Titans of Tennis

The 2026 U.S. Open is underway, treating fans to fast-paced tennis, shows of sportsmanship, and late-night thrills.

The annual two-week tennis tournament takes place at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, in Queens, New York. This year, 128 singles players are competing. A single loss eliminates a player from the tournament.

Qualifying matches began on August 24 and ran through August 28. The main draw of the tournament began on August 30. Quarterfinal play ended on September 9. Semifinals will occur on September 10 and 11. The women’s singles final will be played on September 12. The tournament ends on September 13, with the men’s singles final.

The tournament has been action-packed, with several surprising victories. Chinese player Qinwen Zheng, who faced a career setback in 2025 after an elbow injury, overcame the odds on September 5. She defeated American player Madison Keys, the winner of the 2025 Australian Open.

American Ben Shelton stunned crowds on September 8, when he defeated 2025 U.S. Open champion Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain. Their match didn’t begin until about 11 p.m. It was delayed by the day’s earlier matches. Shelton beat Alcaraz in a four-hour, 28-minute quarterfinal which ended at 3:33 a.m. That’s the latest finish in U.S. Open history.

“For me, it’s always about the people in the crowd—whether it’s my coaches and my team, [or] all of my family and friends,” Shelton, 23, said after his victory. “The city of New York that showed up tonight until 3 a.m., that’s what kept me going.”