obviously I knew that he's got a lot of firepower. He has an amazing pop on the serve, he's just so dynamic and very unpredictable what comes next," said Djokovic. "I just had to stay there mentally, present, calm, and focus on the game plan."

Already assured of returning to the top of the world rankings when they are updated after the tournament, Djokovic will continue the hunt for his 24th Grand Slam title to match Margaret Court's all-time singles record on Sunday.

KEYS UPSETS PEGULA IN ALL-AMERICAN CLASH TO REACH U.S. OPEN QUARTERS

Reuters 

Madison Keys stunned third seed Jessica Pegula 6-1 6-3 in an all-American clash on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday, reaching the U.S. Open quarter-final for the first time since 2018.

Keys crashed out of the first round at Cincinnati last month but appeared right at home on the New York hard courts, where she was runner-up in 2017, as she overwhelmed her opponent with 21 winners.

Pegula beat the 17th seed Keys in their only previous meeting last year and was considered as one of the U.S.'s brightest hopes after winning the Montreal title last month.

However, on Monday she lacked her usual firepower and finesse.

US OPEN: SERENA WILLIAMS SETS A NEW RECORD OF 307 VICTORIES IN GRAND SLAMS

Serena Williams breaks Martina Navratilova record after winning her match with Johanna Larsson...