Two Americans clinch US Open semis spots

The GIST: Blink and you’ll miss it — the US Open quarter-finals (QFs) are already halfway done. Here are a few of the major moments since our last newsletter and what to look forward to on the blue hard courts today.

Defending champs suffer early exits: 2023 US Open winners No. 2 Novak Djokovic and No. 3 Coco Gauff were upset in the third round and Round of 16, respectively, over the long weekend.

• Djokovic’s ouster makes this the first year since 2002 that no member of tennis’ Big Three (Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer) will win a Grand Slam. Consider the guard changed.

• Speaking of, American No. 13 Emma Navarro, who eliminated Gauff, clinched her first career Grand Slam semis spot yesterday. Smiling through it all.

All-American men’s semi, coming right up: For the first time since 2009, an American is guaranteed a spot in a Grand Slam final thanks to No. 12 Taylor Fritz and No. 20 Frances Tiafoe, who will face off in Friday’s semi following their respective QF wins yesterday. Electric.

• And on the women’s side, No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka’s revenge tour continues after she knocked out Paris Olympics gold medalist No. 7 Qinwen Zheng last night to reach her second consecutive US Open semi, where she’ll face the aforementioned Navarro.

The remaining women’s and men’s semis will be booked today: The serves start at 12 p.m. ET, but both of tonight’s primetime semis feature top seeds, with No. 1 Iga Świątek taking on American No. 6 Jessica Pegula at 7 p.m. ET, followed by No. 1 Jannik Sinner against No. 4 Daniil Medvedev. Consider your evening plans set.