Roger Federer was brought to tears during his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame this weekend, calling his wife Mirka "my Hall of Fame" and reflecting on their partnership across decades of tennis. The Swiss legend revealed his biggest career regret and weighed in on the 2026 US Open field, which now gets underway. The 2026 US Open) and WTA counterpart both begin matches today, with Novak Djokovic feeling "as best as I can be" as he pursues a potential 25th Grand Slam title in a wide-open men's draw.
Carlos Alcaraz's fitness remains intriguing, with the Spaniard labeling Jannik Sinner's shock withdrawal "weird" and opening up about his wrist recovery ahead of what he calls a "really difficult" first round. Alexander Zverev, the top seed, rejects favourite status while Aryna Sabalenka bids to rediscover form in her bid for the title. Off the court, British players including Katie Boulter have complained of marijuana smell distraction at Flushing Meadows. In the lead-up, Arthur Fery fell just short of his first ATP title, losing to Ignacio Buse at Winston-Salem, while Stan Wawrinka secured a wildcard after initial denial for what he says will be his final US Open campaign. Rising star Alex Eala enters the tournament with momentum.