Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka both advanced at the US Open on Wednesday, providing a boost to the tournament schedule as organizers successfully navigated a backlog of 14 matches following persistent rain delays at Flushing Meadows. While light showers caused a brief interruption during the afternoon, the event continued to make progress through the draw.
Alcaraz, the Spanish second seed, headlined the evening session on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Despite dropping the opening set, he rallied to defeat Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2. The performance served as a vital test for his wrist injury, with the Spaniard spending two hours and 40 minutes on court. “I wanted to be quick, I’m not going to lie,” Alcaraz admitted. “But at the end I realised that I’m just playing four sets, it was really good for me to test everything physically, to test my body, how I feel, and tomorrow how I’m going to feel after this match.”
World number one Aryna Sabalenka delivered a dominant performance earlier on the main showcourt, dispatching Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1. Following the match, the Belarusian defended her pre-tournament conduct after being questioned about her public activities. “You guys are, like, a joke. Parties, fun… like, why would you even say that?” she responded. “Just because I posted, like, some activities with brands, and you think that I’ve been partying, not training?”
The day saw several other notable results. Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 champion, overcame an unusual distraction when two birds landed on the net during his 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 victory over U.S. wildcard Sebastian Gorzny. Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula cruised past 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-1 in just 56 minutes, setting up a clash with Leylah Fernandez. Pegula noted the efficiency of the win, stating, “To be out of there in under an hour, it doesn’t always happen. So I think I’m just going to take that one and run.”
In other men’s action, eighth seed Ben Shelton relied on home crowd support to edge Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5. Alex Michelsen pulled off an upset by defeating 16th seed Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, while Australian sixth seed Alex de Minaur eased past Andrea Guerrieri 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. Additionally, lucky loser Bu Yunchaokete secured a surprise win over 12th seed Rafael Jodar, and Peruvian Ignacio Buse earned a maiden five-set victory, marking the first time a member of his family has won at the tournament since his grandfather Eduardo in 1958.
The women’s draw saw Emma Navarro defeat Caty McNally 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, and Frances Tiafoe beat Rei Sakamoto 6-3, 7-6(2), 7-5. However, 2017 champion Sloane Stephens was eliminated by 11th seed Marta Kostyuk 6-1, 7-5. Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova continued her form with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Lanlana Tararudee, and runner-up Karolina Muchova dominated Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-0. The report also notes that where the Spanish second seed dropped the opening set before blowing away Jaime Faria 4-6 6-0 6-3 6-2 with superb shot-making to ease any lingering fears about his wrist injury, alcaraz took centre stage in the evening session on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The report also notes that so I think I’m just going to take that one and run,” said Pegula, the runner-up in 2024. The report also notes that the Montreal winner has emerged as one of the best hopes of ending a 23-year U.S. The report also notes that men’s major drought in a diminished field missing injured world number one Jannik Sinner. The report also notes that with a backlog of 14 matches to complete after Tuesday’s weather-hit action, organisers looked to the heavens in the afternoon as more rain fell over Flushing Meadows to bring a brief halt to play. The report also notes that who last won a match at the tournament in 1958, open story as he won a five-setter to earn a maiden victory and follow in the footsteps of his grandfather Eduardo.
