Monday, September 07, 2026

US.9- Against the Odds


Apparently, Zheng Qinwen liked coming back from 5-0 love down vs. Madison Keys so much that she simply decided to do it against Iga Swiatek, too.




It's been two years since Zheng ended Swiatek's 25-match winning streak on the courts at Roland Garros, clipping her in the Olympic SF in Paris en route to the Gold medal. That week made Zheng's career, while Swiatek has never really been the same player since.

Zheng, already a previous slam finalist (AO) in that '24 season, climbed as high as #4 in the next year, but has seen large sections of both 2025 and '26 greatly impacted by an elbow injury and surgery that took her off court and then slowed her return to action and form. Fighting all the way during her latest U.S. Open experience, after missing last year's tournament following back-to-back QF in 2023-24, Zheng had to make made her way through qualifying just to return to the MD. At times over the past week, she's started to resemble again the player who shot up the rankings and looked to be positioning herself for great things.

Meanwhile, Swiatek, now a former (fairly dominant) #1, is positioned in the bottom tier of the Top 10. Since that Olympic loss, the Pole's once-strong aura of something close to invincibility has been worn down to a dull edge, both in her industrious opponent's eyes and often, seemingly, in her own. No top-ranked player pointed toward *legitimate* greatness in recent tennis memory (i.e. decades) has displayed, as she has over the past two years, such a degeneration when it comes to both self-belief and actual real results as Swiatek. While overmatched opponents still fall by the wayside in short order, any player with a history of success against her, or the ability to turn up her game mid-match, now stands a chance against Iga, no matter the time, place or score. And not just because *they* now have such an increased belief in what is possible for them on any given day, but also because Swiatek apparently does, as well. It results in her "freezing" up, playing tentatively, and often unleashing a hail of errors from a place where precision formerly ruled the court.

The result has been a series of sometimes-shocking collapses, losses against players that Swiatek formerly dominated (until one result turned the tide), in places where she was previously "unbeatable" and even after she's played a series of sterling matches that *seemed* to cause her former glory stride to kick in all over again (at least in the eyes of her overly optimistic fanbase, as well as in some shortsighted, lazy media corners), only for it to be revealed to be a mirage.

While Swiatek is still capable to flashing her her old form, it's now only a short-lived condition. We saw it for about a month and a half last summer, when her year-long final drought (after playing in 22 from 2022-24) ended during the grass season and, after years of stubborn refusal, she was finally convinced by then-coach Wim Fissette to alter her style of play on the surface, resulting in a stunning Wimbledon title run and momentum that carried over to a title on hard court in Cincinnati.

Of course, Fissette was later summarily ejected from the team eight months later when The Troubles returned early this year.

A few weeks ago in Toronto, Swiatek ended what was this time an eleven-month final drought (at the time, she'd only reached one SF -- in Rome -- since September '25), winning one of the few 1000 tournaments she hadn't during her dominant peak. Suddenly, everything was prematurely "rosy" again, though anyone who believed that "the darkness" was permanently in her rear-view mirror was laboring to view the situation through overly Iga-colored glasses.

We learned today that Toronto (and a subsequent Cincy SF) was a moment, not a pivot.

It's fitting, in a way, that precisely what happened to Swiatek on Day 9 was experienced in a different way, against the same opponent, by Madison Keys just two days ago. For they've become very similar players, results-wise... posting consistenty "good" results that still in no way meet the talent level, but slipping in one or two *big* weeks that prop up their ranking and hide six or so horrible, cover-your-eyes outcomes while people then try to pretend that either those didn't happen, or that they're the aberration rather than the player being who they are or have become.

Even so, it was hard to see coming what happened on Labor Day afternoon in New York.

On this day, #8 Swiatek came bursting out of the starting gate, and one had to wonder if Zheng's epic comeback from 5-0 down in the 3rd set vs. Keys on Saturday had taken so much out of her -- mentally and physically -- that'd she'd be on and off rather quickly this time around. Like Keys, Swiatek led 5-0, and seemed set to comfortably coast into the 2nd set and likely beyond.

But then the weirdest case of deja vu was dumped over the head of Swiatek.

Hmmm, upgrade your view, indeed.



Anyone who saw the Zheng/Keys match had the thought in their head when the score hit 5-0, but no one *really* believed it. But then Swiatek served for the match, holding two SP at 5-1, then she served for it again, holding another SP on serve at 5-3. Suddenly, Zheng got a whiff of the familiar, and Swiatek started to retreat back into her tentative tendencies when suddenly challenged by a worthy opponent. In the blink of an eye, Zheng was back on serve a 5-4.

[ BREAK-OF-CONCENTRATION NOTE: it was here that ESPN commentator CoCo Vandeweghe noted how "eye-opening" it was how tentative Swiatek had become, as if it was something coming out of nowhere in her case. It wasn't, and has been seen many times over the past two years. Surely Vandeweghe *knows* Swiatek's ongoing issues (play-by-play caller Jason Goodall noted it himself soon afterward), which is why even though she often proves herself to a good match commentator during a great contest I, personally, have a hard time listening to Vandeweghe during matches, as I have to come to the conclusion that she's at best being disingenuous or at worst just plain FOS. Come to think of it, that's sort of why I never rally liked her all that much during her playing days, too... so maybe I'm onto something, or just refuse to change that opinion.

The same thing happened later in the match when Vandeweghe noted Swiatek's hint of frustration toward her box as her lead slipped away, saying that it's something we usually don't see. Well, yeah, except for many quite animated reactions under similar circumstances the last two years... and quite *more* animated ones, in fact. Today Iga just seemed almost resigned to her own slide. Vandeweghe also reminded everyone that Swiatek "has a mental coach," so she should be able to "calm her mind" as the match went on. Yes, of course, because the work put in with that -- cough-cough -- "mental coach" has worked *so many wonders* of late.

Anyway, back to the match... ]

Zheng's quick hold leveled the match at 5-5, then a game later Swiatek took a 30/love lead on her own serve. But a DF and pair of brilliant power shots from Zheng carved out a BP chance. Swiatek DF'd again and Zheng led 6-5, and moments later served for the set.

[ BTW, ESPN -- again, in fine form after in recent days mangling Keys' saved MP numbers vs. Bondar, then saying during the Keys/Zheng match that Keys had led 5-1 rather than 5-0 -- posted a graphic on the screen that Zheng had won five straight games after trailing 5-1... when Goodall/Vandeweghe had noted *many* times in the previous break how the score had been 5-0. I guess the graphics people don't like to listen, either.]

Zheng easily held at love, winning her *seventh* consecutive game and a *second straight* set over two matches after having trailed 5-0. That's probably never happened before in slam play (though to hear Swiatek's comments after the match, you'd think it happened *all the time*... though, granted, it's crazy how it's played out with Zheng being involved in such a thing twice).



In the 2nd, up 2-1, Swiatek took a brief MTO, but soon after rallied from love/30 down, saving a BP to hold for 3-2. A game later, she led 15/40 on Zheng's serve and seemed set to get things back on course. But, no.

Seemingly trapped between whether to hit bigger or slower to take away some of Zheng's ability to pound the ball back at her (a detection of tactical confusion noted by Vandeweghe, and a good catch, who noted she needed to "pick a lane"), Swiatek let her opportunity slip by as Zheng got the hold. Swiatek wouldn't win another game.

A return winner down the line from Zheng got the break for 4-3, and a subsequent hold pushed Swiatek's back against the wall. She quickly fell behind love/40 before putting up a *bit* of fight, saving three MP (two via big-hitting errors from Zheng) before throwing in a day-ending error on MP #4.

As Zheng fell onto her back again -- another deja vu moment -- with an against-the-odds 7-5/6-3 win, Swiatek's slam season officially ended without a major win for the first time since 2021. Her 12 match wins over the four '26 slams are her worst in a full calendar year of major MD appearances since her 2019 slam debut campaign.



While Swiatek coach Francisco Roig should watch his back (unlike the "mental coach," I suspect), another such reset is likely at least a few more cases of Iga mentially circling the drain away from becoming a true possibility. But maybe he'll see the writing on the wall and act with prudence.



Zheng becomes just the fourth qualifier to reach the U.S. Open women's QF, after Barbara Gerken (1981, likely *decades* before she didn't invent pickleball), Kaia Kanepi (2017) and Emma Raduanu (2021).

Her next task: reaching a second career slam SF and, you know, seeing if she can stop a player who only needs to beat *her* to claim the #1 ranking.

All right, let's go...





=DAY 9 NOTES=
...in the other women's 4th Rounder that took place at the start of the day, #5 Mirra Andreeva continued on her career-best U.S. Open run, defeating #24 Antastasia Potapova to reach her fifth slam QF, though it maybe took just a bit longer than it needed to.

After exchanging early breaks in the 1st, the two held serve until the late going. Andreeva served with Potapova up 6-5, and just needed another hold to force a TB. But it was then that she chose to get into a needless bickering match with her player's box, then proceeded to play an awful service game to give away any chance to seize the set. The Austrian gladly took it 7-5.



After that, the 19-year old Hordette handled her business, taking early break leads in both the 2nd and 3rd sets, relinquishing them and then getting them back in short order. With Potapova serving to stay in the match in the final set, down 5-3 and love/15, the Austrian seemed to hyperextend her knee when racing for a ball, immediately going down on the court. Andreeva crossed over to her side of the court to assist her former countrywoman, helping Potapova to her chair.



After being treated, Potapova decided not to "pull a Kalinskaya" and retire two or three points away from the finish, and went back out to finish the game. She didn't score a point, and was clearly not going to risk anything physically. Andreeva got the love break and officially ended the 5-7/6-4/6-3 contest as the teenager reached her first QF at a hard court major.



...the 4th Rounder between #2 Elena Rybakina and #16 Naomi Osaka, though it wasn't scheduled for the night session on Ashe (that went to Gauff/Jovic), on paper was the top match-up of the Round of 16. It didn't turn out that way, though.

While Rybakina came into the U.S. Open off an ankle/heel injury that caused her retirement in Cincinnati, Osaka took a rare MTO in her last match to treat a lingering Achilles issue. Still, it's not likely that Osaka's injury played a big role in this match turning into an essential "dud," as the tip-top form displayed by the Kazkah played the biggest role in that equation, but this one ended up being quite forgettable, with Rybakina winning fairly routinely by a 6-1/6-4 score.



The win completes Rybakina's Career QF Slam, as it took her 29 major MD to reach the last eight at all four slam events, and it also moves her within one win of officially assuming the #1 ranking and becoming the 30th different woman to hold that spot in tour history. Of course, while it'd be a nice accomplishment and one the likes of a Kvitova or Kuznetsova would surely like to have (both came ultra close to #1 in recent years, but never got there even while winning multiple majors), would it mean *quite* as much for Rybakina a week from now if she's atop the rankings but *didn't* also win her first U.S. Open?

Of course, she could take care of *all* that by herself, especially if she continues to play like she did today.



...in the women's opener on Ashe, #4 Coco Gauff won the all-Bannerette affair with #14 Iva Jovic to secure the women's final QF spot. Gauff was made to work a bit more in the 2nd than when she breezed through the 1st, but she still prevailed 6-1/6-4. It's her tenth straight win this summer, as she improves to 14-1 in the North American hard court stretch.



Gauff's third U.S. Open QF is her first since she won the title in 2023, and she's a win away from reaching back-to-back slam SF for the first time since 2024 (AO/RG).

Meanwhle, after coming within a win of breaking the barrier earlier this summer, thanks to Jovic's loss (she was the only one who could still pass her), Marta Kostyuk is now assured to make her Top 10 debut on Monday. She's the second Ukrainian, after Elina Svitolina (nine years ago), to crack the Top 10.





*WOMEN'S SINGLES QF*
#1 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR vs. #6 Linda Noskova/CZE
#3 Jessie Pegula/USA vs. #26 Emma Navarro/USA
#5 Mirra Andreeva/RUS vs. #4 Coco Gauff/USA
(Q) Zheng Qinwen/CHN vs. #2 Elena Rybakina/KAZ

*WOMEN'S DOUBLES QF*
#1 Siniakova/Townend (CZE/USA) vs. #6 Bucsa/Melichar-Martinez (ESP/USA)
#4 Hsieh/Ostapenko (TPE/LAT) vs. #8 Mertens/Schuurs (BEL/NED)
#9 Routliffe/Sutjiadi (NZL/INA) vs. (WC) Krueger/Montgomery (USA/USA)
#7 Jiang/Zhang (CHN/CHN) vs. #2 Dabrowski/Stefani (CAN/BRA)

*MIXED DOUBLES FINAL*
Karolina Muchova/Jakub Mensik (CZE/CZE) def. #4 Belinda Bencic/Flavio Cobolli (SUI/ITA) 6-3/1-6 [10-6]

*GIRLS' SINGLES ROUND OF 16*
#1 Sun Xinran/CHN vs. #14/WC Kristina Penickova/USA
#12 Sol Ailin Larraya Guidi/ARG vs. #7 Mariia Makarova/RUS
x vs. x
x vs. x
#5 Anna Pushkareva/RUS vs. #10 Paola Pinera Celorio/ESP
Ekaterina Dotsenko/RUS vs. (WC) Annika Penickova/USA
x vs. x
x vs. x










...STILL ROOM FOR A FEW MORE... ON DAY 9:





...Hmmm, YEAH IT'S JUST A NORMAL OCCURRENCE TO LOSE A SET YOU'RE LEADING 5-0, IN A TOURNAMENT YOU'VE WON BEFORE, AGAINST A PLAYER YOU WERE 7-1 AGAINST, JUST WEEKS AFTER WINNING A BIG HARD COURT TITLE AND AFTER HAVING BREEZED THROUGH THE FIRST THREE ROUNDS (pssst...it's not)... ON DAY 9:




Just two days ago, Madison Keys' reaction to a similar situation showed just how *not normal* losing a match like that is, and while it was uncomfortable to watch and painful for her to admit, at least she can be content at some point with the knowledge that she wasn't lying, not just to others but also to herself.

Swiatek's reasoning sounds like a repeat of her ludicrous comments after losing to Zheng at the '24 Olympics in Paris, on her favorite surface at her favorite venue (she'd won 25 straight RG/Olympic matches at the time there), then taking home the *Bronze* medal and acting as if it wasn't a major disappointment and that it was actually her goal all along to just win *something*.

Yeah... nope.

Is Daria telling her to just make stuff up and it'll magically make the words true? Psssst.... it doesn't work that way.

Although, if I was going to play the role of devil's advocate, I *would* say that Swiatek probably should find a way to *embrace* the capricious nature of her tennis fate and try to make it work for her (i.e. "be a goldfish," as far as memory retention of bad moments) no matter how spectacularly painful it might be for her to try to force herself to believe that she can't always be perfectly in tune and, really, won't be *most* of the time.

I'm not sure she's got that in her, though.


...CAREER SLAM JOURNEY STILL GOING STRONG (or, in Siniakova's case, what would be an historic Career Slam with a SECOND partner)... ON DAY 9:
























Meet Manhattan’s literary lion:Patience












kosova-font









And, yes, she did later admit it was a Spider-Man reference, noting how much she likes the Marvel movies.











kosova-font

*U.S. OPEN QF AS QUALIFIER*
1981 Barbara Gerken, USA
2017 Kaia Kanepi, EST
2021 Emma Raducanu, GBR (W)
2026 Zheng Qinwen, CHN

*BEST SLAM RESULTS BY QUALIFIER*
[W]
2021 US Open - Emma Raducanu
[RU]
2026 Roland Garros - Maja Chwalinska
[SF]
1978 Australian - Christine Dorey Matison
1999 Wimbledon - Alexandra Stevenson
2020 Roland Garros - Nadia Podoroska
2024 Australian - Dayana Yastremska
[QF since 2000]
2000 Roland Garros - Marta Marrero
2001 Roland Garros - Petra Mandula
2006 Wimbledon - Severine Bremond
2008 Roland Garros - Carla Suarez-Navarro
2010 Wimbledon - Kaia Kanepi
2012 Roland Garros - Yaroslava Shvedova
2016 Australian - Zhang Shuai
2017 US Open - Kaia Kanepi
2020 Roland Garros - Martina Trevisan
2024 Wimbledon - Lulu Sun
2026 US Open - Zheng Qinwen (in QF)

*U.S. OPEN LOWEST-RANKED QF*
[since 1975 rankings]
Unranked - 1977 Billie Jean King
Unranked - 1979 Billie Jean King
Unranked - 1981 Barbara Gerken
Unranked - 1982 Gretchen Rush
Unranked - 2009 Kim Clijsters [W]
Unranked - 2020 Tsvetana Pironkova
#418 - 2017 Kaia Kanepi
#150 - 2021 Emma Raducanu [W]
#121 - 2026 ZHENG QINWEN
#103 - 1980 Barbara Hallquist
#93 - 2020 Shelby Rogers
#92 - 2016 Ana Konjuh
#92 - 2011 Angelique Kerber

*CAREER QF SLAMS COMPLETED IN 2020s*
2021 WI - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (36th slam MD)
2022 AO - Kaia Kanepi, EST (53rd)
2023 RG - Ons Jabeur, TUN (24th)
2023 RG - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (21st)
2023 WI - Jessie Pegula, USA (19th)
2023 WI - Iga Swiatek, POL (18th)
2023 US - Karolina Muchova, CZE (19th)
2023 US - Alona Ostapenko, LAT (31st)
2024 WI - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (18th)
2026 AO - Amanda Anisimova, USA (24th)
2026 WI - Coco Gauff, USA (28th)
2026 US - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (29th)

*BEST 2026 SLAM RESULTS BY QUALIFIERS*
RG Runner-up - Maja Chwalinska, POL
US - ZHENG QINWEN, CHN - in quarterfinals
AO 4th Rd. - Maddison Inglis, AUS
RG 4th Rd. - Wang Xiyu, CHN
WI 4th Rd. - Ashlyn Krueger, USA
AO 3rd Rd. - Nikola Bartunkova, CZE
AO 3rd Rd. - Zeynep Sonmez, TUR
WI 3rd Rd. - Claire Liu, USA
WI 3rd Rd. - Mananchaya Sawangkaew, THA

*RECENT WTA TOP 10 SINGLES DEBUTS*
[2020]
Sofia Kenin/USA
[2021]
Iga Swiatek/POL
Barbora Krejcikova/CZE
Maria Sakkari/GRE
Ons Jabeur/TUN
Anett Kontaveit/EST
Paula Badosa/ESP
[2022]
Danielle Collins/USA
Coco Gauff/USA
Jessie Pegula/USA
Emma Raducanu/GBR
Veronika V.Kudermetova/RUS
[2023]
Elena Rybakina/KAZ
Beatriz Haddad Maia/BRA
Marketa Vondrousova/CZE
Karolina Muchova/CZE
[2024]
Zheng Qinwen/CHN
Jasmine Paolini/ITA
Emma Navarro/USA
[2025]
Mirra Andreeva/RUS
Amanda Anisimova/USA
Ekaterina Alexandrova/RUS
[2026]
Victoria Mboko/CAN
Linda Noskova/CZE
Marta Kostyuk/UKR




*2026 U.S. OPEN FINAL 8*
[by career slam QF]
17 - Aryna Sabalenka
12 - Coco Gauff
11 - Jessie Pegula
8 - Elena Rybakina
5 - Mirra Andreeva
5 - Zheng Qinwen
4 - Emma Navarro
3 - Linda Noskova

[by career US QF]
6 - Sabalenka
4 - Pegula
3 - Gauff
3 - Zheng
2 - Navarro
1 - Andreeva, Noskova, Rybakina

[w/ consecutive slam QF]
2 - Gauff
2 - Noskova
2 - Pegula

[w/ consecutive US QF]
6 - Sabalenka
3 - Pegula
3 (1) - Zheng (2023-24, DNP '25)

[2026 slam QF - unseeded]
AO - none
RG - Chwalinska (Q)
WI - none
US - Zheng (Q)

[2026 1st-time GS QF]
AO - Iva Jovic (6th MD)
RG - Maja Chwalinska (3rd MD)
RG - Diana Shnaider (12th MD)
WI - none
US - none

[2026 multiple slam QF]
3 - Gauff (AO/WI/US)
3 - Pegula (AO/WI/US)
3 - Sabalenka (AO/RG/US)
2 - Andreeva (RG/US)
2 - Kostyuk (RG/WI)
2 - Noskova (WI/US)
2 - Rybakina (AO/US)
2 - Svitolina (AO/RG)

[2026 slam QF - by nation]
9...USA (4/0/2/3) - Gauff,Navarro,Pegula
4...RUS (0/3/0/1) - Andreeva
4...UKR (1/2/1/0)
3...BLR (1/1/0/1) - Sabalenka
3...CZE (0/0/2/1) - Noskova
2...KAZ (1/0/0/1) - Rybakina
2...POL (1/1/0/0)
1...BEL (0/0/1/0)
1...CHN (0/0/0/1) - Zheng
1...ITA (0/0/1/0)
1...JPN (0/0/1--)
1...ROU (0/1/0/0)

[WTA career slam QF - active]
54...Serena Williams, USA
39...Venus Williams, USA
[18...Victoria Azarenka, BLR]
17...Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
15...Elina Svitolina, UKR
14...Iga Swiatek, POL
12...Coco Gauff, USA
12...Madison Keys, USA
11...Jessie Pegula, USA
11...Karolina Pliskova, CZE
10...Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
8...Karolina Muchova, CZE
8...Elena Rybakina, KAZ
7...Sara Errani, ITA
7...Ons Jabeur, TUN
7...Sloane Stephens, USA
6...Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
6...Naomi Osaka, JPN
6...Alona Ostapenko, LAT
6...Vera Zvonareva, RUS

[WTA slam QF & W/L in 2020s - 27 events]
17 - Sabalenka (13-2+W)*
14 - Swiatek (9-5)
12 - Gauff (6-5)*
11 - Pegula (3-7)*
9 - Svitolina (2-7)
8 - Rybakina (4-3)*
7 - Jabeur (3-4)
7 - Muchova (5-2)
6 - Krejcikova (2-4)
5 - M.Andreeva (2-2)*
5 - Keys (3-2)
5 - Pavlyuchenkova (1-4)
5 - Zheng Q. (1-3)*
4 - Anisimova (2-2)
4 - Barty (3-1)
4 - Navarro (1-2)*
4 - Osaka (3-1)
4 - Ka.Pliskova (1-3)
4 - Vondrousova (1-2+L)
3 - Badosa (1-2)
3 - Halep (2-1)
3 - Kostyuk (2-1)
3 - Noskova (1-1)*
3 - Ostapenko (0-3)
3 - Paolini (2-1)
3 - Tomljanovic (0-3)
2 - Azarenka (2-0)
2 - Bencic (1-1)
2 - Brady (2-0)
2 - Cirstea (0-2)
2 - Collins (1-1)
2 - Fernandez (1-1)
2 - Haddad Maia (1-1)
2 - Kalinskaya (0-2)
2 - Kenin (2-0)
2 - Kvitova (1-1)
2 - Mertens (0-2)
2 - Sakkari (2-0)
2 - Siegemund (0-2)
2 - Trevisan (1-1)
2 - Vekic (1-1)
2 - S.Williams (2-0)
1 - Boisson (1-0)
1 - Bouzkova (0-1)
1 - Chwalinska (1-0)
1 - Cornet (0-1)
1 - Garcia (1-0)
1 - Golubic (0-1)
1 - Hsieh (0-1)
1 - Jovic (0-1)
1 - Kanepi (0-1)
1 - Kasatkina (1-0)
1 - Kerber (1-0)
1 - Kontaveit (0-1)
1 - V.Kudermetova (0-1)
1 - Linette (1-0)
1 - Maria (1-0)
1 - Muguruza (1-0)
1 - Niemeier (0-1)
1 - Pironkova (0-1)
1 - Podoroska (1-0)
1 - Putintseva (0-1)
1 - Raducanu (1-0)
1 - Rogers (0-1)
1 - Samsonova (0-1)
1 - Shnaider (1-0)
1 - Stephens (0-1)
1 - Sun (0-1)
1 - Yastremska (1-0)
1 - Zidansek (1-0)

[WTA slam QF by nation in 2020s - 27 slams/216]
47 - USA (Gauff,Navarro,Pegula)
27 - CZE (Noskova)
19 - BLR (Sabalenka)
16 - RUS (Andreeva)
16 - POL
13 - UKR
9 - KAZ (Rybakina)
7 - AUS
7 - TUN
5 - GER
5 - CHN (Zheng)
5 - ITA
5 - ROU
4 - ESP
3 - FRA
3 - JPN
3 - LAT
3 - SUI
2 - BEL
2 - BRA
2 - CAN
2 - CRO
2 - EST
2 - GRE
1 - ARG,BUL,GBR,NZL,SLO,TPE

[WTA slam QF W/L by nation in 2020s]
47 - USA (22-22)***
27 - CZE (11-14+L)*
19 - BLR (15-2+W)*
16 - POL (11-5)
16 - RUS (5-10)*
13 - UKR (5-8)
9 - KAZ (4-4)*
7 - AUS (3-4)
7 - TUN (3-4)
5 - GER (2-3)
5 - ITA (3-2)
5 - ROU (2-3)
5 - CHN (1-3)*
4 - ESP (2-2)
4 - JPN (3-1)
3 - FRA (2-1)
3 - SUI (1-2)
3 - LAT (0-3)
2 - BEL (0-2)
2 - BRA (1-1)
2 - CAN (1-1)
2 - CRO (1-1)
2 - EST (0-2)
2 - GRE (2-0)
1 - ARG (1-0)
1 - BUL (0-1)
1 - GBR (1-0)
1 - NZL (0-1)
1 - SLO (1-0)
1 - TPE (0-1)


**BACKSPIN 2026 WTA PERFORMANCE-OF-THE-MONTH WINNERS**
JAN: Rybakina def. #1/#2 en route to AO title
FEB: Pegula wins Dubai w/ two Top 10 victories
MAR/APR: Sabalenka completes Sunshine Double in I.W./Miami
1Q...SABALENKA (SUNSHINE DOUBLE)
BJK Q: Noskova leads CZE comeback to def. SUI on road in Strycova's debut at Capt.
APR: Pegula defends Charleston title
MAY: Svitolina wins Rome w/ wins over 3 Top 4 players
RG: Andreeva wins maiden slam title / Chwalinska's fairy tale run to RG final
2Q Clay Court...SVITOLINA (ROME)
JUN: Vekic wins Queen's Club title as a lucky loser
WI: Noskova claims first major w/ win over Muchova in all-CZE final
WI (WC): Kamiji completes Career Golden Slam w/ first Wimbledon title
2Q Grass Court...NOSKOVA (BERLIN+WIMBLEDON)
JUL: Eala wins maiden tour title in Washington w/ wins over Pegula, Osaka & Svitolina
AUG (pre-U.S.): Gauff wins second Cincinnati title

**BACKSPIN 2026 COACH-OF-THE-MONTH WINNERS**
JAN/AO: Stefano Vukov (Rybakina)
FEB: Sven Groeneveld (Muchova)
MAR: Sven Groeneveld (Muchova)
1Q...GROENEVELD (MUCHOVA)
APR: Stefano Vukov (Rybakina)
MAY: Sandra Zaniewska (Kostyuk)
RG: Conchita Martinez (Andreeva)
2Q 1...MARTINEZ (ANDREEVA)
JUN/WI: Tomas Krupa/Lukas Dlouhy (Noskova)
2Q 2 (grass)...KRUPA/DLOUHY (NOSKOVA)
JUL: Francesca Schiavone (Tagger)
AUG: Jean-Christophe Faurel/Gavin MacMillan (Gauff)





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The US has a dark history of unaccountability.

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— Luca (@lucagalletti.bsky.social) September 7, 2026 at 6:32 AM


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A tale of two Labor Day messages today

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— MeidasTouch (@meidastouch.com) September 7, 2026 at 2:06 PM








TOP QUALIFIER: Lucie Havlickova, CZE
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #7 Karolina Muchova/CZE (follows up MX title w/ 4 games lost 1r/2r)
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): x
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): x
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2: #31 Andrea Lazaro Garcia/ESP def. Mai Hontama/JPN 5-7/7-6(6)/6-1 - saved 7 MP, four at 5-4 in 2nd set and three more at triple MP at 6-3 in TB
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - Cristina Bucsa/ESP def. (Q) Himeno Sakatsume/JPN 7-6(6)/6-7(0)/7-6(10-6) - three tie-breaks; Bucsa served 5-4 w/ 2 MP in 3rd, then again at 6-5
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): x
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F): x
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Jasmine Paolini/ITA (def. Veronika Erjavec/SLO)
FIRST SEED OUT: #27 Barbora Krejcikova/CZE (1r- lost to Kamila Rakhimova/UZB)
FIRST CAREER SLAM MD WINS: Polina Iatcenko/RUS (1st MD), Himeno Sakatsume/JPN (2nd), Lilli Tagger/AUT (2nd)
PROTECTED RANKING MD WINS: Nadia Podoroska/ARG, Mananchaya Sawangkaew/THA (both 2nd Rd.)
LUCKY LOSER MD WINS: D.Semenistaja/LAT (1r-L)
UPSET QUEENS: Spain
REVELATION LADIES: Great Britain
NATION OF POOR SOULS: SUI (0-3 1st Rd.; #12 Bencic hightest seed out; Teichmann w/d)
CRASH & BURN: Madison Keys/USA (3r- blew 5-0 lead in 3rd set vs. Zheng/CHN, had a MP)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEW YORK: Madison Keys/USA (2r- saved 5 MP vs. Bondar/HUN; Bondar 2 MP at 5-2 in 3rd, 3 more at 5-3, then served for again at 5-4; Bondar led 5-3 in MTB, Keys won last 7 points)
IT ("?"): x
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Zheng Qinwen/CHN (in QF)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Leolia Jeanjean/FRA, Sofia Kenin/USA, Taylah Preston/AUS, Sloane Stephens/USA (all 2nd Rd.)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: in QF: Gauff, Navarro, Pegula
COMEBACK: Zheng Qinwen/CHN
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): x
DOUBLES STAR: x
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Iva Jovic/USA
BROADWAY-BOUND: Naomi Osaka (and the nominee for "Best Costume Design" is...)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Nominees: Kenin d. V.Williams in 2:02 a.m. finish (latest 1r); Jovic/Eala NextGen dual on Ashe
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: x
BIG CITY ROLLER: x







All for Day 9. More tomorrow.

Read more...

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 11:15 PM  0 comments

Sunday, September 06, 2026

US.8- Her Song


It's late summer, and Aryna Sabalenka's season has seemingly been overwhelmed by forces both beyond and within her own control. But a New York three-peat is still well within her grasp.



Of course, in 2025, Sabalenka also had what would have been one of the best seasons this century within her grasp, too. Yet, despite finishing another year at #1, it didn't quite work out that way.

Last year, Sabalenka was in the finals of three majors (playing for an AO three-peat and her first RG title), but won just one (the last one, "salvaging" her slam campaign by successfully defending her U.S. Open crown), played in finals on both ends of the Sunshine swing (winning Indian Wells), played for what would have been her maiden WTAF crown (she came up short there, too), and reached nine overall singles finals (but lost more than she won, going 4-5).

2026 has been much of the same, only a bit worse.

Sabalenka lost her second straight AO final, but rebounded to finally pull off the Sunshine Double she missed out on last year. But she hasn't won a title since that March stretch, and has instead suffered a series of disconcerting collapses, including losing after having 6 MP vs. Hailey Baptiste in Madrid, then losing a 6-3/4-1 30/love lead vs. Diana Shnaider in the RG QF, falling in a love 3rd.

Sabalenka lost another love 3rd set vs. Jessie Pegula in Berlin, then her Round of 16 defeat in Wimbledon (vs. Naomi Osaka, on grass) was her worst finish in a major since the 2022 RG. She then fell this hardcourt summer at that same stage in both Toronto (to Ekaterina Alexandrova, who was under .500 for the year) and Cincinnati (to Sara Bejlek). Sabalenka nearly lost the #1 ranking to Elena Rybakina *before* the start of the U.S. Open, and now needs a combination of occurrences -- first w/ Rybakina not reaching the SF, then if that happens either Sabalenka winning the title, or either Coco Gauff or Jessie Pegula *not* -- to hold onto the top spot.

Yet, here we are, into the second week at the season's final major once again, and Sabalenka is still cookin'. As she should have, she posted a 6-4/6-3 win over Taylor Townsend, whose biggest headline on the day came in her attempt to steal the fashion runway spotlight from Osaka during her 24-hour absence from the daily schedule.



Today's win was Sabalenka's 17th straight in the U.S. Open, where she's won 23 of her last 24 matches. She's 10-1 in hard court majors in '26, and 54-4 since the U.S. in '22. She's reached the last *seven* AO/US finals.

After missing out on her AO three-peat last year, Sabalenka is still alive to accomplish the feat in New York. The last woman to do that was Serena Williams (from 2012-14), whose three-year reign is only the second in the Open era after Chris Evert's four-year run of titles from 1975-78. The most recent before that? "Little" Mo Connolly in 1951-53.

If Rybakina reaches the SF, Sabalenka will lose her #1 ranking no matter what happens the rest of the way (then Rybakina can try to keep it, with so many points to defend this fall). But if the Kazakh doesn't do the deed by her own hand -- and she still might have to defeat *two* former U.S. Open champions just the reach the final four -- then Sabalenka might still yet hold onto her top spot.

At any rate, she can still keep New York City -- the slam host that seems to suit her personality best -- as her own.

If Sabalenka can ultimately do over this second week precisely what she did last year, as in arriving in town while pushing all her season's slam chips to the middle of the table and *winning*, #1 ranking or no #1 ranking the final melody of this U.S. Open will still be her HER song.

All the details haven't yet been ironed out, but Sabalenka's task couldn't be more clear.





=DAY 8 NOTES=
...Sabalenka's next match won't be another in her intriguing series with Marta Kostyuk, but instead vs. one of the three players who've accomplished what the current world #1 *hasn't* this season. That is, win a major title.

Looking to become the first maiden slam champion since 2019 to win *another* major title in her next attempt, last accomplished when Naomi Osaka won the '18 U.S. and '19 AO in order (no other first-timer has reached a follow-up final since, though two have reached SF -- Sabalenka at RG23 and Gauff at AO24), #6 Linda Noskova won a hard fought battle on Sunday with the #11-seeded Ukrainian, the same player the Czech defeated in the Wimbledon semis earlier this summer en route to her Wimbledon title.

The 21-year old Noskova had to work overtime to do it in spite of her 7-5/5-3 lead in the affair. She held two MP at 5-4, only to see Kostyuk get the break, then two games later get another to swipe a 7-5 set win of her own.

The Czech led 5-3 again in the decider, and served at 5-4. She held two more MP (40/15) there, had to save a BP, then had two more MP chances before finally putting away her fifth of the match, winning 7-5/5-7/6-4.

Noskova has won eleven straight matches in slam play as she powers her way into her first U.S. Open QF.



Sabalenka holds a 2-0 edge in the head-to-head with Noskova, winning a (long ago by now, as the Czech was just two months past her 18th birthday at the time) match in Adelaide in '23, as well as a potentially more relevant win this past March in Indian Wells.

...later on Armstrong, #3 Jessie Pegula punched her ticket to a third consecutive U.S. Open QF (and fourth in the last five majors) with a 6-3/6-4 win over #16 Sorana Cirstea, seemingly ending the slam career of the 36-year old Romanian who announced early this year that 2026 would be her farewell season on tour.

Cirstea has since gone on to have perhaps her best season, becoming the oldest player to make her Top 20 singles debut, reaching a QF in RG (her best run in Paris in 17 years) and winnning a title in Cluj (her first WTA win on home soil, and her second tour-level title since last summer, after having gone four years without winning any). She notched her maiden career #1 win over Sabalenka in Rome, and is set to possibly reach another new career-high ranking after the Open (Cirstea is at a "live" #15).



Pegula, still in the mix for the #1 ranking, improves to 27-9 in her U.S. Open career. She's 14-3 this hard court summer, but has yet to be able to *finish* a great run. She won a 1000 title in Dubai in February, but in recent weeks has reached a pair of finals, only to fall in Washington (vs. Eala) and Cincinnati (vs. Gauff).

...the other QF in the top half of the draw will be an all-Bannerette affair, as #26 Emma Navarro defeated #21 Anna Kalinskaya 6-4/6-2 in the wrap-up match on Ashe, reaching her second U.S. Open QF in three years (w/ her '24 SF) and her first at any major since AO25. Navarro's game is getting better with each round, as after starting with a pair of three-set wins she's lost just 8 and 6 games, respectively, in her last two wins.



Pegula defeated Navarro a few weeks ago in the Cincinnati 3rd Round, and leads their head-to-head series 4-0. But the matches *have* been competitive, with two three-setters and 7-6 and 7-5 sets in Pegula's pair of straight sets wins.

...in wheelchair play in College Park (MD), Diede de Groot doubled up on titles heading into the Open, adding to her Saturday win in singles by taking the doubles today alongside Aniek Van Koot with a 6-3/6-2 win over Manami Tanaka & Zhu Zhenzhen.

De Groot won six straight U.S, Open singles titles before her late '24 hip surgery. She lost in the QF a year ago, suffering just her second loss in eight appearances in the WC tournament in New York. She's made the doubles final at Flushing Meadows in all eight appearances (winning five times).

...junior MD play has started at Flushing Meadows, and in stark contrast to the opening rounds of women's MD action, we've already got a Top 4 seed out.

#4-seeded Brazilian Victoria Luiza Barros was knocked off by Bannerette wild card Annika Penickova.

BTW, Jana Kovackova & Katerina Zajickova are the #5 seeds in the girls' doubles. Kovackova, already the first player with a Career Slam in Girls' Doubles, will now be looking to be the first to complete a season Grand Slam. The Czech has won the last four major GD crowns, starting with last year's U.S. Open with sister Alena. The two teamed up to win in Australia in January, then Jana and Zajickova took the titles in Paris and London.

...on the ITF World Tennis circuit, 17-year old Brit Hannah Klugman picked up her maiden pro title with a win over Linda Fruhvirtova in the final of a $50K in Leiria, Portugual, taking the 7-5/4-6/6-1 final.

Earlier this season, Klugman recorded her first tour-level match win in Nottingham, finding a spot in the MD as a lucky loser and upsetting Harriet Dart.



Also, in Saint-Palais-sur-Mer, France, Fiona Ferro won the all-Pastry battle with Clara Burel, adding a $50K crown to the 125 she won back in April (Oeiras).

Taiwan's Joanna Garland won the week's biggest crown, taking the $75K in Tianjin, China, with a win over Darya Astakhova.







*WOMEN'S SINGLES ROUND OF 16*
#1 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR def. Taylor Townsend/USA
#6 Linda Noskova/CZE def, #11 Marta Kostyuk/UKR
#3 Jessie Pegula/USA def. #16 Sorana Cirstea/ROU
#26 Emma Navarro/USA def. #21 Anna Kalinskaya/RUS
#5 Mirra Andreeva/RUS vs. #24 Anastasia Potapova/AUT
#14 Iva Jovic/USA vs. #4 Coco Gauff/USA
#8 Iga Swiatek/POL vs. (Q) Zheng Qinwen/CHN
#13 Naomi Osaka/JPN vs. #2 Elena Rybakina/KAZ

*WOMEN'S DOUBLES ROUND OF 16*
#1 Siniakova/Townend (CZE/USA) vs. #13 Hunter/Krawczyk (AUS/USA)
Neel/Olmos (EST/MEX) vs. #6 Bucsa/Melichar-Martinez (ESP/USA)
#4 Hsieh/Ostapenko (TPE/LAT) vs. #14 Chan/Joint (TPE/AUS)
#10 Perez/Schuurs (AUS/NED) vs. #8 Mertens/Schuurs (BEL/NED)
Bondar/Kalinina (HUN/UKR) vs. #9 Routliffe/Sutjiadi (NZL/INA)
(WC) Krueger/Montgomery (USA/USA) vs. Maria/Sonmez (GER/TUR)
#7 Jiang/Zhang (CHN/CHN) vs. Kato/Wu (JPN/TPE)
Hozumi/Klepac (JPN/SLO) vs. #2 Dabrowski/Stefani (CAN/BRA)

*MIXED DOUBLES FINAL*
Karolina Muchova/Jakub Mensik (CZE/CZE) def. #4 Belinda Bencic/Flavio Cobolli (SUI/ITA) 6-3/1-6 [10-6]










...WELL-PLAYED (tip of the cap)... ON DAY 8:





...I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE IT'S JUST ME... ON DAY 8:


But I kind of think that a slam can only support *one* fashion sideshow star per tournament. Serena used to fill that role in New York, and now -- whether it rubs some wrong or not -- Osaka has taken up that mantle (at all four majors).

Townsend's HBCU tribute was a nice nod the other day, but it sort of strains the confines of the attempt when a doubles specialist and barely-Top 100 singles player *continues* to try and occupy the stage in a bigger way than should probably be necessary (or needed).




...NICE (I just hope she didn't draw a Hordette on the previous page)... ON DAY 8:





...SEE YA, SORI... ON DAY 8:


If this is the end -- and maybe it will be since her results haven't *quite* held to her early-season heights (she hasn't reached a QF since RG, or a SF since Rome) -- then Cirstea's 20-year slam career (2007-26) concludes with a 76-69 record, three QF (2 RG, 1 US) and five Top 10 wins.













#IsmuasMonthOfMusic #MusicChallenge Day 2: A song that aged beautifully Elton John - Your Song youtu.be/CrznwpD-2tk

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— Scotify (@scotify.bsky.social) January 1, 2026 at 9:25 PM










New York












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**BACKSPIN 2026 ITF WORLD TENNIS PLAYER-OF-THE-MONTH WINNERS**
JAN 1: Mananchaya Sawangkaew, THA
JAN 2: Lilli Tagger, AUT
FEB: Celine Naef, SUI
MAR: Hanne Vandewinkel, BEL
1Q...VANDEWINKEL
APR: Jeline Vandromme, BEL
MAY 1: Ekaterina Tupitsyna, RUS
MAY 2: Kristina Liutova, RUS
2Q 1...LIUTOVA
JUN: Polina Iatcenko, RUS
JUL: Eva Vedder, NED
2Q 2 (grass)...IATCENKO
JUL: Alicia Dudeney, GBR
AUG: Hanne Vandewinkel, BEL
[Multiple 2026 Weekly ITF WORLD TENNIS Award Wins]
2...Alicia Dudeney, GBR
2...Tyra Grant, ITA
2...Alena Kovackova/Jana Kovackova, CZE/CZE
2...Barbora Palicova, CZE
2...Hanne Vandewinkel, BEL

**BACKSPIN 2026 TEAM-OF-THE-MONTH WINNERS**
AO: Olivia Gadecki/John Peers, AUS/AUS
FEB/MAR: Belinda Bencic/Flavio Cobolli, SUI/ITA
1Q...GADECKI/PEERS
APR: GBR BJK Cup Team
MAY: Texas A&M Women's Team
RG: Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori, ITA/ITA
2Q 1...ERRANI/VAVASSORI
WI: Alona Ostapenko/Marcelo Arevalo, LAT/ELS
2Q 2 (grass)...OSTAPENKO/AREVALO
JUL/AUG: ITA 14u Team
US: Karolina Muchova/Jakob Mensik, CZE/CZE
3Q...MUCHOVA/MENSIK





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sure man, whatever’s comfortable for you #Cat #Caturday 0l

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— Free Cats Daily😻 (@freecatsdaily.bsky.social) September 4, 2026 at 2:14 PM

Loaf vs melted cheese

— Making-Good 👊🏳️‍🌈🔥 (@making-good.bsky.social) September 4, 2026 at 4:23 PM


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Partners in crime… a

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— I 💙 Dogs (@dogs100.bsky.social) September 6, 2026 at 10:44 AM









TOP QUALIFIER: Lucie Havlickova, CZE
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #7 Karolina Muchova/CZE (follows up MX title w/ 4 games lost 1r/2r)
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): x
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): x
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2: #31 Andrea Lazaro Garcia/ESP def. Mai Hontama/JPN 5-7/7-6(6)/6-1 - saved 7 MP, four at 5-4 in 2nd set and three more at triple MP at 6-3 in TB
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - Cristina Bucsa/ESP def. (Q) Himeno Sakatsume/JPN 7-6(6)/6-7(0)/7-6(10-6) - three tie-breaks; Bucsa served 5-4 w/ 2 MP in 3rd, then again at 6-5
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): x
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F): x
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Jasmine Paolini/ITA (def. Veronika Erjavec/SLO)
FIRST SEED OUT: #27 Barbora Krejcikova/CZE (1r- lost to Kamila Rakhimova/UZB)
FIRST CAREER SLAM MD WINS: Polina Iatcenko/RUS (1st MD), Himeno Sakatsume/JPN (2nd), Lilli Tagger/AUT (2nd)
PROTECTED RANKING MD WINS: Nadia Podoroska/ARG, Mananchaya Sawangkaew/THA (both 2nd Rd.)
LUCKY LOSER MD WINS: D.Semenistaja/LAT (1r-L)
UPSET QUEENS: Spain
REVELATION LADIES: Great Britain
NATION OF POOR SOULS: SUI (0-3 1st Rd.; #12 Bencic hightest seed out; Teichmann w/d)
CRASH & BURN: Madison Keys/USA (3r- blew 5-0 lead in 3rd set vs. Zheng/CHN, had a MP)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEW YORK: Madison Keys/USA (2r- saved 5 MP vs. Bondar/HUN; Bondar 2 MP at 5-2 in 3rd, 3 more at 5-3, then served for again at 5-4; Bondar led 5-3 in MTB, Keys won last 7 points)
IT ("?"): x
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Zheng Qinwen/CHN (in 4th Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Leolia Jeanjean/FRA, Sofia Kenin/USA, Taylah Preston/AUS, Sloane Stephens/USA (all 2nd Rd.)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: in 4r: Gauff, Jovic, Navarro(W), Pegula(W), Townsend(L)
COMEBACK: Zheng Qinwen/CHN
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): x
DOUBLES STAR: x
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Iva Jovic/USA
BROADWAY-BOUND: Naomi Osaka (and the nominee for "Best Costume Design" is...)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Nominees: Kenin d. V.Williams in 2:02 a.m. finish (latest 1r); Jovic/Eala NextGen dual on Ashe
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: x
BIG CITY ROLLER: x







All for Day 8. More tomorrow.

Read more...

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 11:44 PM  2 comments