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Top-seeded Alexander Zverev rallies to avoid first-round exit at US Open

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NEW YORK — Alexander Zverev rallied just in time to avoid becoming the first men’s No. 1 seed to lose in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament since 2003, edging Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4 in a match that ended Wednesday morning.

Zverev won his first major title at the French Open, lost to top-ranked Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final, then became the No. 1 seed in a major for the first time when Sinner had to withdraw with a right knee injury.

He couldn’t cash in on repeated chances to break Sonego’s serve for much of the night and was in danger of becoming the first top-seeded man to fall in his first match in a major since Ivo Karlovic beat Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon in 2003.

It hasn’t happened at the U.S. Open since Stefan Edberg lost to Alexander Volkov in 1990. Zverev finally broke through against Sonego’s serve late to pull out the match in 4 hours, 52 minutes.

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Zverev is 7-0 against Sonego, an Italian who came in 1-9 against top-10 men in Grand Slams. But Sonego’s speed around the court allowed him to track down balls that on other nights would have been winners, and he came up with enough clutch serves to make Zverev just 5 for 22 on break points for the match.

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India’s Asiad 2026 campaign suffers another doping blow; cases rise to 12 | Other Sports News

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India’s preparations for the 2026 Asian Games have suffered another doping setback, with wushu medal hopeful Surya Bhanupratap Singh becoming the latest athlete to be caught in an anti-doping case ahead of the Aichi-Nagoya Games.

 

The 30-year-old wushu player from Jammu and Kashmir has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after testing positive for Enobosarm, also known as Ostarine. Bhanupratap has subsequently been dropped from India’s Asian Games squad, with his name deleted from the government-approved final contingent.

 

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His case takes the number of Indian athletes who have failed dope tests since the recent Glasgow Commonwealth Games to 12, adding to concerns over India’s preparations just weeks before the Asian Games begin on September 19.

 

Bhanupratap tests positive for Ostarine

Bhanupratap tested positive for Enobosarm (Ostarine), a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) associated with muscle and bone development.

 

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Ostarine is prohibited under the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances and is classified under S1.2, or other anabolic agents. The substance is prohibited at all times under the anti-doping framework.

 

The positive test has resulted in Bhanupratap’s provisional suspension by NADA, putting an end to his hopes of competing at the upcoming Asian Games unless the anti-doping proceedings result in a different outcome. 

From Asian Games medallist to missing the 2026 Games

Bhanupratap was not an outsider to the Asian Games setup. The 30-year-old was a bronze medallist in the men’s 60kg Sanda event at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, making his exclusion particularly significant for India’s wushu campaign.

 

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He had been expected to be among India’s medal contenders in wushu at Aichi-Nagoya. Instead, the doping case has forced his removal from the contingent at a crucial stage of preparations.

 

The immediate sporting consequence is therefore clear: India will head into the Games without one of its experienced wushu athletes.

Why the case matters beyond wushu

Bhanupratap’s case is the latest in a growing series of doping-related setbacks involving India’s Asian Games-bound athletes.

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His addition takes the number of Indian athletes who have failed dope tests since the recent Glasgow Commonwealth Games to 12, with cases spread across several sports.

 

The list includes four weightlifters, N Ajith, Sairaj Pardeshi, Harcharan Singh and Vanshita Verma; two judokas, Arun Kumar and Tulika Maan; shooter Gaurav Kumar Masoori; rower Lakshya; wrestlers Mukul Dahiya and Deepanshu; runner Abhishek Pal; and now Bhanupratap.

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The cases have already had sporting consequences in some disciplines, including the loss of competition places and changes to India’s Asian Games squad.

An unwanted pattern before Aichi-Nagoya

The latest development comes at an especially difficult time for the Indian contingent, with the Asian Games scheduled to begin on September 19 and run until October 4.

 

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The Olympic Council of Asia had highlighted anti-doping preparations ahead of the Games, including risk-based out-of-competition testing and anti-doping education for athletes and coaches.

 

For India, however, the final phase of preparations has increasingly been accompanied by doping-related disruptions.

 

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Bhanupratap’s case is different from an already concluded anti-doping sanction: he has been provisionally suspended following the positive test, while the case proceeds through the relevant process. NADA’s anti-doping system provides for adjudication of alleged anti-doping rule violations through its disciplinary and appeal panels.

 

For now, though, the sporting impact is already being felt. A wushu medal hopeful is out of India’s Asian Games squad, and the country’s tally of doping cases since the Glasgow Commonwealth Games has climbed to 12- another unwanted development as Aichi-Nagoya draws closer.

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4 WWE stars who can hand Roman Reigns his first pinfall loss of 2026

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Roman Reigns has been on a phenomenal run in 2026 so far. He kicked off the year by winning the Men’s Royal Rumble match and then went on to capture the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 42. However, those aren’t his only accomplishments this year. Reigns has also managed to remain undefeated by pinfall, creating an impressive streak.

With 2026 entering its final four months, the biggest question is who can hand the OTC his first pinfall of the year. WWE currently has several big names on Monday Night RAW who could bring an end to Roman’s undefeated streak in the next few months. Even the seemingly impregnable Tribal Chief could find himself at the receiving end of a three-count.

Let’s take a look at four WWE stars who can hand Roman Reigns his first pinfall loss of 2026:

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#4. LA Knight

LA Knight is currently embroiled in a heated feud with Roman Reigns on Monday Night RAW. The two superstars are expected to collide in a blockbuster match at Money in the Bank with the World Heavyweight Championship on the line. Knight has the opportunity to pull off one of the biggest shockers by handing Reigns his first pinfall loss of 2026 at the upcoming premium live event.

Pinning the OTC would serve as the ultimate culmination of Knight’s organic rise to the top-tier main event status. That pinfall victory over Roman Reigns could immediately establish The Megastar as a high-profile name in the Stamford-based promotion. Although LA Knight can pin The Tribal Chief and pull off a huge upset, the possibility of it happening remains a big question.

#3. Solo Sikoa

Solo Sikoa has been entangled in the Bloodline civil war for the past few months. While Roman Reigns wants him to come back to the family and serve him, The Street Champion refuses to do so. There is a good chance that Sikoa could win the Men’s Money in the Bank contract this year. Following that, he could deliver one of the biggest jaw-dropping moments of 2026.

The 33-year-old could cash in his potential briefcase on Reigns, handing the World Heavyweight Champion his first pinfall of this year. Solo Sikoa executing a Money in the Bank cash-in on the OTC presents the most logical narrative option for breaking his streak. He could simply strike when Roman is at his most vulnerable state after a brutal title defense at a major premium live event this year.

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#2. CM Punk

CM Punk has been marching forward as the Undisputed WWE Champion on SmackDown. The Second City Saint could hold on to that title for a few more months, which could ultimately pit him against Roman Reigns in a champion vs. champion showdown at Crown Jewel 2026. The two superstars could revisit their WrestleMania rivalry, unravelling new layers in their feud.

And that could be where the OTC’s undefeated streak may finally end. Punk could shock the world by pinning Reigns and defeating him at Crown Jewel. There is a good possibility of it happening, as WWE might equalize the score between the two superstars at 1-1. Although Roman may face his first pinfall loss, it may come as a result of interference or ringside shenanigans.

#1. Royce Keys can pin Roman Reigns

Royce Keys has returned with a brand new recognition and identity on Monday Night RAW alongside a new group. He has been riding on red-hot momentum and WWE could therefore give him a big moment at Survivor Series this year. Keys could compete in the Men’s WarGames match this year against The Bloodline, which appears to be the direction.

There is a high chance that Royce Keys could pin Roman Reigns inside the barbaric double-caged structure, securing a monumental victory for his team. Having him pin the OTC inside the chaos of a Survivor Series WarGames match would instantly catapult him into superstar status. Following that, WWE could book a blockbuster singles match between Reigns and Keys for Wrestlepalooza.

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