Wildcard teenager Jack Kennedy from Long Island switched from Adidas to Asics at US Open. The junior star will compete for University of Virginia – if his pro career does not explode successfully, as Jodar, Michelsen and Nakashima’s did at the same age.
Are tennis fans avoiding Naomi Osaka’s absurd publicity stunt fashion shows? Empty stadium sure says so.
The media seats on Ashe Stadium’s lower level were sold off this year to paying fans and moved up high in the stands where there are no tables or power sockets. To add insult to injury, media accreditation has been given to one hundred influencers.
There is no love lost in the Bencic vs Putintseva rivalry. Bencic boomed a ball into the crowd but was not disqualified. The Russian playing for Kazakhstan won in three sets.
Six time Grand Slam champion and former world no. 1 Iga Swiatek has been scheduled off Ashe/Armstrong for the first time since 2021. The veteran from Poland will play second banana to Alexandra Eala, winner of the Mubadala DC Open. Who remembers when Jim Courier said Nike controls court scheduling at Grand Slams?
Daniil Medvedev was asked about the downsides of USTA accrediting influencers for the U.S. Open:
Q: “I want to ask about content creators and influencers. USTA started to accredit some last year and even more this year, on the upside to bring more fans to tennis. But there are a few downsides. There are some videos from content creators using big lights during play on center court and stuff. I want in general your view on this…”
Daniil: “Super easy. The more we try to raise awareness about tennis, the better it is. The more popular the sport is. For sure there is some downside. Maybe more people are gonna recognize you on the street and it’ll be tougher to go to a restaurant. But in general the more the sport grows the better it is. I trust USTA with what they’re doing. If it disturbs during the play, you see the light or something, you always say to the referee. It can be sometimes challenging if during the point this happens. But I’m pretty sure as well, one time they do it, someone tells them not to do it. I think a lot more upside than downside so let’s go for it.”
John McEnroe said on the air for ESPN that Alex Michelsen, who upset Nakashima in three sets, must be licking his chops at playing Daniel Merida instead of Andrey Rublev. Merida, who upset Rublev, recently beat Michelsen in Montreal but McEnroe’s homework preparation efforts for broadcasting have been suspect for years now.
Osaka is trying to embrace the black community again by saluting Allen Iverson, a former NBA star who she never saw play as he was before her time. Here is my Iverson Biofile interview
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Sam · September 17, 2026 at 7:09 am
Bencic boomed a ball into the crowd but was not disqualified.
And why not?
Scoop Malinowski · September 17, 2026 at 7:27 am
Because Bencic is not on their list.