US Open Semifinals Set: American Stars Shine

The US Open semifinals are locked in, and New York has its storyline: America is guaranteed a men’s finalist and could yet own the women’s draw, too.

This was no ordinary quarterfinal slate. It was a slog, a late‑night epic that rewrote the record books and blew the men’s bracket wide open.

Shelton stuns Alcaraz in a midnight classic

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is out.
Ben Shelton did it the hard way.

The American left‑hander sent the Arthur Ashe crowd into the small hours, outlasting Alcaraz in five sets in the longest match in US Open history. Four and a half hours. Past 3 a.m. in New York. A defending champion dragged into the deep water by a player who refused to blink.

Shelton’s reward is a semifinal that feels more like a neighborhood fight than a Grand Slam showdown.

He faces Frances Tiafoe, the Maryland native who had to survive his own all‑American test. Tiafoe was pushed hard by Alex Michelsen in the quarters but found a way through, leaning on his athleticism and big‑point nerve to edge another rising U.S. threat.

One of Shelton or Tiafoe will play for the US Open title. That’s already history for the home crowd. The only question is which American steps into the role of leading man on Sunday.

Zverev cruises, Khachanov advances on the other side

On the opposite half of the men’s draw, there was no such drama.

Top seed Alexander Zverev, fresh off his French Open triumph, barely broke stride in dismissing Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets. It was clinical, controlled, and ruthless — the kind of performance that screams favorite.

Waiting for him is Karen Khachanov, who moved through in far less satisfying fashion. The powerful Russian advanced when Alexander Blockx retired injured in their quarterfinal, cutting short a contest that had promised a sterner test.

So the men’s semifinals are set:

• No. 1 Alexander Zverev vs. Karen Khachanov – Friday, Sept. 11, 3 p.m. ET
• No. 11 Frances Tiafoe vs. No. 8 Ben Shelton – Friday, Sept. 11, 7 p.m. ET

A dominant No. 1 seed on one side. A guaranteed American finalist on the other. The balance between order and chaos feels just right.

Sabalenka and Pegula collide in heavyweight women’s clash

The women’s draw carries its own American intrigue.

Jessica Pegula, the No. 3 seed, handled fellow American Emma Navarro with the assurance of a player who has grown tired of quarterfinal exits. She controlled the tempo, managed the big points, and walked off court looking every bit like a contender.

Now comes the mountain: Aryna Sabalenka.

The world No. 1 and defending champion powered past Wimbledon winner Linda Nosková to return to the New York stage she owns. Sabalenka’s game still looks built for this tournament — heavy hitting, fearless from the baseline, and unshaken by the moment.

Pegula knows the assignment. Beat Sabalenka, and the door to a first major final finally swings open.

Gauff fights back to set up Rybakina showdown

On the other side of the women’s bracket, Coco Gauff reminded everyone why she lifted this trophy in 2023.

The No. 4 seed had to dig deep against No. 5 Mirra Andreeva, rallying from behind to take control of the match and ride the crowd’s energy. It was a champion’s response: when the match tightened, Gauff rose.

Next up is Elena Rybakina, the new standard‑bearer at the top of the rankings.

The No. 2 seed became the world’s top‑ranked player by beating Qinwen Zheng, a result that underlined both her consistency and her firepower. Rybakina’s serve, her clean ball‑striking, her calm — they all travel well to New York’s hard courts.

The women’s semifinals line up like this:

• No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka vs. No. 3 Jessica Pegula – Thursday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• No. 2 Elena Rybakina vs. No. 4 Coco Gauff – Thursday, Sept. 10, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Two established champions. Two Americans chasing a home‑slam dream. Every match now feels like a final.

The quarterfinals have already delivered a record‑breaking epic and a defending champion’s fall. With the semifinals set, the question in New York is simple: will this US Open belong to the world No. 1s, or is this the year the American surge crashes straight through the door?