“Contentious” is the best way to describe the relationship between tennis and pickleball. That word fits because the four-letter descriptions aren’t appropriate in polite company.

A sport with a name rooted from a vegetable, and looks more like a recreational game played throughout South Florida and greater Phoenix area retirement ...Read more

NEW YORK — Jessica Pegula may be an admirable, 30-something workaholic, but Aryna Sabalenka is a screeching, hammering force of nature.

That irresistible power, plus some acrobatic, nuanced shots, carried Sabalenka to a 7-5, 7-5 victory on Saturday, earning her a third major title and her first US Open championship. America’s chances in ...Read more

NEW YORK — Extra excitement hovered over the US Open before Friday night’s historic semifinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Thousands of fans — some dressed in star-spangled sweaters, shirts and hats — filed in at Flushing Meadows, pledging their allegiances to Frances Tiafoe or Taylor Fritz ahead of the Open’s first semifinal match between...Read more

NEW YORK — For Jessica Pegula, making it to Saturday’s US Open final feels like a dream come true.

For Aryna Sabalenka, it’s a chance at redemption.

Pegula, a Buffalo native and the latest American to reach the women’s singles final at Flushing Meadows, hadn’t advanced past a quarterfinal at a Grand Slam tournament before this one.

...Read more

NEW YORK — Jessica Pegula is one win away from the US Open title.

The American came roaring back from an early deficit to defeat Karolina Muchova — 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 — in her semifinal match at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday night, booking her spot in Saturday’s women’s singles final.

It’s the first trip to a Grand Slam final for ...Read more

NEW YORK — Emma Navarro met her match.

The fast-rising American’s storybook run at the US Open came to an end Thursday night as Aryna Sabalenka eliminated her — 6-3, 7-6 (2) — in the semifinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Sabalenka, the world’s No. 2 player, deployed a powerful first serve that approached 120 mph — about 10 mph faster ...Read more

NEW YORK — For the first time since 2006, an American will appear in the men’s singles final at the US Open.

Which American that is remains to be seen.

Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe, the polar-opposite U.S. stars whose simultaneous Open runs have captivated Queens, are set to battle Friday night in a much-anticipated semifinal match at ...Read more

NEW YORK — For a moment Tuesday afternoon, Emma Navarro’s storybook run at the US Open appeared to be at risk.

The New York City-born Navarro won the first set of her quarterfinal match against Spain’s Paula Badosa, 6-2, at Arthur Ashe Stadium, but she fell behind, 5-1, in the second set.

But Navarro dialed in.

Navarro, 23, stormed back...Read more

NEW YORK — For the first time ever, Taylor Fritz is a Grand Slam semifinalist.

The American defeated Germany’s Alexander Zverev — 7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 — in a hard-fought quarterfinal match at the US Open on Tuesday afternoon to advance to the final four.

Despite the match at Arthur Ashe Stadium not going the distance, Fritz and Zverev ...Read more

NEW YORK — This time last year, Naomi Osaka sat in the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium, unsure if she would ever return to an elite level of play.

Osaka, a two-time US Open champion, was only a few weeks removed from giving birth when she attended the 2023 tournament as a fan, watching eventual champion Coco Gauff defeat Karolina Muchova in the...Read more

NEW YORK — It’s been nearly 21 years since an American man won the singles title at the US Open.

It’s been nearly 18 years since one even reached the final.

But with a much-hyped rematch between U.S. stars Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe set to take place Friday in the third round of this year’s tournament in Queens, it’s become ...Read more

NEW YORK — If Frances Tiafoe hadn’t already won over the New York crowd, he certainly earned some good will Wednesday.

The tennis star arrived at his second-round match at the US Open wearing a Jalen Brunson jersey, then celebrated his victory over Alexander Shevchenko with new Knicks forward Mikal Bridges, who was sitting courtside at ...Read more

NEW YORK — The future is bright for Iva Jovic.

Although the 16-year-old American lost Wednesday to Ekaterina Alexandrova in a hard-fought second-round match at the US Open, the breakout teen announced herself to the tennis world with a strong showing in Queens.

Jovic jumped out to an early lead by winning the first set, 6-4. Alexandrova ...Read more

NEW YORK — The US Open desperately needs a new seeding system. Who cares about wins, losses and ranking points? What we really want to know: How much fun would these players be at a party?

Lucky for you, we have devised a better algorithm. Taking our cue from the teeming tennis tourists at Flushing Meadows, we restlessly roamed the main ...Read more

NEW YORK — In his first match since avoiding a steroid suspension, Jannik Sinner began on upset alert.

The world’s top-ranked tennis star dropped the first set of Tuesday’s opening-round matchup against Mackie McDonald at the US Open before rolling to a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Sinner committed 14 unforced ...Read more

NEW YORK — Naomi Osaka did not disappoint in her return to the US Open.

Competing at Flushing Meadows for the first time since giving birth 13 months ago, the two-time US Open winner cruised past 10th-seeded Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Tuesday afternoon to advance to the second round.

With a lively, packed crowd ...Read more