US Open 2026 Briefing: R16 Day 9 — Alcaraz Rolls On
Alcaraz, Sabalenka dominate markets as Tiafoe stuns Medvedev and the R16 resumes Monday
US Open 2026 Daily Briefing — Day 9, Monday September 7
Round of 16 is in full swing at Flushing Meadows. Sunday, September 6 delivered the tournament's sharpest results to date:
defending champion Carlos Alcaraz cruised past Tommy Paul in what was expected to be his toughest test yet
, and
two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka defeated Taylor Townsend in straight sets
to keep her three-peat alive.
Frances Tiafoe continued his perfect career record inside Louis Armstrong Stadium with a fourth-round win over Daniil Medvedev, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6
— the biggest American story of the tournament so far. The Round of 16 resumes today, Monday September 7, with eight matches across both draws.
An all-USA battle between fourth seed Coco Gauff and Iva Jovic stands as one of the standout matches of the day
, while
six-time major champion Iga Świątek faces a fourth-round showdown with Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, who is making a statement run from the qualifiers at Flushing Meadows.
Title odds have sharpened around Alcaraz and Sabalenka — track live positions and place bets at WeeBet's live hub: /events/us-open-tennis-2026. Bet responsibly. 18+.
The Numbers Heading Into Day 9
- Alcaraz win probability (men's)0%DK Predictions, Sept 6
- Zverev win probability (men's)0%DK Predictions, Sept 6
- Sabalenka win probability (women's)0%DK Predictions, Sept 6
- Gauff win probability (women's)0%DK Predictions, Sept 6
- Prize fund (record)$0MUSTA, Aug 2026
- Singles champion payout$0.0M+10% vs 2025
Sunday's Key Results, September 6
Alcaraz vs. Paul was the marquee match and it wasn't close.
Alcaraz eased any concern about rust, defeating Tommy Paul in straight sets — the defending champion's forehand looked as strong as ever, while he took advantage of Paul's serving struggles. Paul had his opportunities to break late in the match, but Alcaraz's forehand was just too effective.
It was the Spaniard's best match since returning from his wrist injury.
Tiafoe's result at Louis Armstrong was arguably the bigger surprise.
Tiafoe was down set point in the third set before an incredible shot extended the tiebreaker
, ultimately winning 7-6, 6-4, 7-6. Medvedev, seeded seventh, is now eliminated — a significant clearing of traffic in the top half of the draw.
On the women's side,
Sabalenka defeated Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3
.
Linda Noskova, seeded sixth, defeated Marta Kostyuk 7-5, 5-7, 6-4
, keeping the Czech player's run going and eliminating one of the draw's more dangerous floaters.
Full Sunday Scoreboard (Selected)
Round of 16 Results — Sunday 6 September 2026
| Match | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Alcaraz (2) def. Tommy Paul (20) | 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 | Straight sets |
| Tiafoe (11) def. Medvedev (7) | 7-6, 6-4, 7-6 | Upset |
| Michelsen def. Etcheverry (27) | 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 | Unseeded run |
| Sabalenka (1) def. Townsend | 6-4, 6-3 | Dominant |
| Noskova (6) def. Kostyuk (11) | 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 | Three sets |
How the Results Moved the Markets
Alcaraz has climbed three points to 55%, while Alexander Zverev has surged five points to 26% as the market consolidates around the top two favorites.
The two-man market dynamic is now entrenched: everyone else is a distant third.
Ben Shelton has taken the biggest hit among the Americans, falling four points to 10%
— a direct consequence of an upcoming fourth-round test against Tsitsipas, which markets judge as genuinely 50/50.
Learner Tien is the lone American moving in the right direction, climbing to 5%.
On the women's side,
two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka continues to separate herself from the field, rising three points to 31%. Coco Gauff remains second at 21%, while Iga Świątek has dipped to 14% and Jessica Pegula has fallen to 9%.
Mirra Andreeva has climbed to 8%, pulling even with Elena Rybakina, while Naomi Osaka has moved up to 7%.
The tournament-wide event contracts for both singles titles are now narrowing fast. The full live market, including in-play contract pricing, is updated in real time at WeeBet: /events/us-open-tennis-2026.
Today's Slate — Monday September 7, Round of 16 Continues
Day nine of the 2026 US Open sees the Round of 16 continue on Monday, September 7.
Men's Draw
Olympic gold medallist Alexander Zverev takes on Italy's Luciano Darderi, while the USA's Learner Tien faces Olympic silver medallist Karen Khachanov.
Tien will look to become the youngest American US Open quarterfinalist
if he wins — a storyline that has gripped the home crowd all fortnight. The Zverev-Darderi match carries strong market interest: Zverev enters it as the clear second favourite for the title, and a stumble here would redraw the entire men's picture.
The Shelton vs. Tsitsipas contest, still listed as in progress at time of publication, is one of the physically toughest matches of the week.
Tsitsipas defeated 18th seed Jiří Lehečka in the third round, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-1
— showing precisely the mid-match resurgence that makes him dangerous late in a major.
Women's Draw
The all-USA battle between fourth seed Coco Gauff and Iva Jovic is one of the standout matches of the day, in what has been a particularly successful tennis Slam so far for the home fans.
Gauff enters as the heavy favourite, but Jovic, who was a surprise run-maker in the third round, will have New York energy behind her regardless of seeding.
Six-time major champion Iga Świątek has a fourth-round showdown with Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, who is making a statement run from the qualifiers at Flushing Meadows.
If Qinwen wins, title markets will reprice sharply — she is currently trading at long odds despite the form she is showing this fortnight.
Jessica Pegula also plays today, keeping alive what would be a landmark American women's run at Flushing Meadows.
The Context: Prize Money and the Stakes
The 2026 US Open offered a record $108 million in total player compensation, the largest package in tennis history and an increase of 21% from 2025.
The men's and women's singles champions each receive $5,500,000, a 10% increase from the $5,000,000 awarded in 2025, while runners-up receive $2,800,000.
With quarterfinals beginning Wednesday, every remaining player has already guaranteed themselves at least a top-eight payday — but the gap between quarters and the title remains enormous.
What to Watch Today
Three metrics will tell you everything you need to know by evening on September 7:
- Zverev's serving percentage against Darderi.
Zverev defeated Alejandro Tabilo in the third round, but Francisco Cerundolo upset ninth seed Taylor Fritz
— upsets remain possible when serve levels drop. 2. Gauff's break-point conversion against Jovic. The American's first-serve percentage has been inconsistent this fortnight. 3. Tien's tiebreak record if the Khachanov match reaches a decider — the 20-year-old has handled stadium pressure well, but Khachanov's big serve at 6-6 in a tiebreak is a serious test.
Live event contracts for all four of Monday's featured matches open at first ball and update point by point at WeeBet: /events/us-open-tennis-2026. Responsible gambling tools, including deposit limits and session timers, are available on every betting page. 18+. Please gamble responsibly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the favourites to win the 2026 US Open as of September 7?
Alcaraz leads the men's market at 55%, while Alexander Zverev has surged to 26% as the market consolidates around the top two.
On the women's side, Aryna Sabalenka leads at 31%, followed by Coco Gauff at 21% and Iga Świątek at 14%.
What stage is the 2026 US Open at on September 7?
Day nine of the 2026 US Open sees the Round of 16 continue on Monday, September 7.
Sixteen players remain in both the men's and women's singles draws.
Quarterfinals are scheduled to begin Wednesday, September 9.
What is the prize money for winning the 2026 US Open?
The 2026 US Open offers a record $108 million in total player compensation — the largest package in tennis history — with singles champions each receiving $5,500,000, a 10% increase from 2025.
When are the 2026 US Open finals?
The women's singles final is Saturday, September 12 at 4 p.m. Eastern, and the men's singles final is Sunday, September 13, not before 2 p.m. Eastern. Both are played on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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