Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) at 3:33 a.m. ET on September 9, the latest finish in US Open history, guaranteeing an American finalist for the first time since Arthur Ashe in 1972. Shelton now faces fellow American Frances Tiafoe in Sunday's semifinal on September 13. The victory ended Alcaraz's 18-match Grand Slam winning streak and was Shelton's first win over a top-three player. Alcaraz, returning from a five-month wrist injury absence, said he felt physically exhausted in the third set and prioritized staying healthy over tournament performance.
In the women's draw, Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Coco Gauff all reached the semifinals, the first time the top four seeds have accomplished this at the US Open since 1975. Sabalenka faces Pegula on September 12, with Rybakina meeting Gauff to follow. The convergence marks a tightening at the top of women's tennis after 13 different Grand Slam champions crowned since 2020, compared to seven on the men's side. Rybakina will become world number one on Monday, ending Sabalenka's 99-week reign at the top.
The US Open's late-night finishes sparked criticism from players. Venus Williams objected to a 12:13 a.m. start time in her first-round match, and Jessica Pegula questioned whether scheduling could begin an hour earlier. Tennis Channel CEO Jeff Blackburn called late-night finishes a defect needing correction. All four quarterfinals on September 9 extended to deciding sets, compounding the scheduling strain.
The NFL season opened Thursday with the Seattle Seahawks defeating the New England Patriots 13-10 in a Super Bowl rematch. Patriots QB Drake Maye threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter, including a game-deciding pick with 26 seconds remaining at the Seattle 16-yard line on third-and-5. With field-goal range and overtime available, Maye threw off his back foot into the end zone, where Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe intercepted. NBC's Cris Collinsworth called the throw indefensible given the game situation. The Patriots led 10-0 deep into the third before the fourth-quarter collapse.
The Seahawks victory came at a cost. Starting QB Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury on the opening drive and was ruled out before halftime. A fracture was ruled out, but further testing remained pending. Drew Lock entered for the second drive and finished the game. Darnold's status for Week 2 is unclear pending the results of those tests.
For the Dodgers, outfielder Josue De Paula, MLB Pipeline's No. 6 overall prospect and 21 years old, was called up to make his major league debut Friday in Miami. De Paula replaces Shohei Ohtani on the active roster after the Dodgers placed Ohtani on the 15-day injured list due to left knee soreness and right biceps injuries. Ohtani's IL placement, backdated to September 9, makes him eligible to return September 23, leaving only five regular-season games before the postseason begins. Manager Dave Roberts said the team believes two weeks will put Ohtani in substantially better position for October. De Paula, a Double-A prospect with a .303 average, .401 on-base percentage, and .547 slugging percentage this season at Tulsa, will receive playing time at designated hitter and corner-outfield reps. Roberts expressed confidence in De Paula's hitting ability, and MLB Pipeline considers him the Dodgers' most advanced young hitter since Corey Seager, though his defensive profile presents challenges after committing eight errors in left and right field at Tulsa.
Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown, recently acquired, suffered a high ankle sprain during the season opener's third quarter and is expected to miss at least four weeks. An MRI confirmed the injury. Brown was injured on an awkward landing when attempting to pluck a low throw from Drake Maye while trapped between the ground and Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett.
Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered an oblique injury during Thursday practice and is listed day-to-day with status uncertain for Sunday's Week 1 opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tagovailoa was named the Falcons' starter Monday, selected over Michael Penix Jr., who is recovering from left ACL surgery and has participated in only six 11-on-11 practices during training camp. If both are unavailable, the Falcons would turn to Cooper Rush, who has a 9-7 record as a starter across eight NFL seasons, or undrafted rookie Jack Strand.
The Big Ten announced Wednesday it will expand live audio broadcasts of replay reviews to all conference football games and home non-conference matchups officiated by Big Ten officials, beginning Saturday, September 12. The move follows the controversial clock discrepancy in last weekend's Michigan-Western Michigan game, when officials granted the Wolverines an extra second after the game clock struck zero, allowing a Hail Mary touchdown to win. The announcement included plans to broadcast live Replay Center video feeds alongside the audio.
