Grand Slam tennis rarely goes according to script, but the heavy favorites at Flushing Meadows know how to survive the noise. Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka stamped their authority on the tournament by advancing to the third round after weathering early turbulence. If you thought a lengthy injury layoff or fierce local challengers would derail the top contenders, recent matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium proved you wrong.
Let's look at how the reigning stars navigated their way through the early rounds while the American contingent made major waves in New York.
Alcaraz Shakes Off the Rust
Coming back from a wrist injury that kept him sidelined since April is no small feat. Alcaraz arrived at the 2026 US Open with plenty of question marks surrounding his physical condition. When he dropped the opening set against Portugal's Jaime Faria, panic started to creep into the minds of his supporters.
Faria struck first by claiming a break for a 4-3 lead in the opening frame. Alcaraz admitted later that he rushed his shots and let impatience take over.
"After that I was in a rush. I didn't take time, I wasn't patient and that obviously cost me the break," Alcaraz explained after spending nearly three hours on court.
Instead of folding, the Spanish second seed completely flipped the script. He adjusted his depth, ratcheted up the intensity, and closed out the match with a dominant scoreline of 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2. Any lingering doubts about his wrist health vanished as he dictated play with his trademark baseline power and deft touch at the net.
Sabalenka Means Business
While Alcaraz had to battle through four sets, Aryna Sabalenka turned her second-round match into a clinic. The Belarusian powerhouse is hunting for a rare US Open three-peat, and she played like a woman on a distinct mission against Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko.
Sabalenka needed just 53 minutes to dismantle her opponent 6-1, 6-1. She blasted 24 winners and surrendered a mere four points on serve during a lopsided opening set. Her aggressive approach left zero room for an upset.
Tennis analysts love to overcomplicate things, but Sabalenka's game plan is refreshingly straightforward. Hit hard, serve with authority, and rush the opponent into unforced errors. It works, and it makes her look untouchable on the hard courts of New York.
American Stars Shine Bright Under the Lights
It wouldn't be a proper US Open without the home crowd driving local players to career-best performances. The Flushing Meadows grounds buzzed as several American stars punched their tickets to the third round in style.
Ben Shelton delivered another thrilling, high-drama victory. He survived a brutal test against Hubert Hurkacz, winning 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 in a contest that tested every ounce of his mental stamina. Shelton loves the electric atmosphere of Arthur Ashe, and it shows whenever the scoreboard gets tight.
Frances Tiafoe also advanced by outlasting Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto in a straight-sets battle that featured two hard-fought tiebreaks. Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula wasted zero time against Sofia Kenin, wrapping up a quick 6-3, 6-1 win in just 56 minutes.
Not every American story ended in triumph, though. In-form 16th seed Brandon Nakashima suffered a tough upset at the hands of compatriot Alex Michelsen, who played disciplined tennis to take the match 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
What to Watch Next
The tournament is shedding its early-round chaos and entering the danger zone. With big names like Daniil Medvedev also roaring into the next round alongside local favorites like Emma Navarro, the competition is getting tighter by the hour.
If you're following the tournament closely, keep an eye on how Alcaraz's body holds up through the back-to-back physical demands of a Grand Slam draw. Recovery makes or breaks champions at this stage of the fortnight.
Check the daily order of play, track the morning practice sessions, and watch how these top seeds manage their energy moving forward.
