Six Americans Reach 2026 U.S. Open Quarterfinals, Most Since 2002

Q: With six Americans in the 2026 U.S. Open quarterfinals, can one finally end the 23-year men's championship drought?

Yes — this looks like the best opening in years for an American man, but it is still far from certain. The strongest case is Ben Shelton. He is the highest-ranked American left, has been in major semifinals before, and arrives in strong form after a dominant win over Stefanos Tsitsipas. With Jannik Sinner out injured and Carlos Alcaraz only recently back from a wrist layoff, the draw is more open than many recent Slams. Shelton, however, faces the hardest immediate test in Alcaraz, a two-time U.S. Open champion-level threat and still the most formidable player left in the field. Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen also give the United States a real shot. Their quarterfinal guarantees at least one American man in the semifinals. Tiafoe has deeper U.S. Open experience, including two previous semifinal runs, while Michelsen has been one of the tournament’s surprise standouts and reportedly reached the quarterfinals without dropping a set. That said, neither has yet shown he can consistently beat elite opposition over the final two rounds of a major. So the drought can end here, and the evidence is stronger than in most recent years: three American men in the quarterfinals, a home crowd, and a slightly weakened top tier. But the biggest obstacle remains the same — someone still likely has to go through Alcaraz, and perhaps win two more pressure matches after that. The opportunity is real; the breakthrough is not yet the favorite outcome.

Q: Will Ben Shelton's momentum from defeating Tsitsipas be enough to upset Carlos Alcaraz in their blockbuster Tuesday night quarterfinal?

Shelton has a real puncher’s chance, but Alcaraz should still be favored. Shelton’s win over Stefanos Tsitsipas was one of his sharpest performances of the tournament: a straight-sets victory, no break points faced, and the kind of serving that can make any matchup volatile. His left-handed power and improved returning give him a clear path to making this competitive, especially under the lights at Arthur Ashe, where he has already shown he can thrive. But the bigger body of evidence still points to Alcaraz. He is the defending U.S. Open champion, has reached the quarterfinals in five of his six appearances in New York, and came into this match after a controlled straight-sets win over Tommy Paul. He also leads Shelton 3-0 head-to-head, with a 7-1 edge in sets, which suggests he has consistently found answers to Shelton’s pace and serve. The key question is whether Shelton can protect his serve at the same level he did against Tsitsipas and keep points short enough to stop Alcaraz from taking over rallies. If Shelton lands a high first-serve percentage and earns cheap points, he can push this deep and possibly force a momentum swing. If exchanges become physical and extended, Alcaraz has the more complete game, better defensive range and more proven big-match pedigree. So Shelton’s momentum is meaningful, but on available evidence it is probably not enough by itself. An upset is possible; Alcaraz remains the more likely semifinalist.

3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Sep 8

Six American players have reached the 2026 U.S. Open singles quarterfinals, matching the country's deepest run at Flushing Meadows in 24 years.
Three women—Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro—and three men—Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen—make up the group, with Pegula facing Navarro and Tiafoe meeting Michelsen.
Gauff plays Mirra Andreeva on Wednesday, while Shelton draws Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday night at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
Eight Americans last made the quarterfinals in 2002; the last American man to win the title was Andy Roddick in 2003, while Gauff was the most recent U.S. women's champion in 2023.