US Open: Go on and take a bow

September 9, 2022
Nearly two weeks, one epic career-bookending run and some late night heroics later, the US Open will come to a close this weekend in the Big Apple.
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US Open: Go on and take a bow
SOURCE: FREY/TPN/GETTY IMAGES

The GIST: Nearly two weeks, one epic career-bookending run and some late night heroics later, the US Open will come to a close this weekend in the Big Apple. But tennis’ final Grand Slam of the season is no doubt saving the best for last.

Women’s: Perhaps one of the hottest players on tour, No. 5 Ons Jabeur’s historic summer continued with last night’s dominant straight sets semis win over No. 17 Caroline Garcia. With her victory, Jabeur became the first African woman to reach the US Open final in the Open Era, after achieving the same feat at Wimbledon earlier this year.

  • Her opponent? No. 1 Iga Świątek, who’s also been burnin’ up the court. She topped No. 6 Aryna Sabalenka last night en route to her second Grand Slam final of the season.
  • Jabeur and Świątek have faced off four times in their careers, each taking two of those matches. But the world No. 1 has the recent edge — Świątek defeated Jabeur at the Italian Open in May. Yeah, this is going to be good. Serve it up tomorrow at 4 p.m. ET.

Men’s: The men’s final is set for Sunday at 4 p.m. ET, but first No. 5 Casper Ruud will face No. 27 Karen Khachanov, and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz will take on No. 22 Frances Tiafoe in today’s 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET semis for a chance to compete for the trophy.

  • If you have to pick one to watch, we recommend teen sensation Alcaraz vs. Tiafoe, the first American man to make the US Open semis since 2006. The son of immigrants, Tiafoe used to sleep at the tennis center where his father worked as a custodian.
  • Now, he’s the first Black American man to reach the US Open semifinals since 1972. The last? Arthur Ashe, the namesake of the very court where Tiafoe will make history today. Game, set, you don’t want to miss this match.