Christian Harrison of the U.S and Britain’s Neal Skupski celebrate with the trophy after winning their doubles final against Germany’s Kevin Krawietz and Germany’s Tim Puetz.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Germany’s Alexander Zverev celebrates after winning his semi final match against Russia’s Karen Khachanov.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Carlos Alcaraz tumbled out of the U.S. Open quarter-finals at 3:34 a.m. Wednesday (September 9, 2026) local time, falling to Ben Shelton in an epic five-set thriller that broke the record for the latest finish ever at Flushing Meadows.

The big-hitting American claimed his first career win over Alcaraz, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10/7), ending the Spaniard’s hopes of retaining his title in his first tournament back after a four-month injury absence.

It took a brutal four hours and 28 minutes, finishing long past the previous latest finish in New York of 2:50 a.m., Alcaraz’s five-set quarter-final win over Jannik Sinner in 2022.

Shelton matched his semi-final run at the U.S. Open three years ago and booked an all-American semi-final against Frances Tiafoe, who came back from two sets down to beat Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10/6).

“That was a war, epic match, so physical,” Shelton said. “Carlos is one of the greatest champions in our sport already at 23 years old. It’s always fun being on the court against him. It’s ridiculous some of the stuff he comes up with sometimes; it’s the most enjoyable match that I’ve had in my career, for sure.”

Alcaraz had gone from strength to strength though his first four matches, but Shelton posed his biggest test and finally proved too much.

Shelton, pumped up by the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, reeled off nine straight games bridging the second and third sets to seize control, capitalizing on Alcaraz’s flagging serve and getting the better of him in rallies that left him winded.

Alcaraz stopped the rot, mustering a break chance as Shelton served for the third set before the American closed it out.

It was a sign that Alcaraz was far from a spent force, and he roared back to take the fouth set in just 36 minutes.

The margins in the fifth set were razor thin. Alcaraz had a break chance at 2-2, then it was Shelton’s turn at 4-3, but the match was destined to go all the way, to a 10-point match tiebreak that Shelton capped with an ace on match point.

After the first three matches of the day all went the distance, Alcaraz and Shelton didn’t get under way until after 11 p.m., and both exploded out of the gate.

Neither man faced a break point through the first 10 games, although Alcaraz came under some self-inflicted pressure with back-to-back double faults that made for a complicated hold for 4-4.

Shelton dialed in

Alcaraz put together his first love hold for 5-5 then grabbed the first break in the next game, forcing a forehand error from Shelton as the American was feeling the pressure at 0-40 down.

That left the Spaniard to serve for the set, but two errors to start the game were all the opening Shelton needed.

He broke to force the tiebreaker and seized a 5-3 lead only for Alcaraz to win the last four points and pocket the set after 61 minutes.

But Alcaraz couldn’t maintain the pace, and as his struggles on serve increased, Shelton roared away, two of his three service breaks coming courtesy of double faults from the Spaniard, including one on set point.

“I knew that my serve was only going to get better, and if I had already dialed in the return to the point that I could break him, I thought my chances were good to get that second set,” Shelton said. “Once I got rolling the second set, broke him three times in that set, it was a lot easier to just play and swing more freely.”

Published – September 09, 2026 02:25 pm IST

Aryna Sabalenka thought it was all slipping away. Her U.S. Open title reign and her lengthy hold on the No. 1 ranking in women’s tennis were just about gone.

Then Sabalenka proved she’s not giving any of it up without a fight.

Sabalenka kept alive her hopes for a third straight U.S. Open title by edging Linda Noskova 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) on Tuesday (September 8, 2026) in a thrilling quarterfinal matchup of major champions.

“What a battle. What an incredible player she is and I’m speechless right now because I was pushing myself to the limit in this match, especially in the third set,” Sabalenka said.

“I honestly thought that that’s it, the match is over and probably that’s what helped me to kind of like, I don’t know, feel loose and just go after my shots.” Sabalenka, who needed to win to maintain any hope of keeping the No. 1 ranking, will face No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula, who rallied to beat No. 26 Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Sabalenka beat Pegula in the 2024 final and against last year in the semifinals after dropping the first set.

Sabalenka finished off Tuesday’s (September 8) match with a second-serve ace to turn back the Wimbledon champion and reach the semifinals in Flushing Meadows for the sixth straight year.

The first men’s quarterfinal also went to a match tiebreaker, with No. 11 Frances Tiafoe rallying to beat Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6). He will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or No. 8 Ben Shelton on Thursday.

The lengthy day session gave Pegula and Navarro a late start, nearly 90 minutes after the usual 7 p.m. beginning of the night session. Navarro was much better once it finally did begin, breaking Pegula’s serve twice in the opening set.

Pegula found her best tennis late, winning four straight games to take control after Navarro had broken her for a 2-1 lead in the third set.

Noskova nearly matched Serena’s major double

Noskova, the No. 6 seed, won her first major title at the All England Club and narrowly missed becoming the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to follow a title on the grass by reaching the final four on the hard courts of New York.

Sabalenka was in danger of her earliest exit at the U.S. Open since going out in the second round in 2020 when Noskova got a break in the third set en route to a 4-2 lead. Sabalenka held and then played one of her best games of the match, breaking at love to tie it at 4-all.

“I just felt at some point in the third set she was definitely serving better than me and putting so much pressure on me,” Sabalenka said. “But I’m glad that I kind of threw that thought away and I was able to focus point by point and, like, literally just trying to build something bigger in that moment.

“I got, not lucky, but I’m happy the way I broke her serve at 3-4. I think I really played a great intensity level of tennis, and that really gave me so much confidence that I still can get the win in this match.” She said, avoiding her first loss at the U.S. Open since Coco Gauff beat her in the 2023 final.

Noskova finished with 46 winners to Sabalenka’s 42, and she hit 18 aces to Sabalenka’s 12. Both players were able to end points quickly, and Sabalenka also showed off some impressive speed in tracking down drop shots.

Sabalenka came to the U.S. Open far off her usual form on hard courts, losing in the fourth round in both Toronto and Cincinnati after falling at that stage at Wimbledon. But she had recovered in New York, not dropping a set en route to the quarterfinals.

She appeared struggling to stay under control at one point, changing her racket during the third set while trying to regain her touch. She went behind 2-0 in the match tiebreaker but pulled ahead for good when Noskova double-faulted to make it 4-3, and Sabalenka took the next two points for some critical breathing room.

“Being a break up in the third set, it’s not very easy. Also having a little break at the start of the tiebreak in the third one, as well, it’s frustrating, obviously,” Noskova said.

“But at the same time, Aryna, she played the best tennis that she could in those moments, which didn’t really make it easy for me.” Sabalenka will lose the No. 1 ranking she has held for 99 consecutive weeks if No. 2 Elena Rybakina beats Zheng Qinwen on Wednesday (September 9) to reach the semifinals. If Rybakina loses, Sabalenka can keep her hold on it by winning the title.

Noskova finished with her best run at the U.S. Open. She had reached only one major quarterfinal, at the 2024 Australian Open, before beating fellow Czech Karolina Muchova for the Wimbledon title.

Published – September 09, 2026 10:42 am IST

Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. reacts during his quarterfinal match against Alex Michelsen of the U.S. on September 8, 2026
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Alexander Blockx, of Belgium, celebrates winning a match against Francisco Cerundolo, of Argentina, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in New York.
| Photo Credit: AP

Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, celebrates winning a match against Naomi Osaka, of Japan, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in New York.
| Photo Credit: AP

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan. File
| Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP

Wyndham Clark proved to be even tougher than Shinnecock Hills in the U.S. Open with four pivotal par saves in a five-hole stretch and a majestic 3-wood to 4 feet that set up the only eagle all week on the par-5 16th hole. Each shot stretched his lead over Scottie Scheffler and everyone else.

All the while, Clark couldn’t help but notice thousands of fans leaving the course Saturday evening and the grandstands no longer full.

Perhaps they were trying to catch the train. Or maybe they sensed this U.S. Open was over.

Even with a bogey on the final hole that gave Clark an even-par 70, he left Shinnecock Hills with a six-shot lead going into Sunday.

Riding shotgun with him will be Scheffler, who finally got on track by making three straight birdies, shooting 32 on the back nine and at least keeping alive hope of a career Grand Slam.

But it’s a big mountain to climb.

No one has ever lost more than a five-shot lead in 125 previous editions of the U.S. Open. Greg Norman in the 1996 Masters is the only player to lose a six-shot lead in any major.

“It’s all in Wyndham’s hands, really,” said Xander Schauffele, who faded with a pair of double bogeys on the back nine. “If he plays a really solid round of golf tomorrow — if he shoots even par or 1 over or 2 over — he’s going to win the golf tournaments. That’s how I think it’s going to pan out.”

It was an astonishing performance, starting with three par saves around the turn as Scheffler was sending the gallery into a frenzy with his timely run that led to a 69. It was one of only two rounds under par as Shinnecock — even without the raging wind from the morning — showed some bite.

But it was subdued at the end.

“It was kind of unfortunate that we’re finishing in the dark and people weren’t really out there,” Clark said, alluding to the decision for the leaders to tee off at 3:45 p.m. “Because there were some obviously key, big moments, and it did kind of get a little flat. … ”I’m still excited to be where I’m at.”

He was at 7-under 203, the lowest 54-hole score ever at Shinnecock Hills.

Clark now has one more round to add another U.S. Open title to the one he captured at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023. At his side will be Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, trying to turn Sunday into a most magical day.

At stake for Scheffler is a chance — a long shot at that — to get the final leg of the career Grand Slam — on Father’s Day, which also happens to be his 30th birthday.

“I think it’s appropriate to understand what’s at stake,” Scheffler said, aware as anyone of what’s in front of him. “We want to be in these positions. This is why we practice and play, to have the opportunity to win golf tournaments, and that’s what tomorrow is.”

Scheffler has won all four of his majors from in front. Now he’s chasing on a course that demands precision and a lot of patience. And the player he’s chasing has expanded his lead each day — two shots on Thursday, four shots on Friday and now at six shots.

Clark, in position to be the first wire-to-wire U.S. Open champion in 12 years, still doesn’t think he has played his best golf.

From thick rough right of the 18th fairway, his wedge went right and some 60 feet away from the pin. “Gosh, I’ve hit some terrible shots today. This is ridiculous,” Clark said to his caddie.

He was leading by seven shots at the time, though he did put himself in some tough spots — 75 feet away on the downwind ninth, over the back of the green and down the slope on the 10th, a bunker on the scary par-3 11th.

He took them all on, particularly behind the 10th green when he made the bold play to bump it into the hill to let it trickle down to 5 feet, instead of a safer flop to avoid the ball rolling back to him.

And when he got in trouble on the 13th after trying to drive the green, he made a 15-foot putt for par. It was like that all day. And the lead kept growing, even with that short miss at the end.

“The only way that you catch somebody like Wyndham is the golf course starts to win against him,” Keith Mitchell said after his third successive round at 70. He joined Clark as the only player at par or better three straight rounds, and Mitchell was eight shots behind.

Clark went from scrambling to soaring with one shot. He was 275 yards away on the 604-yard 16th hole, with helping wind that made it a perfect 5-wood — except he didn’t have one in his bag. His caddie suggested taking a little off a 3-wood, and he played a high cut to perfection, getting a nice bounce short of the green as the ball rolled out to 4 feet.

It was the only eagle on the 16th hole all week.

“Really one of the shots of the tournament,” Clark said.

Scheffler, who fell nine shots behind with a pair of bogeys at the start, shot 32 on the back nine by chipping in from 65 feet on the 14th for the start of his three straight birdies. His one big lament was missing a 4-foot birdie putt on the final hole.

“Scottie is the best player in the world, and he’s going to play probably really good. He always does,” Clark said. “But it’s nice to have a six-shot lead on him.”

Scheffler moved into the last group when Shinnecock Hills did a number on everyone else.

Sam Stevens, who closed within two shots of Clark on the front, started the back nine with three straight bogeys and closed with six straight pars for a 72. Tom Kim dropped two shots at the wrong time and shot 72. Sahith Theegala had one birdie, one bogey and 16 pars for a 70. That usually works at any U.S. Open, particularly this one.

All of them were at 1-under 209, leaving only five players under par.

Rory McIlroy was there, but only briefly. He made three straight birdies, including a putter from off the sixth green from 66 feet, and at one point only had one player between him and Clark. But just like the previous round, he lost ground with a series of mistakes and shot 73 to fall 10 behind. He left Shinnecock without speaking.

Published – June 21, 2026 08:53 am IST

Bigger things to follow: Manav says qualification for the U.S. Open could be a springboard for the future. Photo: Special Arrangement