Novak Djokovic Rewrites History in Beijing & Carlos Alcaraz Defends His Throne in Tokyo!
Novak Djokovic makes history in Beijing, Carlos Alcaraz dominates Tokyo, Jannik Sinner’s season ends through injury, and Alexander Zverev becomes World No. 1. Plus our full Shanghai Masters 2026 preview. 🔥🎾
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Welcome to We’re Going Five Podcast Season 3 Episode 38, our full Beijing & Tokyo 2026 Recap.
Djokovic adds another historic title to his career. Alcaraz remains perfect in Tokyo. Sinner receives a major injury update. Zverev reaches World No. 1. And before we leave the Asian swing, we preview the Shanghai Masters and make our champion picks.
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00:00 Intro
00:00:59 Novak Djokovic Rewrites History in Beijing
00:15:00 Carlos Alcaraz Dominates in Tokyo
00:23:48 Thoughts on Sinner’s Season Ending Injury?
00:33:42 Zverev To Become The New World No.1!
00:41:42 Biggest Winners of the week!
00:45:19 Spicy No Spicy?
00:50:46 Overreaction or Not?
00:58:59 Shanghai Masters Preview
01:03:20 Who Ya Got in Shanghai?
🐐 NOVAK DJOKOVIC REWRITES HISTORY IN BEIJING
Novak Djokovic does it again.
34-0 in Beijing.
The best record he has produced at any tournament.
The oldest ATP 500 champion in history.
And career title No. 102.
Djokovic had to go through three completely different challenges on his way to the title:
Alexander Zverev from a set down.
Daniil Medvedev in straight sets.
Alex de Minaur in a tiebreak battle.
At this stage of his career, how is Novak STILL doing this?
And after everything we have seen in 2026, could another huge title still be coming before the season ends?
👑 CARLOS ALCARAZ DOMINATES TOKYO
Carlos Alcaraz continues his ridiculous run.
10-0 in Tokyo.
Back-to-back Tokyo titles.
Four consecutive ATP 500 tournaments won.
And career title No. 27.
Alcaraz is now third among Spanish men for career titles, behind only the legends ahead of him.
After the injury problems that interrupted his season, Carlos has come back firing.
So how high is his level right now?
And could Alcaraz actually finish 2026 without losing another match?
🚨 JANNIK SINNER’S SEASON IS OVER
Jannik Sinner’s injury problems continue.
Sinner has been advised to rest and continue therapy for his tendon issues rather than undergo surgery, bringing his 2026 season to an early end.
What does this mean long term?
Is avoiding surgery the right decision?
And after such a complicated year physically, what version of Sinner should we expect when he returns?
🥇 ZVEREV BECOMES WORLD NO. 1
Alexander Zverev reaches World No. 1 and becomes the 30th man in ATP history to hold the top ranking.
It is another enormous milestone in what has already been a career-changing season.
But there is an interesting wrinkle:
Zverev has only two Top 10 wins all year.
Does that matter?
Or does becoming World No. 1 simply prove that consistency across an entire season matters more than individual marquee wins?
📈 BIGGEST WINNERS OF THE WEEK
Outside the champions, who improved their stock the most?
Alex de Minaur?
Jiri Lehecka?
Valentin Vacherot?
We pick the players leaving the week with the biggest momentum boost.
🌶️ SPICY NO SPICY
Daniil Medvedev finds himself at the center of controversy again after his Djokovic match and a default following an incident involving a fan.
Then there is Terence Atmane, who retired from two tournaments in consecutive weeks deep in deciding sets and also threw his racket into the stands.
Spicy?
No spicy?
Or completely unacceptable?
🧨 OVERREACTION OR NOT?
Novak Djokovic will win another big title before the end of 2026.
Carlos Alcaraz will not lose another match this year.
Djokovic should never play Beijing again and protect the perfect record.
Rafael Jodar will not regain his form until 2027.
Four takes.
Four verdicts.
🇨🇳 SHANGHAI MASTERS PREVIEW
The
14 Sept 2026
Sascha Zverev & Elena Rybakina: The UNDISPUTED Grand Slam King & Queen! | 2026 US Open Finals Recap
US Open 2026 Final Recap: Alexander Zverev defeats Ben Shelton to become US Open champion, Elena Rybakina conquers New York, and we debate what both results mean for the future of tennis. 🏆🇺🇸
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Welcome to the We’re Going Five Podcast US Open 2026 Final Recap.
Alexander Zverev is the US Open champion. Ben Shelton’s incredible New York run finishes one match short of his first Grand Slam. Elena Rybakina captures the women’s US Open title.
We break down both finals, debate our biggest US Open overreactions, reveal who nailed their pre-tournament predictions and dark horses, and make our super early ATP Finals 2026 picks.
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:52 ZVEREV CROWNED US OPEN KING!
00:22:10 WHAT'S NEXT FOR SHELTON?
00:31:12 RYBAKINA CONQUERS NEW YORK!
00:43:09 OVERREACTION OR NOT?
00:50:30 PREDICTIONS & DARK HORSE REVEAL
00:59:33 SUPER EARLY ATP FINALS PICKS!
👑 ZVEREV CROWNED US OPEN KING
Alexander Zverev wins the 2026 US Open.
After another incredible Grand Slam season, Sascha leaves Arthur Ashe Stadium with another major trophy and strengthens his case as one of the best players in the world.
We break down the Zverev vs Shelton US Open final, how Zverev neutralized Shelton’s weapons, and why Sascha continues to look increasingly comfortable in the biggest matches in tennis.
Was the difference his serve?
His backhand?
His ability to absorb Shelton’s first strike?
Or simply his experience in these moments?
And after everything Zverev has accomplished in 2026…
Can Sascha finish the season as World No. 1?
🇺🇸 WHAT’S NEXT FOR BEN SHELTON?
Ben Shelton falls one match short of becoming a Grand Slam champion.
But this US Open changed the conversation around him.
Shelton showed improved patience, stronger returning, better rally tolerance and the ability to beat elite players deep in a major.
So what happens next?
Is Shelton officially a legitimate Grand Slam contender?
What still separates him from the very best players in the world?
And was this actually Ben Shelton’s best chance to win a Slam, or are his biggest opportunities still ahead of him?
👑 RYBAKINA CONQUERS NEW YORK
Elena Rybakina is the 2026 US Open champion.
One of the most dangerous power players in women’s tennis delivers on one of the biggest stages in the sport.
We break down why Rybakina’s serve and first-strike tennis are so devastating on hard courts, what this championship means for her place in the WTA hierarchy, and how high her ceiling really is when healthy.
Which leads to one huge question:
Can Elena Rybakina complete the Career Grand Slam in 2027?
🧨 OVERREACTION OR NOT?
Four takes. Four verdicts.
Zverev will finish 2026 as Year-End World No. 1.
This was Ben Shelton’s best chance to win a Grand Slam.
Elena Rybakina will complete the Career Grand Slam next year.
Aryna Sabalenka will finish the year outside the Top 4.
Overreaction… or are we actually cooking?
🔮 PREDICTIONS & DARK HORSE REVEAL
Time to pull out the receipts.
Before the US Open started, we made our champion predictions, early exit picks, Ride or Die selections and dark horse choices.
Now the tournament is finished.
Who actually predicted the champions?
Which dark horse made the deepest run?
Who completely misunderstood the draw?
Which pick died immediately?
And who gets bragging rights until the next Grand Slam?
We reveal all of our pre-tournament picks and grade how well our US Open 2026 predictions actually aged.
🎯 SUPER EARLY ATP FINALS PICKS
The Grand Slam season is over.
Now the ATP Race to Turin gets serious.
Who qualifies for the 2026 ATP Finals?
Who misses out?
Which player could make a late-season surge?
And if the ATP Finals started tomorrow…
Who would we pick to win the whole thing
12 Sept 2026
ZVEREV vs SHELTON. Who WINS The US Open Title? | Semifinal Recap + Final Predictions!
US Open 2026 semifinal recap: Ben Shelton beats Frances Tiafoe, Alexander Zverev defeats Karen Khachanov, and now Shelton vs Zverev is set for the US Open final. We break down both semifinals and preview who wins the title in New York. 🇺🇸🎾
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Welcome to our US Open 2026 Semifinal Recap on the We’re Going Five Podcast.
We react to Ben Shelton vs Frances Tiafoe, break down Alexander Zverev vs Karen Khachanov, and preview the massive Ben Shelton vs Alexander Zverev US Open final.
Who has the edge? What decided the semifinals? And who leaves New York as US Open champion?
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:46 THOUGHTS ON SHELTON VS TIAFOE?
00:15:00 THOUGHTS ON ZVEREV VS KHACHANOV?
00:25:47 SHELTON VS ZVEREV PREVIEW
00:34:20 WYG: SHELTON OR ZVEREV?
🇺🇸 SHELTON BEATS TIAFOE
Ben Shelton gets through Frances Tiafoe and reaches the biggest final of his career.
After finally earning his first Top 3 victory earlier in the tournament, Shelton keeps the momentum going inside Arthur Ashe Stadium and survives an all-American US Open semifinal with everything on the line.
How much has Shelton actually improved during this US Open?
Is his serve still the biggest story, or has his return game, movement, shot tolerance and decision-making finally caught up with the enormous weapons everyone already knew he had?
And for Frances Tiafoe, after another deep run in New York, should this US Open feel like major progress or another enormous opportunity missed?
💪 ZVEREV GETS PAST KHACHANOV
Alexander Zverev defeats Karen Khachanov and reaches another Grand Slam final.
Zverev has been one of the most consistent Grand Slam players in men’s tennis throughout 2026, and now he has another opportunity to add to his major collection.
What stood out most against Khachanov?
Was it the first serve?
The backhand?
His baseline patience?
Or simply Zverev looking increasingly comfortable in the biggest matches on the ATP Tour?
🔥 SHELTON VS ZVEREV US OPEN FINAL PREVIEW
Now we get the matchup.
Ben Shelton vs Alexander Zverev for the 2026 US Open title.
Shelton brings one of the biggest serves in tennis, explosive first-strike power, left-handed patterns, Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd support and absolutely no fear.
Zverev brings Grand Slam final experience, elite serving, one of the best two-handed backhands in tennis and the confidence of a player who has consistently reached the business end of majors this season.
The tactical questions are fascinating.
Can Shelton consistently attack Zverev’s forehand?
Can Zverev neutralize Shelton’s lefty serve?
Who wins the backhand exchanges?
Can Shelton keep the rallies short and dictate with his forehand?
Can Zverev turn this into a physical baseline battle?
And if the US Open final becomes a four or five-hour fight, which player do we trust more under pressure?
🎯 WHO YA GOT?
BEN SHELTON OR ALEXANDER ZVEREV?
Does Shelton complete the dream New York run and win his first Grand Slam title?
Or does Zverev’s experience and consistency become too much in the biggest match of the tournament?
👇 DROP YOUR PICK
Shelton or Zverev?
How many sets?
And who will be holding the US Open trophy at Arthur Ashe Stadium?
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Who has been a guest on We’re Going Five
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Kristof Vliegen
Sinner
Djokovic
Alcaraz
Zverev
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4.9 / 5
14 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 36 / 100
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41
Social presence
94
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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