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US Open 2026 Updates (Continued)

Sep 9
23 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

Events that are shaping the tournament in New York.


High-TechSociety.com | By Luiz Cincurá


The 2026 US Open is underway in New York, and throughout the tournament, events both on and off the courts are helping to shape the history of this edition.


This section gathers noteworthy facts from the competition, such as withdrawals. ...and player substitutions, lucky losers, entering the tournament, high-impact results , highly anticipated matches, records and remarkable achievements, as well as curiosities, celebrity appearances, and other events that keep the tournament buzzing.


Information will be added throughout the 2026 US Open as relevant events occur, without the intention of covering every match or providing complete results coverage. For that purpose, Part 3 of the series provides the dashboard.  Follow the 2026 US Open in real time , with access to the match schedule, results, brackets, and other up-to-date tournament information.


Follow the updates below, from newest to oldest. The colors identify the different types of events and make it easier to find the topics of interest as you browse the page: 


🟣 HIGHLIGHT — Big surprises and impactful events.

⚫CHANGE TO THE DRAW — Withdrawals, retirements, replacements, lucky losers and wild cards.

🟡 KEEP AN EYE OUT — Matches and events that deserve attention.

🔵 FEAT AND RECORD — Historic milestones and exceptional performances.

🔴 OFF THE COURT — Personalities and events inside and outside the complex.

🟤 CURIOSITY — Unusual stories and situations from the tournament.



This post has been completed.


The latest US Open 2026 updates continue in “US Open 2026 Updates (Continued 2)”.



🟣 SEP 11, 2026 · HIGHLIGHT


Shelton defeats Tiafoe and will play in his first Grand Slam final.


American Ben Shelton , 23, world number 9 and 8th seed , qualified for his first Grand Slam final by defeating fellow American Frances Tiafoe , 28, world number 12 and 11th seed , 3 sets to 1, with scores of 4/6, 6/3, 6/3 and 7/5 . The semifinal was played on Friday, September 11 , at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, with kickoff scheduled for 7 pm local time .


Tiafoe started better. Using his speed, ability to vary his shots, and aggression at the right moments, he mainly sought to exploit Shelton 's backhand . As the first set approached its conclusion, he pressured his opponent's serve and managed a break that allowed him to open up a 5-4 lead . He then held his own serve and won the set 6-4 .


Shelton responded in the second set by increasing the intensity of his game. The American began to use his powerful left-handed serve more effectively , combined with aggressive baseline shots, and managed to reduce the space for Tiafoe to take the initiative in the rallies. The increased pressure on his opponent resulted in the break needed for Shelton to close out the set 6-3 and level the match.


The change in dynamics continued in the third set. Shelton maintained his power, but didn't rely solely on it: he showed defensive ability to stay in the points when Tiafoe managed to take the initiative and waited for opportunities to turn defense into attack. In the fifth game, he managed to break his opponent's serve and controlled the advantage until closing out the set again at 6-3 , taking a 2-1 lead.


The fourth set was the most balanced of the match. Tiafoe withstood the pressure and used his movement and variety of shots to stay in the game, while Shelton continued to find important protection in his serve during the most demanding moments. Unable to gain an advantage for much of the set, the two finished tied at 5-5 .


It was in the final stretch that Shelton managed to apply the decisive pressure and held his serve to make it 6-5 , forcing Tiafoe to serve to stay in the match. Under pressure, Tiafoe committed a double fault on the point that ended the match , allowing Shelton to break serve, close out the set 7-5 , and secure a 3-1 victory .


The semifinal showcased important qualities from both players. Tiafoe once again demonstrated the speed, athleticism, ability to change the pace of rallies, and to transform defensive situations into attacking opportunities that led him to his third US Open semifinal. His campaign in New York will also have repercussions in the rankings: he should reach the world number 8 position , the best of his career.


Shelton , for his part, confirmed that his game has been acquiring resources beyond what remains his most impressive shot: the serve . The power of his serve, the fast groundstrokes, and the aggressive forehand have been accompanied by a growing ability to defend, build points, and maintain intensity under pressure. After eliminating the defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in five sets in the quarterfinals, he managed to maintain a high level of competitiveness against another opponent who had been having a remarkable run.


At 23 years old , Shelton   For the first time, he reaches the final of a Grand Slam . This qualification also presents an opportunity for American men's tennis that hasn't occurred in over two decades: no American has won a Grand Slam men's singles title since Andy Roddick, who won the US Open in 2003 .


In the final on Sunday, September 13th , Shelton will face Germany's Alexander Zverev , world number 2 and top seed in the tournament, who defeated Russia's Karen Khachanov in the other semifinal. It will be the first ever Grand Slam match between Shelton and Zverev , pitting two players against each other who reach the final at important moments in their careers: the American seeking his first Grand Slam title and the German trying to win his second.


🔵 SEP 11, 2026 · FEAT AND RECORD


Zverev defeats Khachanov and reaches his third consecutive Grand Slam final.


German Alexander Zverev , 29, world No. 2 and No. 1 seed , qualified for the final of the 2026 US Open by defeating Russian Karen Khachanov , 30, world No. 50 and unseeded , in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(7), 7-6(6) . The semi-final was played on Friday, September 11 , at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, with kick-off scheduled for 3 pm local time .


Despite the score being decided in sets, the match was highly balanced, especially in the last two sets. Both tennis players, both with...   1.98 m   Standing tall , their games are based on powerful serves and strong shots from the baseline . Khachanov, former world No. 8 and US Open semi-finalist in 2022 , came into the match demonstrating once again his ability to produce aggressive and deep shots. During the tournament, he had eliminated, among other opponents, the No. 3 seed, Felix Auger-Aliassime .


In the first set, both players held serve until Zverev won a game when Khachanov was serving , with the score at 4-3 for the German. With the break of serve, Zverev went up 5-3 and then held his own serve to close out the set 6-3 after 37 minutes.


Zverev also showed a willingness to vary his performance: he went to the net nine times in the set and won all nine points , preventing the match from being limited to power exchanges from the baseline.


The second set showcased the resilience of both players. Khachanov started with difficulties on his serve and suffered a break in the very first game, but responded shortly after. When Zverev was serving at 1-2, Khachanov applied pressure and recovered the break after a double fault from the German. From then on, neither player conceded their serve again, and the set was decided in a tie-break .

It was at this moment that Zverev's competitive ability became important. The German reached the tiebreak with an excellent record of 25 wins and 12 losses in tie-breaks this season and mainly used his serve to overcome moments of pressure. After an exchange of 22 shots and wasting two opportunities to close out the set, he converted the third and won the tie-break 9-7 , establishing a 2-0 set lead.


Khachanov , however, produced his best tennis in the third set . More aggressive and consistent, he managed to take the set to a tie-break again , also taking advantage of a drop in Zverev 's first serve percentage . Khachanov started the tie-break better, winning the first three points and even opening up a 5-2 lead .


The most critical moment of the match occurred shortly after. Khachanov reached 6-4 and had two set points to take the semifinal to a fourth set. Zverev reacted just when he was under the most pressure: he won the next four points , turned the tie-break around and closed the set 8-6 , confirming the 3-0 victory .


The match highlighted some of Zverev 's main qualities . Besides his powerful serve and deep groundstrokes , Zverev demonstrated the ability to vary his game with net approaches and, most importantly, maintain a high level of competitiveness in decisive points . This characteristic was crucial in both tie-breaks, especially in the third set, when he was two points away from losing the set and managed to win four consecutive points.


The qualification represents a significant achievement in Zverev's season : he will compete in his third consecutive Grand Slam final in 2026. After winning Roland Garros , his first Grand Slam title, he reached the Wimbledon final , where he was runner-up, and will now also compete for the US Open title. His record in Grand Slam tournaments this season is 24 wins and only two losses .


His journey in New York also demonstrates his ability to recover. Zverev had to play five sets in the first two rounds and accumulated 16 hours and 40 minutes on the court to reach the semi-finals , the longest time recorded by a player on the way to that stage of the US Open. After the initial difficulties, however, he raised his performance and won the next four matches without losing a single set .


This will be Zverev's second US Open final . In 2020, he was two sets away from winning, but ended up being defeated by Austrian Dominic Thiem . Six years later, he returns to the final in a different situation: now as a Grand Slam champion and the tournament's number 1 seed , seeking the second Grand Slam title of his career.


🔵 SEP 11, 2026 · FEAT AND RECORD


Doubles: Siniakova and Townsend win the US Open and complete their Career Grand Slam.


Czech player Katerina Siniakova and American Taylor Townsend won the women's doubles title at the 2026 US Open on Friday, September 11th , at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. They defeated Americans Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery , who received a wild card to compete in the tournament, by 2 sets to 1, with scores of 5/7, 6/0 and 6/2 .


The match started with difficulties for the favorites. Siniakova and Townsend managed to react in the first set , winning 13 consecutive points and leveling the score at 4-4 . Krueger and Montgomery , however, withstood the pressure . When Siniakova was serving at 5-6 to take the set to a tie-break, she committed three double faults in the game , including on the point that ended the set 7-5 for the Americans.


Node   In the second set, Siniakova and Townsend were dominant , controlling the rallies, increasing their efficiency at the net, and giving their opponents virtually no opportunities. They won 23 of 27 points at one point in the match and closed out the set 6-0 in just 24 minutes . Throughout the set, they produced 11 winners and committed only two unforced errors.


In the third set, experience and the ability to play as a pair made the difference. Siniakova and Townsend managed a break of serve after a long game and took the lead. In the final game of the match, however, they faced difficulties again: Siniakova , serving for the title, committed double faults and the pair had to save five break points . Townsend 's performance at the net was important in resisting the opponents' comeback, before the pair confirmed the victory 6-2 .


The title has historical significance. Siniakova and Townsend together completed the Career Grand Slam , a term given to winning all four Grand Slam tournaments in their careers . The partnership had already won Wimbledon in 2024, the Australian Open in 2025, and Roland Garros in 2026. The only thing missing was the US Open, a tournament where they were runners-up in 2025.


For 30-year-old Taylor Townsend , the victory also represents her first US Open women's doubles title , after reaching the final in 2022 and 2025. The American also became the sixth active tennis player to complete the Career Grand Slam in doubles .


Katerina Siniakova 's achievement is even rarer. The Czech player won her 12th Grand Slam doubles title and became the first tennis player in history to complete the Career Grand Slam alongside two different partners . Before achieving four titles with Townsend, she had already won all her Grand Slam titles partnering with fellow Czech Barbora Krejcikova .


The victory confirms Siniakova and Townsend as one of the most outstanding partnerships on the current circuit. After losing the first set of the final, their ability to react, their court coverage, their performance at the net, and their teamwork allowed them to take control of the match and transform an initially difficult final into a victory that went down in the history of women's doubles.


🟣 SEP 10, 2026 · HIGHLIGHT


Sabalenka and Rybakina win the semifinals and will compete for the US Open title.


The women's semifinals of the 2026 US Open were played on Thursday evening, September 10th, at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. In the first match of the evening session, which began at 7 pm , Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka defeated American Jessica Pegula in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2 . Following that, around 8:55 pm , Kazakh Elena Rybakina faced American Coco Gauff and won, coming from behind, 2-1, with scores of 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 .


Sabalenka x Pegula


The first set showed the expected balance between two opponents who know each other well. Both protected their service games even when under pressure: Pegula saved a break point in the fourth game, while Sabalenka had to resist when the American threatened her serve at 4-4 . The set was decided when Pegula was serving at 5-6 to take it to a tie-break. Sabalenka created three consecutive break opportunities and took advantage of the second to close out the set 7-5 after 43 minutes.


From then on, the power, depth, and precision of Sabalenka's shots began to dictate the pace of the match. The Belarusian managed a break of serve to take a 3-1 lead in the second set and made it increasingly difficult for Pegula to redirect the ball and use the speed of her opponent's shots to her advantage. Sabalenka finished the match with 29 winners and broke the American's serve again in the final game to close out the set 6-2 and the match in 80 minutes.


The performance highlighted some of the main qualities of the two-time champion Sabalenka : a powerful serve, aggressive and deep shots from both sides of the court, and the ability to take the initiative in rallies . Pegula tried to respond with the consistency, precision, and redirection that characterize her game, but, especially in the second set, she found few opportunities against the intensity imposed by her opponent.


With the victory, Sabalenka reached her fourth consecutive US Open final and extended her winning streak in the tournament to 19 matches . The two-time champion is now seeking her third consecutive title in New York.


Rybakina x Gauff


In the second semifinal , Coco Gauff started better . The American withstood the pressure from Rybakina 's shots , using her movement and defensive solidity to prolong the rallies and, at the same time, found opportunities to take the initiative. In the sixth game, she broke the Kazakh's serve to open up a 4-2 lead and, after holding her own serve without losing a point, built a 5-2 advantage . Gauff closed out the first set 6-3 .


Rybakina , however, remained calm and began to impose one of the strongest combinations of her game with greater efficiency: a powerful serve and deep, fast shots from the baseline . She capitalized on Gauff 's errors in the second set and won the set 6-4 , taking the match to a third.


The decisive set was the most critical moment of the match. Rybakina increased the intensity of her game and managed a break to open up a 5-3 lead , putting her just one game away from the final. Gauff reacted immediately and broke back, reducing the score to 5-4 . However, the American's chance of a comeback was short-lived: in the following game, Rybakina again pressured Gauff's serve, managed another break, and closed out the set 6-4 and the match 2 sets to 1 .


The comeback showed characteristics that have marked Rybakina 's evolution : in addition to her well-known powerful serve and groundstrokes , the Kazakh player demonstrated emotional control and the ability to maintain an aggressive game even under pressure . After losing the first set and facing an opponent supported by the majority of the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, she did not abandon her strategy and managed to raise her level in the decisive moments.


Rybakina thus reaches her first career US Open final . The 2022 Wimbledon champion and 2026 Australian Open champion will compete for her third Grand Slam title and, regardless of the outcome of the final, will assume the position of [missing information - likely a title or title] for the first time.   Number 1 in the world .


Pegula and Gauff 's defeats also produced an unusual milestone for American tennis: 2026 became the first year since 2006 in which no American female tennis player competed in a women's singles final at any of the four Grand Slam tournaments .


The final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will be played on Saturday, September 12th, at Arthur Ashe Stadium, starting no earlier than 4 PM (New York time) .


🟤 SEP 10, 2026 · CURIOSITY


Junior Tournament: Ambidextrous Teo Davidov draws attention at the US Open by switching his racket from hand to hand during points.


American Teo Davidov , just 16 years old , caught attention at the 2026 US Open junior tournament for displaying a very rare style in tennis : he is ambidextrous, switching the racket hand during points and executing forehands with both his right and left hands , dispensing with the backhand as a regular shot. This change can occur several times during the same point and, according to the tennis player himself, has become an automatic movement in his game.


According to The Guardian , he is the only player in this edition of the US Open - among men, women and juniors - to play in this way .


The skill isn't limited to rallies. Davidov can also serve with both hands. Generally, he uses his right hand on one side of the court and his left hand on the other, and he can change this choice depending on his opponent and the spin he wants to impart to the ball. This ability creates unusual possibilities for angles and spin on the serve and allows him to exploit the more vulnerable side of the returning player.


The technique is attracting attention even among important names in tennis. Former world number 1 and US Open champion Andy Roddick considers Davidov's potential particularly interesting.   Serving efficiently both right-handed and left-handed , indicating competitive potential in this characteristic.


Born in Bulgaria and raised in the United States since childhood, Davidov began developing this style of play in his early years. In 2025 , he became the first tennis player born in 2010 to advance through the qualifying rounds of an ITF M15 professional tournament , and in 2026 , he reached the semifinals of an M15 tournament in Naples, Florida , a result that earned him his first ATP ranking points .


At this year's US Open junior tournament , Davidov was eliminated in the first round of singles by South African Connor Doig , in straight sets, 7-6(4) and 6-3 . In doubles, he played alongside fellow American Tyler Lee .


Participation in the tournament, therefore, was not notable for the result, but for showcasing an extremely unusual way of playing tennis to a Grand Slam audience .


At 16 years old, Davidov is still at the beginning of his career, but he demonstrates exceptional potential due to his rare technical skills in the sport . He still has plenty of time to develop, and if he manages to translate this versatility into competitive performance , he could become a particularly difficult opponent to face. Only time will tell.


🟡 SEP 10, 2026 · KEEP AN EYE OUT


Shelton and Tiafoe are vying for a spot in the final after two extraordinary matches.


Two Americans will face off on Friday, September 11 , at Arthur Ashe Stadium, at 7:00 PM (New York time), in one of the most anticipated matches of the 2026 US Open . American Ben Shelton , 23 years old , world No. 9 and No. 8 seed , will face American Frances Tiafoe , 28 years old , world No. 12 and No. 11 seed , for a spot in the men's final.


Both players have offensive styles, but with their own characteristics. Shelton, a left-hander, has his serve as one of his main weapons —a stroke recognized as one of the most powerful on the circuit—and combines this power with an equally aggressive forehand, increasingly efficient returns, and angled shots , characteristics that allow him to shorten points and pressure his opponents. This power was evident in the quarterfinals, when he finished his victory over Carlos Alcaraz with an ace of 146 mph (approximately 235 km/h) .


Tiafoe, a right-handed player, also uses a powerful serve, but he stands out especially for his aggressive play, speed, athleticism, and variety of skills. He seeks to take the initiative in points, using a combination of serve and forehand to attack , as well as exploiting changes of pace, approaches to the net, and ball accelerations in different positions on the court . His speed also allows him to transform defensive situations into counter-attack opportunities. At this year's US Open, the tournament's official website highlighted precisely his explosive style , a characteristic that combines power, mobility, and aggressiveness in building points.


The two reach the semifinals after delivering memorable quarterfinal matches. Tiafoe staged a great comeback against Alex Michelsen : he was down by two sets and a break of serve , but turned the match around and won 3 sets to 2 , with scores of 5/7, 3/6, 7/5, 6/3 and 7/6(6) . It is his third US Open semifinal appearance, following his campaigns in 2022 and 2024.


A few hours later, Shelton eliminated then-champion Carlos Alcaraz in another five-set battle. The American won 3 sets to 2 , with scores of 6/7(5), 6/1, 6/3, 1/6 and 7/6(7) , securing his first victory against a Top 3 opponent. The match ended at 3:33 am , becoming the latest finish in US Open history.


Shelton is also having a remarkable season. He has already won seven ATP titles in his career , four of them in 2026 alone: Dallas, Munich, Stuttgart and Montreal . In Canada, he defended the title he won the previous year.

Tiafoe has four ATP titles : Delray Beach (2018), Houston (2023), Stuttgart (2023) and Halle (2026) .


This year's title in Halle , an ATP 500 tournament played on grass , is the biggest of his career so far. In the final, against Taylor Fritz , he lost only seven points in his service games, in a performance where the ATP highlighted the combination of power and precision in his serve .


The matchup also has history. Shelton leads the head-to-head 3-1 , and this will be the third time the two have faced each other at the US Open . In 2023 , Shelton defeated Tiafoe in the quarterfinals ; in 2024 , Tiafoe got his revenge in the third round , in five sets. Shelton won again in their most recent encounter, in the quarterfinals of the Mubadala Citi DC Open, an ATP 500 hard-court tournament played in Washington in 2025 , by 2 sets to 0, with scores of 7/6(2) and 6/4 .


Now, for the first time , they meet in a Grand Slam semifinal . The winner will play his first Grand Slam singles final on Sunday and keep alive the possibility of ending a long drought for American men's tennis: Andy Roddick, in 2003, was the last American to win the men's US Open .


🟡 SEP 10, 2026 · KEEP AN EYE OUT


The four top seeds compete in the semifinals today.


The women's semifinals of the US Open will be played this Thursday, September 10th , bringing together the top four seeds of the tournament , something that hasn't happened in a Grand Slam since Wimbledon 2009.


In the first match, at 7 p.m. New York time , Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka , 28, world number 1 and number 1 seed , will face American Jessica Pegula , 32, world number 3 and number 3 seed , at Arthur Ashe Stadium.


Two-time consecutive US Open champion Sabalenka is aiming for a third title and could become the first woman since Serena Williams , between 2012 and 2014 , to win three consecutive titles in New York.


Sabalenka, a right-handed player, has power as one of the most striking characteristics of her game. Her serve is an important weapon for winning points directly or taking control of rallies from the first ball, while her forehand and backhand are executed with great speed and depth , allowing her to pressure her opponents from the baseline.


The Belarusian player seeks to take the initiative and shorten the points , but her competitive evolution also depends on greater consistency in her serve and the ability to maintain this aggressive style under pressure . In the quarterfinals of this US Open, for example, she reacted when she was a break down ( Noskova had won a game in which Sabalenka was serving) in the third set against Linda Noskova and even closed the match with an ace on her second serve .


Pegula , for her part, is seeking her first Grand Slam title . Her best result in a tournament of this category was at the 2024 US Open, when she reached the final and was defeated by Sabalenka, her opponent in today's semifinal . The two faced each other again in the semifinal of the 2025 US Open , with Sabalenka again winning .


Pegula, also right-handed, displays a more balanced game based primarily on precision, consistency, and the ability to redirect the ball. She executes flat and deep shots from both sides , is able to absorb her opponent's power, and quickly change the direction of the rallies—characteristics that are particularly important against aggressive players like Sabalenka .


His serve has gained power in recent years , as have his court coverage and ability to use the speed of his opponent's shots to his advantage. Pegula also has resources such as slices, drop shots, and net approaches , which allow him to vary the way he builds up his points.


Against Sabalenka , one of her main advantages will be precisely avoiding predictable patterns , changing the direction of the ball and forcing the Belarusian to produce her powerful shots in motion , instead of allowing her to dictate the points comfortably from the baseline.


This Thursday's match will therefore be the third consecutive year that Pegula and Sabalenka have met in New York, always in a semi-final or final , highlighting the magnitude of the challenge that the American will have to overcome to compete for the title again.


Following this match, Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina , 27, world number 2 and second seed , will face American Coco Gauff , 22, world number 4 and fourth seed .


Rybakina has already guaranteed that she will assume the world number one ranking for the first time after the US Open and is seeking her third Grand Slam title. The Kazakh player has already won Wimbledon in 2022 and the Australian Open in 2026 , her best results in tournaments of this category.


Gauff is also a two-time Grand Slam champion: she won the US Open in 2023 and Roland Garros in 2025. The American is now trying to reach her second final in New York and win her third Grand Slam title.


🔴 SEP 9, 2026 · OFF THE COURT


Williams sisters boost US Open viewership on ESPN.


The participation of Americans Serena Williams , 44, and Venus Williams , 46, in the women's doubles at the US Open also had an impact off the courts.


According to data released by ESPN , television coverage on the evening of September 4th during the sisters' appearance reached an average of 1.2 million viewers in the United States , with a peak of 2.2 million between 10:00 PM and 10:15 PM Eastern Time.


ESPN and ESPN2 's full coverage that Friday averaged 1.1 million viewers , a 17% increase compared to 2025 .


This performance contributed to the US Open reaching an average of 846,000 viewers on ESPN broadcasts by the end of the third round , the largest audience at this stage of the tournament since 2022 , the year of Serena's last participation before her return to competition in 2026 .


In the match that helped boost those numbers, Serena and Venus were eliminated by the No. 14 seeds, Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint , after more than three hours of play . Arthur Ashe Stadium hosted approximately 23,000 spectators for the match.


🔵 SEP 9, 2026 · FEAT AND RECORD


Zverev surpasses Becker's record and completes four Grand Slam semifinals this year.


German Alexander Zverev , 29, world No. 2 and No. 1 seed , defeated Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp , 30, world No. 70 and unseeded, in straight sets , 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 , to advance to the US Open semifinals.


The match began on September 9th, around 8:00 PM, at Arthur Ashe Stadium , and ended later that evening, after approximately two hours of play .


With the victory, Zverev reached 23 wins in Grand Slam matches in 2026, surpassing Boris Becker's record of 22 wins in 1989.   between German tennis players in the same season.


Zverev also achieved another unprecedented feat in his career: reaching the semifinals of all four Grand Slams in the same season - the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open.


In the semifinals in New York, the German will face the Russian Karen Khachanov , 30 years old, ranked No. 50 in the world and not a seeded player .


🟣 SEP 9, 2026 · HIGHLIGHT


Doubles: surprising comeback decides US Open semifinal


Brazilian Luisa Stefani and Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski , the number 2 seeds , came very close to the final of the US Open women's doubles, but were defeated in a comeback by Americans Robin Montgomery and Ashlyn Krueger , who received a wild card , by 2 sets to 1 , with scores of 4/6, 6/4 and 7/6 , with 10/8 in the match tiebreak .


Stefani and Dabrowski were serving to close out the match in the third set and had two match points , but Montgomery and Krueger managed to break serve and take the set to a tiebreak. In the match tiebreak , the Brazilian and the Canadian opened up a significant 8-2 lead , leaving them just two points away from victory .


The Americans' reaction , however, was extraordinary : Montgomery and Krueger scored eight consecutive points , turned the score around to 10-8 , and secured their place in the final.


Despite their elimination, the Stefani-Dabrowski duo ended their participation in the US Open after reaching at least the semifinals of all four Grand Slams in 2026.


🟣 SEP 9, 2026 · HIGHLIGHT


Gauff saves two match points and turns the match against Andreeva


American Coco Gauff , 22, ranked No. 4 in the world and seeded No. 4 , came very close to elimination, but managed a great comeback against Russian Mirra Andreeva , 19, ranked No. 5 in the world and seeded No. 5 , to reach the US Open semifinals.


Gauff won 2 sets to 1 , with scores of 2/6, 7/6(7) and 6/2 . In the second set tiebreak, the American saved two match points before winning 9/7 and taking the decision to a third set.


One of the defining moments of the comeback occurred in the tiebreak , when Gauff won an extraordinary 39-stroke exchange by hitting a drop shot close to the net that Andreeva couldn't reach.


The 2023 US Open champion will face Elena Rybakina in the semifinals , who secured the world number one ranking on Wednesday .


With Gauff's qualification, the top four seeds have now reached the women's semifinals: Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Coco Gauff. 


⚫ SEP 9, 2026 · CHANGE TO THE DRAW


Blockx abandons the match and Khachanov advances to the semifinals


The historic campaign of Belgian Alexander Blockx , 21 years old, world No. 34 and No. 28 seed , ended in the quarterfinals due to physical problems .


Blockx abandoned his match against Russian Karen Khachanov , 30 years old, ranked 50th in the world and not a seeded player , when his opponent was winning 2 sets to 0 , with scores of 6/2 and 7/5 , and leading the third set 3/2 . The match ended after 1 hour and 37 minutes.


The Belgian had already arrived at the match with a rib injury , which almost forced him to abandon his previous game against Francisco Cerúndolo .


On Wednesday, he also experienced problems with his right foot, thigh, and back , received medical attention, and was ultimately unable to continue.


Khachanov thus advanced to his second US Open semi-final , after 2022 , and to his third Grand Slam semi-final of his career .


Blockx capped off a historic run in his first US Open main draw appearance: he became the first Belgian men to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament .


🔵 SEP 9, 2026 · FEAT AND RECORD


Rybakina defeats Zheng and secures the world number 1 ranking for the first time.


Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina , 27, world number 2 and second seed , defeated China's Zheng Qinwen , 23, who came through qualifying , and reached the US Open semifinals for the first time .


Rybakina won 2 sets to 1 , coming from behind, with scores of 3/6, 6/1 and 6/4 .


In addition to qualifying, the victory secured Rybakina a historic achievement: she will assume the top spot in the WTA world rankings for the first time in her career , surpassing Aryna Sabalenka after the conclusion of the US Open.


Rybakina will be the 30th tennis player to reach the number 1 ranking in the WTA and the first representative of Kazakhstan, among men and women, to reach the top of the world singles ranking .


The new number one will face Coco Gauff for a spot in the final.


🟣 SEP 9, 2026 · HIGHLIGHT


Shelton eliminates Alcaraz in a battle that ends at 3:33 AM.


American Ben Shelton , 23, ranked No. 9 in the ATP rankings and seeded No. 8 , pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 US Open by eliminating Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz , 23, ranked No. 3 in the ATP rankings and seeded No. 2, and the reigning champion of the tournament .


Shelton won 3 sets to 2 , with scores of 6/7(5), 6/1, 6/3, 1/6 and 7/6(7) . In the match tiebreak , the American won 10/7 .


The match began at 11:05 PM on September 8th and ended at 3:33 AM on September 9th, New York local time , after 4 hours and 28 minutes . It was the latest finish to a match in US Open history .


Shelton also secured his first victory over Alcaraz and became the first American to defeat the Spaniard in a Grand Slam tournament , ending Alcaraz's streak of 13 wins over American players in Grand Slams.


The result set up an all-American semifinal between Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe , guaranteeing the United States a representative in the men's final.



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