Grand Slam News from the 2026 US Open
By Noah Zimmerman
noah@queensledger.com
FLUSHING – The US Open is in full swing, with dazzling displays, ferocious volleys, and a handful of fascinating twists and turns. Some of the world’s biggest tennis stars have blown away their competition while other greats faltered. Overall it’s been an exciting competition as the 2026 Grand Slam circuit nears its finale.
Djokovic out in Round 1
Number four-ranked Novak Djokovic exited the Open in the first round, something he hasn’t done in a major event in 20 years. The four-time US Open and 24-time Grand Slam winner faced a marathon in his opening match, the longest first-round match of his career.
Djokovic’s five-set duel with Mariano Navone lasted over four and a half hours. The 25-year-old Argentinian won a first-set tiebreaker and bounced back from Djokovic’s two-set response with 6-2 and 6-1 wins in the final two sets. At the end of the battle, Djokovic was in clear discomfort, with the younger Navone able to find significant separation for the win.
Alcaraz back on the attack
Carlos Alcaraz is back! The reigning US Open winner returned from injury for the final Grand Slam event of the year, taking his first singles matchup in straight sets (6-4, 6-4, 6-4). The Spanish star also formed an interesting mixed doubles pair with tennis icon Serena Williams, but the duo didn’t advance past the quarterfinals, falling to the #4 pairing of Belinda Bencic (Switzerland) and Flavio Cobolli (Italy).
Alcaraz advanced to play Jaime Faria in a second round matchup last Wednesday, losing the first set 6-4 but sweeping the next three. Faria’s first set was the only one Alcaraz lost in his first four matchups, and the Spaniard got his revenge – Alcaraz shut out Faria 6-0 in the second set, with the Portuguese challenger only winning five games in the final two rounds.
After Alcaraz beat Wu Yibing and Tommy Paul in straight sets, he faced off against top-ranked American Ben Shelton on Tuesday night in the quarterfinals. That match went the distance and lasted well past 3:00 am. Shelton was just barely able to get the best of the defending champion, ending Alcaraz’s run ahead of the final weekend of play.
Top-ranked women dominate
Of the top 18 ranked women’s players, 17 won their first-round matchups in straight sets. Unsurprisingly, top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka won all eight of her sets across her first four rounds of play. Recent challengers Kamilla Rakhimova and Taylor Townsend each managed to win seven games against the two-time US Open singles champion, but there was no stopping Sabalenka as she cruised into Tuesday’s quarterfinal matchup with #6 Linda Noskova – her first match against ranked opposition. That was a real test for the back-to-back defending champion – both the first and third sets were won by Sabalenka in a tiebreaker, with Noskova taking the second set.
Top-ranked American Jessica Pegula opened her tournament run with similar dominance, defeating Elena-Gabriella Ruse 6-3, 6-2 and Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-1. After getting smoked in her first set in the third round, Pegula bounced back to win the next two sets against #31 ranked Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3. She went on to beat #16 Sorana Cirstea in straight sets to set up Tuesday’s quarterfinal clash against #27 Emma Navarro. Pegula dropped the first set but bounced back to win the next two, advancing to play the top-seeded Sabalenka.
Coco Gauff, the other top-ranked American woman, also made a strong push to the quarterfinals. Like Sabalenka, Gauff won all eight the sets she played – only one of those sets went to a tiebreaker. Her quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday was a tough one, paired with #5-ranked Mirra Andreeva. After losing the first set, Gauff managed to survive a tiebreaker in the second, going on to win the final set 6-2.
