Frances Tiafoe of the United States reacts in the fifth set against Alex Michelsen of the United States during their Men’s Singles Quarterfinal match on Day Ten of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 8, 2026. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) — Two American men are just two wins away from winning this year’s U.S. Open in what would be a major breakthrough for American tennis.
Americans Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe won marathon quarterfinal matches overnight Tuesday, setting up a semifinal showdown that guarantees an American man will play in Sunday’s final at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York.
Tiafoe came from behind to defeat fellow American Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6) in a match that lasted nearly five hours Tuesday.
Shelton then upset defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in another five-set match — 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7) — that lasted until 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, the latest finish in U.S. Open history.
The No. 8-seeded Shelton will now face No. 11-seeded Tiafoe in the semifinals on Friday.
The last American man to play in the U.S. Open finals was Taylor Fritz in 2024. The last American man to win the Grand Slam tournament was Andy Roddick in 2003.
On the women’s side, two American players remain in contention.
Coco Gauff is scheduled to play Russia’s Mirra Andreeva on Wednesday in a quarterfinals match.
Jessica Pegula has already served her way into the semifinals, defeating fellow American Emma Navarro in a three-set quarterfinal match Tuesday night.
Pegula will play No. 1 seed and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday.
Gauff was the last American woman to win the singles title, taking home a victory in 2023.
The U.S. Open women’s and men’s singles finals will be played on Saturday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 13, respectively.
The 2026 U.S. Open is airing on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.
The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of ESPN and ABC News.
Ben Shelton returns a shot against Stefanos Tsitsipas during their men’s fourth round match at the US Open Tennis Championships in New York City, Sept. 7, 2026. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) — A total of six American tennis players have surged into the singles quarterfinals at the 2026 U.S. Open, the most since 2002.
On the women’s side, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro are competing in the quarterfinals Tuesday and Wednesday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York.
Pegula and Navarro will face off against each other Tuesday night, while Gauff is scheduled to play Russia’s Mirra Andreeva on Wednesday.
In the men’s draw, Americans Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen are set to play in quarterfinal matches.
Tiafoe and Michelsen play each other in a match on Tuesday afternoon, while Shelton will face Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday night.
The last time this many Americans advanced so far in the U.S. Open was over 20 years ago, when eight American players reached the quarterfinals of the 2002 U.S. Open, according to the United States Tennis Association, which runs the tournament.
The U.S. Open women’s and men’s singles finals will be played on Saturday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 13, respectively.
The last American man to win the Grand Slam tournament was Andy Roddick in 2003.
Gauff was the last American woman to win the singles title, taking home a victory in 2023.
The 2026 U.S. Open is airing on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.
The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of ESPN and ABC News.
Tiger Woods appears during a plea hearing at Martin County Courthouse, Sept. 2, 2026, in Stuart, Florida. (Crystal Vander Weit/Pool via Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) — Tiger Woods appeared in a Florida court on Wednesday to change his plea to no contest in his driving under the influence case. As part of the plea agreement, he agreed to a five-year driver’s license suspension.
The legendary golfer initially pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.
As part of the plea agreement, the prosecution amended the first charge to reckless driving, second offense, and the second charge to a careless driving citation. The judge imposed a five-year driver’s license suspension on both charges, to run concurrently.
The license suspension “is for the safety of the public,” the judge told Woods in the courtroom. “There are no exceptions. If you were to drive for any reason at all, you would go immediately back to jail.”
Accompanying Woods in court was his girlfriend Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr.
Woods was arrested in March following a rollover car crash in Jupiter Island, Florida, in which no one was injured, Martin County officials said.
The March 27 accident unfolded when Woods tried to pass a truck in front of him, authorities said. Woods clipped the back of the truck’s trailer, causing the golfer’s SUV to tip on its side, authorities said.
Two hydrocodone pills were found in Woods’ pants pocket, the probable cause affidavit said.
A breathalyzer showed no alcohol in his system, but Woods refused to take a urine test, which is used to detect drugs or medication, authorities said.
