5 d. ago ‘Hash court’ and high drama: how weed became the US Open’s new distraction

Subway rumble, rowdy crowds, celebrity cameos – and now pot smoke. Tennis’s loudest major is rubbing up against New York’s shifting culture around marijuanaThe US Open has always been the unruliest of tennis’s four grand slam tournaments, a place where the soundtrack is as much screeching trains, the roar of air traffic overhead and well-lubricated crowds as it is the thwack of racket on ball. Frances Tiafoe likes to call it “organized chaos”, the sort of life-affirming atmosphere that he says teases out his best performances. For some, it’s no stage at all but a blur of bass-heavy changeovers, revolving-door celebrity cameos and the ceaseless rattle of the nearby No 7 subway.In recent years, though, one distraction has cut through even the normalized bedlam that gives the tournament its character. Alongside the honey deuce cocktails and free-flowing Heineken, a different vice has threaded itself into the fortnight: the pungent and unmistakable odor of marijuana. It drifts across th...

Events

5 d. ago Picture perfect? How one of the best tennis photos of all time was taken at the US Open

Photographer Ray Giubilo’s half terrifying, half sublime one-in-a-million image of Jasmine Paolini had more than an element of fortune to itOf the scores of photographers from across the globe snapping thousands upon thousands of photos at this year’s US Open, one image has stood out above all the others so far at the tennis grand slam in New York.A slight imbalance from seventh-seed Jasmine Paolini and a relentlessly steady hand allowed photographer Ray Giubilo to nail a one-in-a-million shot at Flushing Meadows this week. Continue reading...

Culture

7 d. ago Tennis icon Pete Sampras disappeared after announcement about actress wife

Pete Sampras is one of the greatest tennis players of all time, having won 14 Grand Slam singles titles, but he has largely disappeared from the public eye in recent years

Events

7 d. ago Emma Raducanu’s US Open victory inspired next opponent Janice Tjen’s career

The British number one will take on Indonesian qualifier Janice Tjen on Wednesday.

Politics

7 d. ago Emotional Venus Williams, 45, falls short of remarkable victory on US Open return

The 45-year-old American pushed 11th seed Karolina Muchova to three sets on Arthur Ashe Stadium

Politics

7 d. ago Venus Williams’ US Open return ends in spirited defeat to Karolína Muchová

Czech 11th seed beats 45-year-old 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 to reach second round‘I love playing,’ says 2000 and 2001 champion at Flushing Meadows On an unforgettable evening in New York, Venus Williams offered yet another demonstration of her perpetual greatness as she battled into the night with Karolína Muchová, making the 11th seed’s life difficult across an intense two hours before falling 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 in the first round of the US Open.As Williams took the familiar walk through the bowels of Arthur Ashe Stadium and on to the court, the 45-year-old’s latest appearance at her home grand slam tournament occurred on a notable date. On 25 August 1997, exactly 28 years ago, this stadium opened for the first time. Later that day, a 17-year-old Williams was one of the first players to compete on the court as she made her long-awaited US Open debut there, the start of her monumental run to the final. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Venus Williams falls short of remarkable victory on US Open return

The 45-year-old American pushed 11th seed Karolina Muchova to three sets on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Politics

7 d. ago Venus Williams makes her return to Grand Slam tennis at the US Open after 2 years away

Venus Williams has started her first Grand Slam match in two years at the U.S. Open

Politics

8 d. ago Former Wimbledon champion Angela Mortimer Barrett dies aged 93 as three

Angela Mortimer Barrett, the 1961 Wimbledon ladies' singles champion and one of Britain's most successful postwar players, has died at the age of 93.

Events

9 d. ago US Open: Aryna Sabalenka wins in straight sets and Alexandra Eala makes history

Eala made the most of partisan support to knock out 14th seed Clara Tauson.

Politics

1 week ago Emma Raducanu handed ANOTHER nightmare Grand Slam draw at US Open

Emma Raducanu has been handed a choppy path to a second US Open final, with the British No 1 on course for a possible third meeting with world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in as many months.

Politics

2 w. ago Andy Murray's new life now as he and Kim welcome new addition after heartbreak

The three-time Grand Slam winner retired from tennis just over a year ago

Politics

2 w. ago Emma Raducanu at risk of being ABANDONED by Carlos Alcaraz for $1m US Open mixed doubles tournament as he faces cross

Emma Raducanu's mixed doubles alliance with Carlos Alcaraz has been the talk of tennis this summer - but the Grand Slam champion duo's participation is now in doubt.

Events

2 w. ago Venus Williams, 45, will be oldest US Open singles entrant in 44 years

Williams to play first slam singles since 2023Oldest US Open singles entrant since 1981Seven-time major champ won in 2000, 2001Venus Williams will make her return to Grand Slam singles at the US Open after a two-year absence, having received a wildcard invitation Wednesday to compete at Flushing Meadows at age 45.Williams will be the oldest singles entrant at the tournament since Renee Richards played there at 47 in 1981, according to the International Tennis Federation. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Venus Williams gets a US Open wild card at age 45 and will be the oldest in singles since 1981

Venus Williams will make her return to Grand Slam tennis at the U.S. Open in singles at age 45 after a two-year absence

Politics

3 w. ago Tennis great Monica Seles says she has myasthenia gravis. It is a chronic neuromuscular disease

Tennis Hall of Famer Monica Seles is discussing for the first time her diagnosis of myasthenia gravis — a neurological autoimmune disease she was diagnosed with in 2022

Politics

3 w. ago ‘Love is the key, right?’ Evergreen Venus Williams plays on and on at 45

Seven-time grand slam winner is back on the US circuit with aim of being the best she can be despite health struggles“Still haven’t seen the Rolling Stones,” says Venus Williams, smiling, as she reminisced about her unforgettable professional tennis debut at the age of 14 in Oakland, California, an occasion that justified years of hype surrounding her stratospheric potential. Her first ever professional tennis match took place next door to a Rolling Stones concert. Now, 31 years later, at 45 years old, Williams is still here.Three weeks after returning to professional tennis for the first time in 16 months with a straight sets singles victory over the then world No 35 Peyton Stearns at the Citi Open in Washington, which marked her as the second-oldest woman in history to win a WTA Tour-level singles match and also silenced criticisms about her enduring presence on the tour, Williams now takes her comeback to the Cincinnati Open. Continue reading...

Politics