Every Monday, we bring true tennis fans the under-reported must-read stories that provide in-depth insight into the game.
Jannik Sinner avoids ban after twice testing positive for steroid: Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March, but he will not be suspended after the International Tennis Integrity Agency on Tuesday determined that the banned substance entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist. Full Story: ESPN See Also: ITIA Official News Release
Jannik Sinner’s doping case and what players’ reaction says about tennis: The best players get favorable scheduling, receive appearance fees from certain tournaments, and are listened to more closely if they have a gripe about certain issues. There is also a two-tiered justice system. Full Story: The Athletic
Coco Gauff’s Revenge and 4 Other Storylines to Watch at the U.S. Open: Five storylines to watch for the final tennis major of the year, which begins on Aug. 26 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Full Story: Time
Shelby Rogers to retire from professional tennis after US Open: The 31-year-old South Carolinian made the announcement on social media, acknowledging the physical toll the last few years have taken. She underwent knee surgery in 2023 and has played just 15 singles matches this year, including qualifiers. She enters the US Open, where she’ll face sixth-seeded compatriot Jessica Pegula in the first round, having lost her last five. Full Story: Tennis
The Italian Renaissance in Men’s Tennis: As this year’s U.S. Open gets underway, there are currently five Italians in the men’s Top Forty, a number matched only by the United States, which has a population nearly five times the size of Italy’s. Full Story: The New Yorker
Tennis is having a moment as the US Open arrives: Tennis is having a moment even before play begins at Flushing Meadows on Monday — from the Zendaya vehicle’s use of the sport as a backdrop for its three-person love story to the way Roland Garros serves as a setting in Season 4, Episode 1 of “Emily in Paris,” to recently released docuseries about Serena Williams and Roger Federer and an upcoming show about Carlos Alcaraz, to Williams’ turn as host of the ESPYs, to the roles played by Coco Gauff, Rafael Nadal, Amelie Mauresmo, and Williams in the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics. Full Story: AP
Love And Money: Why The Girlfriends Of Top Tennis Players Are Making Millions: Paige Lorenze, Morgan Riddle, Ayan Broomfield, and a few others who are dating tennis pros are landing as many sponsorship deals as their romantic partners. Inside the lucrative racket that advertisers can’t resist. Full Story: Forbes
Tennis Star Sloane Stephens Has a Sweet and Unexpected At-Home Hobby: The entrepreneurial athlete and founder of Doc & Glo body care may currently be prepping for the US Open in NYC, but her backyard in LA is abuzz. Full Story: Architectural Digest
ATP & WTA celebrate the launch of TIEBREAK: Official tennis video game: TIEBREAK: The Official Game of the ATP and WTA. Available now on multiple platforms, TIEBREAK offers tennis fans an unparalleled gaming experience, featuring over 120 of the world’s greatest players and 90 official tournaments. Full Story: ATP
This hotel room asks the polarizing question: Are tennis balls yellow or green?: In a recent IHG Hotels and Resorts survey, 56% of Americans believe a tennis ball is yellow, while 44% are convinced it is green*. The “IHG Rally Room”- a tennis-ball-themed suite- was created to settle the debate. Full Story: NBC New York
Pickleball vandalism will cost a school district thousands to repair: The unauthorized painting of a pickleball court on the Grand Rapids School District’s tennis courts is frustrating the girl’s tennis team and may impact the school’s ability to host tournaments. Full Story: KAXE
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 8/26-9/8 | The US Open | Grand Slam | New York City |
