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The Russian's current ranking is only good enough to get her into qualifying.

2004 U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova rises 41 spots in the rankings to return to the top 100 at No.87 this week after winning her second Citi Open title, but her rise is too late for the U.S. Open rankings cutoff which leaves Kuznetsova hoping for a main draw wild card into the event.

“I’m praying to get a wild card for U.S. Open because so far I’m into the qualies. I would love to play main draw and hopefully I will be lucky enough to get one, but we’ll see,” she said.

Kuznetsova dropped from inside the Top 70 to 128 after Wimbledon when she didn’t defend her quarterfinal points at Eastbourne or SW19.

The 33-year-old is just finally finding her form after making her return from off-season wrist surgery this spring. It has taken her time—no surprise to anybody who has seen other pros attempt to return from similar surgeries (see Juan Martin del Potro).

“I’ve done it many times, coming back, but sometimes I felt like low on motivation because you work, work, work and you don’t succeed and you work, work, work and then you still have pain,” she told reporters after saving four match points to defeat Donna Vekic 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-2. “I think I also did some bad decisions, but for me it was first time learning from surgery. My doctor who did the surgery told me ‘You should be ready for clay,’ and I was trying to get ready for Indian Wells and Miami and I was not ready.”

After reeling off five consecutive wins Kuznetsova has improved her record to 9-10 on the season. She has also demonstrated that she’s in good enough form to deserve a wild card—something that is more important than past results to the major tournaments that are tasked with these difficult decisions.

For now the Russian will return to Miami to practice, because she missed the Rogers Cup qualifying due to her run in D.C., and then play Cincinnati, where she has received a wild card. A few more wins there and it might become difficult for the U.S. Open to turn her down.

The American notched the biggest win of his career, and lost a shoe in the process.

You have your footwork, you have your fast footwork and you have your BLAZING FAST footwork. For American Noah Rubin it was most certainly the latter on Day 4 of the Citi Open—check out this outrageous play by the 22-year-old World No. 152. Rubin comes at a full sprint from way behind the Washington, D.C. sign to track down this dropper from John Isner and when he's made the shot he pirouettes athletically, just barely missing the net.

Outrageous!

Rubin went on to claim the 6-4, 7-6(6) victory over second-seeded Isner, it was the biggest of his career by ranking.

Unfortunately the American did suffer one loss during the match. He ran so fast on that point that his shoe did not make it through the game. See the video below to see the damage he did to his trainer. Rubin would later toss the shoe into the crowd, not the best souvenir but a souvenir nonetheless.

The oft-injured Aussie says his hip is not quite ready to face the rigors of match play. A few days after retiring from his quarterfinal match against Cameron Norrie in Atlanta, Australia’s Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., sending Lucky Loser Jason Kubler into the main draw. The fifth-seeded Aussie made the following statement on Twitter:

Absolutely gutted to have to withdraw from @CitiOpen I’ve done all I can to get my hip ready but ran out of time. I want to thank Keely & her team for the support and apologise to the fans. I’ll be back!
❤️🙏🏽

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) August 1, 2018

Kyrgios has played nine events in 2018, claiming a hardcourt title in Brisbane and reaching semifinals in Stuttgart and London on his preferred surface, grass.

The Aussie has been bothered by injuries throughout his career, and has suffered elbow and hip problems over the last two seasons. Nevertheless he is still ranked at 17 in the world and hopes to be fit for upcoming events in Toronto, Cincinnati and the U.S. Open.

The Belgian is aiming higher in the second half of her breakout season.

In the midst of a breakout season, Belgium’s Elise Mertens has made a coaching change. The World No.15 has hired German coach Dieter Kindlmann, who has previously worked as Maria Sharapova’s hitting partner and been a coach of Madison Keys, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Laura Robson.

Kindlmann, 36 and a former World No.130, helped guide Keys to the U.S. Open final last season before the pair parted ways this May.

22-year-old Mertens reached the Australian Open semifinal this January and owns three WTA titles this season. She is 11th in the WTA’s race to Singapore standings.

"I think it was time for a change because you need somebody who has the experience already," Mertens told WTA Insider Courtney Nguyen this week at San Jose. "I'm ranked No.15 and I'm trying to go upwards and I think he's a person who can help me."

Mertens was previously coached by Robbe Ceyssens and later, Rick Vleeshouvers.

She’s hoping that Kindlmann can take her higher.

“I think after Australia I realized that I had it in me,” she said. “You always have to believe in yourself. Sometimes it's more difficult than others. But I believe I can do great stuff and go upwards."

A pair of former champions are looking to catch fire on the U.S. hardcourts.

A pair of past champions and former multiple Grand Slam winners have taken wild cards into the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati.

The tournament announced on Thursday that two-time champion Andy Murray and 2013 champion Victoria Azarenka will be joining the 56-player singles field in their respective draws.

Welcome back to Cincinnati, champs! 🏆

2013 winner Victoria Azarenka and two-time champion Andy Murray awarded wild cards into 2018 #CincyTennis: https://t.co/BtToPamtY7 pic.twitter.com/X6OdtsTr6C

— Western & Southern Open (@CincyTennis) July 26, 2018

“The resumés for Vika and Andy really speak for themselves,” said Tournament Director Andre Silva. “I think many tennis fans are eager to see each of them back on the court, and we are pleased to offer them both wild cards to play the Western & Southern Open.”

Azarenka won the 2013 edition of the Western and Southern Open, defeating Serena Williams in a dramatic third-set tiebreaker. She will play Cincinnati for the first time since giving birth to her son Leo in December of 2016. Murray is the 2008 and 2011 champion at Cincinnati and he holds a 31-10 lifetime record on the fast hardcourts at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.

Three more men and four more women will receive wild cards into the singles draws at Cincinnati before the tournament’s main draw play commences on August 12.

The Swiss has chosen rest–and Cincinnati–over Rogers Cup in Toronto this season.
Roger Federer has pulled out of the Rogers Cup in Toronto. The Swiss, who was a finalist at last year’s event in Montreal, says he has elected to preserve his body this summer and will only play the Cincinnati Masters prior to the U.S. Open.

San Jose: Muguruza Joins Star-Studded Field

“I’m so disappointed not to play at the Rogers Cup this summer,” said Federer in a statement. “I had a fantastic time in Montreal last year and always enjoy playing in front of the Canadian fans, but unfortunately with scheduling being the key to my longevity moving forward, I have regrettably decided to withdraw from Toronto this year. I wish the tournament every success and am sorry to miss it.”

Federer last played in Toronto in 2014 when he reached the final and fell to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The Swiss owns a 35-10 lifetime record at Rogers Cup and has won the title in Canada twice, but not since 2006.

The youngest American in the Top 50 hopes to continue his climb this summer.
Lost in the post-Wimbledon shuffle, and tucked ever so slightly beneath the radar, a young American cracked a milestone on Monday. That young American would be Frances Tiafoe, who pushed inside the ATP’s Top 50 for the first time thanks to his third-round performance at the Championships.

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It was a solid performance from Tiafoe at London, in what has been a solid year, but the fact that he squandered a two sets to love lead in the third round to Karen Khachanov speaks volumes about how far along Tiafoe is in his development. He was criticized for a lack of desire in that match, as he disappeared from the match after dropping a third-set tiebreaker, and he later said he had been experiencing stomach pains. Either way, it's an experience he can–and will have to–learn from. Tiafoe’s at the tip of the iceberg, and yet still, six months shy of his 21st birthday the Maryland native is inside the top 50 and boasting a solid 20-12 record on the season.

Still just 20, he's reached the Top 50 in the world. How @FTiafoe learned to relax and enjoy a summer at home, playing with @WashKastles and at @CitiOpen https://t.co/uz8CXO55rz pic.twitter.com/zBkg8kfg6J

— Noah Frank (@NoahFrankWTOP) July 20, 2018

Tiafoe started the season at 79 in the world, but a maiden career title at Delray Beach (one in which he defeated Juan Martin del Potro and Denis Shapovalov), along with a final at Estoril, has helped him get to where he is now. With just 110 points to defend between now and the end of the U.S. Open, Tiafoe is a run or two away from a spot in the Top 30 and maybe even higher.

As a lot of the attention has been focused—and rightfully so—on teenagers Denis Shapovalov and Stefanos Tsitsipas, Tiafoe has quietly been climbing and is now the fourth highest-ranked American and one of just four players younger than 21 in the ATP’s Top 50.

It’s quite an accomplishment, but one that the World No.45 takes in stride.

“It’s definitely nice, a big milestone for me,” he told Noah Frank of WTOP in Washington earlier this week. “You definitely want to keep building on it. You don’t want to sit here and gloat about it. There are 44 more places I need to go, and I want to go.”

Tiafoe, who took a week off after Wimbledon before joining he Washington Kastles of the WTT this week, will open his US Open Series at the Citi Open in Washington, DC on July 30.

Cool illustration of Frances Tiafoe by @CM___Design. 💥 If you're in the DC area, Big Foe and company are in action all week. Check 'em out! 💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/dzBrMd4RTO

— Chad (@CCSMOOTH13) July 17, 2018

As a local kid, who spent his formative years training at the JTCC in nearby College Park, Maryland, Tiafoe lists the Citi Open as one of the trophies he dearly covets.

“That’s a title I definitely really want to win at least once in my career,” he told Frank. “So I’m always going to go in there and grab it with two hands.”

Tiafoe’s father, Constant, initially worked at the JTCC (Junior Tennis Champion’s Center) on a construction crew that originally built the site, and he stayed on as a head of maintenance. It was natural from there that Frances and his twin brother Franklin, had ample opportunity to hone their skills on the court.

It’s just another part of the story that helps make the easy-going Tiafoe’s story so endearing.

The other part is his ability to deliver on the promise that many saw in him. After losing 10 of his first 11 matches against Top 20 opposition, Tiafoe has won three of his last five. At Wimbledon he reached the third round at a major for the first time in his career, snapping a four-match losing streak at the majors as he upset veterans Fernando Verdasco and Julien Benneteau in back-to-back tilts.

It’s a process for all young players and Tiafoe is no exception, but all signs are pointing to a bright future, and has he works his way up the rankings his confidence is rising as well.

“I’ve played some great tennis this year,” he told Frank. “I’ve beaten a lot of good guys. I believe in myself. I know if I bring a good level I can beat anyone.”

The Wimbledon champ shares his deepest thoughts in a heartfelt letter to friends and family.

In a heartfelt letter to fans and the general public, written between a "nappy change and a dinosaur’s book," 2018 Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic shared some of the overwhelming emotions he felt after winning Wimbledon and claiming his first major title in more than two years.

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“First of all, let me start by writing that the feeling of having my son in my wife’s arms at the trophy ceremony in the Players box was the most wonderful sensation I have had at any tournament that I have ever won in my career,” the 31-year-old wrote. “When I became a father, one of my biggest dreams was to have my children present at the stands while I am playing. Let alone winning trophies. That dream came true several days ago.”

Already looking forward to more victories ahead, Djokovic said he’d like to experience the same magical feeling with his daughter Tara, who was born last September.

“I have imagined and prayed that one day I would win a Grand Slam trophy in front of my child,” he wrote. “Luckily for me, Tara is growing up and I can’t wait for her to see me do the same as I did in front of Stefan.”

Dear Friends & Family… https://t.co/Ob83np38AS

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) July 19, 2018

Djokovic says that becoming a husband and father has opened him up to a new dimension in life.

“[Life] didn’t change,” he wrote, “it evolved into something more beautiful. Of course, more responsibilities add up but at the end of the day, it unlocks a new dimension of Love and Energy inside of you that you never knew existed. And the biggest gift that you receive from God is the enhanced feeling of empathy, compassion and devotion to your kids. But it’s not all clear once you become a father. It takes learning and openness to reach that “golden balance” in Life which everyone is in pursuit for. For me it was balance between tennis, priorities and family.”

Djokovic also talked about the injury challenges he faced, hinting at just how difficult a time it was for him personally and professionaly.

“For the last 2 years, I wasn’t patient with my tennis expectations. I wasn’t wise in strategizing. And I certainly wasn’t clearly hearing my body telling me that there is something serious happening with my elbow. I was trying to find solutions somewhere else and solution was always inside of me.”

He also wrote of the doubt he experienced and how he has come to experience balance in his life.

“I didn’t know if I would be able to get back on the desired level of tennis,” he wrote. “Actually, one part of me always believes in my own qualities and capabilities. But there was a lot of doubtful moments where course of action could have gone different ways.”

And lastly, a comment about the taste of the Wimbledon grass:

“P.S. Wimbledon grass tasted great once more. I would just add some avocado and it would be perfect.”

Djokovic will next take the court at the Rogers Cup in Toronto, which takes place from August 6-12.

The World No.9 ties the knot with a fellow Czech. Karolina Pliskova is married! The Czech superstar tied the knot with Michal Hrdlicka, surprising many in the tennis community. The couple’s engagement has been known about for a long time now (news broke last August), but not many knew the wedding would happen so soon.

👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/n34hZ9XKUD

— Ashish TV 🎾🎥 (@Ashish__TV) July 19, 2018

My man of my life ❤️ #justmarried pic.twitter.com/AUxPajJfOv

— Karolina Pliskova (@KaPliskova) July 19, 2018

Hrdlicka is a former TV presenter with TV Nova and often accompanies Pliskova to various tournaments throughout the year, according to WTATennis.com. Pliskova, 26 and ranked No.9 in the world, is fresh off a career-best performance at Wimbledon, where she reached the round of 16.

Pliskova is expected to return to the tour for Rogers Cup which takes place from 6-12 August in Montreal.

The American is enjoying a Kit-Kat each round at Wimbledon, and is hoping for two more.

Wimbledon, England—It took 41 Slams and over ten years since he played his first major, but American John Isner is finally into the semifinals of a Grand Slam, and he believes he can keep it going.

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After his 6-7(5), 7-6(7), 6-4, 6-3 victory over Canada’s Milos Raonic, Isner is amped and ready to take on his next challenge, facing No.8-seeded Kevin Anderson for a spot in the Wimbledon final.

“Pure elation right now,” said the only player left at Wimbledon that has yet to be broken. “Very, very happy to be in this position right now in the semifinals. With how I'm feeling physically and mentally, I'm in a very good spot. I think I can keep doing damage here.”

Isner ranks second behind Sam Querrey for most appearances at a major before reaching a semifinal, and he’s happy to do it at a place where he was formerly only known for playing the longest match in tennis history and never reaching the second week.

That 11 hour and 5 minute marathon, won by Isner 70-68 in the fifth set, is a memory from 2010 that Isner will always cherish, but this year he’s intent on creating another memory.

“Of course, everyone is going to remember that match in 2010, and rightfully so,” Isner said. “I like to think that since that match, I've done a lot of good stuff on the court performance-wise. But for a lot of people, that's definitely the lasting image of my career. I think if I can keep going further here, I can maybe squash that.”

He has already done a good job of squashing it, by defeating two seeded players at a Slam for the first time and by serving incredibly throughout his first two matches.

“This is amazing,” he said on Wednesday. “It's by far the best Grand Slam I've ever played in my career, and I've been playing for 11 years. I'm super happy. To do it here at Wimbledon makes it even a little bit more special.”

“At 33, I feel like I’m playing the best tennis of my life”

– @JohnIsner #Wimbledonhttps://t.co/6hRvN0F3ev

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 11, 2018

Isner’s rise has been a result of hard work, perseverance and a commitment to steadily improving the tools necessary to win on the grass, like closing at the net and making passing shots. It’s been a sweet ride for the American, made even sweeter by his choice of post-match snack.

“I just had a Kit Kat before I came in here,” he told reporters with a smile on Wednesday. “That's the truth. I had a little bit of a sugar craving. That's not a normal occurrence for me. I think after each win throughout these 10 days, I've had a Kit Kat. I'm not going to change that now.”

What has changed is Isner’s chances of reaching the final now that Kevin Anderson sent shockwaves through the draw when he bounced eight-time champion Roger Federer in quarterfinal action on Wednesday.

But the American doesn’t believe he’s lucked out by any means. In Anderson he knows he’ll be facing a red-hot Top 10 player that is playing the best he’s ever played on grass.

“I mean, it's not like I have a huge opportunity now,” Isner said. “Look how well Kevin is playing. It's going to be extra tough.”