American hopefuls move on as Alcaraz and Sabalenka breeze into US Open third round

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka both secured straight‑set victories on Day 3 of the US Open, putting them comfortably into the tournament’s third round, Al Jazeera reported. Alcaraz, the world No.1, dispatched his opponent in under an hour, while Sabalenka used her powerful baseline game to close out her match without dropping a set.

On the men’s side of the draw, American Ben Shelton impressed with a gritty win that saw him survive a first‑set tiebreak before pulling away in the second. His performance, highlighted by a strong serve and aggressive net play, earned him a place among the last 32. Across the net, Frances Tiafoe also advanced, using his trademark speed and tactical variety to outlast his challenger in three tightly contested sets.

The women’s draw saw Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro add their names to the list of U.S. qualifiers. Pegula, seeded inside the top ten, displayed the consistency that has defined her season, while Navarro, a rising college star, captured attention with a powerful forehand that forced several unforced errors from her opponent. Their progress underscores a broader resurgence of American talent at the Grand Slam, a trend that has been building since the 2022 tournament when several U.S. players reached the later stages.

The US Open, the final Grand Slam of the calendar year, traditionally draws the world’s best on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows. Historically, American players have excelled on these surfaces, but a dip in deep runs over the past decade prompted a renewed focus on development programs. The recent success of Shelton, Pegula, Navarro and Tiafoe reflects the impact of those initiatives and raises expectations for a stronger U.S. presence as the tournament moves into its second week.

Looking ahead, Alcaraz is expected to face a seeded opponent who will test his aggressive baseline style, while Sabalenka will encounter a fellow top‑20 player, setting up a potential marquee clash in the fourth round. For the Americans, the next matches will be crucial stepping stones toward a possible breakthrough at a venue that has long been a barometer of national tennis health.