NEW YORK — Simona Halep was dropped from the U.S. Open field on Monday because of a provisional doping suspension.

The U.S. Tennis Association announced that Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1-ranked player, “was automatically withdrawn” when the tournament’s qualifying draw was held.

Halep’s spot in the main draw for the women’s singles tournament in Flushing Meadows went to Taylor Townsend. Play begins on Aug. 28.

During a provisional suspension, a player is ineligible to compete in or attend any sanctioned events.

Halep tested positive at last year’s U.S. Open for the banned substance Roxadustat, according to the International Tennis Integrity Agency.

That is a drug approved for medical use in the European Union to treat the symptoms of anemia caused by chronic kidney failure. According to the EU’s medicines agency, it stimulates the body to produce more of the natural hormone erythropoietin, or EPO, which has long been a doping product favored by cyclists and distance runners.

Halep was accused of a second doping offense in May for for irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport.

She was seeded No. 7 in New York in 2022 and lost in the first round to Daria Snigur of Ukraine.

Halep is a 31-year-old from Romania who first reached No. 1 in the WTA rankings in 2017. She won the French Open in 2018 by beating Sloane Stephens in the final, and Wimbledon in 2019 by defeating Serena Williams in the title match.

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CLEVELAND — Venus Williams withdrew from Tennis in the Land on Sunday because of a knee injury, but the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion plans to play in next week’s US Open.

Williams released a video through the promoter of the WTA 250 event in downtown Cleveland, saying: “Unfortunately, my knee is just not acting right. It’s not supporting me being on the court.”

The 43-year-old player has received a wild card to compete at the US Open, which begins Aug. 28. She won back-to-back titles at Flushing Meadows in 2000-01 after reaching the final in her debut in 1997.

“It’s such a bummer, but I’m going to work on myself and get myself together to be at the US Open,” she said.

Williams had been scheduled to play her opening match in Cleveland on Monday, five days after she was defeated by Zheng Qinwen of China at the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio.

Earlier at the tournament outside Cincinnati, she earned her first win over a top-20 opponent in four years, beating No. 16 Veronika Kudermetova of Russia. Williams has a 3-6 record this season and is ranked No. 407 in the world after missing nearly six months with an injury.

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• Associated Press

Aug 20, 2023, 04:11 PM ET

MASON, Ohio — Seventh-seeded Coco Gauff became the first teenager in more than 50 years to win the Western & Southern Open with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Karolina Muchova on Sunday.

Gauff, the 2022 French Open runner-up, earned her first Masters 1000 title when Muchova sailed a forehand return wide on Gauff’s fourth match point. The 19-year-old American tossed her racket in the air and jumped up and down in glee after surviving a 1-hour, 56-minute match played in temperatures approaching 90 degrees.

“This is unbelievable,” Gauff said during the postmatch trophy presentation. “I’m just happy to be here for this moment.

“I want to congratulate Karolina for an incredible run in this tournament,” she added. “Hopefully, we’ll play more often, and on a bigger stage than this.”

Gauff was the tournament’s fourth teenage finalist and the first since Vera Zvonareva in 2004. She is the first teenage champion since 17-year-old Linda Tuero in 1968.

After a spotty first set that featured a combined five service breaks, including Gauff’s double fault on one game point, Gauff gained command over her Czech Republic opponent with a break in the eighth game.

She fought off two break points in the fourth game of the second set and took control with a break in the next game when Muchova sent a backhand wide. While winning the next game, Gauff caught a break with a winner off the net that left her with her left palm on her racket and looking up at the sky as if she were praying in gratitude.

She missed on three match points in the eighth game before closing it out.

“When I woke up this morning, the first thing I said was ‘Ouch,'” 26-year-old Muchova said. “I knew it was going to be a tough task to win, especially against someone like Coco.”

The 2023 French Open runner-up will celebrate her birthday on Monday by moving to No. 10 on the WTA rankings. Gauff will rise one spot to No. 6.

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• ESPN News Services

Aug 20, 2023, 09:33 PM ET

MASON, Ohio — Novak Djokovic overcame a match point and stifling heat to beat world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz 5-7, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4) and win the Cincinnati Open in a heart-pounding thriller Sunday.

Djokovic collapsed on his back before tearing his shirt off after triumphing in the nearly four-hour contest to win his third title in Cincinnati and get revenge after his loss to Alcaraz in last month’s Wimbledon final.

“This was one of the exciting matches I’ve ever played in any tournament,” Djokovic, the winner of a men’s-record 23 Grand Slam titles, said during the postmatch trophy presentation. “It felt like a Grand Slam.”

With temperatures hovering near 90 degrees, the 36-year-old Djokovic survived the tournament’s longest men’s match since at least 1990 to become the oldest man to win the championship. Ken Rosewall was 35 when he won in 1970.

At 3 hours, 49 minutes, the match was the longest best-of-three set final in ATP tour history (since 1990).

The Serbian player looked hobbled by the intense humidity at the tail end of the first set, barely moving when Alcaraz hit a backhand winner to grab the opener.

Alcaraz, who looked fresh despite being on the court for more than 10 hours this week, grabbed a 4-2 second-set lead, and it appeared the Spanish star might cruise to the finish line.

But Alcaraz would produce a terrible service game while leading 4-3 that included four unforced errors to give life to the world No. 2.

In the second-set tiebreak, Djokovic saved a championship point and went on to force a deciding set after winning a 25-shot rally.

During the break before the third set, a frustrated Alcaraz pounded a hand against the plastic drinks container next to his chair, requiring a medical timeout to tape his finger.

In the decider, Djokovic broke on his fifth opportunity of the game for a 4-3 lead.

The drama would continue as Djokovic squandered two match points while returning and leading 5-3.

Alcaraz would save two more match points and break serve when Djokovic missed an overhead for 5-5.

The players ultimately arrived at another tiebreak, which Djokovic won when the 20-year-old’s forehand return went wide.

The win was Djokovic’s 95th career title and 39th Masters 1000 crown.

“I have so much to say, but I’m not sure that I have the energy,” Djokovic said, cradling his trophy. He paused and looked at Alcaraz.

“You never give up, do you?” he said. “I love that about you. I hope we meet in New York. That would be fun — well, for the fans, not for me.”

The US Open begins Aug. 28. Alcaraz, the defending champion, is guaranteed to remain No. 1 heading into the tournament.

“The match was pretty close,” Alcaraz said. “I’ll be back.”

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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• Associated Press

Aug 19, 2023, 03:51 PM ET

MASON, Ohio — Coco Gauff had never won a set against Iga Swiatek in seven previous meetings. On Saturday, the 19-year-old beat the No. 1-ranked player in the world, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4, to advance to the final of the Cincinnati Open.

Swiatek, winner of three of the last six Grand Slam titles, survived three match points before Gauff finally finished off the upset to the delight of a large crowd that loudly supported the American.

“It feels really good,” Gauff said. “It shows that I can be at that level, or compete at that level at least. I’m sure I’m going to face her many more times. I still think that I’m not even to the peak of my game.”

The seventh-seeded Gauff hadn’t won more than four games in a set against Swiatek since their first meeting in Rome in 2021 until winning the tiebreaker to take the opening set on Saturday.

“Today I fought to the end,” Swiatek said. “Coco, she’s a great player. This one, she deserved it more. My tank of fuel is pretty empty. I’m happy to have some days off.”

Gauff is the fourth teenager to reach the final in Cincinnati during the Open Era and first since Vera Zvonareva in 2004. The last teenager to win the title was 17-year-old Linda Tuero in 1968.

Gauff will face Karolina Muchova in Sunday’s final. Muchova overcame No. 2-seeded Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-2.

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MASON, Ohio — Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will meet Sunday for the Western & Southern Open in a rematch of their Wimbledon final.

The top-ranked Alcaraz erased a match point in the second set and rallied past unseeded Hubert Hurkacz 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 in the first men’s semifinal Saturday.

Then, No. 2 Djokovic defeated Alexander Zverev, the 2021 tournament champ, 7-6 (5), 7-5 to earn a shot at his third title in the U.S. Open tuneup.

Alcaraz won six straight points in the second-set tiebreaker to reach his eighth final of the season. He beat Djokovic last month at Wimbledon to win his second major title and deny the 36-year-old Djokovic his 23rd.

Alcaraz, 20, is the youngest Cincinnati finalist since 19-year-old Pete Sampras in 1991. He is trying to become the youngest champion since Boris Becker won at 17 in 1985.

Despite going to a third set in each of his four matches this week, Alcaraz says he’ll be ready for the final.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m playing third sets or long matches, I’m recovering really well,” Alcaraz said. “I feel like I’m going to play the first match of the tournament. I feel great.”

Last week in Toronto, Alcaraz needed two tiebreakers to beat Hurkacz after losing the first set.

“Playing against Hubert is always tough,” Alcaraz said, “We played until the final ball. I was really happy to get that win today. He’s one of the best servers in the tour.”

Djokovic, 36, is the oldest Cincinnati finalist in the professional era, dating to 1968, surpassing 35-year old Ken Rosewell in 1970.

Earlier in the week, it was announced that Alcaraz and Djokovic landed in the group stage of the Davis Cup finals next month.

Alcaraz and Djokovic were included in the teams announced Monday by Spain and Serbia, respectively, for the competition that will be played Sept. 12-17 in Valencia, Spain.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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MASON, Ohio — Top-ranked Iga Swiatek overcame a rough start and a dispute with the chair umpire to defeat Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 7-6, 6-1 on Friday and advance to the semifinals of the Western & Southern Open, a tournament she has never won.

Vondrousova was up 5-4 and serving for the first set before Swiatek broke her, eventually winning a tiebreaker before cruising in the second.

The Czech’s left-handed serve made things difficult for the Polish four-time major singles champ.

“It wasn’t easy getting used to her lefty spin,” Swiatek said. “I practice sometimes with lefties at home. At the beginning it might be a little bit tough. You just have to adjust.”

Swiatek had a postmatch exchange with chair umpire Marija Cicak after she felt rushed by Vondrousova throughout the match. By rule, players have up to 25 seconds to serve following a point.

“I really respect Marija, but she’s also very strict with the rules,” Swiatek said. “I have to be ready when [Vondrousova] is ready. She was ready always when there was still 20 seconds. The last two games, we played some long rallies. I’m human, I need to breathe.”

At one point in the match, Swiatek seemed distracted by spectators walking to their seats.

“Iga, those people walking around are fine,” Cicak told her. “We need to play!”

Swiatek will face seventh-seeded American Coco Gauff on Saturday. Gauff beat Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2. Swiatek has won all seven previous meetings.

“We’ve played plenty of times, so I can know her game,” Swiatek said. “But you never know what she’ll come up with. I’ll be ready and kind of focus on myself.”

No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka got past fifth seed Ons Jabeur 7-5, 6-3 to reach the semifinals for the second straight year. Jabeur got treatment on her right foot during the second set and struggled after that.

Sabalenka will face Karolina Muchova, who advanced when Marie Bouzkova retired with a right thigh injury.

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz staved off an upset bid by Australian qualifier Max Purcell, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to earn a rematch with Hubert Hurkacz in the semifinals.

“I didn’t know him so much before the match,” Alcaraz said of Purcell. “He impressed me a lot. It was really tough for me. I’m really happy to get through.”

It was the third time this week that the Wimbledon champion needed three sets to win.

The top-ranked Alcaraz needed two tiebreaks to beat Hurkacz last week in Toronto.

“When we played in Toronto, we had a great match,” Alcaraz said. “Here in Cincinnati, the court’s a little faster than Toronto. So it probably suits better to his game. We need to be at the best level to beat him.”

In the nightcap on center court, No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic beat ninth-seeded American Taylor Fritz 6-0, 6-4. Djokovic will face Alexander Zverev, the 2021 tournament champ, in the semifinals on Saturday.

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• Associated Press

Aug 18, 2023, 08:13 PM ET

NEW YORK — Caty McNally, a runner-up in women’s doubles at the last two US Opens, withdrew from the tournament Friday because of an elbow injury.

Roberto Bautista Agut also pulled out, the tournament announced.

McNally, from Cincinnati, missed her hometown Western & Southern Open this week because of her injury. She lost in the women’s doubles title match in Flushing Meadows in 2021 with Coco Gauff, then last year with Taylor Townsend.

Her withdrawal moved fellow American Madison Brengle into the main draw and left Townsend as the first player out.

Yosuke Watanuki of Japan took Bautista Agut’s spot in the main draw, which begins Aug. 28.

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• Associated Press

Aug 17, 2023, 09:29 PM ET

MASON, Ohio — Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek, the top-ranked players in tennis, got past adverse weather conditions and challenging opponents on Thursday to reach the Western & Southern Open quarterfinals.

Alcaraz overcame two rain delays totaling 2 hours, 35 minutes and 14th-seeded American Tommy Paul, who beat him last Friday in the Canadian Open quarterfinals, for a 7-6 (6), 6-7 (0), 6-3 win in a match that lasted 3 hours, 9 minutes.

“You’ve got to stay focused,” said Alcaraz, the defending U.S. Open champion and this year’s Wimbledon titlist from Spain. “It’s not easy to play and stop and play and stop. You can’t do anything but be ready to play.”

Alcaraz recovered after losing three match points during the 12th game of the second set, which lasted 24 points and more than 15 minutes. Blanked in the tiebreaker, he came right back to break Paul’s serve in the first game of the final set.

“The main difference is he won and I lost,” Paul said, distinguishing between Thursday and his victory last week. “It was a great match. Conditions were less than ideal, but he handled it like pro. He kept a great attitude.”

Swiatek adjusted to a stiff wind and came from behind to advance to a matchup with 10th-seeded Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 win over China’s Zheng Quiwen, who’d eliminated Venus Williams on Wednesday.

Vondrousova moved on with a 7-5, 6-3 win over American Sloane Stephens.

Swiatek took a locker room break after the first set and regrouped to roll to her three-set win, earning her first trip to the tournament quarterfinals. She committed 10 unforced errors in the final two sets after having 20 in the first set, played in a stiff wind from the west on the Grandstand court adjacent to the Stadium court.

“I didn’t cope well with the conditions,” she said. “They were tricky with the wind. It was loud from the stadium. I took the time to focus on what I had to do. I played more safely. I started working with the wind. I was happy that I was able to problem-solve.”

Swiatek also took the opportunity to take issue with followers making negative social media comments about her match.

“Well, today’s match wasn’t perfect,” she said during an opening statement. “We all saw that, but the amount of hate and criticism that me and my team get after even losing a set is just ridiculous. I want to kind of encourage people to be more thoughtful when they comment on the internet.”

Third-seeded Daniil Medvedev was knocked out by 16th-seeded Alexander Zverev, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4. Unseeded Hubert Hurkacz from Poland eliminated fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 6-3, 6-4.

Unseeded Czechs turned in the day’s two biggest upsets. No. 3 American Jessica Pegula was ousted by Marie Bouzkova, 6-4, 6-0, while Karolina Muchova picked off her second seeded player in three rounds, eliminating eighth-seeded Maria Sakkari, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.

Fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and fifth-seeded Tunisian Ons Jabeur advanced when their opponents retired for health reasons.

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• D’Arcy Maine, ESPN.com

Aug 17, 2023, 12:52 PM ET

After multiple players complained about the use of a different ball for women during the 2022 US Open, tournament director Stacey Allaster said the USTA would be using the same ball for both women and men during the 2023 event.

During a news conference Thursday held at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Allaster said the decision was made at the end of the 2022 tournament following feedback from players.

“Every year, the WTA informs us of what Wilson US Open ball they would like their athletes to play with,” Allaster said. “Last year during the tournament, we had some players that wanted to change the ball, and I met with some of those players and said, ‘Look, talk to [WTA chairman and CEO] Steve Simon. Talk to your player council representatives. If the WTA wants to change the ball, no problem, Wilson can accommodate that.’ It’s no extra cost.

“The only condition we gave to the WTA was we need to know what ball you want to play with in 2023 at the end of the 2022 US Open. That’s how far the lead times are for Wilson to produce the volume of our US Open ball.”

Ahead of the 2022 tournament, then- and current No. 1 Iga Swiatek told reporters during the Western & Southern Open that the balls used at the US Open were “horrible” and said she didn’t understand why women couldn’t use the same one as the men. Swiatek, of Poland, said she was unable to purchase the balls in Europe and thus practiced at home with the balls used by the men, making it challenging to properly prepare for the tournament.

Swiatek, who went on to win the title, said she and Paula Badosa, then ranked No. 4 in the world, went to Simon to voice their opinion. Badosa said the balls created “unfavorable conditions” in a post to her Instagram story.

The US Open was the only major to feature different balls in the men’s and women’s matches.

In a statement to ESPN last year, Amy Binder, the WTA’s senior vice president of global communications, said the organization would take the players concerns into account going forward.

“The WTA has always utilized regular felt balls for hardcourt play, and we have now begun to hear from a select number of our athletes that they would like to consider a change to using the extra duty ball,” Binder said. “The basis behind using the regular felt ball was that it limited the potential of arm, shoulder, elbow and wrist injuries. This is something that we will continue to monitor and discuss further with both our athletes and our sports science teams.”

Allaster said the players began using the new balls during last week’s Canadian Open and this week’s Western & Southern Open.

“Right now this is a trial,” Allaster said. “We’ll expect the WTA to tell us at the end of the 2023 US Open if they’d like to continue with the Wilson extra duty [ball] or if they would prefer to go back to the regular felt ball. So [it’s] 100 percent the athletes’ decision.”

The US Open main draw gets underway Aug. 28 in New York.

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