Happy Tuesday! As a drama-filled first four rounds at the US Open concludes, the tournament enters its final stretch.

In this week's newsletter:

• ⭐ US Open Update: Champions Advance While Rivalries Renew

• 🤬 Week 1 Drama: When Tempers Boil Over

• 🎾 Weekly Roundup: Courtside from Flushing Meadows

🧠 Tennis Trivia Challenge 🧠

Think you know your tennis? Take a swing at this week’s question!

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⭐ US Open Update: Champions Advance While Rivalries Renew ⭐

The contenders have mostly cruised through the early rounds. Defending champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka advanced steadily despite brief challenges, while Carlos Alcaraz rebounded from last year’s shocking second-round exit with dominant wins. Iga Świątek also moved on despite not playing her best tennis. The notable exception was Alexander Zverev, who became the highest seed to fall when Felix Auger-Aliassime upset the world No. 3.

High-profile rematches have added intrigue. Naomi Osaka beat Coco Gauff in their first meeting since the 2019 US Open, when Gauff was just 15, a milestone moment in Osaka’s comeback as she rebuilds her career. Sabalenka renewed her rivalry with Leylah Fernandez in a rematch of their 2021 semifinal, while Emma Navarro and Barbora Krejčíková revisited their recent Wimbledon meeting.

For Americans, results were mixed. Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton suffered disappointing exits, while Taylor Townsend's magical run, which included upset victories over Jelena Ostapenko and Mirra Andreeva, ended in devastating fashion when she failed to convert eight match points against Krejčíková. Still, Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, and Taylor Fritz impressed with commanding wins to secure quarterfinal spots.

🤬 Week 1 Drama: When Tempers Boil Over 🤬

Meltdowns have defined the tournament's opening week, at times overshadowing the tennis itself. Daniil Medvedev launched a wild tirade at the chair umpire during his first-round loss to Benjamin Bonzi, ending with a shattered racket. Jelena Ostapenko slammed Taylor Townsend as having “no class” and “no education” after Townsend failed to apologize for a net cord in their second-round clash. Stefanos Tsitsipas confronted Daniel Altmaier at the net, warning after underarm serves: “Don’t wonder why I hit you.” Other spats erupted over grunting and perceived disrespect in doubles.

Players and insiders offered explanations but little surprise. Jessica Pegula pointed to end-of-season pressure, saying "everyone is tense” since “it’s the last slam of the season". The New York atmosphere amplifies everything, with Coco Gauff noting passionate New Yorkers "get everyone riled up". Coco Gauff noted the charged New York atmosphere, where passionate fans “get everyone riled up,” while adding that drama is common on tour but draws extra clicks in New York. Naomi Osaka agreed, noting that fiery players like Medvedev have produced “iconic” outbursts here before, making this year’s tensions feel more like tradition than anomaly.

🎾 Weekly Roundup: Courtside from Flushing Meadows 🎾

Barbora Krejčíková’s miraculous escape saw the two-time singles Grand Slam champion save eight match points against Taylor Townsend, the most ever saved in a US Open match, including seven in a grueling 25-minute tiebreaker, before completing a stunning comeback victory.

Novak Djokovic, 38, broke Roger Federer’s record by becoming the oldest man to reach the quarterfinals at all four Grand Slams in a season, doing so for a record ninth time with a straight-sets victory.

A Polish CEO snatched a hat from a young fan named Brock that Polish player Kamil Majchrzak had just given him after his upset win. The boy’s disappointment went viral, helping Majchrzak track him down and reunite with him.

Carlos Alcaraz buzzed his hair after his brother botched his haircut. Frances Tiafoe called the result "horrendous", while Rory McIlroy praised the look, but Alcaraz mainly shrugged off the attention it generated.

🎥 Reel of the Week 🎥

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