NEW YORK — For a decade and a half, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer delivered one of the best rivalries in all of sports.

The tennis greats faced each other 40 times between 2004 and 2019, with Nadal winning 24 of those head-to-head meetings and going 14-10 against Federer in finals.

With Nadal set to retire after this week’s Davis Cup in ...Read more

“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