The 2026 US Open has reached its business end at Flushing Meadows, and the tournament is delivering exactly the drama fans expect from the year’s final Grand Slam. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka have both powered through to the quarterfinals, while a string of thrilling five-set battles has already produced several of the standout matches of the 2026 tennis season.
Quick Answer: Where the Tournament Stands
As of this week, the fourth round has concluded and the US Open 2026 quarterfinals are underway, running from September 8 to 9. The men’s singles final is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, while the women’s singles final takes place on Saturday, September 12. The tournament runs overall from August 24 to September 13, 2026, and this year’s edition offered a record $108 million in total player compensation — a 21 percent increase on 2025.
Men’s Draw: Alcaraz’s Path to a Repeat Title
Carlos Alcaraz has looked increasingly sharp as the tournament has progressed, and his straight-sets win over Tommy Paul in the round of 16 was arguably his best performance since returning from a wrist injury earlier in the year. His forehand was as dangerous as ever, and he capitalized on Paul’s serving struggles at key moments.
Alcaraz now meets Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals, a rematch of sorts given Shelton’s own excellent form — the American dominated Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets to reach the last eight, winning 84 percent of his first-serve points and firing 11 aces while committing just 17 unforced errors, his lowest total since winning the National Bank Open last month.
Other Men’s Quarterfinal Storylines
Elsewhere in the draw, Frances Tiafoe extended his remarkable record at Louis Armstrong Stadium to 10-0 with a win over Daniil Medvedev, while Alexander Zverev completed a sweep of major quarterfinals in 2026 with a straight-sets win over Luciano Darderi. Zverev now faces Alexander Blockx, who beat Francisco Cerundolo in four sets to make Belgian tennis history. Karen Khachanov also advanced, outlasting Learner Tien in a five-set epic, and will face Botic van de Zandschulp, who himself survived match points in a marathon five-hour battle.
Women’s Draw: Sabalenka’s Bid for a Third Straight Title
On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka remains on course for a third consecutive US Open title after fighting past Linda Noskova in a gripping quarterfinal that went to a deciding-set tiebreak, winning 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 (10-7). The match had a dramatic subplot: a roof-closure delay at Arthur Ashe Stadium forced Noskova to serve into difficult shadow conditions during a crucial stretch of the third set.
Sabalenka’s win keeps her firmly among the favorites, alongside Jessica Pegula, who takes on Emma Navarro in another high-profile quarterfinal matchup. Pegula’s consistency throughout the tournament has made her one of the most dangerous floaters in the draw heading into the semifinal stage.
Format Reminder for New Fans
For those following along casually, it’s worth noting how the scoring works at the US Open. Men’s singles matches are best of five sets, while women’s singles matches are best of three. If a set reaches 6-6, a standard tiebreak to seven points decides it. The deciding set works differently — at 6-6 in the third set for women or the fifth set for men, players contest an extended tiebreak to 10 points, won by a margin of two.
Prize Money and Records
This year’s tournament offered the largest prize pool in tennis history. Singles champions in both the men’s and women’s draws will take home $5.5 million each, while runners-up receive $2.8 million. Even first-round losers earned a career-high $140,000, a 27.3 percent increase from 2025 — a reflection of how much the sport’s overall commercial value has grown heading into 2026.
What’s Next
The semifinals follow directly after this week’s quarterfinal matches, setting up the road to Saturday’s women’s final and Sunday’s men’s final. With Alcaraz and Sabalenka both looking like the players to beat, expect search interest in the US Open to keep climbing right through the finals weekend.
Further Reading
- Explore more Tennis coverage on Sports News ERA
- Catch up on the latest Tennis news on Sports Dastak
- Browse the full Tennis section on Sports Tamasha for more Grand Slam analysis
- For more on this week’s biggest global sports storylines, check the Soccer section on Sports News ERA and Football on Sports Dastak
FAQs
When is the US Open 2026 men’s final?
The men’s singles final is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, 2026.
When is the US Open 2026 women’s final?
The women’s singles final takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
Who are the favorites to win the US Open 2026?
Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka are the standout favorites after strong runs through the tournament so far.
How much prize money does the US Open 2026 champion receive?
Each singles champion receives $5.5 million, part of a record $108 million total player compensation pool this year.
