Catch up on all our coverage as the 2026 U.S. Open rolled on with the second round at Flushing Meadows.The Athletic Live TeamSeptember 4, 2026 at 7:09 PM EDTDefending champion Carlos Alcaraz is into the U.S. Open third round. Getty ImagesU.S. Open Day 4 — RecapDay 4 at the U.S. Open has concluded at Flushing Meadows.The defending champions headlined the second round action. Aryna Sabalenka (1) made light work of Polina Iatcenko (6-1, 6-1) on Arthur Ashe, while Carlos Alcaraz (2) survived a first-set scare to beat Jaime Faria in four.Ben Shelton (8) also won in four sets earlier, with Jessica Pegula (3) and Daniil Medvedev (7) advancing to the third round in straights. Check out today’s scores here.Watch or listen to The Tennis PodcastGet involved in the Discuss tab or email us: live@theathletic.comSKIP ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementMore to come in the morning! Getty ImagesA reminder that the second singles draw continues on Thursday at Flushing Meadows, with play starting across the grounds at 11 a.m. ET and 30 minutes later at Arthur Ashe Stadium.Naomi Osaka, Taylor Fritz, Coco Gauff, Alexandra Eala and Alexander Zverev … it’s going to be a heck of a day! And we will be with you for it all. See you then.No stopping Nosková Getty ImagesTararudee 4-6, 2-6 Nosková The last match of the night soon wrapped up at Louis Armstrong Stadium too, as Wimbledon champion and No. 6 seed Linda Nosková breezed by Lanlana Tararudee in straight sets. A quiet, efficient night from a player in excellent form. And a lovely way to end the action on Day 4. The Athletic / Lukas WeeseNow then … Exiting Arthur Ashe Stadium after a night session amid the thousands of fans, is not for the faint of heart!A nice way to sign offSo, Carlos Alcaraz advances to the third round of the U.S. Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium. He does a bow and arrow celebration to his team before waving to the crowd. Impressive from the Spaniard to come back after losing the first set, given he’s been off for almost five months due to wrist surgery. A nice touch from Alcaraz to address the crowd in Spanish, when asked to as he concludes his on-court interview too.Yeah, he looks pretty happy with that.SKIP ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementGame, Set, Match: Alcaraz safely through Getty ImagesFaria 6-4, 0-6, 3-6, 2-6 AlcarazThere it is. Carlos Alcaraz holds to 15 and seals a win that looked a little less likely in that opening set.The No. 2 seed is still some way short of his best and that might be an issue later in this championship — but for now, Alcaraz is safely through.Such a shame that Jaime Faria completely lost his way after such a promising start.Faria 6-4, 0-6, 3-6, *1-5 AlcarazAlcaraz holds to love.One more.Alcaraz on the brink Getty ImagesFaria 6-4, 0-6, 3-6, 1-4* AlcarazAs for the match itself, it won’t be much longer. All the gas has gone from Jaime Faria’s efforts and Carlos Alcaraz holds to love before taking the second of his break points from 15-40.This could well be the last changeover at this rate. The No. 2 seed a double break up in the fourth and two games away from the third round. Game, set, match: Paul victorious at GrandstandPrižmić 2-6, 3-6, 7-5, 4-6 PaulTommy Paul (20) tore through the first two sets of his match against Dino Prižmić at Grandstand, capturing the sets 6-2 and 6-3, but Prižmić made life difficult after that.Paul dropped the third set to Prižmić, but he would not be denied in the fourth. Prižmić was more efficient but double-faulted seven times, against only two aces.The No. 15 seed, Alexander Bublik, now awaits Paul in the third round. Getty ImagesThere was a lengthy changeover between sets on Arthur Ashe, as Jaime Faria took his time before returning to the court.It gave Carlos Alcaraz a chance to start his debrief with his team early, and it was fascinating to watch the discussion — even if it wasn’t quite possible to hear what was being said. SKIP ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementOminous from FariaFaria 6-4, 0-6, 3-6, 1-2* AlcarazWith Vacherot winning, we are down to three matches currently playing out in this night session on Day 4 at the U.S. Open.And we are into the fourth set on Arthur Ashe, where the brief flirtation with holding serve roasted just two games.Jaime Faria flies a loose backhand long from the baseline that screams ‘fed up’ and Carlos Alcaraz breaks to love. I’m not sure Faria’s heart is in this right now. Alcaraz just four games away from the third round. Game, set, match: Vacherot advances to face Tiafoe Getty ImagesVacherot (22) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2 MajchrzakOnto the third round for Valentin Vacherot, who takes three of four sets to outlast Kamil Majchrzak.Vacherot’s tiebreak victory in the third set shifted momentum firmly in his favor, as he cruised to a 6-2 final set. His service game was strong, with 17 aces to Majchrzak’s 8.Next up for Vacherot: a match against the No. 11 seed, Francis Tiafoe, who rolled to a straight-sets victory earlier today.Look who’s watching — and filming X/TheAthleticFirst it was the New York Knicks — now it’s the U.S. Open.Ben Stiller is back behind the lens!And the piece below from the excellent Jared Weiss takes you on the journey of how this all came about during the NBA Finals.Alcaraz bags the third set Getty ImagesFaria 6-4, 0-6, 3-6, *0-0 AlcarazJaime Faria does at least avoid a third break in the third set by holding through Carlos Alcaraz’s two set points on his serve.But it only delays the inevitable, as Alcaraz holds to love to get a set up and put himself in full control after a difficult opening. Even the Spaniard’s serve is starting to increase in speed.The No. 2 seed looking good to advance now, heading into the fourth on Arthur Ashe. Game, set, match: Navone keeps winning!Berrettini 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 6-7(4) NavoneMariano Navone, who shook up the men’s singles bracket with his first-round upset of Novak Djokovic, continued his winning ways in the second round.After dropping the first set against Matteo Berrettini, Navone stormed back to win the next three. The fourth set extended to a tiebreak, which Navone claimed 7-4. In the immediate aftermath, he fell to the Court 12 surface in gleeful exhaustion. Navone will look to continue his storybook run through the tournament in a match against his fellow Argentinian, Tomas Martin Etcheverry next.SKIP ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementNosková in action against Tararudee Getty ImagesTararudee *2-2 NoskováThe final match of the evening at Louis Armstrong Stadium is underway, pitting Lanlana Tararudee against this year’s Wimbledon champion Linda Nosková (6).Both players traded holds in the first four games of the opening set, though Tararudee threatened a break on the most recent game.The victor of this match will face Ann Li (29), who completed a 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-4 win over Donna Vekić on Court 13 just now.…but not for longFaria 6-4, 0-6, 1-4* AlcarazYes, that was predictable. Jaime Faria does at least avoid any more double faults — but it’s a weak game that Carlos Alcaraz rolls over with his first break opportunity and we’ve had just one hold in this third set.The crowd feels flat and so does this rather chaotic match; one that might now be in the palm of Alcaraz’s hand. Especially as Alcaraz then goes on to hold to 15 to snap the break streak.Back on serve as Alcaraz broken Getty ImagesFaria 6-4, 0-6, *1-2 AlcarazThat’s more like it. Jaime Faria finds some spark without having to serve for it and while it takes two bites of the cherry, boy did he need that.We’re back on serve in the third set! Let’s see how Faria’s serve holds up next.Updates on this evening’s actionDonna Vekić is battling Ann Li. Getty ImagesLet's take a glance around the grounds at the other ongoing action.Tommy Paul (20) is attempting to close out Dino Prižmić at Grandstand. Prižmić dashed his chance at a straight-sets victory in the third set, but Paul is back ahead in the fourth.Donna Vekić is putting a real scare into Ann Li (29). Vekić took the first set 7-5, lost the second on a tiebreak and has the deciding set at four games apiece.As for Elina Svitolina (9), she is closing in on a victory. Svitolina took the first set convincingly, 6-2, before dropping the second set on a tiebreak. Svitolina is nearing match point now against Maya Joint.