US Open sends three men to quarterfinals
Three American men, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and Alex Michelsen, reached the quarterfinals of the 2026 US Open, matching the largest U.S. men’s quarterfinal contingent at the tournament since 1995.
Tiafoe advanced to the semifinals on September 8, and Shelton joined him early on September 9. Their all-American semifinal on September 11 guarantees a U.S. men’s finalist and keeps alive the country’s pursuit of its first men’s Grand Slam singles title since 2003.
US Open sees deepest U.S. run since 1995
Three American men reached the quarterfinals, tying the highest tournament total since five advanced that far in 1995. The United States also had three men’s quarterfinalists in 1996, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2023.
American depth extended across both singles draws. Six U.S. players, three men and three women, reached the quarterfinals, producing the country’s largest representation at that stage since eight advanced in 2002.
American men send five into fourth round
Five American men reached the fourth round before the field narrowed. Michelsen, Tommy Paul, Shelton, Tiafoe, and Learner Tien made 2026 the first US Open with that many since 1995.
Eight American men reached the fourth round in 1995, including Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. Those two later met in the final, where Sampras captured his third US Open championship.
Alex Michelsen makes first major quarterfinal
Alex Michelsen reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal by defeating Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets on September 6. The 22-year-old Californian entered New York unseeded and ranked No. 46.
Michelsen reached the last eight without dropping a set through four matches. His path included victories over No. 16 seed Brandon Nakashima and No. 27 seed Etcheverry before facing Tiafoe.
Frances Tiafoe rallies into semifinals
Frances Tiafoe reached his third US Open semifinal, recovering from two sets down against Michelsen. The No. 11 seed completed a five-set comeback at Arthur Ashe Stadium on September 8.
Michelsen moved within one game of victory in the third set, but Tiafoe recovered to take the final three. The Maryland native previously reached the semifinals there in 2022 and 2024.
Ben Shelton beats champion Alcaraz
Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in five sets to reach the semifinals. Their quarterfinal lasted 4 hours and 28 minutes and ended at 3:33 a.m., the latest finish in US Open history.
Shelton entered the match 0-3 against Alcaraz, who had won his previous 13 Grand Slam matches against American men. The 23-year-old won the deciding match tiebreak and secured a semifinal meeting with Frances Tiafoe.
Ben Shelton adds another major semifinal
Ben Shelton entered the 2026 US Open with deep Grand Slam experience. He had reached the semifinals at the 2023 US Open and 2025 Australian Open before returning to New York.
Shelton also reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2025 and the Australian Open in 2026. Before facing Alcaraz, he had won 12 sets while dropping three across his first four matches.
Frances Tiafoe builds US Open record
Frances Tiafoe has produced his deepest Grand Slam results in New York. After defeating Michelsen, he improved to 29-11 at the US Open and reached his third US Open semifinal.
Tiafoe’s previous New York semifinals came in 2022 and 2024. His 29 US Open match wins exceed his total at any of the other three Grand Slam tournaments individually.
US Open sets Tiafoe and Shelton semifinal
Tiafoe and Shelton are scheduled to meet in an all-American semifinal on September 11. Their matchup guarantees another American finalist, following Taylor Fritz’s run to the championship match in 2024.
Fritz defeated Tiafoe in the 2024 semifinal, the first all-American men’s Grand Slam semifinal since 2005. The 2026 pairing gives the US Open another semifinal matchup between two American men.
Taylor Fritz sets recent U.S. benchmark
Taylor Fritz reached the 2024 US Open final after defeating Tiafoe in five sets. The victory made him the first American man to reach a major singles final since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009.
Fritz faced Jannik Sinner for the championship and lost in straight sets. His run ended a 15-year wait for an American men’s major finalist, but the country’s title drought continued.
Fun fact: Ben Shelton blasted a 149 mph serve during the tournament, the fastest recorded at the 2026 US Open through three rounds.
Andy Roddick remains last U.S. major winner
Andy Roddick remains the most recent American man to win a Grand Slam singles title. He defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets to capture the 2003 US Open championship.
Roddick’s victory began a 23-year major title wait for American men entering the closing rounds in 2026. Either Shelton or Tiafoe will reach the final, and neither owns a championship.
US Open field changes before quarterfinals
The 2026 men’s field changed before the American quarterfinal surge. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner missed the tournament with a knee injury, while Alcaraz returned after nearly five months away.
American players still defeated established opponents. Tiafoe beat 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev, Shelton overcame Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alcaraz, while Michelsen reached the quarterfinals without dropping a set through four matches.
Naomi Osaka turned her US Open entrance into another style statement with a look inspired by Allen Iverson. Curious how the NBA icon influenced her outfit? Dive into the story behind Osaka’s attention-grabbing tribute.
US Open title remains two wins away
The American breakthrough remains unfinished because Shelton and Tiafoe must decide which player reaches the final. Their semifinal is scheduled for September 11, with the championship match set for September 13.
The semifinal winner will need one more victory to become the first American men’s Grand Slam singles champion since Roddick in 2003. The men’s title remains undecided at Flushing Meadows.
Venus Williams has added her voice to growing concerns over the US Open’s late-night schedule. Curious why midnight matches are drawing criticism from players? Dive into the scheduling debate surrounding New York’s biggest tennis event.
Can Ben Shelton or Frances Tiafoe finally end the long U.S. men’s major title drought, or does another obstacle remain? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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