https://www.theguardian.com/sport/usopentennis US Open! en-gb Guardian News &amp; Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2026 Sun, 13 Sep 2026 05:05:45 GMT 2026-09-13T05:05:45Z en-gb Guardian News &amp; Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2026 https://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.png https://www.theguardian.com https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/12/aryna-sabalenka-v-elena-rybakina-us-open-2026-womens-singles-final-live <p>The new No 1 underlined her status as the best player in the world by ending the two-time defending champion’s reign with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory</p><p><strong>Rybakina</strong></p><p>First round def Thea Frodin (WC) 6-3, 6-2<br> Second round def Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2, 6-4<br> Third round def Yuliia Starodubtseva 7-6 (6), 6-3<br> Fourth round def Naomi Osaka (13) 6-1, 6-4<br> Quarter-final def Zheng Qinwen (Q) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4<br> Semi-final def Coco Gauff (4) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/12/aryna-sabalenka-v-elena-rybakina-us-open-2026-womens-singles-final-live">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 US Open tennis Sport Tennis Aryna Sabalenka US sports Sat, 12 Sep 2026 23:38:05 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/12/aryna-sabalenka-v-elena-rybakina-us-open-2026-womens-singles-final-live Photograph: Sarah Stier/Getty Images Photograph: Sarah Stier/Getty Images Photograph: Sarah Stier/Getty Images Katy Murrells 2026-09-12T23:38:05Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/13/elena-rybakina-beats-aryna-sabalenka-us-open-title-tennis <ul><li><p>Rybakina wins 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 despite first-serve problems</p></li><li><p>Overcomes top seed and two-time defending champion</p></li></ul><p>Even after she had won grand slam titles and conquered all surfaces, Elena Rybakina has always been considered lesser than the greatest players of her era. She has long been one of the most devastating shotmakers in the world, but there were always a couple more consistent and mentally tougher players above her.</p><p>She leaves New York, finally, as the undisputed best tennis player on the planet, the new standard bearer of the women’s game, after following up her snatching of the No 1 ranking from Aryna Sabalenka by succeeding her as the US Open champion. As she has done throughout this unforgettable week, the Kazakhstani showed her toughness in another spectacular tussle with her great rival, nervelessly closing out a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Sabalenka, the top seed and two-time defending champion.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/13/elena-rybakina-beats-aryna-sabalenka-us-open-title-tennis">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 US Open tennis Tennis Sport US sports Aryna Sabalenka Sat, 12 Sep 2026 23:02:12 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/13/elena-rybakina-beats-aryna-sabalenka-us-open-title-tennis Photograph: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Photograph: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Photograph: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Tumaini Carayol at Flushing Meadows 2026-09-12T23:02:12Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/12/ben-shelton-alexander-zverev-2026-mens-us-open-final-preview-tennis <p>World No 4 will become the first Black American man to win the singles title at Flushing Meadow since Arthur Ashe if he can beat German for the first time</p><p>As Ben Shelton lapped up the explosion of joy and adoration from a full Arthur Ashe Stadium after reaching a grand slam final for the first time, one of his first thoughts was of his paternal grandmother, Regina, who died this year. Shelton credited his grandmother with ensuring that his father, Bryan, made it as a top professional, becoming one of a small group of Black men on the tour. “My dad lost his mom earlier this year and she’s the reason he was able to play tennis,” he said. “Without her, there’s no Ben Shelton standing here today. So this one is for her.”</p><p>Shelton stands on the verge of history. On Sunday, he will attempt to become the first Black American man to win the US Open singles title since Arthur Ashe in 1968, a feat he will attempt inside the stadium named after Ashe. Shelton would also be the first Black man to win any grand slam singles title since Yannick Noah at Roland Garros in 1983, and the third overall. He is also aiming to become the first American man to win a major singles title since Andy Roddick won the US Open in 2003.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/12/ben-shelton-alexander-zverev-2026-mens-us-open-final-preview-tennis">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 US Open tennis Sport Tennis Alexander Zverev US sports Sat, 12 Sep 2026 19:32:57 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/12/ben-shelton-alexander-zverev-2026-mens-us-open-final-preview-tennis Photograph: Cristóbal Herrera/EPA Photograph: Cristóbal Herrera/EPA Photograph: Cristóbal Herrera/EPA Tumaini Carayol at Flushing Meadow 2026-09-12T19:32:57Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/12/shelton-tips-tiafoe-at-us-open-to-move-one-win-from-ending-23-year-drought <ul><li><p>23-year-old defeats Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5</p></li><li><p>Shelton is first Black US men’s finalist since Ashe</p></li><li><p>American will face top seed Zverev for title</p></li></ul><p>For 23 years they have come and gone. Andy Roddick tried again. Andre Agassi made one final run. James Blake, Mardy Fish, Sam Querrey, John Isner, Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz all carried the hopes of American men’s tennis deep into the second week of major championships, only to thrash against the ceiling of the sport’s European hegemony time and again.</p><p>Now Ben Shelton gets his chance. The fearless 23-year-old from Atlanta surged into his first career grand slam final on a feverish Friday night at the US Open, completing a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 fightback over Frances Tiafoe in a pulsating all-American semi-final beneath the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The result leaves him one victory from becoming the first man from the United States to win one of the sport’s four bedrock tournaments since Roddick triumphed here in 2003.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/12/shelton-tips-tiafoe-at-us-open-to-move-one-win-from-ending-23-year-drought">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 Sport Tennis US Open tennis US sports Sat, 12 Sep 2026 06:28:59 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/12/shelton-tips-tiafoe-at-us-open-to-move-one-win-from-ending-23-year-drought Photograph: Cristóbal Herrera/EPA Photograph: Cristóbal Herrera/EPA Photograph: Cristóbal Herrera/EPA Bryan Armen Graham at Flushing Meadows 2026-09-12T06:28:59Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/11/us-open-tennis-2026-mens-semi-final-frances-tiafoe-v-ben-shelton-live-buildup <ul><li><p>Shelton wins 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 to reach first major final</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/11/us-open-tennis-2026-mens-semi-final-alexander-zverev-v-karen-khachanov-live">Zverev takes out Khachanov in straight sets to make final</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/11/taylor-townsend-us-open-womens-doubles-title-katerina-siniakova">Townsend’s road comes full circle with US Open triumph</a></p></li></ul><p><strong>First set: *Tiafoe 1-2 Shelton (*denotes next server)</strong></p><p>Shortly after crunching his first ace of the night, 123mph down the middle, Shelton faces his first pressure point of the night at 30-all. He then makes an unforced error off the backhand for 30-40 and will face his first break point, but he rattles off three quick points from there to escape with the hold.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/11/us-open-tennis-2026-mens-semi-final-frances-tiafoe-v-ben-shelton-live-buildup">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 Alexander Zverev Sport Tennis US Open tennis US sports Sat, 12 Sep 2026 03:31:23 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/11/us-open-tennis-2026-mens-semi-final-frances-tiafoe-v-ben-shelton-live-buildup Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters Bryan Armen Graham at Flushing Meadows 2026-09-12T03:31:23Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/11/taylor-townsend-us-open-womens-doubles-title-katerina-siniakova <p>The 30-year-old once denied USTA funding returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium to complete her career doubles grand slam alongside Kateřina Siniaková</p><p>The cheers swelled from Arthur Ashe Stadium as Taylor Townsend approached the microphone on court. “Y’all know this is my moment,” she started, “and I’m about to take it.”</p><p>A day after being denied an American rooting interest in the women’s singles final and rushing for the exits in response, the Ashe crowd had reason to stick around and drink in the moment: the Chicago native and her partner, Kateřina Siniaková of the Czech Republic, had just defeated the all-American team of Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 in Friday’s women’s doubles final. With the victory, Siniaková became a two-time career doubles slam champion while Townsend joined the club for the first time.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/11/taylor-townsend-us-open-womens-doubles-title-katerina-siniakova">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 Sport Tennis US Open tennis Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:14:27 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/11/taylor-townsend-us-open-womens-doubles-title-katerina-siniakova Photograph: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Photograph: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Photograph: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Andrew Lawrence at Flushing Meadows 2026-09-12T00:14:27Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/11/us-open-tennis-2026-mens-semi-final-alexander-zverev-v-karen-khachanov-live <p>Alexander Zverev reached his first grand slam final in a row with a 6-3 7-6 (7) 7-6 (6) victory against Karen Khachanov in New York</p><p><strong>Karen Khachanov emerges from the tunnel first, followed by Alexander Zverev. </strong>Apparently the German was a minute or two late because he needed some extra time in the toilet – we’ve all been there.</p><p><strong>On Arthur Ashe Stadium, a retired servicewoman sings the American national anthem</strong> <strong>before the players come out.</strong> Flags are flying at half mast around the grounds today on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Arthur Ashe was also lit up blue from dusk until dawn this morning.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/11/us-open-tennis-2026-mens-semi-final-alexander-zverev-v-karen-khachanov-live">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 US Open tennis Tennis Sport US sports Alexander Zverev Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:02:15 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/11/us-open-tennis-2026-mens-semi-final-alexander-zverev-v-karen-khachanov-live Photograph: Frank Franklin II/AP Photograph: Frank Franklin II/AP Photograph: Frank Franklin II/AP Billy Munday 2026-09-11T23:02:15Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/12/alexander-zverev-holds-his-nerve-against-karen-khachanov-to-reach-us-open-final <ul><li><p>Zverev wins 6-3, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (6)</p></li><li><p>German reaches third straight grand slam final</p></li></ul><p>About 107 minutes into men’s semi-final day on Arthur Ashe Stadium, there was finally a touch of tension radiating from the court. After falling down a set and break, his meeting with his old rival Alexander Zverev swiftly turning into a beating, Karen Khachanov fought hard to force a second-set tie-break.</p><p>Deep in that tension-filled tie-break, down 5-6 on his serve, Khachanov saved Zverev’s first set point with a bold forehand winner, and then at 6-7 he punctuated a screaming backhand passing shot winner with an imperious roar of his own.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/12/alexander-zverev-holds-his-nerve-against-karen-khachanov-to-reach-us-open-final">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 Tennis Sport Alexander Zverev US Open tennis US sports Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:01:51 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/12/alexander-zverev-holds-his-nerve-against-karen-khachanov-to-reach-us-open-final Photograph: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Photograph: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Photograph: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Tumaini Carayol at Flushing Meadows 2026-09-11T23:01:51Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/11/rybakina-and-sabalenka-resume-epic-rivalry-at-us-open-after-switch-at-no-1 <p>Rybakina will top rankings after tournament as pair continue to meet one another in grand slam finals</p><p>A typically understated Elena Rybakina stepped up to the microphone for her speech after her triumph at Indian Wells in 2023, her long-awaited first WTA 1000 title, and one of her first objectives was to recognise the efforts of her opponent. Rybakina congratulated Aryna Sabalenka on a strong fortnight and noted that it was the first time she had beaten the Belarusian. Sabalenka’s mouth instantly curled into a mischievous grin and, as ever, she could not halt her impulsive thoughts: “I will make sure it is the last time,” Sabalenka said, laughing. Rybakina, herself also smiling, responded instantly: “No. No, no, no. We’ll see next time.”</p><p>There has since been a next time, another next time and several next times after that and as Sabalenka and Rybakina, the top two players in the world, face off at the US Open, this latest encounter proves beyond doubt they have established themselves as one of the best recent rivalries in women’s tennis.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/11/rybakina-and-sabalenka-resume-epic-rivalry-at-us-open-after-switch-at-no-1">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 US Open tennis Aryna Sabalenka Sport Tennis Fri, 11 Sep 2026 17:30:05 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/11/rybakina-and-sabalenka-resume-epic-rivalry-at-us-open-after-switch-at-no-1 Composite: AP; Imagn Images/Reuters Composite: AP; Imagn Images/Reuters Composite: AP; Imagn Images/Reuters Tumaini Carayol at Flushing Meadows 2026-09-11T17:30:05Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/11/us-open-five-set-tennis-shelton-alcaraz-late-night-matches <p>Five-set matches are physically punishing, occasionally absurd and increasingly under threat. They also produce much of what makes grand slam tennis great</p><p>Tuesday night’s quarter-final match <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/09/ben-shelton-dethrones-carlos-alcaraz-five-set-thriller-latest-us-open-tennis-finish">between Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz</a> had everything a US Open spectacle could ask for: huge stakes, knife-edge drama, top-shelf competition and an American hero who comes through in the end. The only fault to find was really the matter of time. The first ball wasn’t struck until 11.05 in the evening, and Shelton’s clinching ace didn’t come until 3.33 in the morning – marking, after a total of 4hr 28min on court, the latest-ending US Open match by a whopping 43 minutes.</p><p>Somewhat predictably, the discourse among media and fans following the late-night match has swiftly moved on from the USTA’s misadventures in scheduling to a referendum on the five-set match and whether it should be put out to pasture. For the record: that would be a colossal unforced error.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/11/us-open-five-set-tennis-shelton-alcaraz-late-night-matches">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 Carlos Alcaraz Sport Tennis US Open tennis US sports Novak Djokovic John McEnroe Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:05 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/11/us-open-five-set-tennis-shelton-alcaraz-late-night-matches Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images Andrew Lawrence at Flushing Meadows 2026-09-11T08:00:05Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/10/us-open-womens-semifinals-sabalenka-pegula-gauff-rybakina-live-updates <ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/10/aryna-sabalenka-jessica-pegula-us-open-semi-final-tennis">Sabalenka on brink of trifecta after blitzing Pegula</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/11/elena-rybakina-beats-coco-gauff-us-open-womens-semi-final">Rybakina rallies past Gauff to reach first US Open final</a></p></li></ul><p><strong>First set: Sabalenka 1-0 *Pegula (*denotes next server)</strong></p><p>A strong start for Sabalenka, who wins the first game with ease. She gets an ace on the second point of the match and keeps the rallies short to hold.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/10/us-open-womens-semifinals-sabalenka-pegula-gauff-rybakina-live-updates">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 US Open tennis Tennis US sports Sport Aryna Sabalenka Coco Gauff Fri, 11 Sep 2026 03:36:39 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/10/us-open-womens-semifinals-sabalenka-pegula-gauff-rybakina-live-updates Photograph: Frank Franklin II/AP Photograph: Frank Franklin II/AP Photograph: Frank Franklin II/AP Ella Brockway 2026-09-11T03:36:39Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/11/elena-rybakina-beats-coco-gauff-us-open-womens-semi-final <ul><li><p>Second seeded Kazakh comes from set down to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-4</p></li><li><p>Sabalenka awaits in title decider after blitzing Jessica Pegula</p></li></ul><p>One set may have already passed in her first US Open semi-final, but Elena Rybakina still had not arrived inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. While an inspired Coco Gauff blew through the first stanza covering every inch of the acrylic surface as their 22,000-strong audience screamed for the Kazakhstani’s blood, Rybakina was wild and erratic from the baseline and her peerless serve was nowhere to be seen.</p><p>Nobody reaches the summit of professional without being able to problem-solve through difficult days on court though, and Rybakina gave a brilliant showcase of the underrated toughness at the heart of her success as she coolly recovered from a set down to overpower Gauff and seal her spot in her first US Open final with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/11/elena-rybakina-beats-coco-gauff-us-open-womens-semi-final">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 Coco Gauff Tennis Sport US Open tennis US sports Fri, 11 Sep 2026 03:28:03 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/11/elena-rybakina-beats-coco-gauff-us-open-womens-semi-final Photograph: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Photograph: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Photograph: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Tumaini Carayol at Flushing Meadows 2026-09-11T03:28:03Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/10/aryna-sabalenka-jessica-pegula-us-open-semi-final-tennis <ul><li><p>Sabalenka defeats Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in semi-final</p></li><li><p>Champion extends US Open winning streak to 19</p></li><li><p>Belarusian faces Rybakina in Saturday’s final</p></li></ul><p>Aryna Sabalenka’s grip on the US Open showed no sign of weakening on Thursday night as the two-time defending champion swept past Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 to move one win from a third straight title.</p><p>The top-seeded Belarusian star finished with 29 winners to Pegula’s 12, her relentless aggression turning what had been a 50-50 fight deep into the opening set into a one-sided affair that marked her 19th consecutive victory at Flushing Meadows.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/10/aryna-sabalenka-jessica-pegula-us-open-semi-final-tennis">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 Aryna Sabalenka Sport Tennis US Open tennis US sports Fri, 11 Sep 2026 02:49:11 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/10/aryna-sabalenka-jessica-pegula-us-open-semi-final-tennis Photograph: Eduardo Muñoz/Reuters Photograph: Eduardo Muñoz/Reuters Photograph: Eduardo Muñoz/Reuters Bryan Armen Graham at Flushing Meadows 2026-09-11T02:49:11Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/10/tiafoe-v-shelton-semi-final-a-legacy-of-the-departing-gael-monfils <p>Veteran Frenchman bowed out in New York but the clash of two black players in the last four of the men’s singles is testament to his effect</p><p>The early days of this year’s US Open can be told in a series of farewells to competitors who plan to end their careers this year. The most moving of them all came in the form of Gaël Monfils’s grand departure inside Louis Armstrong Stadium <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/03/gael-monfils-learner-tien-us-open-final-grand-slam-match">against the wildly talented 20-year-old Learner Tien</a>. Tien was competing in front of his home crowd, one of the Americans capable of a deep run, but for much of his straight-sets defeat the Frenchman had the American crowd in the palm of his hands.</p><p>Beyond the massive popularity he has garnered among tennis fans, one of the most striking parts of Monfils’s long farewell was seeing how highly nearly all of his fellow professionals, particularly his fellow black players, regard him. Frances Tiafoe says he spent his youth looking up to Monfils. Arthur Fils considers Monfils his older brother. Naomi Osaka’s nickname for Monfils, one of her idols, is simply “the Goat”. They all hold Monfils in such great esteem, and for good reason.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/10/tiafoe-v-shelton-semi-final-a-legacy-of-the-departing-gael-monfils">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 US Open tennis Tennis Sport US sports Thu, 10 Sep 2026 18:51:34 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/10/tiafoe-v-shelton-semi-final-a-legacy-of-the-departing-gael-monfils Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters Tumaini Carayol at Flushing Meadows 2026-09-10T18:51:34Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/10/teo-davidov-ambidextrous-tennis-player-us-open-juniors <p>Teo Davidov doesn’t hit backhands. He serves from both sides. The 16-year-old from Denver is treating the tennis world to a wildly unorthodox style – and proving it’s more than a parlor trick</p><p>Teo Davidov always has the upper hands. An amiable junior prodigy from Denver, the 16-year-old was the oddest sight at this year’s US Open, the only player in the tournament – man, woman or junior – who hits only forehands. To be clear: it’s not that he doesn’t have a backhand or can’t hit a backhand. He’s ambidextrous and so he doesn’t bother with them.</p><p>It’s nothing personal. “To be honest, I like the traditional backhand-forehand,” he says. “I like the classiness of it. I like hitting backhands myself just to play around, just for fun.” He hits those from both wings, too.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/10/teo-davidov-ambidextrous-tennis-player-us-open-juniors">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 Sport Tennis US Open tennis US sports Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:25:57 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/10/teo-davidov-ambidextrous-tennis-player-us-open-juniors Composite: Getty Images Composite: Getty Images Composite: Getty Images Andrew Lawrence at Flushing Meadows 2026-09-10T14:25:57Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/09/coco-gauff-belief-mirra-andreeva-us-open-semi-finals <ul><li><p>American rallies from brink to defeat Andreeva</p></li><li><p>Gauff survives 12 double faults in three-set escape</p></li></ul><p>Coco Gauff has played far cleaner matches than on Wednesday afternoon. But few players today on the women’s tour have become better at finding answers on the fly when almost nothing is working for them.</p><p>The 22-year-old American’s serene march through the US Open women’s draw hit extreme turbulence early in her quarter-final clash with fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. She dropped the first four games before surrendering the opening set in 26 minutes, ending a streak of 20 consecutive sets won dating back nearly a month. She piled up 12 double faults and 42 unforced errors, the majority off a forehand in open revolt. She found herself one point from defeat not once but twice during a hairy second-set tiebreaker.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/09/coco-gauff-belief-mirra-andreeva-us-open-semi-finals">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 Coco Gauff Sport Tennis US Open tennis US sports Thu, 10 Sep 2026 01:26:48 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/09/coco-gauff-belief-mirra-andreeva-us-open-semi-finals Photograph: Sarah Yenesel/EPA Photograph: Sarah Yenesel/EPA Photograph: Sarah Yenesel/EPA Bryan Armen Graham at Flushing Meadows 2026-09-10T01:26:48Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/09/us-open-rybakina-world-no-1-zheng-qinwen-gauff-andreeva <ul><li><p>Rybakina into semis after 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory</p></li><li><p>Coco Gauff battles back to beat Mirra Andreeva</p></li></ul><p>Elena Rybakina will become the No 1 woman in the world for the first time after orchestrating a supreme recovery to reach the semi-finals of the US Open with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over the Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen.</p><p>By becoming just the 30th player in the history of the WTA to reach the No 1 ranking, Rybakina ends Aryna Sabalenka’s extended spell at the top. The Belarusian has held the position for 99 successive weeks, the sixth-longest consecutive reign in history, and 107 weeks in total.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/09/us-open-rybakina-world-no-1-zheng-qinwen-gauff-andreeva">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 US Open tennis Tennis Sport Coco Gauff Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:57:18 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/09/us-open-rybakina-world-no-1-zheng-qinwen-gauff-andreeva Photograph: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Photograph: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Photograph: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Tumaini Carayol at Flushing Meadows 2026-09-09T21:57:18Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/09/us-open-tennis-2026-quarter-finals-rybakina-zheng-andreeva-gauff-blockx-khachanov-live <p>Coco Gauff saved two match points to set up a semi-final against Elena Rybakina, who secured the world No 1 ranking with her three-set win over Zheng Qinwen</p><p><strong>Rybakina has won four of her five meetings with Zheng, including two three-set victories this year</strong>. But Zheng was earlier in her comeback from elbow surgery then, the 2024 Olympic champion is a totally different proposition now, carrying the momentum of seven successive match wins in New York having come through qualifying - and the belief she can turn around any deficit after coming from 5-0 down in sets against both Madison Keys in the third round and Iga Swiatek in the last 16.</p><p><strong>Here come Zheng and Rybakina</strong>, Zheng stepping on to court wearing headphones, not that there’s much noise to drown out yet at 11.35am New York time. Both already look extremely focused with their game faces on.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/09/us-open-tennis-2026-quarter-finals-rybakina-zheng-andreeva-gauff-blockx-khachanov-live">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 Tennis Coco Gauff US Open tennis Sport US sports Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:19:47 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/09/us-open-tennis-2026-quarter-finals-rybakina-zheng-andreeva-gauff-blockx-khachanov-live Photograph: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Photograph: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Photograph: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Katy Murrells and Niall McVeigh (in the middle) 2026-09-09T21:19:47Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/09/ben-shelton-carlos-alcaraz-us-open <p>The 23-year-old’s epic win over Carlos Alcaraz means there is a real chance of an American man winning the US Open for the first time since 2003</p><p>In yet another graveyard shift at the US Open, Ben Shelton showed he can hang around late, ousting defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in five sets in a quarter-final that started on Tuesday night <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/09/ben-shelton-dethrones-carlos-alcaraz-five-set-thriller-latest-us-open-tennis-finish">and finished on Wednesday morning</a>. When Shelton fired the final ball out wide for his seventh ace of the night, the clock on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court read 3.33am. It was the latest-ever finish at the Open and the fifth-latest finish in grand slam history.</p><p>After embracing Alcaraz at the net, he pumped his fists and greeted his coach’s box with a primal scream. Parents have a name for this: the zoomies. Then Shelton looked to the stands and gestured at his mother and his girlfriend, soccer star Trinity Rodman. In his on-court interview, he asked that his sister, Emma, be given the day off. She had spent the entire night and much of the early morning watching her little brother play.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/09/ben-shelton-carlos-alcaraz-us-open">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 Tennis US Open tennis US sports Sport Carlos Alcaraz Wed, 09 Sep 2026 14:15:00 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/09/ben-shelton-carlos-alcaraz-us-open Photograph: Heather Khalifa/AP Photograph: Heather Khalifa/AP Photograph: Heather Khalifa/AP Andrew Lawrence at Flushing Meadows 2026-09-09T14:15:00Z https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/08/ben-shelton-v-carlos-alcaraz-us-open-2026-quarter-final-live-updates <ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/09/ben-shelton-dethrones-carlos-alcaraz-five-set-thriller-latest-us-open-tennis-finish">Shelton sees off Alcaraz in latest ever US Open finish</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/08/frances-tiafoe-alex-michelsen-us-open-quarter-final">Tiafoe breaks Michelsen’s heart with epic comeback</a></p></li></ul><p><strong>First set: Shelton 3-2 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)</strong></p><p>An even breezier service game from Shelton, who holds to love. During the changeover, the cameras pan to a few of the celebrities in the audience. There’s Kevin Hart taking it in from a suite. And, of course, there’s USA and Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, Shelton’s girlfriend, watching from his player box. We’ve also heard Simone Biles is in the building somewhere.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/08/ben-shelton-v-carlos-alcaraz-us-open-2026-quarter-final-live-updates">Continue reading...</a> US Open Tennis 2026 Carlos Alcaraz US Open tennis Sport Tennis US sports Wed, 09 Sep 2026 08:07:14 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/08/ben-shelton-v-carlos-alcaraz-us-open-2026-quarter-final-live-updates Photograph: Leonardo Muñoz/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Leonardo Muñoz/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Leonardo Muñoz/AFP/Getty Images Bryan Armen Graham at Flushing Meadows 2026-09-09T08:07:14Z