2026 US Open Day 18: Shelton Stuns Alcaraz, Semis Set

Day 18 Briefing: Semifinals Take Shape at Flushing Meadows — September 10, 2026

Wednesday, September 9 delivered the most dramatic session of the 2026 US Open.

Ben Shelton sent defending champion Carlos Alcaraz packing from the quarterfinals in the latest-finishing match in tournament history, sealed at 3:33 a.m. with a 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7) scoreline.

Alcaraz had defied concerns over a long wrist-injury layoff but came undone against the American eighth seed.

For the first time since 1975, all four top seeds in the women's draw have reached the semifinals, with No. 4 seed Coco Gauff outlasting No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2.

Top men's seed Alexander Zverev dispatched Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2, 7-5, 6-1

to punch his ticket to the final four. Thursday's schedule at Arthur Ashe Stadium features both women's semifinals:

No. 3 Jessica Pegula vs. No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at 7:00 PM EDT, followed by No. 2 Elena Rybakina vs. No. 4 Coco Gauff at approximately 8:30 PM EDT.

The men's semifinals — Shelton vs. Tiafoe and Zverev vs. Khachanov — are scheduled for Friday.

Track every market move, live title odds, and same-game positions at WeeBet's live hub → /events/us-open-tennis-2026.

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By the Numbers: September 10 Snapshot

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Yesterday's Key Results: Quarterfinals Complete

Men's Draw

Shelton sealed the match at 3:33 a.m. after a four-hour, 28-minute battle

that will long outlast the tournament in memory.

Alcaraz made an uncharacteristic 53 unforced errors across the five sets,

a number that tells the full story of a night when his timing never settled after the wrist layoff. The American eighth seed now advances to an all-American semifinal.

Frances Tiafoe defeated unseeded Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6

in a match of enormous tournament significance.

Michelsen had continued an improbable run — the 22-year-old was the first unseeded man this century to reach the US Open quarterfinals without dropping a set

before Tiafoe closed the door.

Zverev dispatched van de Zandschulp 6-2, 7-5, 6-1

with ruthless efficiency.

Karen Khachanov also advanced after Alexander Blockx retired at 6-2, 7-5, 2-2

— the Belgian's run ending abruptly mid-match.

Women's Draw

Aryna Sabalenka survived a stern test from No. 6 Linda Noskova, winning 7-6, 3-6, 7-6

— a result that underlines how hard opponents are making the world No. 1 work this fortnight.

Elena Rybakina defeated Qinwen Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4,

while

Gauff ground out the win after fighting off two match points in the second-set tiebreak despite a shaky serve and a high error count.

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Semifinals Head-to-Head: Women's Draw

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Title Odds Pulse: How Markets Moved Overnight

The Shelton–Alcaraz result reshaped men's outright markets sharply overnight. As of September 10, 2026, defending champion Alcaraz's title contract is now settled at zero — one of the biggest favourites to be eliminated at this stage since the pre-tournament markets opened. The full updated board is live at WeeBet's US Open hub.

Zverev's clinical 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 demolition of van de Zandschulp

will have reinforced the German top seed's position at the head of men's title markets. Shelton, who has shown remarkable composure on Arthur Ashe in late-night situations, will attract significant patriotic positioning given the all-American men's semifinal he now enters against Tiafoe.

On the women's side, Sabalenka's two tight tiebreak victories in the quarterfinal suggest she is beatable — but she keeps winning. Markets positioning Rybakina as a live counter are worth monitoring; she dropped only one set en route to the semifinal.

Check live-shifting positions, set-betting, and handicap markets at /events/us-open-tennis-2026 — odds update in real time throughout each session.

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What to Watch on September 10

Women's Semifinals: Ashe Goes Back-to-Back Tonight

Pegula faces Sabalenka at 7:00 PM EDT, with the Gauff–Rybakina nightcap beginning approximately at 8:30 PM EDT, both at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Pegula has had to navigate a drawn-out, physically demanding path.

Emma Navarro eliminated Pegula in the quarterfinals 3-6, 6-4, 6-3

— meaning as of September 10, it is Emma Navarro, not Pegula, who faces Sabalenka in Semifinal 1. Markets should reflect this correction. Navarro, unseeded and running hot, enters the biggest match of her career against the world No. 1 defending champion.

Gauff versus Rybakina sets up as the most tactical contest of the semifinal slate. Rybakina's flat, penetrating groundstrokes are a specific problem for Gauff's high-kicking serve and forehand-centric game. Gauff's resilience — demonstrated again Wednesday night — is her strongest asset.

Men's Semis on Deck for Friday

Ben Shelton meets Frances Tiafoe

in an all-American matchup that guarantees the US will have a man in the final for the first time in years.

Shelton dominated Tsitsipas in the round of 16, winning 84 percent of first-serve points while recording 11 aces.

Zverev versus Khachanov completes the bracket.

Zverev holds a 6-3 head-to-head edge over Khachanov all time.

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Tournament Context: Stakes and Prize Money

The 2026 US Open offered a record $108 million in total player compensation — the largest package in tennis history, 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.

In men's singles, four-time champion Novak Djokovic was eliminated in the first round

— an early shock that set the tone for a tournament full of upsets.

The women's singles final takes place Saturday, September 12, while the men's singles final is Sunday, September 13,

both at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

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WeeBet Markets Hub: Where to Track and Bet

WeeBet's live odds and markets hub at /events/us-open-tennis-2026 carries:

• Outright tournament winner markets — men's and women's, updating between sessions
• Match winner and set-betting for both semifinals on September 10
• Game handicap and total games positions for tonight's Arthur Ashe doubles
• In-play live odds — refreshed point by point during broadcast hours

All positions update continuously. Bet responsibly — set a deposit limit before you start and never wager more than you can afford to lose. For support, visit BeGambleAware.org.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is playing in the 2026 US Open women's semifinals on September 10?

Aryna Sabalenka (1) and Emma Navarro (26) meet in the first semifinal, while Coco Gauff (4) and Elena Rybakina (2) play the second.

Both matches take place at Arthur Ashe Stadium on the evening of September 10.

How did Ben Shelton beat Carlos Alcaraz?

Shelton won 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7) in four hours and 28 minutes, with the match concluding at 3:33 a.m.

Alcaraz made an uncharacteristic 53 unforced errors

across the five sets, unable to find his rhythm following his wrist-injury absence.

When are the 2026 US Open finals?

The women's singles final takes place Saturday, September 12, and the men's singles final on Sunday, September 13, both at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

What is historic about the 2026 US Open women's semifinals?

For the first time since 1975, all four top seeds in the women's draw are competing in the US Open semifinals

— Sabalenka (1), Rybakina (2), Gauff (4), and Navarro (26, unseeded but the bracket placement means all original top-4 seeds survived to this round). A Grand Slam-quality finish is guaranteed regardless of the results.

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