Another action-packed day at the US Open delivered plenty of drama, big-name performances and hard-fought results as several contenders moved closer to the business end of the tournament. Ben Shelton continued his campaign with a battling win over Hubert Hurkacz, while defending champion Carlos Alcaraz recovered from an early setback to advance to the third round.
Frances Tiafoe also secured his place in the next round with a straight-sets victory over Rei Sakamoto, while Daniil Medvedev overcame Sebastian Gorzny in four sets. Medvedev’s match also produced an unusual moment involving birds landing on the net and a frustrated reaction toward the umpire. Here’s a closer look at all the major US Open results and talking points from Wednesday.
Carlos Alcaraz Overcomes Slow Start to Reach US Open Third Round
Carlos Alcaraz bounced back strongly after dropping the opening set to Jaime Faria, taking control of the match with a dramatic shift in momentum. The Spaniard had chances to break early but could not capitalize, and a series of unforced errors soon allowed Faria to take the first break and close out the set. Alcaraz, however, responded immediately in the second, saving two break points in the opening game before finding another level in his own game. Faria’s serve began to unravel, with a string of double faults helping Alcaraz race through the set 6-0 and completely change the complexion of the contest.
Alcaraz carried that momentum into the third set, breaking early to move ahead before Faria briefly fought back with a break of his own. The defending champion quickly restored his advantage, broke again and wrapped up the set 6-3. From there, Alcaraz remained firmly in control, earning another break in the fourth set to move 5-1 ahead before serving out the match. After 2 hours and 40 minutes, the World No. 3 completed a 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 victory to reach the US Open third round, where he will face China’s Wu Yibing.
Ben Shelton Overcomes Hubert Hurkacz With US Open Crowd Behind Him
Ben Shelton once again rose to the occasion on the US Open stage, securing his place in the third round with another four-set victory in New York on Wednesday. Playing under the roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 23-year-old American produced a strong display off the forehand, regrouped after dropping the second set and fed off the energy inside the stadium to defeat former Top 10 player Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5. Shelton admitted the contest was a battle from beginning to end and praised both Hurkacz’s performance and the passionate home support.
“I am super happy with the way the match went. It was a battle until the end and I thought Hubi played outstanding today,” Shelton said in his on-court interview. “It was really tough to deal with everything he was throwing at me and if I was commentating, I would talk about how loud this crowd was from start to finish.” Shelton is now among the leading American hopes looking to end the country’s long wait for a men’s singles champion in New York, with Andy Roddick’s 2003 triumph still the last time an American man lifted the US Open title. As the eighth seed and highest-ranked American in the draw, Shelton has so far handled the pressure and expectations surrounding his campaign.
Frances Tiafoe and Daniil Medvedev Advance to US Open Third Round
Frances Tiafoe kept his US Open campaign on track with a straight-sets win over Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto, prevailing 6-3, 7-6(2), 7-5 on Wednesday. The world No. 12 made the most of the support at Louis Armstrong Stadium as he continued his bid to become the American man to end the 23-year wait for a home champion in New York. Sakamoto’s serve proved a major weapon, with the qualifier firing 18 aces, but 40 unforced errors ultimately proved costly. Tiafoe, a two-time US Open semi-finalist, held his nerve after a difficult second set to seal the victory and will next face either Kamil Majchrzak or Valentin Vacherot.
Daniil Medvedev also moved into the third round, overcoming American wild card Sebastian Gorzny 6-1, 6-3, 7-5. The seventh seed, a former US Open champion, made a fast start by breaking in the opening game and quickly established control, taking 25 of the 35 points in a one-sided first set. Gorzny, ranked No. 731, gradually settled after his draining five-set victory over Raphael Collignon in the opening round and began challenging Medvedev with more variety, aggressive net play and longer rallies. He even saved four break points at 4-4 in the third set before briefly moving ahead 5-4, but Medvedev’s consistency ultimately proved decisive.
Medvedev closed out the match to reach the third round in New York for the eighth time, finishing with 14 aces and facing only one break point. The Russian’s biggest frustration came when two birds landed on the net during a rally, forcing a point to be replayed after he appeared to have won it with an angled forehand. Despite Gorzny’s late resistance and the lively Armstrong Stadium crowd, Medvedev maintained his composure to complete another efficient US Open victory.
