Carlos Alcaraz continues to make solid progress in her effort to return after injury, while defending women's singles champion Aryna Sabalenka also advances straight to the 3rd round of the US Open 2026.
Alcaraz is the focus in the series of matches at the Arthur Ashe Central Stadium on September 3. The 2nd seed from Spain lost the first set before exploding and crushing Jaime Faria with a score of 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 with classy shots, dispelling concerns about his wrist injury.
I want to solve the match quickly... I'm not lying," Alcaraz shared after 2 hours and 40 minutes of competition, "But in the end, I realized I had just played 4 sets. This is really good for me to retest my fitness, body and feelings after a long match.
A few hours earlier on the main court, Sabalenka had an even more overwhelming performance. The world No. 1 female tennis player from Belarus crushed her Russian opponent, Polina Iatcenko, 6-1, before responding harshly to a question at a press conference before the tournament.
Are you kidding me? Party, fun... why are you talking and thinking like that? What kind of question is that?", she expressed frustration, "Just because I posted some activities with brands that you think I'm going to party without exercising?".
Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 champion, was a bit distracted during his 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 victory over home player Sebastian Gorzny, who received a wildcard, on Louis Armstrong Court when two birds suddenly landed on the net.
The US tennis quartet advances
Previously, No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula took only 56 minutes to defeat the 2020 Australian Open champion, Sofia Kenin, 6-3, 6-1 in the opening match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, thereby earning a place to face the 2021 runner-up, Leylah Fernandez.
Leaving the field in less than an hour is not always the case. So I will enjoy this quick victory," said Pegula, runner-up in 2024.
Seeded No. 8 Ben Shelton went through a more difficult match against Hubert Hurkacz of Poland and won 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5 thanks to enthusiastic cheers from home fans.
The Montreal champion is becoming one of the biggest hopes to end the 23-year-long Grand Slam title drought of US men's tennis, amid the absence of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner due to injury.
Emma Navarro defeated compatriot Caty McNally 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, and Frances Tiafoe overcame Rei Sakamoto 6-3, 7-6(2), 7-5.
However, the host country's joy was not complete when the 2017 champion, Sloane Stephens, lost 6-1, 7-5 to 11th seed Marta Kostyuk.
Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova easily defeated Thailand's Lanlana Tararudee 6-4, 6-2 in an effort to aim for her second consecutive Grand Slam title. Meanwhile, runner-up Karolina Muchova defeated Katie Boulter with an overwhelming score of 6-1, 6-0.
With 14 matches still outstanding after the weather incidents on Tuesday, the organizers continued to face difficulties as it rained again in the afternoon at Flushing Meadows, causing matches to be interrupted.
However, in the end, the US Open Organizing Committee could breathe a sigh of relief after the matches were still resolved.
