The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 U.S. Open.Welcome to the U.S. Open briefing, where The Athletic will explain the stories behind the stories on each day of the tournament.On Day 6, a milestone repeated, a good day and a strange night for the Americans and a resurgent player breaking new ground.AdvertisementHow did a star of last year’s U.S. Open honor her past self?Tennis is the only sport where players aren’t just battling their opponent, the elements and their own range of on a given day — they’re also competing against their past selves.Because the sport’s rankings system looks backwards 52 weeks, home favorite Taylor Townsend faced high stakes at the 2026 U.S. Open. Twelve months ago, the 30-year-old matched her career-best result at a Grand Slam by reaching the fourth round. Those points she accumulated in New York last year will fall off at the conclusion of this year’s tournament.That meant her third-round 6-2, 7-6(3), 6-3 win over No. 15 seed Diana Shnaider on Friday afternoon carried extra meaning.“I’ve been through so much over this year. I was so nervous coming into this tournament; I didn’t want my ranking to drop. I wanted to prove that I was just as good this year as last year,” Townsend said in a tearful on-court interview.U.S. Open round one: What did we learn?Ava Wallace and Johnny SweetA former top-ranked junior player and a doubles world No. 1, Townsend has felt the scrutiny of living in the public eye since she was a teenager, compounded by the loneliness of playing a sport where few other players look like her.Her perspective on her career shifted last year when she got a concussion during the Miami Open, an injury that frightened her because of how deceptive it was — she would feel fine one moment, then try to concentrate or do any physical activity and feel terrible.She returned to tennis with more gratitude, and the feeling that she isn’t playing to disprove her doubters, but to meet her own expectations.“I’m the kind of person where when I go through something, I kind of analyze it, and I’m, like, ‘OK, why is this happening and what did I learn from it?’ I’m always asking, ‘What did I learn?’” Townsend said in a news conference.Advertisement“I leave my son for weeks at a time, you know, and that’s very hard for me just in itself. So when I leave and I come back, I want to come back with something, and it’s not always a trophy, but it’s an experience, it’s wisdom, it’s information. That is very valuable in itself.”Townsend hadn’t won a main draw singles match at a Grand Slam all year before her first-round win here. But some excellent serving — and a little pressure from her past self — has propelled her to a fourth-round matchup against Aryna Sabalenka.She said she’s ready for the challenge.— Ava WallaceHow did the Americans fare in the bid to reach the second week?The American roll got started early on Friday, but later than No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula might have liked. Pegula, the 2024 beaten finalist, got to the fourth round with a comeback win over Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 beaten finalist, on Arthur Ashe Stadium.“I was like, it can’t be that much worse,” Pegula said after a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 win.“I think I knew my strategy. I think she played a bit differently than I’ve played her in the past. … But you still know what you have to execute, and I just tried to focus on that.”From there, things went about as well as an American in New York could have hoped. Emma Navarro, who had not made the fourth round at a major since Wimbledon 2025, knocked off this year’s Wimbledon finalist, Karolína Muchová, 6-3, 7-5.Frances Tiafoe cruised past Valentin Vacherot, the Monégasque No. 22 seed, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. Taylor Townsend got the better of Diana Shnaider. Alex Michelsen, who had knocked out higher-seeded compatriot Brandon Nakashima in the previous round, defeated the rising Spaniard Daniel Mérida 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-3. Tommy Paul survived a five-set duel with Alexander Bublik, who beat him in one of the matches of the tournament in 2025. This time around, Paul didn’t just win 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-1, 6-3 — he kept his nerve when Bublik took the score from 5-0 to 5-3 in the fifth, having had some painfully tight losses this year.AdvertisementThere were some losses a bit like that for the Americans. Ann Li fell to Wimbledon champion Linda Nosková in three sets after a stirring second-set comeback. The Williams sisters came achingly close to defeating Maya Joint and Chan Hao-ching but lost a match-deciding tiebreak from 5-0 up.All that happened before No. 8 seed Ben Shelton took to court to cap off the night on Arthur Ashe against Denis Shapovalov. After they traded sets in which the player who should have won failed to do so by self-destructing, Shelton took it home 7-6(3), 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4.In his news conference, Michelsen tried to name all the American men who were left. He got most of the way, but he forgot about Taylor Fritz, who has been the most dominant player in the draw so far. He kicks off the action on Arthur Ashe Saturday, against Francisco Cerúndolo, the No. 24 seed from Argentina.“Hopefully we get some guys into the semis or the finals, and then you never know,” Michelsen said, as they bid to end the wait for an American man to win a major that is at 23 years and counting. Michelsen, like Fritz, is yet to drop a set this tournament.There’s one issue for all these Americans at the bottom of the men’s draw: Carlos Alcaraz. If Paul, Shelton and Tiafoe or Michelsen keep winning, Alcaraz could face three Americans in a row from the round of 16 until the final.Matt FuttermanHow did a career-best run at the U.S. Open come out of chaos?Stefanos Tsitsipas is nothing if not enigmatic.The two-time Grand Slam finalist, who appeared to be an heir apparent to the stars of the sport five years ago, sank to some depths he hadn’t seen in a long time this year. He’s 27-20 this season and has seen his past 18 months heavily disrupted by injuries, most notably one to his back that left him struggling to walk after exiting this tournament early in 2025.AdvertisementWhen Tsitsipas arrived in New York for this year’s U.S. Open, he hadn’t made it past the second round of a Grand Slam since the French Open in 2024.So, of course, he chose this U.S. Open not just to get to the second week for the first time in his career, but to demonstrate that he has acquired — or at least started to groove — skills that seemed beyond his reach at 28, and which might propel him back toward where he once was.Earlier in the week, he said success in this tournament was as simple as improving on his game, getting a little better than he has been for much of the year. He cares less about results. He has brought on a new coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, after splitting with his father earlier this year.And after defeating No. 18 seed Jiří Lehečka 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-1, he might have gotten closer to one of his U.S. Open dreams: Playing a late-round match at night on Arthur Ashe.— Matt FuttermanOther notable results on Day 6:Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz (1) held off a redlining Wu Yibing 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 in a win that was simultaneously close and comfortable.His counterpart, Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka (1) defeated Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4 to ease into the fourth round.2021 champion Daniil Medvedev (7) earned a smooth win over France’s Arthur Rinderknech (26), with the Russian triumphing 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.In her final season on tour, Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea (16) continues to thrive. She defeated Italy’s Jasmine Paolini (19) 6-3, 6-3.Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk (11) continued her run of form at the Grand Slams, defeating Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova (18) 6-3, 6-2, but compatriot Elina Svitolina (9) fell to Anna Kalinskaya (21) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.Shot of the dayA 147 mph serve from Ben Shelton, as experienced by Denis Shapovalov:Drop Shots🤳 Why the U.S. Open disputed two influencers’ accounts of why they had their credentials revoked.⁉️ And … Why Aryna Sabalenka had to ask a chair umpire to manage the smell of marijuana.💫 How Venus and Serena Williams reunited one of the last singles superstar doubles teams.🇺🇸 The depth of American women’s tennis is on full display at the U.S. Open.📆 For tennis greats, retirement can feel like death. In her final season on tour, Sorana Cîrstea is playing the best tennis of her life.🗣️ Tennis etiquette at the tournament is back in the discourse. None of this is new.Up next: Third round continuesAll times in ET🎾 Women’s singles: Madison Keys (22) vs. Zheng Qinwen (Q)11 a.m. on ESPN UnlimitedIn an alternative tennis timeline, this might be a match deep in the second week: A banner matchup between 31-year-old Madison Keys, the 2025 Australian Open champion and 23-year-old Zheng Qinwen, the 2024 Olympic gold medalist. It still is a banner matchup, and it might mean even more than a deep run for Zheng, who is finding herself on court again after a lengthy, halting recovery from an elbow injury.Advertisement🎾 Women’s singles: Mirra Andreeva (5) vs. Nikola Bartůňková~ 1 p.m. on ESPN UnlimitedNot so long ago, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, 19, was the only teenager in the WTA top 100, in a reversal of the tour’s history of prodigies. Bartůňková, who is now 20, became one of a growing number in 2025. This match has the potential to be symphonic, with Bartůňková’s swashbuckling attack meeting Andreeva’s counterpunching durability.🎾 Women’s singles: Iva Jović (14) vs. Alex Eala (17)7 p.m. on ESPN2, ESPN UnlimitedTwo more rising young stars. Jović, 19, the home hope; Eala, 21, the new sporting hero for the Philippines. Evenly matched in terms of power but with different ways of using it — Eala lacing the ball flat, Jović winning points by a thousand cuts — the key may be who handles the Arthur Ashe Stadium experience better. Oh, and did you know they are best friends?🎾 Men’s singles: Jakub Menšík (17) vs. Learner Tien (14)~ 9 p.m. on ESPN UnlimitedAnother stylistic clash between young talents to close things out. Menšík, 21, has one of the most devastating serves in the game, but he backs it up with surprising movement for his height and a rock-solid backhand more than the usual forehand crusher. Tien, 20, mostly massages the ball around the court until his opponents are scrambling for their lives, but he can also crack a forehand when he needs to do so.U.S. Open 2026 women’s bracketRound of 128Round of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal1A. Sabalenka6 6C. Osorio2 4R. Zarazúa6 4 610P. Iatcenko (Q)4 6 7A. Ito2 4O. Selekhmeteva6 6K. Rakhimova7 627B. Krejčíková67 220M. Chwalińska2 3T. Townsend6 6T. Preston (WC)6 6A. Parks3 3H. Vandewinkel6 5 3K. Plíšková2 7 6D. Snigur0 415D. Shnaider6 611M. Kostyuk6 6S. Hunter (Q)4 1S. Stephens (WC)6 6C. Tauson4 1K. Birrell3 7 6P. Marčinko6 67 3M. Kessler2 218E. Alexandrova6 629A. Li7 6A. Ružić5 1T. Gibson2 6 3D. Vekić6 4 6E. Kalieva (Q)3 7 2L. Tararudee6 67 6K. Volynets5 16L. Nosková7 63J. Pegula6 6E. Ruse3 2V. Williams (WC)2 68S. Kenin (WC)6 7M. Sawangkaew6 6P. Udvardy4 3S. Zhang3 231L. Fernandez6 619J. Paolini6 3 6V. Erjavec3 6 4L. Stefanini (Q)6 4 6D. Yastremska3 6 1V. Golubic5 4D. Parry7 6J. Grabher3 016S. Cîrstea6 69E. Svitolina6 6S. Sierra1 2M. Joint3 6 6L. Samsonova6 2 2E. Arango4 2X. Wang6 6A. Blinkova4 321A. Kalinskaya6 626E. Navarro7 67 6L. Boisson68 7 3A. Koevermans (Q)5 1C. McNally7 6C. Lee (WC)4 6 0K. Boulter6 3 6S. Kraus3 07K. Muchová6 65M. Andreeva6 6J. Tjen2 2G. Knutson (Q)3 3E. Lys6 6N. Bartůňková6 6M. Sherif Ahmed Abdelaziz1 2T. Maria4 6 630J. Ostapenko6 1 224A. Potapova6 6D. Semenistaja2 2A. Rus (Q)68 2L. Jeanjean (WC)7 6L. Tagger6 7T. Korpatsch0 67A. Krueger1 310A. Anisimova6 614I. Jovic7 6M. Fręch5 3M. Linette4 6 3F. Jones (Q)6 1 6O. Oliynykova6 6R. Brantmeier (WC)4 4M. Stoiana (Q)1 217A. Eala6 628S. Bejlek5 6 1C. Bucșa7 4 6A. Kalinina3 3H. Sakatsume (Q)6 6D. Kasatkina1 4P. Badosa6 6Z. Sönmez3 44C. Gauff6 68I. Świątek6 6X. Wang2 3N. Podoroska4 7 6S. Waltert6 67 3H. Dart (Q)3 6 6P. Stearns6 3 2E. Jacquemot2 225M. Bouzková6 622M. Keys7 6A. Korneeva5 4L. Havlickova (Q)3 3A. Bondár6 6Q. Zheng (Q)4 6 6K. Liutova (Q)6 3 1Y. Putintseva4 7 612B. Bencic6 5 313N. Osaka7 7A. Zakharova68 67E. Cocciaretto3 2K. Siniaková6 6T. Zidanšek (Q)3 5M. Timofeeva6 7K. Quevedo4 423E. Mertens6 632M. Sakkari2 7 6R. Montgomery (Q)6 5 2Y. Starodubtseva6 6E. Seidel2 2D. Viďmanová3 4J. Bouzas Maneiro6 6T. Frodin (WC)3 22E. Rybakina6 61A. Sabalenka6 6P. Iatcenko (Q)1 1O. Selekhmeteva3 0K. Rakhimova6 6T. Townsend6 6T. Preston (WC)1 1K. Plíšková1 6715D. Shnaider6 711M. Kostyuk6 7S. Stephens (WC)1 5K. Birrell1 6 318E. Alexandrova6 2 629A. Li5 7 6D. Vekić7 67 4L. Tararudee4 26L. Nosková6 63J. Pegula6 6S. Kenin (WC)3 1M. Sawangkaew4 131L. Fernandez6 619J. Paolini6 6L. Stefanini (Q)4 1D. Parry2 516S. Cîrstea6 79E. Svitolina6 68 6M. Joint2 7 4X. Wang5 6 321A. Kalinskaya7 2 626E. Navarro3 6 6C. McNally6 2 3K. Boulter1 07K. Muchová6 65M. Andreeva6 6E. Lys0 2N. Bartůňková67 6 6T. Maria7 2 324A. Potapova6 2 6L. Jeanjean (WC)4 6 3L. Tagger3 6 110A. Anisimova6 3 614I. Jovic6 6F. Jones (Q)4 4O. Oliynykova1 417A. Eala6 6C. Bucșa7 67 7H. Sakatsume (Q)68 7 610P. Badosa4 674C. Gauff6 78I. Świątek6 6N. Podoroska3 2H. Dart (Q)2 225M. Bouzková6 622M. Keys5 6 7A. Bondár7 4 610Q. Zheng (Q)6 2 6Y. Putintseva4 6 113N. Osaka6 5 6K. Siniaková2 7 1M. Timofeeva2 6723E. Mertens6 732M. Sakkari6 67 2Y. Starodubtseva1 7 6J. Bouzas Maneiro2 42E. Rybakina6 61A. Sabalenka6 6K. Rakhimova3 4T. Townsend6 67 615D. Shnaider2 7 311M. Kostyuk6 618E. Alexandrova3 229A. Li2 7 26L. Nosková6 68 63J. Pegula1 6 631L. Fernandez6 4 319J. Paolini3 316S. Cîrstea6 69E. Svitolina3 6 321A. Kalinskaya6 2 626E. Navarro6 77K. Muchová3 55M. AndreevaN. Bartůňková24A. Potapova10A. Anisimova14I. Jovic17A. EalaC. Bucșa4C. Gauff8I. Świątek25M. Bouzková22M. KeysQ. Zheng (Q)13N. Osaka23E. MertensY. Starodubtseva2E. Rybakina1A. SabalenkaT. Townsend11M. Kostyuk6L. Nosková3J. Pegula16S. Cîrstea21A. Kalinskaya26E. NavarroTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDU.S. Open 2026 men’s bracketRound of 128Round of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal1A. Zverev6 3 69 7 6L. Sonego4 6 7 5 4Q. Halys6 7 69 6F. Díaz Acosta4 5 7 1G. Dimitrov (Q)6 3 2 4A. Popyrin3 6 6 6Y. Hanfmann3 2 7 325A. Tabilo6 6 69 621L. Darderi6 3 6 7H. Wendelken (Q)2 6 2 5D. Svrčina (Q)6 6 5 5 6V. Royer4 3 7 7 2D. Sweeny (WC)7 6 3C. Moutet (RET)67 4 0A. Fery3 3 513L. Musetti6 6 712R. Jódar2 1 1Y. Bu6 6 6F. Marozsán4 4 2M. Zheng (WC)6 6 6Z. Svajda6 6 67 6D. Altmaier3 1 7 2J. Cerúndolo3 6 6 3 1A. Géa6 2 3 6 631Z. Bergs6 3 6 6C. Taberner3 6 2 2J. De Jong2 6 4 6 6F. Passaro (Q)6 2 6 3 2J. Choinski3 1 67B. Van de Zandschulp6 6 7A. Guerrieri (Q)2 2 46A. de Minaur6 6 63F. Auger-Aliassime7 4 6 7R. Hijikata5 6 3 5R. Burruchaga3 0 1K. Khachanov6 6 6A. Molčan4 6 3 2B. Bonzi6 3 6 6M. Giron6 3 3 7 132I. Buse3 6 6 68 617J. Menšík6 6 7S. Mochizuki1 4 5J. Rodionov (Q)7 6 7G. Mpetshi Perricard67 0 67D. Vallejo6 1 2 0G. Monfils (WC)2 6 6 6N. Borges4 1 214L. Tien6 6 69T. Fritz6 6 6D. Blanch (WC)3 2 4M. Bellucci6 6 6Z. Piros (Q)4 2 0C. Ugo Carabelli4 3 3J. Struff6 6 6F. Misolic4 3 524F. Cerundolo6 6 728A. Blockx6 6 6M. Barrios Vera (Q)3 4 2J. Shang6 67 6 3 4M. Trungelliti0 7 1 6 6N. Basavareddy (Q)67 6 3 4T. Schoolkate (Q)7 3 6 6F. Comesaña6 6 3 4 45F. Cobolli3 2 6 6 67D. Medvedev6 6 6H. Gaston (Q)4 2 4S. Gorzny (WC)3 6 3 6 7R. Collignon6 3 6 3 611J. Munar67 3 6 7 7T. Atmane7 6 1 67 5S. Shimabukuro7 2 67 226A. Rinderknech67 6 7 622V. Vacherot6 6 7A. Kovačević2 3 5K. Majchrzak6 6 6H. Medjedović3 3 3A. Vukic4 7 4 6 4R. Sakamoto (Q)6 67 6 3 6M. Damm Jr4 6 6 3 411F. Tiafoe6 4 3 6 616B. Nakashima6 6 6S. Báez2 1 0A. Michelsen6 6 6F. Cina (Q)4 1 0D. Mérida6 6 6M. Fucsovics4 4 2O. Virtanen7 7 0 2 61023A. Rublev67 67 6 6 727T. Etcheverry6 6 6V. Kopřiva3 4 0M. Landaluce6 2 6 5 3J. Fearnley4 6 4 7 6M. Berrettini7 7 6S. Wawrinka (WC)67 67 0M. Navone7 5 4 6 64N. Djoković67 7 6 2 18B. Shelton1 6 7 6T. Griekspoor6 1 67 2D. Dzumhur4 6 1 1H. Hurkacz6 4 6 6M. Kecmanović4 6 4 1D. Shapovalov6 4 6 6L. van Assche68 6 6 629C. Norrie7 2 2 318J. Lehečka6 7 4 6P. Carreño Busta1 67 6 2T. Samuel (Q)6 6 6T. Macháč2 3 2L. Harris (Q)6 6 6J. Kennedy (WC)4 2 2S. Tsitsipas4 7 6 610A. Fils6 67 1 415A. Bublik6 6 3 6J. Wolf (WC)4 2 6 1T. Tirante6 6 3 3 3A. Mannarino4 3 6 6 6D. Prižmić2 6 6 5 7A. Shevchenko6 3 3 7 5C. Wong (Q)7 1 3 320T. Paul67 6 6 630M. Arnaldi7 3 2 610J. Duckworth5 6 6 7Y. Wu7 6 7A. Walton67 2 5J. Faria6 7 4 1 6J. Brooksby3 67 6 6 2R. Safiullin4 4 42C. Alcaraz6 6 61A. Zverev6 4 7 67 6Q. Halys4 6 67 7 3A. Popyrin6 67 67 225A. Tabilo2 7 7 621L. Darderi6 67 6 6D. Svrčina (Q)3 7 4 4D. Sweeny (WC)3 6 6 613L. Musetti6 1 2 2Y. Bu3 6 2 3M. Zheng (WC)6 2 6 6Z. Svajda7 3 2 2A. Géa5 6 6 631Z. Bergs7 1 6 7J. De Jong5 6 2 67B. Van de Zandschulp6 7 66A. de Minaur4 5 23F. Auger-Aliassime7 3 2 2K. Khachanov67 6 6 6B. Bonzi6 7 632I. Buse2 67 017J. Menšík6 3 6 6J. Rodionov (Q)3 6 2 3G. Monfils (WC)3 4 314L. Tien6 6 69T. Fritz6 6 6M. Bellucci0 1 1J. Struff7 5 6 2 324F. Cerundolo5 7 4 6 628A. Blockx6 6 3 6M. Trungelliti3 2 6 1T. Schoolkate (Q)6 3 4 55F. Cobolli3 6 6 77D. Medvedev6 6 7S. Gorzny (WC)1 3 5J. Munar67 2 526A. Rinderknech7 6 722V. Vacherot6 4 7 6K. Majchrzak4 6 67 2R. Sakamoto (Q)3 67 511F. Tiafoe6 7 716B. Nakashima3 4 4A. Michelsen6 6 6D. Mérida67 6 6 623A. Rublev7 2 4 427T. Etcheverry6 6 3 6J. Fearnley3 3 6 3M. Berrettini6 3 4 67M. Navone3 6 6 78B. Shelton6 5 7 7H. Hurkacz3 7 67 5D. Shapovalov6 6 7L. van Assche0 4 6918J. Lehečka6 6 6T. Samuel (Q)4 2 4L. Harris (Q)7 3 67 4S. Tsitsipas67 6 7 615A. Bublik6 6 6A. Mannarino3 1 1D. Prižmić2 3 7 420T. Paul6 6 5 6J. Duckworth5 3 1Y. Wu7 6 6J. Faria6 0 3 22C. Alcaraz4 6 6 61A. Zverev25A. Tabilo21L. DarderiD. Sweeny (WC)M. Zheng (WC)A. Géa31Z. BergsB. Van de ZandschulpK. KhachanovB. Bonzi17J. Menšík14L. Tien9T. Fritz24F. Cerundolo28A. Blockx5F. Cobolli7D. Medvedev6 6 626A. Rinderknech4 4 422V. Vacherot4 2 411F. Tiafoe6 6 6A. Michelsen7 6 6D. Mérida67 4 327T. Etcheverry6 6 6M. Navone4 4 38B. Shelton7 67 6 6D. Shapovalov67 7 3 418J. Lehečka6 1 67 1S. Tsitsipas2 6 7 615A. Bublik4 6 7 1 320T. Paul6 3 67 6 6Y. Wu3 4 12C. Alcaraz6 6 6TBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD7D. Medvedev11F. TiafoeA. Michelsen27T. Etcheverry8B. SheltonS. Tsitsipas20T. Paul2C. AlcarazTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTell us what you noticed on the sixth day…Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
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