One week in, and the U.S. Open is already a collection of notable stories

Queen-wen Returns! After fighting her way through qualifying and two main draw matches, Zheng Qinwen pulls off a stunning comeback to reach the 4th round at the US Open The reigning Olympic gold medalist rallies from a 0-5 deficit in the final set, winning the final 7 games to topple Madison Keys

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— Tick Tock Tennis (@ticktocktennis.bsky.social) September 5, 2026 at 12:40 PM

A lot has happened since main draw play began at the 2026 U.S. Open. Two-time major champion Barbora Krejcikova lost (again) in the first round, the Williams sisters played (and lost) a long and entertaining doubles match, Karolina Muchova went from brilliant to befuddled, and Emma Navarro and Lois Boisson gave us a visual that ranks among the best of its kind when the victorious Navarro celebrated her victory in juxtaposition to Boisson's Zvonareva-level racket breaking.

And then there was the crowd. There is no longer any question--the U.S. crowd is more ill-behaved than even the French, who--for a long time--held the title. Among the drinking, the marijuana smoking, the policy that lets ticket-holders take their seats whenever they want, and the addition of a group of ill-behaving influencers (I hate it when I have to use that word), things have gotten out of control. In my opinion, anyone who disrupts play in any way--after one warning--should be escorted out of the stadium. I know--good luck with that.

Czechs are generally fixtures in the second week of majors, but--as of now--there is only one Czech standing. Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, seeded 6th, was put to a hard test in the third round by Ann Li, but she passed it. Krejcikova made it to the round of 16 at Wimbledon, but lost in the first round in all the other majors this season. A victim of the Czech Curse, Krejcikova just doesn't seem herself after her long injury and illness struggle. 

As for Muchova--after delivering bagels in both her first and second round matches--she simply could not find her serve in her third round match against Emma Navarro. Rising star Nikola Bartunkova gave Mirra Andreeva an excellent fight in the second set, but Andreeva prevailed, 6-2, 7-6 (5). And finally, in the third round, Marie Bouzkova gave it her all against 2022 champion Iga Swiatek, but Swiatek advanced with a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) victory. This was such a close match, and Bouzkova, despite losing, certainly played some of her best tennis.

Sorana Cirstea, playing in her (probably) final U.S. Open, continues to show the best of her game. The Romanian veteran, who is having one hell of a season, defeated Jasmine Paolini in the third round. Also in the third round, Anna Kalinskaya-- despite double-faulting fourteen times--defeated Elina Svitolina in a momentum-shifting three-set match. If Kalinskaya can get the serving problem under control, she has the power and accuracy to keep going at this event.

3rd seed Jessica Pegula had to come back from a 1-6 first set against Leylah Fernandez in the third round, while the ever-evolving Marta Kostyuk, seeded 11th, defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova in straight sets, and the unseeded Taylor Towsend upset 15th seed Diana Shnaider. 

And then there was Madison Keys. who--up 5-0 in the third set--lost to a resurgent Zheng Qinwen.  This sort of thing happens rarely, but it does happen. After the match, Keys said: “I obviously got off to a really good lead, and then I just got really scared, like I couldn't swing. Tennis just feels really hard right now, so I feel like that kind of took over."

A highly anticipated match was the third round clash between close friends Iva Jovic and Alex Eala, two of the tour's youngest, most promising stars. They did not disappoint. Jovic experienced what appeared to be a slight leg injury, but it didn't appear to hamper her too much. There were several momentum swings during the match, and Jovic was down 2-4 in the third set, but fought her way back. Eala then saved a match point at 4-5, but--after over three hours--Jovic prevailed, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5. This was a splendid match by any standard.

Here is the round of 16 draw:

Aryna Sabalenka (1) v. Taylor Townsend 
Marta Kostyuk (11) v. Linda Noskova (6)
Jessica Pegula (3) v. Sorana Cirstea (16)
Anna Kalinskaya (21) v. Emma Navarro (26)
Mirra Andreeva (5) v. Anastasia Potapova (24)
Iva Jovic (14 ) v. Coco Guaff (4)
Iga Swiatek (8) v. Zheng Quinwen
Naomi Osaka (13) v. Elena Rybakina (2)