Served 5 Setter
Roger Returns, US Open Updates, & More
Happy Friday, everyone! Plenty to cover this week, including details on the player stealing the spotlight in Cincinnati. More on that later.
Keep scrolling for the answer to this week’s trivia question: Which member of the Big 3 reached the most ATP Masters quarterfinals in a row?
1️⃣ Monica Seles Reveals Life-Changing Diagnosis
Nine-time Grand Slam champion Monica Seles is opening up about living with myasthenia gravis (MG), a rare autoimmune neuromuscular disease that weakens voluntary muscle control.
Seles first noticed symptoms while casually hitting with her family. She said she would swing her racket and miss, because she saw two tennis balls coming toward her.
In her first public interview about the condition, Seles told the Associated Press that MG has made even simple tasks, like drying her hair, more challenging.
She’s speaking out ahead of the US Open to raise awareness about MG and to let others know they’re not alone in this battle.
Watch this story to hear how Seles is approaching her “new normal”
2️⃣ Roger Federer Returns…For An Exhibition
Roger Federer is set to return to the court, not for an ATP match, but for a celebrity doubles exhibition during the Shanghai Masters in October.
The match will feature Chinese celebrities including actor Donnie Yen and former pro tennis player Zheng Jie. Federer’s return to Qizhong Stadium is fitting as it’s where he won two Masters titles and twice claimed the year-end ATP Championships. The exhibition will take place on October 10.
Watch Federer’s message to fans
3️⃣ Frances Tiafoe Joins Laver Cup
Frances Tiafoe is officially locked in for the 2025 Laver Cup, which is just five weeks away. He’ll join fellow Americans Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Tommy Paul on Team World, along with João Fonseca.
Tiafoe famously clinched Team World’s first-ever Laver Cup title in 2022, and this will be his sixth appearance in the event.
“We’ve built something special, and I can’t wait to bring that same energy to San Francisco. Playing at home in front of U.S. fans means a lot – and I want to do everything I can to help us win,” Tiafoe said in a statement.
Watch this story for details about the Served live shows from the Laver Cup in San Francisco!
4️⃣ US Open: Who’s In & Who’s Out?
Venus Williams headlines wild cards
The seven-time Grand Slam Champion returns to her first major in two years. At 45, she’ll be the oldest singles player at the US Open in 44 years.
Caroline Garcia is also in, making her final Grand Slam appearance before retiring at the end of the year.
Brandon Holt, son of two-time US Open champion Tracy Austin, originally received a wild card but earned direct entry after Matteo Berrettini withdrew on Thursday.
American Eliot Spizzirri was awarded Holt’s wild card.
Check out the full wild card list
Notable absences
Grigor Dimitrov is out while recovering from a pec injury suffered at Wimbledon, ending his streak of 58 consecutive major appearances.
Paula Badosa remains sidelined with a back injury, she hasn’t played since Wimbledon.
Berrettini, a 2019 US Open semifinalist, has now missed seven majors in the past four years, including this year’s French Open
5️⃣ Defending Champs Make History In Cincinnati
Jannik Sinner became the first player outside the Big 3 to reach the quarterfinals in nine straight ATP Masters events. The streak began at Indian Wells last year and includes three titles.
The World No. 1 also extended his winning streak on hard courts to 25 matches after beating Felix Auger-Aliassime on Thursday to reach the semifinals.
Aryna Sabalenka made history twice in a single match. Her three-hour battle with Emma Raducanu featured two tiebreak wins, bringing her season total to 18, the most by any woman in a single season in the Open Era.
She also extended her unbeaten tiebreak streak to 16 straight, another all-time mark.
Didn’t Make The Cut:
Davis Cup rosters set for next month’s action
Are tennis players really this bad at parking cars?
Jannik Sinner is the youngest player to win 25+ consecutive matches on hard courts since Novak Djokovic in 2011
Since 1990, Carlos Alcaraz is the third-youngest player with four straight 50-win seasons. Only Pete Sampras and Rafa Nadal were younger
Terence Atmane became the eighth lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 semi-finalist in series history
In The 5 Setter Podcast we asked: Each member of the Big 3 reached at least 10 straight ATP Masters quarterfinals in their careers. But who’s on top? And for bonus points… how many in a row?
The answer: Rafa Nadal. He reached 21 straight!
Cincinnati Check-In:
Meet Terence Atmane
The 23-year-old Frenchman came to Cincinnati with a 1–4 tour record this season. He just picked up two Top 10 wins in consecutive days. The qualifier stunned World No. 9 Holger Rune Thursday night to reach the semifinals, one day after beating World No. 4 Taylor Fritz. He also knocked off Flavio Cobolli and João Fonseca. Welcome to the Top 100, Terence. Next up: Jannik Sinner.
Fellow qualifier Varvara Gracheva reached her first 1000-level quarterfinal, beating Sofia Kenin & Karolina Muchova along the way. She’ll face Veronika Kudermetova on Friday.
Friday’s quarterfinal matches include:
Carlos Alcaraz vs. Andrey Rublev
Alexander Zverev vs. Ben Shelton
Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina
Coco Gauff vs. Jasmine Paolini
Note: The ATP semifinals will be held on Saturday, the WTA on Sunday. Both finals will be played Monday.
Full international WTA & ATP broadcast list.
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Where are the more details about the live show? Can’t seem to find it