US Open 2026: Alcaraz rallies, Sabalenka storms on as Day 4 delivers upsets and drama

 

New York, September 2: Day 4 of the 2026 US Open produced a compelling mixture of commanding performances, dramatic comebacks, American breakthroughs and eye-catching upsets as the second round gathered momentum at Flushing Meadows. Defending champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka underlined their title credentials, while several seeded players saw their campaigns abruptly halted. 

Alcaraz recovers in emphatic fashion

Third seed Carlos Alcaraz was given an early scare by Portugal's Jaime Faria but responded with the authority of a champion. After surrendering the opening set 4-6, the Spaniard completely turned the contest around, winning the next three sets 6-0, 6-3, 6-2.

Alcaraz produced a dazzling mixture of explosive forehands, heavy serving, deft drop shots and athletic court coverage. His victory kept alive his bid for a third consecutive US Open singles crown and was particularly impressive given his return to Grand Slam competition following a four-month absence caused by a wrist injury. 

Sabalenka ruthless in title defence

Women's top seed and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka was even more destructive. The powerful Belarusian demolished Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1, dropping only two games and completing the victory in just 53 minutes.

Sabalenka's ferocious baseline hitting and relentless aggression gave Iatcenko virtually no breathing space. The emphatic performance extended Sabalenka's remarkable US Open winning streak to 16 matches. She will meet Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova in the third round. 

Pegula leads American charge

American No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula produced a clinical performance against former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, winning 6-3, 6-1 inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Pegula's composed display contrasted sharply with Kenin's struggles, as the American favourite controlled the exchanges and advanced comfortably to the third round. 

Muchova demolishes Boulter

One of the day's most emphatic women's victories belonged to seventh seed Karolina Muchova. The Czech star dismantled Britain's Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-0 in less than an hour.

Originally scheduled for an outdoor court, the match was moved under the roof at Louis Armstrong Stadium because of rain. Muchova adapted brilliantly to the altered conditions, never allowing Boulter to settle and breaking her opponent's serve repeatedly. 

Shelton survives Hurkacz thriller

American eighth seed Ben Shelton endured a fierce battle against big-serving Pole Hubert Hurkacz before prevailing 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5.

The match showcased explosive serving and aggressive shot-making from both players. Shelton's ability to withstand Hurkacz's pressure in the third-set tiebreak and close out the fourth set represented an important display of composure on the Grand Slam stage. 

Merida produces a major upset

One of the biggest shocks came from Spain's Daniel Mérida, who stunned 23rd seed Andrey Rublev 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.

After losing a tight opening set, the 21-year-old Spaniard dramatically raised his level, winning the next three sets with impressive consistency. It was the biggest victory of his career and propelled him into the third round, where he will face American rising star Alex Michelsen. 

Michelsen ends Nakashima's run

There was another notable American upset as Alex Michelsen, ranked No. 46, defeated 16th seed Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

Michelsen recovered quickly after falling 0-2 in the opening set and then dictated the match with aggressive baseline tennis. The 22-year-old's victory represented an important statement from the next generation of American men's tennis. 

Medvedev marches on; Tsitsipas battles through

Former champion Daniil Medvedev continued his progress with a straight-sets 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 victory over American Sebastian Gorzny.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, meanwhile, showed considerable resilience to overcome Lloyd Harris 6-7(1), 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-4, reaching the US Open third round for the first time in five years. 

Other notable men's results

Several other players advanced in impressive fashion:

Frances Tiafoe defeated Rei Sakamoto 6-3, 7-6(2), 7-5.

Denis Shapovalov swept past Luca Van Assche 6-0, 6-4, 7-6(7).

Jiri Lehecka beat Toby Samuel 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

Alexander Bublik dispatched Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-1, 6-1.

Tommy Paul defeated Dino Prizmic 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Matteo Berrettini suffered a surprising defeat to Mariano Navone, who won 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4). 

Jovic, Townsend and Zheng shine

American youngsters also provided plenty of encouragement. Iva Jovic, the No. 14 seed, overcame Magdalena Frech 7-5, 6-3 after a rain-interrupted contest featuring 10 breaks of serve. The 18-year-old has now reached the second round at the US Open for the third consecutive year. 

Taylor Townsend was particularly ruthless, crushing Taylah Preston 6-1, 6-1 in only 48 minutes. She struck eight aces and won all 23 of her first-serve points. 

American wild card Michael Zheng also impressed, defeating Fabian Marozsan 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in his first US Open main draw. 

Rain again disrupts proceedings

As has become a recurring feature of the opening days, rain disrupted the schedule and forced several matches indoors or into later slots. Yet the weather could not dampen an action-packed fourth day, with the tournament increasingly beginning to reveal its genuine contenders and dangerous outsiders. 

Day 4 verdict

Day 4 belonged to the defending champions and the emerging challengers. Alcaraz showed the resilience of a champion after losing the opening set, while Sabalenka was utterly merciless. Shelton survived a heavyweight battle, Pegula and Muchova advanced impressively, and the exits of Rublev and Nakashima demonstrated that the men's draw remains particularly volatile.

With the third round approaching, the **2026 US Open is already producing the high-octane tennis, unexpected twists and compelling storylines worthy of the year's final Grand Slam.**