11:57 PM ET NEW YORK — As the match slipped away from the Williams sisters on Thursday night, the crowd oscillated between desperation and brief exhilaration. Moments of greatness from Venus and Serena were greeted with cacophonous celebration. But it was the times when things went astray that betrayed the real emotion of this occasion.
Tennis
10:11 AM ET William E. Ricks It’s almost impossible imagine tennis without Venus and Serena Williams. The two sisters began their professional careers in 1994 and 1999, respectively, winning many majors and profoundly impacting the sport. But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Serena announced in August via a
10:10 PM ET Serena Williams isn’t quite done yet. Williams’ run at the US Open in what is expected to be her last tournament before her planned evolution away from tennis continued on Wednesday night, as she defeated No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-2 in the second round. Playing in front of
9:26 PM ET D’Arcy MaineESPN.com NEW YORK — Serena Williams‘ expected retirement was put on hold yet again after the 23-time major champion pulled off a 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 upset over No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit in the second round of the US Open on Wednesday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. “It’s no rush
3:47 PM ET ESPN News Services NEW YORK — The past two women’s champions were already out of the US Open and now one of last year’s semifinalists is gone. Top players are falling fast in Flushing Meadows, and Serena Williams can topple another Wednesday night. Hours before Williams was set to face No. 2
10:57 PM ET NEW YORK — When British tennis player Emma Raducanu arrived in New York last year, she could move around in blissful anonymity. She managed to lock herself away from the growing buzz around her by watching Formula One, listening to jazz and eating poke bowls in her hotel room during the tournament.
12:48 AM ET Associated Press Sam Querrey will always remember his big victories over Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal. He has not had time to process what he’ll miss most about being a professional tennis player. Heading into retirement has become a theme at the US Open, and Querrey, a 34-year-old Californian, played
5:32 PM ET ESPN News Services NEW YORK — Venus Williams has been eliminated in the first round of her return to the US Open. Williams lost 6-1, 7-6 (5) to Alison Van Uytvanck of Belgium on Tuesday afternoon in Arthur Ashe Stadium, where younger sister Serena won a night earlier. Venus, who turned 42
10:57 PM ET ESPN News Services NEW YORK — Two top-10 seeds on the men’s side were stunned with early exits Monday in the first day of the US Open. Colombian qualifier Daniel Elahi Galan shocked fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-0, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 in an epic first-round showdown, winning the affair on the ninth match
8:37 PM ET D’Arcy MaineESPN.com NEW YORK — Serena Williams‘ expected retirement will have to wait. The 23-time major champion won her first-round match 6-3, 6-3 over Danka Kovinic at the US Open on Monday night. “You know, I always just got to do the best that I can,” Williams said to the crowd after
4:31 PM ET ESPN News Services NEW YORK — Ukrainian Daria Snigur‘s first career win on the WTA Tour was a big one. American Coco Gauff‘s first career win at Arthur Ashe Stadium was an easy one. The 20-year-old Snigur stunned No. 7 seed Simona Halep 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 in the first round of the
5:08 PM ET ESPN News Services NEW YORK — In one breath, Nick Kyrgios talks about heading into the U.S. Open with as much self-belief and good play as ever, coming off a runner-up finish at Wimbledon and some strong results on hard courts in recent weeks. In the next, ever an enigma, the 23rd-seeded
2:12 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Serena and Venus Williams were drawn to face the Czech pair of Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova in the first round of doubles at the US Open. The U.S. Tennis Association announced the doubles brackets Sunday, a day before the tournament begins. Serena has said she is
7:00 AM ET NEW YORK — On the grounds at Wimbledon years ago, tennis was once described to me as “boxing without the punches.” The game may be more associated with the upper class and its country clubs, strawberries and cream and tea socials, but the analogy is nevertheless true: With the exception of boxing,
7:01 AM ET Who will take the title in the wide-open women’s field? Can Rafael Nadal find a way to win despite injury? Or will Daniil Medvedev defend his crown? And could Serena Williams defy the odds in her final Grand Slam? Our experts attempt to answer these questions and make their own predictions as
5:37 PM ET D’Arcy MaineESPN.com NEW YORK — Pictures and mentions of Tracy Austin are everywhere at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. As the youngest US Open singles champion in history — and a two-time winner at the major — Austin has a storied place in tournament lore. 2 Related Forty years since
2:52 PM ET NEW YORK — Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has paid tribute to Serena Williams, saying she has been “the biggest force in the sport” and leaves a legacy that is so broad “you can’t even describe it in words.” Osaka opens her US Open campaign against Danielle Collins on Tuesday and
6:05 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Someone will end up in the history books as the final opponent of Serena Williams‘ stellar career. It could be Danka Kovinic, a 27-year-old from Montenegro who is “honored” to be the first-round US Open foe of someone she remembers watching on TV as a child. Their