American Favorites Advance as US Open Reaches Climax at Flushing Meadows

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The US Open is approaching its climax, and American tennis fans couldn’t have asked for much more excitement.

Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe have guaranteed an American presence in the men’s final, while Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula remain alive in the women’s draw.

Add a thrilling American run in women’s doubles, and Flushing Meadows is preparing for a huge final few days.

Shelton Stuns Alcaraz in a Five-Set Classic

Ben Shelton produced one of the biggest victories of his career by eliminating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.

The match had just about everything.

Shelton recovered after losing the opening set and eventually defeated Alcaraz 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7).

The final point didn’t arrive until 3:33 a.m., making it the latest finish in US Open history.

Shelton sealed the victory in fitting style with a 146 mph ace.

It was also his first career victory over a Top 3 opponent and made him the first American man to defeat Alcaraz at a Grand Slam.

An All-American Semifinal Awaits

Shelton’s reward is a semifinal against fellow American Frances Tiafoe.

Tiafoe had his own dramatic route into the final four, recovering from two sets down against Alex Michelsen before completing a five-set victory.

That guarantees the United States a player in the men’s singles final.

For American tennis, that matters.

No American man has won the US Open singles title since Andy Roddick defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero in the 2003 final.

Taylor Fritz reached the championship match in 2024, but the long wait for another American men’s champion continued.

Either Shelton or Tiafoe will now get another opportunity to end it.

Gauff Produces an Incredible Escape

Coco Gauff’s quarterfinal looked dangerously close to ending in disappointment.

Mirra Andreeva dominated the opening set, but Gauff refused to disappear.

The American saved two match points during a dramatic second-set tiebreak before taking control of the deciding set and winning 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2.

Interestingly, Gauff later said Tiafoe’s comeback the previous day had helped inspire her own fight.

She now returns to the US Open semifinals for the first time since winning the title in 2023.

Rybakina Is Waiting

Gauff’s next challenge will be Elena Rybakina.

The No. 2 seed also needed a comeback in her quarterfinal, recovering from a set down to defeat Qinwen Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

The victory came with an additional reward.

By reaching the semifinals, Rybakina secured enough ranking points to become the new women’s world No. 1 when the rankings are updated.

That adds another layer to an already fascinating semifinal.

Gauff will have the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd behind her, while Rybakina arrives with both strong form and a major career milestone already secured.

Sabalenka and Pegula Meet Again

The other women’s semifinal brings together Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula.

Sabalenka entered New York as world No. 1 and the two-time defending champion. She battled past Linda Noskova to keep her hopes of winning a third consecutive US Open title alive.

Pegula, meanwhile, survived another difficult all-American encounter against Emma Navarro.

There is plenty of history between the semifinalists.

Sabalenka defeated Pegula in the 2024 US Open final, so the American has an opportunity to reverse one of the biggest results of her career on the same stage.

Americans Make Noise in Doubles Too

The home success isn’t limited to singles.

Top seeds Kateřina Siniaková and Taylor Townsend reached the women’s doubles final after defeating Elise Mertens and Diana Shnaider 6-0, 7-6(8).

They will face Americans Robin Montgomery and Ashlyn Krueger.

Montgomery and Krueger produced one of the doubles tournament’s best comebacks, recovering from 2-8 down in the deciding match tiebreak against Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani.

They won eight consecutive points to complete the victory.

New York Is Ready for the Final Push

The final stages of a Grand Slam usually bring pressure.

This year, they are also bringing plenty of American hope.

Shelton or Tiafoe will reach the men’s final. Gauff and Pegula both remain capable of reaching the women’s championship match. Townsend is chasing another major doubles title, while Montgomery and Krueger are attempting to complete a remarkable home run.

After nearly two weeks of tennis, Flushing Meadows is down to its biggest matches.

And for the American crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, there are still plenty of reasons to believe a home champion could be waiting at the end.