NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — Defending champions Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz have continued their impressive progress at the 2026 U.S. Open, with both stars advancing to the fourth round of the tournament as the competition moves into its later stages.
World No. 1 Sabalenka secured her place in the last 16 after overcoming Kamilla Rakhimova in straight sets. The Belarusian maintained her unbeaten run at the U.S. Open and again demonstrated the powerful serving and aggressive baseline tennis that have made her one of the leading contenders for another championship.
Sabalenka has now reached the fourth round without dropping a set. Her latest victory came despite an unusual distraction during the match, but she remained composed and continued to control the contest with her serve and powerful groundstrokes.
The two-time defending champion will now face American Taylor Townsend in the fourth round, setting up another important test as she continues her pursuit of a third consecutive U.S. Open women’s singles title.
On the men’s side, second seed Carlos Alcaraz also produced another commanding performance. The defending champion defeated China’s Wu Yibing 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 to reach the fourth round.
Alcaraz controlled the match with his movement, shot-making and ability to dictate rallies, closing out the contest in straight sets. The victory extended his Grand Slam winning streak to 17 matches and provided another strong indication that he has returned to top form following his wrist injury layoff.
The 23-year-old Spaniard will next meet American 20th seed Tommy Paul in the fourth round. Paul reached the last 16 after a five-set victory over Alexander Bublik, setting up an intriguing clash between the defending champion and one of the tournament’s home hopes.
The progress of Sabalenka and Alcaraz has added another layer of excitement to a tournament already featuring several major storylines. Both entered New York as defending champions, and their continued advancement keeps the possibility of another successful title defence firmly in view.
Other leading players are also moving through the draw. Jessica Pegula reached the fourth round after rallying past Leylah Fernandez, while Daniil Medvedev and Frances Tiafoe also advanced. Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the fourth round for the first time at the U.S. Open after defeating Jiri Lehecka.
The women’s draw has also produced significant developments, with Emma Navarro defeating seventh seed Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova advancing after a three-set victory over Ann Li. These results have added further intrigue to the race for the women’s championship.
ANALYSIS
The advancement of Sabalenka and Alcaraz is significant because both players arrived in New York carrying the expectations that come with being defending champions. Instead of allowing that pressure to slow their progress, both have moved through the opening rounds with increasingly confident performances.
For Sabalenka, the fourth-round appearance keeps her on course for a historic third consecutive U.S. Open women’s singles championship. Her consistency in New York has made her one of the tournament’s most difficult players to overcome.
For Alcaraz, the run is equally important. After missing several months because of a wrist injury, the Spaniard is steadily rebuilding his rhythm and confidence. His straight-sets victory over Wu demonstrated that his speed, power and court coverage remain major weapons.
WHAT IT MEANS
With both defending champions now in the fourth round, the U.S. Open enters an increasingly important phase. Every remaining match brings Sabalenka and Alcaraz closer to the semifinals and ultimately another opportunity to defend their titles.
The next round will provide fresh challenges, with Sabalenka facing Townsend and Alcaraz meeting Tommy Paul. Both matches will attract significant attention as the tournament moves toward the quarterfinal stage.
For fans, the continued presence of two reigning champions ensures that the 2026 U.S. Open remains wide open for more memorable moments as the battle for the final trophies intensifies.