Rain Delays Play as U.S. Open Action Intensifies in New York

Intermittent rain delayed matches on several of the tournament's outdoor courts, while play continued under the retractable roofs at Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium. The weather created scheduling complications as players attempted to complete their first-round matches and advance into the second round.

Despite the interruptions, the third day of the tournament featured several highly anticipated players, including American stars Coco Gauff and Madison Keys, as well as second seed Elena Rybakina and fifth seed Mirra Andreeva. The packed schedule reflected the depth of the 2026 field, with several established contenders beginning their campaigns in New York.

The tournament had already produced major results before Tuesday's action began. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returned to competition Monday after spending 139 days away from professional tennis while recovering from a wrist injury. The second-seeded Spaniard defeated Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the second round.

Alcaraz's return was one of the most closely watched developments of the opening days. The victory gave the defending champion a positive start to his title defense after an extended absence from competition. He also became one of the leading names remaining in a men's draw that had already experienced a significant upset.

Novak Djokovic was eliminated in the first round after losing to Argentina's Mariano Navone in five sets. The result was one of the tournament's biggest early surprises and removed another major name from the men's singles competition.

American player Ben Shelton also advanced to the second round after overcoming a difficult opening set against Tallon Griekspoor. Shelton lost the first set 6-1 but recovered to win the next three sets 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2.

The victory continued a promising stretch for Shelton, who entered the U.S. Open as the highest-ranked American man in the tournament. At 23, he is seeking his first Grand Slam singles title and entered the tournament with additional confidence after successfully defending his Canadian Open title earlier in August.

The women's draw has also produced strong performances from several leading players. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka began her campaign with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Camila Osorio. The result marked the start of Sabalenka's attempt to win a third consecutive U.S. Open women's singles championship.

Iga Swiatek also moved into the second round after defeating Wang Xiyu 6-2, 6-3. The Polish star, who won the U.S. Open in 2022, remains one of the leading contenders in the women's field.

Naomi Osaka provided another notable result during the opening round. The four-time Grand Slam champion defeated Anastasia Zakharova 7-6(6), 7-6(3) in a closely contested match at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Osaka's victory sent her into the second round, where she will continue her latest U.S. Open campaign.

For American fans, much of Tuesday's attention centered on Coco Gauff. The fourth-seeded American entered the tournament after winning the Cincinnati Open and is competing at a venue where she has already achieved the biggest title of her career. Gauff won the U.S. Open in 2023 and is again among the prominent American contenders in New York.

The opening days have demonstrated the unpredictable nature of a Grand Slam tournament. Alongside strong performances from established champions, the early rounds have featured surprising results, difficult five-set matches and weather-related disruptions.

The rain delays also highlighted one of the practical realities of staging the U.S. Open in late summer. While Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium have retractable roofs that allow competition to continue during rain, matches on uncovered courts can be postponed when conditions become unsuitable for play. Those interruptions can create changes to the order of play and require players to adjust their preparation and recovery schedules.

With the tournament continuing through September 13, the competitive picture remains open. Several top players are still beginning their campaigns, while others have already been eliminated earlier than expected.

For New York, the U.S. Open remains one of the city's major annual sporting events, bringing international players and spectators to Queens for two weeks of high-level tennis. For the players, however, the immediate objective is much narrower: survive each round and maintain enough consistency to reach the second week.

The early stages of the 2026 tournament have already delivered comebacks, upsets and closely contested matches. With the second round approaching, attention now shifts toward which remaining contenders can maintain their momentum and which players can turn strong opening performances into a deeper run at Flushing Meadows.