Alexander Zverev’s US Open win elevates him to no. 4 on the all-time tennis career money earnings list. Adding yesterday’s $5.5 million check increases his career total to $74 million surpassing Jannik Sinner.
Ryakina’s gameplan vs Sabalenka: “It was all about the returning, it’s powerful game from her for sure, read some moments, and make difference in these key moments.”
Zverev celebrated his US Open title at Tao Downtown.
Box of chicken nuggets and caviar price… $100.
US Open first week star Michael Zheng, who reached the third round of the main draw as a wildcard, is the top seed at Tiburon Challenger this week.
USTA tournament director Eric Butorac, himself a retired tennis professional, was asked if the USTA would consider reviving the legends competition. Butorac admitted the second week of the US Open could use more tennis action for spectators and conceded those coming to the tournament after Labor Day tend to be older. The former Australian Open doubles runner up understood the appeal of fans wanting to see their old heroes again, but he claimed attendance for those events in the past was low, and that is why he was not optimistic about a senior pro tournament returning.
Sloane Stephens, as a former US Open champion, is accustomed to doing her media obligations in the very large interview room No. 1 in Arthur Ashe Stadium after a match. Now at the end of her outstanding career, the United States Tennis Association assigned her post match press conference after losing second round to Marta Kostyuk in the much smaller interview room No. 2.”
Sloane was greeted by long-time Queens Chronicle Columnist Lloyd Carroll: “Welcome to the cozy confines of interview room two!” Stephens responded: “Smaller dungeon!” Carroll said later, “That was a great riposte on her part. It also reflected the way most tennis players feel about their post-match Q&A sessions with the press, especially after a loss.”
I think Zverev pretended not to realize he won the US Open after that last point. The German has a fine and very underrated sense of humor. Who remembers when he was in the ATP best hair contest thing and he mocked disappointment at not winning, “I worked on my hair all day for this.”
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Steve · September 15, 2026 at 12:47 pm
This is a good discussion vid explaining how so many former Division 1 and former pros end up working in finance. It also explains why so much money is sloshing around certain parts of American tennis.
https://youtu.be/TONXvuiyxOQ?is=egfcBHjk1eAYMo3k
Scoop Malinowski · September 15, 2026 at 1:27 pm
But let’s not forget poor people and the middle class are the true backbone and soul of the sport. Without them, there is no ATP WTA Tours or Grand Slams.
Steve · September 15, 2026 at 2:27 pm
This impenetrable “shadow society” emerging from the union of wall street douche bag wannabes and tennis brats and almost-greats is an interesting topic.
Hopefully, you’ll slip into one of their exclusive hitting sessions and report back.
Scoop Malinowski · September 15, 2026 at 2:52 pm
A couple prominent figures of that video, though I have never met them, people have told me comments about each and they were far from favorable. Based on that I do not want to meet any arrogant pricks because a confrontation would probably happen and it could get messy )
Andrew Miller · September 17, 2026 at 12:27 pm
At least Stephens did the presser!
Scoop Malinowski · September 17, 2026 at 1:54 pm
Always nice to read what Andrew Miller has to say about tennis. Yes Sloane bit the bullet and didn’t pull a Williams blow off stunt. And I do believe Sloane did survive her few minutes in the media dungeon )
Andrew Miller · September 18, 2026 at 11:06 pm
Scoop did you catch Pete Bodo’s substack eg parting shots from the US Open? I think his criticisms of the game map pretty well to long standing criticism of the game (and love of the game) here at TP. Basically he loved the game for the players but he is infuriated so many people want to turn it into entertainment.
Isn’t the gladiator sport enough…
Scoop Malinowski · September 19, 2026 at 7:13 am
Andrew, Yes I did read it, Bodo absolutely hammered the USTA, he will never be allowed back after that. I got some inside info. Tennis.com went down after he was approved for a credential so they gave him a few days, sadly Tignor got no days. But Bodo doesn’t even want to go back. The US Open has changed for the worse. USTA is so big and powerful they don’t care anymore. They didn’t even let Richard Evans, Hall of Famer in, he has covered Grand Slams for five decades. They wouldn’t let Steve Flink Hall of Famer sit in the media section to cover a match and when he was let in by security, the usta staff went bonkers. Usta is a mess.