Six Americans Reach U.S. Open Singles Quarterfinals

The quarterfinals of the U.S. Open singles draws are set, and six Americans, three men and three women, find themselves one win away from the semifinals in Flushing. 

On the men’s side, eighth-seeded Ben Shelton is back in the U.S. Open final eight since his semifinal run in 2023. Shelton defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 in his Round of 16 showdown, putting him into a matchup against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. 

“I think it will be a great match,” said Shelton. “I’m excited for the battle. [I] never played him here in New York, and obviously in the position that I want to be in.”

There is guaranteed to be an American man in the semifinals as 11th seed Frances Tiafoe takes on unseeded Alex Michelsen, the first man born in 2004 or later to reach a major quarterfinal.

Tiafoe defeated former champion and seventh-seed Daniil Medvedev in straight sets in his previous round, while Michelsen continued his run of straight-set wins in Queens with a 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-4 to book his spot in the final eight. 

“Alex is a hell of a player. He’s young. He’s going to [be] juiced up,” said Tiafoe of Michelsen. “We’ve played a few times. We have a good relationship. We’re always laughing and joking. I’m excited to face him. He’s going to be excited to face me. Let the best man win.”

The two other quarterfinals on the men’s side will pit top-seed Alexander Zverev against Botic van de Zandschulp of Netherlands,  while Karen Khachanov will play 28th seed Alexander Blockx. 

Three American women in the final eight is the most at the U.S. Open since 2017 when all four semifinalists hailed from the United States. 

Leading the charge is 2023 champion Coco Gauff, who knocked off fellow American Iva Jovic in straight sets on Monday night. Gauff will play French Open champion and fifth-seed Mirra Andreeva who is seeking her first U.S. Open semifinal. 

“Mirra is someone that I always have tough matches with,” Gauff said. “I think I only remember one of them being smooth here, and that was like three years ago when she was super young. She’s obviously in a different mindset now at the top of the game coming off of a Grand Slam win. I expect her to approach the match completely differently than before in the past. I think it’s going to be a really athletic, tough match. Hopefully I can take my opportunities when I get them.”

Jessica Pegula is into her third straight U.S. Open quarterfinal and will play fellow American Emma Navarro for a spot in the final four. 

“Jess is really tough,” said Navarro. “I have lost to her a few times now, but there’s always that time when you get over the hump and get the win, so hopefully that will be in a couple of days.”

In the other two quarterfinals on the women’s side, top-seed and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka will match up against sixth-seed Linda Noskova, the Wimbledon champion, of Czechia. Second-seed Elena Rybakina will play qualifier Qinwen Zheng of China, the former Australian Open finalist and Olympic Gold Medal. 

If Rybakina wins, she will become the new world number one.