India’s Yuki Bhambri reached his first-ever Grand Slam semifinal after he and his New Zealand partner Michael Venus secured a spot in the U.S. Open men’s doubles last four.
The Indo-Kiwi pair pulled off a notable upset against the 11th-seeded duo of Nikola Mektic and Rajeev Ram, clinching a hard-fought 6-3, 6-7(8), 6-3 victory in their quarterfinal showdown on Court 17 on Wednesday.
For 33-year-old Bhambri, this marks a significant milestone in his career. Once the junior world No. 1 and winner of the 2009 Australian Open boys’ title, he has now achieved his best-ever result at a senior Grand Slam. His journey, marked by persistent injuries and a transition from singles to doubles, has finally brought him to a major semifinal – a breakthrough moment.
The duo’s success adds another chapter to India’s storied history in men’s doubles, following in the footsteps of legends like Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna.
In their quarterfinal clash, Bhambri and Venus struck early. A sharp return winner from Bhambri on Mektic’s serve gave them a 3-1 lead. Although Venus faced pressure in the next game, he held firm to consolidate the break. The first set was wrapped up with a confident volley winner from Bhambri off Ram’s return. Momentum shifted in the second set as Bhambri dropped his serve early, allowing Mektic and Ram back into the contest. Despite levelling the set at 4-4, the Indo-Kiwi duo eventually lost it in a tight tiebreak, with Bhambri double-faulting on set point.
In the deciding set, Bhambri held firm under pressure, saving a crucial break point in the third game. Then, with Mektic serving at 4-3, the 11th seeds faltered. A double fault at deuce and a brilliant angled backhand from Bhambri earned the decisive break. Venus faced a stern test serving for the match, falling behind 0-40, but the pair saved five break points in total before closing it out when Ram’s return clipped the net.
Osaka overcomes Muchova to reach semis
Naomi Osaka secured her spot in the U.S. Open semi-finals on Thursday with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6(3) victory over Karolina Muchova, marking a powerful statement in her comeback to top-level tennis.
The four-time Grand Slam champion, seeded 23rd and returning to form after a long maternity break, maintained her perfect record in major quarter-finals, now standing at 5-0. This win sets up a high-stakes semi-final clash with Amanda Anisimova, as Osaka continues her impressive run at Flushing Meadows, four years after capturing her last major title.
Muchova, who had spent over 10 grueling hours on court across her first four matches, took a medical timeout after narrowly losing the opening set, receiving treatment in the locker room for a suspected left leg issue.
Despite returning with her thigh heavily strapped, she came out aggressively and broke Osaka early in the second set. Though visibly hampered in her movement at times, Muchova continued to challenge Osaka with her crafty and unpredictable style of play, breaking to take a 5-4 lead. However, Osaka regained control just in time, forcing a tiebreak and ultimately sealing the match to advance.
Sinner beats Musetti
Defending champion Jannik Sinner continued his ruthless run at the U.S. Open by beating 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti 6–1 6–4 6–2 on Wednesday in the first all-Italian men’s Grand Slam quarter-final.
The world number one, who also holds the Australian Open trophy, extended his hardcourt winning streak to 26 matches and will take on Canadian 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime next.
“It was a good performance, I was very solid, I started well … it’s nearly midnight, so thank you all for staying,” Sinner told the crowd.
“Obviously we know each other well,” he said of Musetti.
Sinner’s thunderous hitting from the word go helped him take a 5-0 lead, and while the loudest applause of the evening came when Musetti got on the board that was the only joy he had in the opening set.
Musetti briefly threatened to break early in the second but Sinner staved off his challenge to double his advantage, before easing through the next set and finishing it with a clean hold.
Anisimova stuns Swiatek
Amanda Anisimova flipped the script on Wednesday by ousting second seed Iga Swiatek 6-4 6-3 to reach her first U.S. Open semi-final, exacting revenge for one of the most brutal defeats in Grand Slam history.
Less than two months after suffering a devastating 6-0 6-0 loss to the world number two in the Wimbledon final, the American eighth seed completed the turnaround in 96 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“Playing here is so freaking special,” Anisimova said in her on-court interview. “I’ve been having the run of my life here … Today proved everything for me. I can do it.”
The 24-year-old’s journey from tears in July to triumph on Wednesday epitomizes the sport’s capacity for redemption.
After watching back the painful Wimbledon footage on Tuesday night, Anisimova admitted she was “slow as hell” in that final but approached the rematch with renewed purpose. “Today is definitely the most meaningful victory I’ve had in my life,” she told reporters. “I really came out there with, like, not an ounce of fear… I was constantly moving and trying to get myself going.”
Anisimova next faces Naomi Osaka in the semi-finals after the Japanese 23rd seed beat Karolina Muchova 6-4 7-6(3).
Swiatek acknowledged that her opponent’s aggressive return game proved decisive.
The American dominated on return, converting four of nine break opportunities while Swiatek managed two breaks from just four chances, ending her bid for a seventh Grand Slam title and second U.S. Open crown in the quarter-finals.
Aliassime beats Minaur
Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime fought back to beat Australian eighth seed Alex de Minaur 4-6 7-6(7) 7-5 7-6(4) in the U.S. Open quarter-finals on Wednesday, as he continued his renaissance at the year’s final major.
The 25th seed has struggled with injuries and dips in confidence since his breakthrough trip to the U.S. Open semi-final four years ago but brought his best level to Arthur Ashe Stadium as he sent over 22 aces and 51 winners.
The defeat had a familiar sting for De Minaur, who has now made six quarter-final appearances at the Grand Slams without ever advancing to the semis.
A handful of unforced errors made the difference in a tightly contested first set as Auger-Aliassime dropped his serve in the seventh game when he sent a shot past the baseline.
The momentum was in De Minaur’s favour in the second set as he saved two break points in a marathon, eight-deuce fourth game and Auger-Aliassime dropped his serve in the fifth when he sent another shot out.
But the Canadian broke back immediately and won the tiebreak on the third set point when De Minaur whacked a backhand into the net.
“To break back immediately, I think that was a great response mentally and in the game,” said Auger-Aliassime.
Down a break in the third set, De Minaur levelled it from the baseline in the 10th game but could not hang on to the momentum, as the Canadian broke again in the next game and clinched the set with an ace.
De Minaur was up a break in the final set but once again ran out of steam as Auger-Aliassime broke him to love in the ninth game and powered through the final tiebreak.
“It was just a lot of nerves today, the whole match,” said Auger-Aliassime. “It wasn’t pretty but that’s what Grand Slam matches are sometimes.”
His U.S. Open run provides added satisfaction for the Canadian, who said he had improved virtually every aspect of his game after failing to get past the second round in his last three trips to Flushing Meadows.