CNN World Sport’s Amanda Davies and tennis journalist and broadcaster Simon Cambers reflect on the Cincinnati Open champions and look ahead to the upcoming US Open.

Cincinnati

Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek have claimed the men's and women's singles titles at the Cincinnati tennis tournament. Alcaraz's victory comes as part of an ongoing rivalry with Jannik Sinner, though Sinner was reportedly unwell during their recent encounter. Despite this, Alcaraz's win is seen as a confidence booster ahead of the US Open, although Sinner is still considered a strong contender if fully recovered.

Iga Swiatek's win in Cincinnati highlights her adaptability, particularly on faster surfaces. Swiatek credited her coach, Wim Fissette, for encouraging her to make technical adjustments, including changes in footwork and return positions. These improvements have contributed to her recent successes, and both she and her coach are focused on maintaining momentum for the upcoming Grand Slam in New York.

Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek claim Cincinnati titles on eve of US Open

We were always going to be talking about Yannick Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz heading into this one, weren't we, given how the last few months, the last few tournaments have played out. But what has last week and Cincinnati done to your view of where we stand with the rivalry? I'd say very little. I think that... Brilliant, moving on. Next question. You've got to discard what happened yesterday. Sinner was sick and that's that really. I think these two have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, that's for sure. Their rivalry is enhancing with every tournament. But I think Sinner has the edge on hard courts. And so I would still, if providing he recovers in time, of course, and I'm sure he will, he's got enough time to do it, I would make Sinner the favourite to win in New York. But there's nothing like a title to boost a bit of confidence for Alcaraz too. Yeah, but it's, I mean, it's a title for Alcaraz, but actually, arguably, you suspect he will think he didn't get as tough a challenge as he would have liked in recent matches heading into this one. Yeah, I always wonder about that, you know, when you ask players whether they would have liked to have been tested more before going in and, you know, in a perfect world, they want to win six-love, six-love every single time. I'm sure he was delighted it was five-love, 20 minutes. Thanks very much. I'm off now, ready to play US Open mixed doubles and beyond. But I mean, he'll get the tests he needs in the first few rounds. There are very few really easy matches these days at slams, even for Alcaraz and Sinner. So I don't think he'll be worrying too much about that. Igor Sviantek fresh off that victory in Cincy. Fascinating how she's given the credit to her team for pushing her in terms of her preparation, particularly on these faster services. What have you seen in terms of what she's doing, how she's adapted to it in terms of her chances of carrying on this run over the next couple of weeks? Yeah, it was interesting that moment where she thanked Wim Fussett, her coach, for pushing her a little bit to try something that she didn't normally do. The same thing happened at Wimbledon. It happened before Wimbledon, in fact. We got a chance to speak to her after she won Wimbledon, and she was explaining that she's she finds it hard to accept sort of, you know, believe what her coaches is telling her immediately. So she needs a lot of convincing. There was some footwork changes in the build up to the grass court season. I think you'll see you've seen changes in where she returns serve from and little changes into where she wants to hit the ball, how early she wants to strike it on returns and stuff. So Wim Fussett's having a big impact. He's a coach with an amazing track record. He keeps tally of his Grand Slams just as well as Iga does, and he's got one more than her. So he'll want to keep the trend continuing at New York.

Hamas has agreed to a ceasefire proposal for Gaza, but mediators are still waiting for an official response from Israel. CBS News contributor Robert Berger has the latest from Jerusalem.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Mediators await Israeli response to Gaza ceasefire proposal

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met China’s top diplomat on Tuesday and hailed the “steady progress” made in improving the bilateral relationship after a yearslong standoff between the nuclear-armed Asian powers.

New Delhi

India's Modi meets China's foreign minister to rebuild ties

Texas Democrats who ended a walkout found themselves shadowed by law enforcement officers to keep them from repeating the protest that stalled Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts and fulfill President Donald Trump's desire to reshape U.S. House maps.

Austin

Police escort Texas Democrats to prevent new redistricting walkout

Air Canada has reached a tentative agreement with the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), ending the strike that began over the weekend involving 10,000 members and disrupted travel for more than 100,000 travelers per day.

Toronto

Air Canada reaches tentative agreement with flight attendant union

Exiled former Hong Kong lawmaker Ted Hui hailed Australia's grant of asylum status as a key acknowledgement of the territory's human rights infringements since its authorities quelled massive pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Hong Kong Island

Ex-Hong Kong lawmaker granted asylum by Australia

Forecasters are giving urgent warnings to millions of people who live along the East Coast as Hurricane Erin churns in the Atlantic. The storm will not make direct landfall but is expected to bring dangerous rip currents.

East Coast of the United States

Hurricane Erin to bring dangerous rip currents to U.S. East Coast

Jasveen Sangha, a Los Angeles woman known as the "Ketamine Queen," has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry. Sangha could face up to 45 years in prison.

Los Angeles

"Ketamine Queen" to plead guilty in Matthew Perry's death

European leaders who converged on the White House for talks on the Russia-Ukraine war demonstrated a united front regarding Ukraine's security on Monday, underscoring the issue as pivotal for the entire continent, not just Ukraine.

Washington

Ukraine Invasion

EU leaders show cautious optimism following Zelenskyy, Trump talks

As Hamas reportedly agreed to some ceasefire terms that would include the return of more hostages, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered troops to take more of Gaza.

Israel digs in on Gaza takeover as Hamas softens on ceasefire

President Donald Trump said that the United States would help Europe in providing security for Ukraine as part of any deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine.

Trump tells Zelenskyy U.S. would help with security in a peace deal

Bolivia's presidential vote headed to an unprecedented runoff after elections Sunday that ended more than two decades of left-wing dominance in the Andean nation but signaled voters' trepidation about a major lurch to the right.

La Paz

Bolivia heads to runoff after historic defeat for the left

All Air Canada planes were grounded on Monday (August 18) after its 10,000 flight attendants refused a return-to-work mandate from the Canadian government.

Air Canada delays plans to resume operations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House Monday (August 18) for his meeting with President Donald Trump and other European leaders about Russia's war in Ukraine. CBS News White House reporter Taurean Small has more.

Trump meeting with Zelenskiy, European leaders at White House

Hamas on Monday informed mediators that it had accepted a ceasefire deal proposal submitted to it the day before, according to international and Israeli outlets.

Reports: Hamas accepts latest Gaza ceasefire proposal

Hurricane Erin will bring dangerously rough surf to parts of the U.S. East Coast. Over the weekend, Erin's outer bands lashed Puerto Rico with up to 7 inches of rain and flooding parts of the island.

Erin expected to bring dangerous conditions to U.S. East Coast

Ahead of his Monday meeting with President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymry Zelenksyy says his country will not give up any territory to Russia, even as the White House insists potential land swaps will be necessary. Willie James Inman reports.

Kyiv

Ahead of Trump meeting, Zelenskyy says won't give territory to Russia

Thousands of Israeli protesters demanded a deal to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas in one of the biggest demonstrations since the war in Gaza began. Debora Patta reports.

Thousands of Israelis protest in Gaza, call for end to fighting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy flies to Washington on Monday under heavy U.S. pressure to agree to a swift end to Russia's war in his country, but determined to defend Kyiv's interests — without sparking a second Oval Office dust-up with Donald Trump.

Zelenskyy, European allies to meet with Trump to discuss peace

European leaders voiced strong support for Ukraine ahead of a Washington summit with U.S President Donald Trump. They emphasized unity, territorial integrity and security guarantees as essential to any peace deal.

Paris

European leaders stress unity with Ukraine ahead of peace talks

International condemnation and pressure from allies have done nothing to stop Israel's plan to displace the people of northern Gaza. Israel on Saturday (August 16) said it is preparing to move Palestinians from combat zones to southern Gaza.

Israeli military prepares to move Palestinians to southern Gaza

Thousands of people took to the streets on Sunday in a nationwide strike amid fears further fighting could endanger the 50 hostages believed to still be in Gaza.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Dozens of Israelis arrested in protest to demand end to Gaza war

Russia continues to target Ukrainian cities firing hundreds of missiles and projectiles daily despite ongoing peace efforts, led by the United States. Ukrainian officials say their unwillingness to dial back their offensive reflects their lack of sincere interest in peace.

Five killed as Russia continues to pummel Ukrainian cities

U.S. President Donald Trump said that Ukraine should make a deal to end the war with Russia because "Russia is a very big power, and they're not," after a summit where Vladimir Putin was reported to have demanded more Ukrainian land.

Anchorage

Trump told Zelenskiy that Putin wants more of Ukraine, source says

Efforts by Texas Republicans to redraw the state's congressional maps got new pushback from protesters at rallies across the country Saturday. Nearly 280 events took place in 34 states, according to organizers.

"Fight the Trump Takeover" protests held across U.S.

West Virginia's governor says he will send up to 400 National Guard troops to the nation's capital at President Trump's request. They'll join other National Guard troops and federal agents already deployed with local police on the streets of Washington, D.C.

More troops arrive in D.C. at Trump's request

President Trump reversed course Saturday, saying he is no longer seeking an urgent ceasefire in Ukraine, but now agrees with Russian President Vladimir Putin that pursuing a peace deal is the best way to end the war.

Trump sides with Putin, preferring peace over ceasefire

Russian President Vladimir Putin described his meeting with President Trump as "frank, substantive and bringing us closer to making the necessary decisions." But the Alaska summit couldn't have been more far removed from the battlefields of Ukraine.

War-weary Ukrainians desperate for a ceasefire

In Ukraine, many do not believe Russia's president Vladimir Putin actually wants a ceasefire deal. They say Trump should stop making concessions to the Kremlin and for U.S President Donald Trump to demand an end to Russia aggression.

Ukrainians sceptical of Vladimir Putin’s intention

Being a Category 1 hurricane, Erin underwent a 'rapid intensification' which helped the storm to grow and strengthen to a powerful Category 5. Hurricane Erin won't make a direct hit on the U.S., but it will produce dangerous surf conditions for the entire East Coast.

San Juan

Hurricane Erin 'rapidly intensifies' to a Category 5

The Washington, D.C., police chief will remain in command of the local force following a settlement with the Trump administration over the federal takeover, but they are required to cooperate with the White House's immigration policy.

Breakdown