Article
The Five Best Moments From The 2026 Eisenhower Cup
3 Min Read · March 4, 2026
On a perfect Tuesday evening in Tennis Paradise, an enthusiastic crowd packed into Stadium 2 to witness Tie Break Tens in all its glory.
The Eisenhower Cup, an annual tradition since 2019 — in mixed doubles format since 2022 — kept fans switched on throughout the night. The perfect kickoff to a Tennis Paradise fortnight on the eve of main draw play.
Even better? All proceeds go to charity.
Scroll down for the five best moments.
Get TicketsThey came, they saw – they conquered.
And the winner-take-all $200k prize purse goes to: Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina, for the second consecutive year. The dynamic duo has been simply unstoppable and they mowed down the competition once again inside Stadium 2, defeating the debut tandem of Learner Tien and Amanda Anisimova, 10-7 in the final.
Big serves, spirited rallies and all-out commitment make Fritz and Rybakina invincible. It will take a massive effort to stop them in 2027.
How did Rybakina feel about winning the title for a second time with the Southern California native?
“I’m super happy,” she said. “Hopefully I can do the same thing in singles.”
Fritz felt the special vibes all evening.
“It’s amazing. When I walk out here and see Stadium 2 completely packed for this event – it’s amazing to see I don’t think you’d get that at a lot of other places elsewhere in the world. It’s great to be a part of it and to play, and to get to win it as well.”
Learner Tien’s Tie Break Tens debut gave the 20-year-old Southern California native a chance to showcase his whipsmart tennis in front of a home crowd. The fan favorite delivered in the opening match of the evening, pairing with Amanda Anisimova to take down Ben Shelton and Emma Navarro, 10-3.
His astute, cerebral tennis gave the event a lift, and paired beautifully with Anisimova's sizzling ground game.
A match-point save by Tommy Paul and Jessica Pegula — down 9-8 — was one of the points of the night, finished by a Paul backhand winner that whizzed past Andreeva.
But the defending women’s singles champion got her revenge two points later, ripping a return straight at Paul’s chest. The American ducked and let it go — a costly decision, as the ball kissed the line to close out the match.
“She definitely carried me,” said Bublik of his partner with a smile.
“Another first-round exit for me,” Paul said.
Jasmine Paolini missed a routine overhead to give Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina an 8-3 lead in the pair’s quarterfinal. The personable Italian dumped the easy smash (from two feet in front of the net) into the net and covered her face in embarrassment in the aftermath. Not to worry, the crowd lifted her spirits with a hearty round of applause, putting that vintage smile back on Paolini’s face.
Most of those in attendance, no doubt, could relate.
One of the sport’s great trick-shot artists turned to his favorite surprise play twice while serving in the semifinals.
Both underarm serves went for lets – anticlimactic in one way, hilarious in another.
After reverting to his conventional delivery on the next serve, Bublik lost the rally — and eventually the semifinal, 10-3.
Still, he had fun trying, and the fans had fun witnessing.
