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The US Open 2024 is in its closing stages with the singles quarterfinals concluding on Wednesday, September 4. While only the cream of the crop was left in the draw, some of the outcomes still raised a few eyebrows.
Jannik Sinner got the better of Daniil Medvedev for the third time this year and avenged his Wimbledon defeat by beating him 6-2, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4. He is through to the semifinals in New York for the first time in his career. He is vying to reach his first final at the venue, and his second Major final.
Jelena Ostapenko and Lyudmyla Kichenok defeated Chan Hao-ching and Veronika Kudermetova 6-1, 6-2 to reach their second Major final as a team. They previously finished as the runners-up at this year's Australian Open.
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However, these players were expected to advance further. Now, here's a look at the players who didn't make the cut in the most shocking results from Day 10 of the US Open:
#3 Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova
The reigning Wimbledon champions were sent packing by Kristina Mladenovic and Zhang Shuai as they were beaten 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. The Czech had also won the French Open with Coco Gauff.
The result is all the more surprising since Mladenovic and Zhang only joined forces some time ago. They've knocked out a seeded team for the third time in this tournament. While both are accomplished players in the discipline, immediate success wasn't expected from the duo, given where they stand in singles.
Mladenovic is ranked outside the top 200, while Zhang is on a 23-match losing streak. This is the best result for both of them this year. The Frenchwoman is seeking her first US Open crown in doubles and her seventh Major title.
Zhang is gunning for her second US Open title and her third Grand Slam title. They will take on the seventh-seeded duo of Jelena Ostapenko and Lyudmyla Kichenok in the final. The latter team is eyeing to capture their first Grand Slam title in doubles.
#2 Alex de Minaur
De Minaur's journey at the US Open came to an end with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 loss against Jack Draper in the quarterfinals. Both were aiming to reach their maiden Grand Slam semifinal, and the latter was successful in the endeavor.
De Minaur was contesting a singles event for the first time since withdrawing from the Wimbledon quarterfinals due to an injury. He gave a good account of himself to make it this far in New York but Draper was always going to be a tough nut to crack.
The young Brit has dealt with his fair share of injuries. Touted as a promising talent since his junior days, he is finally living up to the expectations this year. Draper hasn't lost a set so far and has dropped more than five games in a set only once. He's also set to make his top 20 debut in the ATP rankings as a result.
Draper's win over de Minaur was his second over a top-10 player this year, having gotten the better of Carlos Alcaraz a few months ago. He will take on World No. 1 Sinner in the semifinals on Friday, September 6.
#1 Iga Swiatek
Home favorite Jessica Pegula beat top-ranked Swiatek 6-2, 6-4 to reach a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time. Despite the American's form over the last few weeks, she won the Canadian Open and made the Cincinnati Open final, she was the underdog in this match-up.
Swiatek led Pegula 6-3 in the head-to-head before this match and handed her a 6-1, 6-0 beatdown in their previous encounter at the WTA Finals last year. She also lost to her younger rival in the quarterfinals here two years ago. However, the American wasn't to be denied this time.
Pegula was in the zone and was also helped by Swiatek's constant errors, 41 of them by the end of the match. Having come up short in six Major quarterfinals before this, she has finally breached the barrier to make the last four. She will next take on Karolina Muchova for a spot in the championship round on Thursday, September 5.
Should Emma Navarro pip Aryna Sabalenka in the other semifinal, the tournament could witness the first all-American final in seven years. Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys contested the last one in 2017, with the former coming out on top to claim her maiden Major title.
