The US Open 2026 has entered its decisive championship phase, with the women’s singles semifinals taking center stage on Thursday, September 10, at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The men’s semifinal lineup is also now complete after Alexander Zverev defeated Botic van de Zandschulp on Thursday and Karen Khachanov advanced after Alexander Blockx retired from their quarterfinal. The other men’s semifinal will feature Americans Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, after Shelton stunned defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
On the women’s side, all four semifinalists are among the tournament’s top four seeds: Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff. It is the first time since 1975 that the US Open women’s singles semifinals have featured the top four seeds.
Here is the latest US Open 2026 picture, including the biggest recent results and today’s key matches.
US Open 2026: What Matches Are Being Played Today?
Thursday, September 10 is women’s semifinal day at the 2026 US Open.
The official tournament schedule lists the women’s singles semifinals for 7:00 p.m. New York time at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Today’s Women’s Singles Semifinals
| Match | Status |
|---|---|
| Aryna Sabalenka vs Jessica Pegula | Women’s semifinal |
| Coco Gauff vs Elena Rybakina | Women’s semifinal |
The two winners will meet in Saturday’s women’s singles final.
The men’s singles semifinals will be played on Friday, September 11.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Jessica Pegula
The first major women’s semifinal pits defending champion Aryna Sabalenka against American Jessica Pegula.
Sabalenka reached the semifinals by surviving a dramatic three-set quarterfinal against Linda Noskova, winning 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(7). The victory extended Sabalenka’s US Open winning streak to 18 matches and improved her record in US Open quarterfinals to 5-0.
Pegula also had to fight back from a set down.
She defeated fellow American Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, reaching the US Open semifinals for the third consecutive year. It was also Pegula’s 50th win of the 2026 season, making her the first woman on tour to reach that mark this year.
Why is this match important?
Sabalenka is trying to become a three-time consecutive US Open champion, while Pegula is seeking her first Grand Slam singles title.
The matchup also has recent history. Sabalenka leads their career head-to-head 9-4, although Pegula has won two of their last three meetings.
That makes this semifinal more competitive than the overall head-to-head record might suggest.
Coco Gauff vs Elena Rybakina
The second women’s semifinal brings together 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff and Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina.
Gauff produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the quarterfinals, overcoming French Open champion Mirra Andreeva 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2.
Gauff was in serious trouble in the second-set tiebreak and had to save two match points before turning the match around.
Rybakina, meanwhile, defeated Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
That victory had an additional consequence: Rybakina became the new WTA world No. 1, ending Aryna Sabalenka’s 99-week run at the top.
Why is Gauff vs Rybakina a big match?
Both players have already won a Grand Slam.
Gauff captured the 2023 US Open, while Rybakina won Wimbledon in 2022.
Their head-to-head record is tied at 1-1, making Thursday’s semifinal a decisive chapter in their rivalry.
For Gauff, victory would put her into another US Open final on home soil.
For Rybakina, it would provide an opportunity to reach the final in New York for the first time while beginning her reign as world No. 1 with a Grand Slam title challenge.
US Open 2026 Latest Results: Men’s Singles
The men’s draw has produced some of the tournament’s biggest surprises.
The most notable result came when Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal.
Ben Shelton defeats Carlos Alcaraz
Shelton defeated Alcaraz:
6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7)
The match lasted four hours and 28 minutes and ended at 3:33 a.m., setting the record for the latest finish in US Open history.
Shelton also became the first American man to defeat Alcaraz at a Grand Slam. Before this match, Alcaraz had won all 13 of his previous major matches against American opponents.
The result ended Alcaraz’s 18-match Grand Slam winning streak.
For Shelton, it was his first victory over a Top-3 opponent and one of the biggest wins of his career.
Frances Tiafoe reaches the semifinals
Shelton will face another American in the semifinals: Frances Tiafoe.
Tiafoe produced a huge comeback against fellow American Alex Michelsen, recovering from two sets down to win:
5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(6)
The match lasted around four and a half hours.
Tiafoe’s victory made him the 10th American man to reach at least three US Open singles semifinals.
It also created a historic all-American semifinal.
Shelton and Tiafoe are the first Black American men to meet each other in a Grand Slam semifinal during the Open Era.
Why is Shelton vs Tiafoe important?
American men’s tennis has been waiting for another Grand Slam singles champion for more than two decades.
Andy Roddick was the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title, taking the 2003 US Open.
Now either Shelton or Tiafoe will reach the 2026 US Open final.
That guarantees an American man in the championship match and gives the home country a realistic chance to end the long drought.
Alexander Zverev reaches the US Open semifinal
Germany’s Alexander Zverev also booked his place in the last four.
Zverev defeated Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2, 7-5, 6-1.
The victory put Zverev into his third US Open semifinal and completed an impressive Grand Slam season: he has now reached at least the semifinal at all four majors in 2026.
Zverev is also the only Grand Slam champion remaining in the men’s singles draw.
His semifinal opponent will be Karen Khachanov.
Karen Khachanov advances after Alexander Blockx retires
Karen Khachanov reached the US Open semifinals after Alexander Blockx retired during their quarterfinal.
Khachanov was leading 6-2, 7-5, 3-2 when the Belgian stopped playing because of physical problems.
Blockx had already made history by becoming the first Belgian man to reach the US Open quarterfinals.
Khachanov, a former world No. 8 and 2022 US Open semifinalist, now returns to the final four in New York.
His semifinal against Zverev will also be a rematch of their 2021 Tokyo Olympics gold-medal match, which Zverev won.
US Open 2026 Men’s Semifinal Lineup
The men’s semifinal bracket is now set:
Ben Shelton vs Frances Tiafoe
This is the all-American semifinal.
Both players have produced dramatic five-set victories to reach the last four.
Alexander Zverev vs Karen Khachanov
Zverev enters as the only remaining Grand Slam champion in the men’s draw, while Khachanov is returning to the US Open semifinals for the first time since 2022.
The men’s semifinals are scheduled for Friday, September 11, with the first match beginning at 3:00 p.m. and the second at 7:00 p.m. ET, according to the official tournament schedule.
US Open 2026 Women’s Semifinal Lineup
The women’s bracket is equally strong:
| Semifinal | Key storyline |
|---|---|
| Aryna Sabalenka vs Jessica Pegula | Defending champion vs American contender |
| Coco Gauff vs Elena Rybakina | 2023 champion vs new world No. 1 |
The fact that the top four women’s seeds have all reached the semifinals is particularly unusual. Reuters reports that this has not happened at the US Open since 1975.
What Happened to Carlos Alcaraz at US Open 2026?
Carlos Alcaraz’s title defense ended in the quarterfinals.
The Spaniard entered the tournament as the defending champion but lost to Shelton after a marathon five-set battle.
The result was particularly notable because Alcaraz was returning to competitive tennis after an extended absence caused by a wrist problem.
He still managed to reach the quarterfinals, defeating Roman Safiullin, Jaime Faria, Wu Yibing and Tommy Paul along the way.
His loss does not erase his strong 2026 season, but it means there will be a new US Open men’s champion this year.
Why Is US Open 2026 So Unpredictable?
Several major storylines have combined to make this year’s tournament unusually open.
1. Alcaraz is out
The defending men’s champion has been eliminated.
2. Sinner is absent
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner missed the tournament because of a knee injury, further opening the men’s draw.
3. Djokovic exited early
Novak Djokovic’s tournament ended with a first-round defeat to Mariano Navone, removing another major name from the field early in the competition.
4. American men are making a major push
Shelton and Tiafoe have reached the semifinals, guaranteeing an American finalist.
5. Rybakina is now world No. 1
The women’s tournament has also produced a major ranking change, with Rybakina taking the top position from Sabalenka.
US Open 2026: Today’s Big Matches at a Glance
Thursday, September 10
Women’s Singles Semifinals
Aryna Sabalenka vs Jessica Pegula
Coco Gauff vs Elena Rybakina
The official US Open schedule places the women’s semifinals in the evening session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET.
There are no men’s singles semifinals today. Those matches are scheduled for Friday.
When Are the US Open 2026 Finals?
The tournament’s championship weekend is scheduled as follows:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 10 | Women’s singles semifinals |
| September 11 | Men’s singles semifinals |
| September 12 | Women’s singles final |
| September 13 | Men’s singles final |
The official US Open schedule lists the women’s final for Saturday, September 12, and the men’s final for Sunday, September 13.
What Should Tennis Fans Watch Next?
The biggest immediate storyline is the women’s semifinal battle.
Sabalenka vs Pegula will determine whether the defending champion remains on course for a historic three-peat or whether Pegula finally breaks through to a Grand Slam final.
Gauff vs Rybakina will feature the home crowd’s favorite against the newly crowned world No. 1.
Then attention turns to Friday’s men’s semifinals.
The Shelton-Tiafoe match could be particularly significant for American tennis. Regardless of who wins, an American man will play in the 2026 US Open final.
That alone makes this one of the most important US Open editions for U.S. men’s tennis in years.
US Open 2026: Key Takeaways
- Ben Shelton eliminated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
- Shelton’s victory ended Alcaraz’s 18-match Grand Slam winning streak.
- Frances Tiafoe came back from two sets down to defeat Alex Michelsen.
- Shelton and Tiafoe will meet in an all-American men’s semifinal.
- Alexander Zverev defeated Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets.
- Karen Khachanov advanced after Alexander Blockx retired.
- Zverev and Khachanov will meet in the other men’s semifinal.
- Aryna Sabalenka remains on course for a third straight US Open title.
- Jessica Pegula reached her third consecutive US Open semifinal.
- Coco Gauff survived two match points against Mirra Andreeva.
- Elena Rybakina became the new WTA world No. 1.
- All four women’s semifinalists are among the tournament’s top four seeds.
- The women’s semifinals take place Thursday, September 10.
- The men’s semifinals take place Friday, September 11.
FAQ
What are today’s US Open 2026 matches?
Thursday, September 10 features the two women’s singles semifinals: Aryna Sabalenka vs Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff vs Elena Rybakina.
Who won at the US Open 2026?
Recent major winners include Ben Shelton over Carlos Alcaraz, Frances Tiafoe over Alex Michelsen, Alexander Zverev over Botic van de Zandschulp and Karen Khachanov by retirement over Alexander Blockx.
Did Carlos Alcaraz win the US Open 2026?
No. Alcaraz’s title defense ended in the quarterfinals when Ben Shelton defeated him in five sets.
Who will Ben Shelton play next?
Shelton will face fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the men’s semifinal on Friday, September 11.
Who is the new women’s world No. 1?
Elena Rybakina became the new WTA world No. 1 after defeating Zheng Qinwen in the US Open quarterfinals.
When are the US Open 2026 men’s semifinals?
The men’s semifinals are scheduled for Friday, September 11, with matches at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET.
When is the US Open 2026 final?
The women’s singles final is scheduled for September 12, while the men’s singles final is scheduled for September 13.
Why is Shelton vs Tiafoe historic?
It is an all-American semifinal and the first Grand Slam semifinal between two Black American men during the Open Era.
