ATP/WTA: Alcaraz and Vacherot shine with silverware

Alcaraz keeps it invincible

The 28th career title of Carlos Alcaraz, his fourth of the year, was crystal clear evidence this one-of-a-kind talent is nearing his best once again.

On Sunday, the Spanish sensation defeated Alex de Minaur 6-1, 6-4 to clinch the Vienna Open crown.

The Career Grand Slam winner was sidelined by a right wrist injury for four months earlier this season, but served up some showstopping tennis in Austria.

“I’m just really happy that at the end I found my way, played great, and obviously it has been a really emotional and amazing week for me,” stated the Roland-Garros 2024 and 2025 champion. “I learned a lot, to keep going forward, step by step, playing on indoor courts, and trying to gain more confidence playing on this surface.”

Alcaraz didn’t drop a set all week. Significantly, his opening four matches required a tie-break in the second set, prompting a clutch Alcaraz to navigate past Karen Khachanov, Nikoloz Basilashvily, Tommy Paul and Daniil Medvedev without being taken the distance.

In doing so, the 23-year-old has completed a 16-0 record at the ATP 500 level this campaign, including his triumphs in Doha and Tokyo. Alcaraz has also extended his ATP 500 winning streak to 26 matches, to sit only behind Big Three gladiators Roger Federer (16), Novak Djokovic (15) and Rafael Nadal (15) with 11 trophies at this tier of the tour.

"I tried to be aggressive and show him (de Minaur) that if he wants to win, he has to play better, more aggressive, more solid, and be smarter than me.”

Nobody managed that increasingly difficult task in Vienna. Over to the challengers at the Rolex Paris Masters this week to halt a fully recharged Alcaraz.

Vacherot doubles up in Basel

October 2025 and Valentin Vacherot defied the odds and more to win the Shanghai Masters.

A year on and the Monegasque talisman has captured his second ATP title with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 comeback over Jiri Lehecka in Basel. "I ended up playing a really solid second and third set," said the 27-year-old. "I had to hold tight in the second set because even until the last game he had break points.

"I hit really good shots at the right moments. Sometimes it's about not playing perfect for the whole match and just playing good when it matters."

It was a mightly impressive second title from Vacherot, having overcome No.3 seed Rafael Jodar 7-6(4), 2-6, 7-6(5), Holger Rune in another three-set tussle, and then No.6 seed Taylor Fritz 7-6(5), 6-3 in the semi-finals to rise four spots to No.27 on Monday.

Tally to six for Shnaider

Diana Shnaider has returned to a career-high world No.11 following a successful trip to Tokyo.

The bandana-wearing powerhouse raced 6-4, 4-0 up on Leylah Fernandez in Sunday’s final, before the Singapore champion managed to force a decider. However, Shnaider wrestled back the initiative for a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 scoreboard in Japan for a sixth WTA title.

“It means definitely a lot,” said Shnaider, who had lost all four semi-finals this season prior to jetting to Tokyo. “So definitely a great achievement and a great finish to the season.”

Dart lands maiden bullseye

What a way to win a first WTA title - Brit Harriet Dart went from qualifying all the way to claiming the championship match at the Guangzhou Open in China.

The world No.84, who saved three match points in a semi-final rollercoaster against Sun Xinran, overcame rising star and 2025 Roland-Garros girls’ champion Lilli Tagger 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 for the milestone moment.

Dart has been coached by 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli on a part-time basis since the turn of the year.

"It's been quite incredible to work with Marion, and I was really fortunate she was open to working with me," Dart told BBC Sport. "I'm obviously at a very different stage of my career to someone who is, say, 20. But I still feel I have a lot to improve and there are gains to be made.

"She really believes in me - that means the world to me. Seeing a Grand Slam champion having that belief has made me believe a lot more in myself."