The men's draw at Flushing Meadows has done something New York has not seen in years: it has guaranteed a home semi-finalist. Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen, both American, meet in Tuesday's quarter-final, so one of them will be in the last four regardless of the result — a rare piece of good news for a country that has not produced a men's Grand Slam champion since Andy Roddick won here in 2003.
Above them sits the defending champion. Carlos Alcaraz beat Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the fourth round, dropping just one set across four matches in what is his first tournament back after four months out with a right wrist injury. His Grand Slam winning streak now stands at 18 matches, and a second straight title in New York would make him the first man in the Open Era to successfully defend majors on all three surfaces.
“Every time that I come here, I play my best,” Alcaraz said after the win.
In the women's draw the top seed is also still standing. Aryna Sabalenka, chasing a third consecutive US Open title, was broken three times early by Taylor Townsend before settling to win 6-4, 6-3; she faces Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova next.
For the tournament itself, the shape of the second week matters commercially as much as competitively. An American in the semi-finals is the single most reliable driver of late-round ticket demand and domestic broadcast audience at this event, and it lands with a full week of play still to sell. The finals are scheduled for Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Source
Original summary by Proventier.