Developing storyline

US Open tennis breakthroughs and historic matches

American players advance deep into the US Open with record-setting matches and semifinal appearances.

4 stories304 sourcesUpdated Sep 11, 2026

In this storyline:Ben Shelton Frances Tiafoe Carlos Alcaraz Aryna Sabalenka 2009 US Open Coco Gauff Karen Khachanov Elena Rybakina

US Open tennis breakthroughs and historic matches — Photo: All-Pro Reels / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Sep 9, 7 PMdots mark key developments · hover for any hourSep 12, 4 AM

Key developments

Sep 9, 2026
Ben Shelton defeats defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in record-late US Open quarterfinal.
95 sources on this →
Sep 9, 2026
Shelton and Tiafoe reach US Open semifinals in historic American run.
224 sources on this →
Sep 11, 2026
Elena Rybakina defeats Coco Gauff to reach US Open final against Aryna Sabalenka.
15 sources on this →
Sep 11, 2026
Karen Khachanov advances to US Open semifinals after quarterfinal retirement, setting up clash with top seed Alexander Zverev.
6 sources on this →

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Stories in this storyline

Sports

Shelton Reaches Historic U.S. Open Final

Emma Navarro reached the 2026 US Open quarterfinals, setting up an all-American clash with Jessica Pegula and marking the first all-American women’s QF at the US Open since 2015. On the men’s side, Ben Shelton advanced to the quarterfinals to face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, as Alcaraz weathered a tough match, while Sabalenka and Noskova loom as contenders in the women’s draw with Noskova seeking another upset.

224 sources

Sports

Khachanov Reaches US Open Semifinals After Four-Match Losing Streak

Karen Khachanov advanced to the 2026 US Open semifinals after Alexander Blockx retired in their quarterfinal, setting up a clash with top seed Alexander Zverev, while behind the scenes his Armenian-Russian heritage, wife Veronika, and two sons underline a stable support system driving his career. Profiles highlight his career highlights, including a Paris Masters title and Olympic silver, and note his Dubai-based training and close-knit team as factors in his resurgence.

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Rybakina beats Gauff to claim world No. 1 and US Open final vs Sabalenka

Elena Rybakina reached the US Open final by overcoming Coco Gauff and will face defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, who advanced by defeating Jessica Pegula to chase a third consecutive Flushing Meadows title. The pair will contest a high-stakes showdown that also solidifies Rybakina’s ascent to No. 1 in the rankings next week as Sabalenka seeks to extend her reigning run.

15 sources

Sports

Shelton Defeats Alcaraz in Record-Late US Open Match

Ben Shelton shocked defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a dramatic, late-night five-set US Open quarterfinal, advancing to the semifinals and delivering the tournament’s latest finish in history. The match showcased extreme physical toll on Alcaraz, including moments of vomiting and relentless defending, underscoring Shelton’s breakout performance on home soil.

95 sources