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Emotional: Tearful US Open legend Chris Evert ‘feels like Coco Gauff’ after emotional 50-year anniversary tribute

The tears have been flowing in Flushing Meadows at this year’s US Open, and it’s not just Coco Gauff. Another former champion, current announcer Chris Evert, wept on Monday as ESPN celebrated the 50th anniversary of her first US Open title — a three-set victory over Australia’s Evonne Goolagong at the tournament’s former venue in Forrest Hills, Queens.

But after watching video footage of Billie Jean King, Patrick McEnroe and others fawning over her illustrious career, as well as her 1975 win over Goolagong, Evert couldn’t hold back the tears any longer.

‘I feel like Coco Gauff right now,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry.’

Now one year older than Evert was when she won her first open a half century ago, Gauff has had an emotional run at this year’s tournament, which ended with Monday’s two-set loss to Japan’s Naomi Osaka. The third-seeded women’s player and 2023 champion has been retooling her serve, and amid that frustration, she wept both during and after her second-round win over Donna Vekic.

READ MORE : Roger Federer’s Silent Power Play-Tennis Star Joins Cristiano

Not everyone was happy about the announcer’s joke, including one X user who wrote: ‘espn did a whole tribute to chris evert and at the end the first thing she did was take a shot at coco gauff.’

Roger Federer

Aside from the joke, the moment was an emotional one for Evert, who announced in 2023 that she is once again battling ovarian cancer. She was previously cured of the disease in 2022 years after it claimed the life of her sister, Jeanne.

‘She’s one of my favorite all the human beings,’ King said of Evert in the video tribute.

‘There was something extremely relatable,’ added rival Martina Navratilova. ‘She brought new fans to the game and made little girls and boys think “Oh, I think I can do this. I can follow in those footsteps.”‘

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Back on set, John McEnroe couldn’t help but add some levity to the moment.

Charlie Woods

‘The attention you brought to the sport however made me want to be a tennis player and thankfully I became one,’ he told Evert. ‘And finally, like millions of other young boys I wanted to marry you, I admit it.’

Of course, it was McEnroe’s rival Jimmy Connors who won Evert’s heart. The two became engaged, although the marriage was quickly called off and the two tennis legends went their separate ways.

‘Then you got engaged to Jimmy Connors,’ McEnroe continued as his co-hosts laughed. ‘I hated that. If I ever play that guy, going to beat his ass. Chrissie, I love you, congrats. Glad I can call you a friend.

Roger Federer’s Silent Power Play-Tennis Star Joins Cristiano Ronaldo in Billionaire Athletes’ Circle Few Could Ever Reach

Roger Federer hasn’t played professionally for almost three years, but the tennis legend continues to make headlines.

The Swiss superstar, arguably the greatest male player in history, now has another accolade to his ever-growing list: being a billionaire.

According to Forbes, the 44-year-old has joined the 10-figure club with a net worth of $1.1billion (£813million).

The publication attributes that wealth to his significant minority stake, estimated at three per cent, in Swiss shoe and apparel brand On – who he has been affiliated with since 2019

On went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021 and now has a market capitalisation of nearly $15bn (£11.1bn), with Federer’s equity worth more than $375m (£277.3m).

On’s roster of tennis stars include six-time grand slam winner Iga Swiatek, men’s world No 6 Ben Shelton and teenage prodigy Joao Fonseca.

Serena Williams

During his playing days, where he won 103 tournaments over a 24-year career, Federer earned nearly $131m (£97m) in prize money and made around $1bn (£739m) in pre-tax off-court earnings via multiple sponsorship deals.

That included $150m (£110m) from Nike over two decades to wear their apparel. He left them in 2018, after 24 years, to sign for Japanese brand Uniqlo in a 10-year deal worth $300m (£228m).

However, Uniqlo don’t make footwear, allowing Federer to start his relationship with Zurich-based On. The rest is now history.

Aside from his apparel and footwear deals, he has long-standing sponsorships including Lindt, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex and Moet & Chandon.

All of his off-court income allowed him to become the world’s highest-paid tennis player for 16-consecutive years. Furthermore, in 2020 he was the highest-earning sportsperson with a then-$106.3m (£78.6m) estimated pre-tax.

Novak Djokovic Serena Williams

The feat for Federer means he joins the rarefied air of becoming only the eighth athlete to become a billionaire.

Fellow former tennis player Ion Tiriac ($2.7bn – £2bn) became the first to hit 10-monetary figures in 2007 when he began investing in real estate, car dealerships and financial services.

Basketball icon Michael Jordan followed seven years later with the six-time NBA champion now estimated to be worth $3.8bn (£2.8bn).

Novak Djokovic is not only Grand Slam king—he’s a devoted tennis fan.

The 38-year-old Serbian superstar, like many tennis fans around the world, celebrated the sight of Serena Williams inducting former rival and now good friend Maria Sharapova into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday night.

Djokovic was so invigorated by the sight of Serena at the iconic Newport Hall, he took time out during his US Open press conference to night to issue a challenge to his fellow GOAT.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic challenged the 23-time major title holder Serena Williams, his former Wimbledon dance partner, to make a competitive comeback in 2026.

READ: VIDEO: Jannik Sinner made shock Serena Williams request ahead

“Of course, seeing Serena in any shape or form around tennis is great. You know, we miss her,” Djokovic told the media after defeating American Learner Tien 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2. “She still hasn’t
officially retired (smiling).

“So I invite her, I challenge her. Because she’s such a great competitor, when somebody challenges her, she never refuses. So I challenge Serena, come back on the tour next year.”

The owner of 100 career titles, Djokovic is good friend with both Sharapova and Williams and said the sight of the former rivals embracing on stage and Serena’s touching tribute to Maria was “a wonderful moment” for both champions and the sport.

“It was surprising, but very nice gesture from Serena to be there for Maria,” said Djokovic, who reunited with fellow Big 4 icons Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal at a powerful Roland Garros tribute ceremony to the King of Clay earlier this season. “They had some really intense rivalries and incredible matches over the years.

“But they said it, they were honest I think during their speeches. Serena I think mentioned that Maria or people probably think about Serena as one of the last people that would be there to introduce. But at the same time, as she said in her speech, which I think she beautifully, eloquently explained, that people thought that they are miles apart in their differences, but they were actually very much the same in terms of they wanted the same thing and competed on the same tour for so many years.

“No, it was great. It was great. It was wonderful moment, and I think Maria deserves it.”

Venus Williams battles in mixed doubles return as US Open crowds celebrate her comeback

Venus Williams made her long-awaited return to the US Open on Tuesday, competing in the tournament’s new-look mixed doubles event.

At 45 years old, the American icon partnered with fellow countryman Reilly Opelka but fell just short in a spirited effort, losing 2-4, 5-4 (4) to the formidable pairing of Andrey Rublev and Karolina Muchova.

For Williams, it was her first appearance at Flushing Meadows since 2023, marking another chapter in her remarkable comeback. Earlier this summer, she re-entered the professional circuit after more than a year away, beginning at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C.

At 45, Venus Williams makes a comeback for the ages

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While her return was greeted with widespread excitement, it was Tuesday’s match in New York that brought one of tennis’ most enduring stars back to the stage she has graced for nearly three decades.

The Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd welcomed Williams and Opelka with thunderous applause, eager to see flashes of the dominance that has earned her seven Grand Slam singles titles and cemented her as one of the sport’s greats.

Flashes of brilliance despite defeat

The opening set was a challenge for the American duo, as Rublev and Muchova quickly seized control.

Williams, who was broken early, found herself under pressure against the heavy groundstrokes of the men’s world No. 15. However, the second set told a different story.

Williams battled through break points at both 1-1 and 3-3, thrilling the crowd when she ripped an ace past Rublev to force deuce. She then followed with a strong service game against Muchova, setting up Opelka, towering at 6-foot-11, for a clinical smash at the net.

The Americans fought bravely in the tiebreak, riding Opelka’s powerful serve to grab a slim lead. But at 4-4, Williams netted a volley, shifting momentum to their opponents.

Rublev and Muchova capitalized on the error, closing out the match and moving on to face Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori in the quarterfinals.

Despite the loss, Williams’ competitive spirit and flashes of brilliance reminded fans of her pedigree.

Looking ahead to singles

Beyond doubles, Williams is set to enter the singles draw after receiving a wild card, becoming the oldest singles participant at the US Open since 1981.

While recent results have been mixed, a first-round exit at the Cincinnati Open contrasted with a strong win over Peyton Stearns in Washington, her presence alone underscores her remarkable longevity.

The revamped mixed doubles format itself has attracted significant star power this year, including Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, and Emma Raducanu.

Still, the event has also suffered from withdrawals, with Jannik Sinner pulling out just hours before his scheduled match on Tuesday.

For Williams, however, the focus remains on competing at the highest level. Though victory eluded her in mixed doubles, her return to Flushing Meadows was a celebration of resilience, experience, and the enduring connection she shares with New York crowds.

Jannik Sinner made shock Serena Williams request ahead of U.S. Open

It has been revealed that Jannik Sinner wanted to play the upcoming revamped U.S. Open mixed doubles with the legendary Serena Williams.

Monday saw the World No.1 have to retire during the final of the Cincinnati Open against Carlos Alcaraz due to illness. Sinner trailed the opening set 5-0 before having to withdraw from the match, which prompted Alcaraz to show his class following his rival’s retirement.

Serena Williams on Jannik Sinner suspension: 'If it were me, I would get 20  years!'

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The pair had already faced off three times previously this year, with Alcaraz winning the Italian and French Open before Sinner got his revenge by defeating the Spaniard at Wimbledon. But, their attentions will now turn to the upcoming revamped U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament, before taking part in the main event the following week.

Alcaraz will be partnered up with Emma Raducanu, while Sinner is set to partner Katerina Sinikova. Siniakova and Sinner are set to face Belinda Bencic and Alexander Zverev today in the two-day competition.

However, it remains unclear whether or not Sinner will participate in the tournament given his recent retirement. He could opt to look to withdraw, so as to allow himself to recover fully for the U.S. Open, a tournament he won for the first time last year.

And it has now been revealed Sinner originally wanted to team up with the legendary Williams, despite her having retired from tennis back in 2022. Speaking on the ‘Nothing Major’ podcast, the U.S. Open’s Senior Director of Player Relations, Eric Butorac, revealed Sinner asked if he could play alongside the 23-time Grand Slam winner.

“Yeah, Sinner did ask if Serena would be an option,” Butorac said. However, he also explained that it would not have been possible, as players coming out of retirement need to follow doping protocols that can take up to six months.

“I believe Serena’s not back in the doping protocol,” added Butorac.

Following his retirement from the final of the Cincinnati Open, Sinner apologized to the fans in attendance. “I’m super sorry to disappoint you,” said Sinner. “From yesterday I didn’t feel great, I thought I would improve but it came up worse.

He added: “I tried to come out, to make it at least a small match, but I couldn’t handle more. I am very sorry for all of you. I know that maybe some of you, on a Monday, you had to work or do something else, so I’m really sorry.

“Now I will take a couple of days to recover, then I will get back to work, hoping to be ready. The US Open [singles] is my main goal in the United States.”

Serena Williams is thriving in her post-tennis era, balancing life as a mom, wife, entrepreneur, and all-around queen.

The 43-year-old has been giving Instagram glimpses of her world, from family moments and red carpets to fun adventures and swimsuit snaps.

Her latest swimsuit upload was a striped one-piece that had many fans swooning and one wondering if she’s expecting again.

Serena Williams Looks ‘Happy’ In One-Piece Swimsuit

READ: Serena Williams’ ex-coach rips into ‘dumb’ claim about

Serena Williams flaunted her sculpted body in a one-piece striped swimsuit that had a plunging V-neckline, which showed a peek of cleavage.

Williams had fans hooked with the first slide of the four-photo carousel, where she struck a dab-like pose that highlighted her toned back and arms.

Her honey-blonde curls, pulled into a sleek ponytail, also drew praise from fans. One fan wrote, “Your hair looks amazing in a ponytail.” However, another user wrote that they wished to see her revisit a “straight blonde bob hairstyle to the chin” one day.

A swipe to the right revealed other photos with her face turned to the camera. In the third slide, she flashed a radiant smile that prompted a fan to write, “You look so happy.” Another fan wrote, “You look happy! So good to see you happy, healthy, and glowing.”

It’s Summer And Swimsuit Season

In the carousel captioned, “Schools out… it’s summer and swimsuit season… hope you are ready,” the tennis legend hinted at a fun summertime. Her happy and playful demeanor in the photos also confirmed that she’s indeed happy about the summer break.

A fan responded with “I’m ready,” while another chimed in, “Yes, baby girl, yes.”

Is Baby No. 3 On The Way?

Not everyone stayed focused on Serena’s summer glow. One eagle-eyed commenter wrote, “Pregnant, why did I think Serena was having baby #3.” But only this user seems to think so, and Williams has not made another pregnancy announcement.

Other fans simply commented that Serena looked “beautiful” and “gorgeous.” But there were also trolls with comments like, “ugly dugly,” and “you’re not as sexy as you used to be, you’re done.”

Some fixated on her size change. One user wrote, “She’s lost a lot of weight, not as big as she used to be.” Another admired, “Wow. What diet did you do to achieve such total fitness? You look fabulous!”

Serena Williams’ Epic Girls Trip

Serena Williams recently shared a photo of herself and her daughters, Alexis Olympia and Adira River Ohanian, on Instagram. She recalled in the caption that she had made a promise to her first daughter a year ago that they’d be starting an “epic girls trip that would include the 7 wonders of the world.”

Their first stop was Niagara Falls. Three of them were all smiles in the photos, and fans had suggestions for their next adventure in the comments.

Wife, Mom, And Entrepreneur

Serena Williams is married to the co-founder of Reddit, Alexis Ohanian. She’s also the mother of two beautiful girls and the CEO of Serena Ventures.

With her lovely family and an estimated net worth of $340 million, Serena Williams might just be getting the very best of life.

Coco Gauff Amazes Fans as She Reveals Boyfriend Jalen Sera’s Remarkable Patience, Hailing It as His Ultimate “Green Flag”

Coco Gauff has offered rare insight into her relationship with boyfriend Jalen Sera, describing the qualities that make him a standout partner in her life as she labels his patience with her as key to their dynamic.

While many high-profile athletes face challenges in balancing personal and professional spheres, Gauff credits her man’s ability to give her time and space as central to their connection as she chases grand slam glory.

Additionally, unlike other relationships within tennis circles, Sera‘s career as an aspiring actor keeps him outside the sport, providing her a fresh lens beyond the pressures of professional tennis.

She has emphasized that Sera’s independence from tennis allows him to offer a unique perspective on her life, free from the high-stakes tension of the tour. Gauff‘s admiration for his character extends beyond his career

READ MORE : Carlos Alcaraz’s sensational 2025 campaign hits new peak as he

Her mother, Candi, who also happened to be Sera‘s fourth-grade teacher, has long endorsed him and the 21-year-old has echoed this sentiment in her own reflections, highlighting traits that define him as a “green flag” partner.

carlos alcaraz

“When they listen…,” Gauff joked when asked about her desired green flags. “Patience.

“I know I can be like, very much want things done my way. So my boyfriend’s a really patient person.

“I told him, ‘Let’s talk until it’s time to go to sleep,’ so we spoke until 1:00 a.m. and then I went to sleep.”

She recalled the moment before her US Open final two years ago, when she called Sera late at night to avoid overthinking her performance proving one example of how he supports her.

Beyond his patience, Gauff has frequently praised Sera for his charm and despite the rigors of professional tennis, she appears grounded in her relationship with him.

Coco Gauff exits Cincinnati Masters after Jasmine Paolini defeat

Gauff‘s run at the Cincinnati Open ended in disappointment after a hard-fought loss to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini as the top American, ranked No. 2 in the world, fell 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Gauff started strongly, taking the first set 6-2, but struggled to maintain momentum as her rival mounted a determined comeback, showing off her steely spirit and determination.

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Emma Raducanu

The 29-year-old rolled her ankle early in the second set, but shrugged off the discomfort and broke Gauff‘s serve to even the match. She then went on to seven points in a row in the final set and secured 12 of the last 15 points to close out the victory.

“It was so tough,” Paolini admitted post-match. “At the beginning, I was just running and trying to put the ball inside the court.

“But after a little bit, I started to feel better the ball. I stayed there every point, I tried to fight every point, and it worked.”

Tennis LIVE: Emma Raducanu handed crushing blow as star withdraws from US Open

This year’s Cincinnati Open is nearing a conclusion following the extreme weather that disrupted the tournament this week. Play was curtailed early with the main court flooded as torrential rain lashed down, but thankfully, there has been no such disruption since.

In the men’s draw, Jannik Sinner will face Carlos Alcaraz in the final after the two top seeds negotiated final four matches yesterday. The semi-finals of the women’s singles take place today, with Elena Rybakina playing Iga Swiatek and, and Jasmine Paolini facing the unseded Veronika Kudermetova. Elsewhere, Emma Raducanu is ramping up her preparation ahead of the US Open.

Rumours of a potential romance with Alcaraz were sparked earlier this summer when the pair had been confirmed as mixed doubles partners in a revamped competition at the US Open, which will begin next week.

The British star had then been spotted watching Alcaraz at Queen’s in June, with the grass-court tournament building up towards Wimbledon.

Alcaraz’s confirmation as an ambassador of Evian, who a long-term partner of Raducanu, led to the British No 1 being asked about the rumours ahead of Wimbledon.

Carlos Alcaraz’s sensational 2025 campaign hits new peak as he surpasses Roger Federer’s historic milestone

Carlos Alcaraz continues to prove why he is the face of tennis’s new generation, adding yet another remarkable achievement to his stellar 2025 campaign. The Spanish sensation edged past Andrey Rublev in a thrilling three-set battle at the Cincinnati Open, securing a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory to advance into the semifinals. But beyond the win, Alcaraz carved his name deeper into the history books by surpassing one of Roger Federer’s long-standing records.

After a month-long break following Wimbledon, Alcaraz has returned to the hard courts in dominant fashion. His win over Rublev not only marked an improved run from last year’s early exit in Cincinnati but also highlighted the maturity in his game. Up next, he faces Alexander Zverev in what promises to be another high-octane semifinal clash.

The victory, however, carried far more significance than just another semifinal berth—it placed Carlos Alcaraz among the sport’s all-time greats at the Masters 1000 level.

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With his triumph over Rublev, the 22-year-old reached a staggering 78.1% win rate at ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, boasting a record of 82 wins and 23 losses. This remarkable statistic officially pushes him past Roger Federer, who finished his illustrious career with a 77.9% win rate in Masters competitions.

Sam Alexis Woods

Since the ATP Masters 1000 format began in 1990, Alcaraz now sits third all-time in win percentage. The only players ahead of him? Legends Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

For a player still at the dawn of his career, joining such elite company is nothing short of historic. “In moments like this, I feel like I’m building my own path,” Carlos Alcaraz said earlier this season, reflecting on his rapid rise.

His consistency against the sport’s toughest competition proves that he is not just chasing greatness—he is firmly establishing it.

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While Alcaraz’s record-breaking run is the talk of the tournament, his biggest rival, Jannik Sinner, continues to fight for his own spot in the Cincinnati Open final. Sinner, currently the defending champion, remains a major obstacle to Alcaraz’s quest for another title on American soil.

Anthony Joshua

The showdown between the two young stars appears inevitable, but for now, Alcaraz’s achievement in surpassing Federer signals a turning point in tennis history.

Carlos Alcaraz’s 2025 season has already been filled with statement victories and career-defining milestones, but surpassing Roger Federer’s Masters 1000 win rate solidifies his status as one of the sport’s greatest talents. With Djokovic and Nadal the only players still ahead of him statistically, Alcaraz’s pursuit of all-time greatness looks destined to continue.

Serena Williams’ ex-coach rips into ‘dumb’ claim about Venus Williams’ recent win

Patrick Mouratoglou says it is absolute nonsense to even think that Venus Williams won a main-level match because the current WTA Tour is bad or anything like that.

In July, the organizers of the WTA 500 tournament announced the seven-time Grand Slam champion as a wildcard recipient. However, some instantly had issues with that, arguing that giving it to a 45-year-old who hadn’t played in nearly a year and a half was a complete waste of a wildcard.

Williams heard all of the chatter and let her racket do the talking, impressively beating 22 years younger Peyton Stearns 6-3 6-4. While the majority applauded the former world No. 1’s performance, some of the critics started pushing another narrative – that the American managed to win only because the WTA Tour level was so bad.

Tennis News Today: Venus Williams "proud" to produce soccer documentary  with Serena Williams and Alex Morgan; Patrick Mouratoglou Academy accused  of 'giving substances' to juniors

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Mouratoglou, who worked with Serena Williams for a decade, couldn’t believe what some had to say about Venus’ win and decided to strongly address it.

Mouratoglou: Venus Williams is a champion and knows how to compete more than anyone

“Some people will say Venus Williams won the match because the WTA level is low. This is BS. The level is not low, it’s just that Venus is a champion. She’s a huge competitor. She’s been at such a high level for so many years, even though she’s out of competition for 16 months. When she comes back, she knows how to compete more than anyone. Of course, when you’re 45, the physical decreases,” Mouratoglou explained in a video uploaded to his Instagram account.

By beating 53rd-ranked Stearns, Williams registered her first singles since beating Veronika Kudermetova in 2023 Cincinnati.

“She knows she can win the match and she thinks she should win the match,” the French coach added.

After beating Stearns, Williams lost to Magdalena Frech in the Washington round-of-16 and also fell short to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the Cincinnati first round. On Wednesday, the US Open organizers handed the former world No. 1 a main draw wildcard.