US Open Finds Its Rhythm On Fifth Day of New York City Fortnight

US Open
Arthur Ashe Stadium at US Open (photo: Michael Dickens)

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, September 4, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

After four consecutive days of rain-interrupted tennis, which stretched the first round of singles out an extra day and included the upset of 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic by Mariano Navone and the near-upset of No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev by Lorenzo Sonego after nearly five hours in the opening round – coupled with some very late-night/early-morning finishes on Arthur Ashe Stadium like the Zverev-Sonego tussle at nearly 2 a.m. – the US Open finally found its rhythm on Day 5 of the New York City fortnight.

As players battled through humid conditions, the skies remained dry and it enabled the order of play to go on as planned without any interruptions, which no doubt pleased fans who flocked to Flushing Meadows on Thursday for the fifth day of main-draw play in the year’s fourth Grand Slam. Ditto tournament organizers, who have been challenged with keeping the year’s last major on schedule during the first week.

Khachanov upsets No. 3 seed Auger-Aliassime

There’s no better time than a major to garner a first Top-10 win of the season. Just ask Karen Khachanov. The 50th-ranked Russian upset World No. 4 and third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, three hours and 17 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium Thursday afternoon. Auger-Aliassime became the second Top-5 seed in the men’s singles draw to be banished following the opening-night defeat of No. 4 seed Novak Djokovic.

Since bowing in the third round at Wimbledon, Khachanov had gone 0-3 during the North American hard-court swing leading up to the US Open. Last year at this time, the 30-year-old Khachanov was ranked inside the Top 10.

By defeating the two-time US Open semifinalist Auger-Aliassime, Khachanov has advanced to at least the third round at all four Grand Slam events this season. He improved to 18-18 in 2026 by striking 12 aces and 37 overall winners that helped to offset 43 winners by the Canadian No. 1. Khachanov outpointed Auger-Aliassime 136-103.

“I am not sure but maybe he had some physical issues and that is part of our sport,” Khachanov said during his on-court interview. “I wish him to feel better and speedy recovery if he is injured, I don’t know. What I can say from my side is I tried to give my best performance. Fighting and I am super happy to get this win.”

The loss denied Auger-Aliassime from reaching his 50th career Grand Slam victory. Meanwhile, it’s the first time Khachanov has reached the US Open third round since he was a semifinalist in 2022. Next, he will face 97th-ranked Benjamin Bonzi of France, who upset No. 32 seed Ignacio Buse of Peru, 6-2, 7-6 (4), 6-0, in an hour and 57 minutes on Court 13 in back of 44 winners.

“The last month didn’t go well for me, so we have been practicing and I am sure I am fit,” Khachanov said. “The last tournament of the American swing, with the US Open, [I’m] coming with the mindset to perform well and to try to take one step at a time.”

 

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Swiatek makes it a quick day on the Grandstand

Since the start of the 2020 season, Poland’s Iga Swiatek is the only man or woman who has reached at least the third round of every major they’ve played. On Thursday, the eighth-seeded Swiatek advanced to the third round with her economical 6-3, 6-2 victory over Nadia Podoroska of Argentina in an hour and 11 minutes on the Grandstand.

Swiatek won 78 percent (32 of 41) of her first-serve points, converted three of four break points, added 14 winners and outpointed Podoroska 61-40.

Asked to describe her mindset, Swiatek said during her on-court interview: “I’m just trying to enjoy today!”

Next, Swiatek will face No. 25 seed Marie Bouzkova of Czechia, who advanced with a 6-2, 6-2 win over 131st-ranked British qualifier Harriet Dart in one hour and 17 minutes on Court 11.

Alcaraz improves to 9-0 at majors this season

Defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz won his second-straight match on the comeback trail by downing 72nd-ranked Jaime Faria of Portugal, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2, in two hours and 40 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium Wednesday evening.

Competing in just his second match since suffering a right wrist injury in mid-April, the World No. 3 from Spain has played pain-free tennis. Alcaraz opened defense of his US Open title with a straight-set win over Roman Safiullin of Russia on Monday.

Against Faria, Alcaraz won 72 percent (46 of 64) of his first-serve points, hit 43 winners, made 29 unforced errors and converted seven of 12 break points. He outpointed Faria 125-86.

“The first set, I was feeling great, had a break point and a pretty easy forehand for me that I missed. I was in a rush. I didn’t take time. I wasn’t patient,” Alcaraz said during his on-court interview. “That cost me the break. Against someone like Jaime, he’s serving like 140 [mph], every serve is really difficult.

“After that, I just tried to be focused and stay calm and think that good things are going to happen again.”

 

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Around the US Open

Women

With the top half of the women’s draw – including No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka, No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula, No. 6 seed Linda Noskova and No. 7 Karolina Muchova – all advancing to the third round with quick and easy second-round victories on Wednesday – 54 minutes for Sabalenka, 56 minutes for Pegula, 58 minutes for Muchova, and an hour and 18 minutes for Noskova – it was the lower half’s turn on Thursday to play for the second time.

Notable results:

• Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka of Japan, seeded 13th this year, earned her 80th career Grand Slam main-draw victory with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 victory over No. 42 Katerina Siniakova of Czechia on Arthur Ashe Stadium in back of 11 aces and 31 overall winners.

“I just told myself that it’s an honor to play on this court. … It’s a big honor for me. I just want to keep playing in front of you guys if possible. Just try to fight as best as I can,” Osaka said during her on-court interview.

Asked what is it about playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium that brings out the best in her, Osaka said: “I think the energy. You guys are very lively. I’ve also had the experience of growing up here and playing on this court many times. Whenever I step out here it’s just really fun.”

Next, Osaka will face No. 23 seed Elise Mertens of Belgium, who eased past No. 86 Maria Timofeeva of Uzbekistan, 6-2, 7-6 (5), in one hour and 48 minutes on Court 7.

• No. 10 seed Amanda Anismova of the United States, a finalist at last year’s US Open, advanced with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory over 18-year-old Austrian Lilli Tagger, ranked 49th, in two hours and one minute on the Grandstand.

At a set each, Anisimova broke to go ahead 3-0 in the decider and coasted. She finished with 30 winners and outpointed the Tagger 94-77. It was Anisimova’s 17th hard-court win in 22 outings this season.

Next, Anisimova will face No. 24 seed Anastasia Potapova of Austria, who was a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 winner over 124th-ranked French wild card Leolia Jeanjean in two hours and 11 minues on Court 6.

• No. 17 seed Alexandra Eala of the Philippines delighted her fans by advancing to the third round at the US Open for the first time with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over No. 46 Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine in 64 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium. With her 40th triumph of the season secured, Eala is the first Filipino player to reach the third round at the US Open.

Eala’s victory was a reversal of fortune after losing a tough and lengthy three-setter to the Ukrainian at the WTA Internationaux de Strasbourg in May. This time, she won the first nine points of the second-round match and matched on from there.

“My patience and consistency of my focus, I think that was the key to winning the match today,” she said during her on-court interview.

The World No. 18 Eala, who is playing at a career-high ranking after recently winning the DC Open in Washington, D.C., earlier this summer, hit 19 winners and outpointed her opponent 59-35. Next, Eala will No. 14 seed Iva Jovic of the United States, who needed four match points to wrap up a 6-4, 6-4 win over 104th-ranked British qualifier Francesca Jones in one hour and 54 minutes on Stadium 17.

• Former US Open finalist Madison Keys of the United States, seeded 22nd this year, saved five match points against No. 73 Anna Bondar of Hungary and survived with a 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (10-5) victory that stretched across two hours and 58 minutes on Stadium 17 for her 35th victory of the season.

Keys saved a pair of match points down 2-5 in the final set, then three more while trailing 3-5. She won on her first match-point opportunity to advance to the third round against 121st-ranked Chinese qualifier and Paris Olympic Games gold medalist Zheng Qinwen.

• Other winners include: No. 4 seed Coco Gauff of the United States, No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva of Russia, 34th-ranked Nikola Bartunkova of Czechia, No. 40 Cristina Bucsa of Spain and 58th-ranked Yuliia Starodubtseva of Ukraine.

Men

Meanwhile, four American men in the lower half of the draw are through to the third round, led by No. 8 seed Ben Shelton, No. 11 seed Frances Tiafoe and No. 20 seed Tommy Paul. On Thursday, No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz and No. 14 seed Learner Tien took court in an effort join their compatriots. 

Notable results:

• World No. 10 Taylor Fritz dropped just two games in defeating No. 95 Mattia Bellucci of Italy, 6-0, 6-1, 6-1, in an hour and 38 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium during the afternoon session. Fritz built up on his straight-set victory over fellow American Darwin Blanch in the opening round.

“I came out feeling really good,” Fritz said during his on-court interview. “I felt very confident with the way I was playing. The whole match I didn’t have many nerves. I was just playing aggressively and playing really well. It just felt great.”

Fritz struck 28 winners – including 11 aces – and won 86 percent (30 of 35) of his first-serve points. He saved all three break points he faced, converted eight of 15 break points against Bellucci and outpointed his opponent 89-45.

The American No. 1 Fritz, who improved to 33-15 this season – including 19-5 in the United States – is bidding to become the first American man to win a major since Andy Roddick in 2003. Next, he will face No. 24 seed Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, who went the distance to gut out a 5-7, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over No. 44 Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany in three hours and 54 minutes on Court 5. 

• World No. 6 Flavio Cobolli of Italy rallied from a set down against 180th-ranked Australian qualifier Tristan Schoolkate to pull out a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 win in two hours and 42 minutes on the Grandstand. The victory moved Cobolli into the US Open third round for the third-straight year.

Cobolli ripped 43 winners – including 10 aces – and converted four of six break-point opportunities. He outpointed Schoolkate 119-98. Next, Cobolli will face No. 28 seed Alexander Blockx of Belgium, who fought past No. 83 Marco Trungelliti of Argentina, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, in two hours and 41 minutes on Court 5.

During his on-court interview, Cobolli was in a playful mood. “Being Flavio Cobolli is always … I mean, sometimes it’s good. Sometimes it’s not. Today, I love to be Flavio Cobolli.”

• In another Italian-Aussie matchup, No. 13 seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy was upset by 123rd-ranked Australian wild card Dane Sweeny, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, in two hours and 36 minutes on Stadium 17. The Italian No. 3’s serve was broken eight times during the second-round match and he committed 40 unforced errors.

Sweeny collected 36 winners and outpointed Musetti 119-94 in achieving his third career major victory. He’s the first men’s wild card to advance to the US Open third round since 2023.

“I’m so grateful to be competing in Grand Slams. I put a lot of work in. Tennis is such a roller coaster. I’m grateful to play in front of this crowd and soaking up this moment,” Sweeny said during his on-court interview.

Next, Sweeny will meet another, Italian in the third round, No. 21 seed Luciano Darderi, who advanced over 134th-ranked Czech qualifier Dalibor Svrcina, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, in three hours and 44 minutes on Court 12.

• Other winners include: No. 14 seed Learner Tien of the United States, No. 17 seed Jakub Mensik of Czechia, No. 25 seed Alejandro Tabilo of Chile, No. 31 seed Zizou Bergs of Belgium, No. 70 Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands, No. 87 Arthur Gea of France and 107th-ranked American Michael Zheng.

Thursday’s US Open results

Friday’s US Open order of play

By the numbers

• Carlos Alcaraz, a winner of two US Open singles titles – in 2022 and 2025 – is attempting to become the first man successfully defend the US Open title since Roger Federer won five straight from 2004-08. He will face China’s Wu Yibing, ranked 113th, in the third round on Friday afternoon.

• Mariano Navone of Argentina is through to the third round for the first time in a hard-court major. First, the 49th-ranked Navone upset World No. 5 Novak Djokovic of Serbia in five grueling sets in the first round on Arthur Ashe Stadium Sunday night that garnered plenty of attention. Then, the 25-year-old Argentine followed it up by taking out former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini of Italy, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4), on Court 12 on Wednesday. Next for Navone is an-Argentine battle with No. 27 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry on Friday.

“Quotable …”

• “I like the conditions playing here in the United States. New York is an unbelievable city. I always like the crowds and the atmosphere here. Tonight was amazing again.”

– No. 70 Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands, who upset World No. 7 and sixth seed Alex de Minaur of  Australia, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2, in two hours and 43 minutes on the Grandstand Thursday evening behind 27 winners and five breaks of de Minaur’s serve.

 

 

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