Daily News 19

Tag: Australian Open

  • US Open 2026: Britain’s Neal Skupski and Christian Harrison Win Men’s Doubles Title

    US Open 2026: Britain’s Neal Skupski and Christian Harrison Win Men’s Doubles Title

    Skupski and Harrison Capture US Open Men’s Doubles Title for Second Grand Slam Trophy

    Britain’s Neal Skupski and American partner Christian Harrison clinched the US Open men’s doubles championship on Sunday, securing their second Grand Slam title together as a pairing. The fifth-seeded duo dominated the tournament in New York without dropping a single set, defeating sixth seeds Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz of Germany 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

    Redemption After Previous Heartbreak

    The victory adds to the pair’s Australian Open triumph in January, which marked their first major title as a team. For Skupski, the win represents significant redemption after a devastating loss in the 2023 US Open final. Partnering with fellow Briton Joe Salisbury last year, Skupski missed three championship points in a crushing defeat. He also fell short in the 2022 final alongside Dutchman Wesley Koolhof.

    Salisbury subsequently took a hiatus from tennis due to anxiety, prompting Skupski to form a new partnership with Harrison—a decision that has now yielded two major trophies in less than a year.

    Dramatic Finish on Arthur Ashe Stadium

    Cheered on by a Flushing Meadows crowd rallying behind home favorite Harrison, the pair produced a clutch performance in a tightly contested second-set tiebreak. After saving a set point, Skupski sealed the championship with a decisive smash at the net, dropping to his knees in celebration before embracing his partner.

    “I don’t know what to say really, I’m still in shock. The speech gets a little bit easier once you’ve won,” said Skupski.

    “Losing twice and having championship points in the final last year was a tough part of my career, but it’s amazing what a year does in tennis.”

    Match Breakdown: Clinical First Set, Nerve-Wracking Second

    Skupski and Harrison secured the only break of the match in the opening set, with Harrison unleashing a backhand winner down the line to move ahead 4-3 before serving out the set 6-4. The second set remained on serve throughout, heading to a tiebreak where Puetz and Krawietz gained a set point after a net-cord return wrong-footed Harrison.

    The Anglo-American duo saved that critical point, then earned championship point as the atmosphere inside Arthur Ashe Stadium intensified. Skupski’s finishing volley sparked wild celebrations, capping a flawless fortnight for the fifth seeds.

    Skupski’s Growing Grand Slam Legacy

    The Flushing Meadows triumph marks Skupski’s third men’s doubles Grand Slam title. He previously captured the Wimbledon championship in 2023 alongside Koolhof. Additionally, Skupski boasts two mixed doubles major titles, winning Wimbledon in 2021 and 2022 with American partner Desirae Krawczyk.

    For Harrison, the US Open crown represents a career-defining moment on home soil, solidifying a partnership that has quickly become one of the most formidable in men’s doubles tennis.

  • US Open 2026 Results: Novak Djokovic’s Tearful Exit Raises Fresh Questions About Tennis Great’s Future

    US Open 2026 Results: Novak Djokovic’s Tearful Exit Raises Fresh Questions About Tennis Great’s Future

    Novak Djokovic has repeatedly silenced doubts about his ability to compete at the highest level. But his latest US Open defeat has raised fresh questions about the 39-year-old’s future after an emotional first-round exit in New York.

    Djokovic was once again challenged to prove himself after falling outside the world’s top 20 during a two-year drought without a major title in 2018. He responded by winning four of the next five Grand Slam tournaments, taking his total to 12 majors over the following six years.

    Djokovic suffers emotional US Open defeat

    Three years have passed since Djokovic won his men’s record 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open. On Sunday night, however, the Serbian struggled to find a response as he fought back tears during his latest match at Flushing Meadows.

    Facing the prospect of his first opening-round Grand Slam defeat since 2006, one of the greatest players in tennis history was beaten 7-6 (7-5) 5-7 4-6 6-2 6-1 by Argentina’s Navone.

    Djokovic has spent years defying the effects of time and, at times, appeared to be improving with age. That was evident at this year’s Wimbledon, where he defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime, 14 years his junior, in a five-set quarter-final that became the longest in the tournament’s history.

    Even in his late 30s, Djokovic remained one of the players capable of challenging Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the leading forces in men’s tennis.

    At the Australian Open in January, Djokovic ended Sinner’s bid for a third consecutive title with a remarkable five-set comeback victory. He then took the opening set against Alcaraz in the final before fading to a four-set defeat.

    Australian Open may be Djokovic’s best remaining chance

    Following early exits in Paris and New York, there is an inevitable sense that Melbourne represented Djokovic’s strongest opportunity to win an outright record 25th major title and add another landmark to a career unmatched by almost every statistical measure.

    Djokovic was despondent after the match, saying he “despised every moment I spent on the court for that”.

    “When it comes to the match itself, and the overall feeling of how I felt with my body and playing, it was really not enjoyable,” Djokovic said.

    “But, from the perspective of the crowd and support, it was incredible.”

    “I’m very sorry that I didn’t perform as well as I should have, could have, or wanted – for them.”

    Source: www.bbc.co.uk