US Open 2026 Day 6 Preview: Alcaraz Faces Wu Yibing, Shelton Battles Shapovalov and Sabalenka Continues Title Defence

The 2026 US Open enters Day 6 on Friday, September 4, with the third round taking centre stage at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.

With the opening rounds complete, the pressure is beginning to rise at Flushing Meadows. The contenders have had time to adjust to the courts and conditions, while the remaining unseeded players are increasingly dangerous with little to lose.

Three matches in particular headline Friday’s schedule.

Defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz faces China’s Wu Yibing, American star Ben Shelton takes on Canadian Denis Shapovalov, and women’s world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka continues her quest for a third consecutive US Open title against Kamilla Rakhimova.

Here’s our in-depth preview of three of the biggest matches on Day 6 of the 2026 US Open.

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Wu Yibing: Defending Champion Faces Dangerous Chinese Shot-Maker

Match: Carlos Alcaraz vs. Wu Yibing
Round: Third Round
Tournament: 2026 US Open
Surface: Outdoor Hard Court
Location: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York

Carlos Alcaraz’s return to Grand Slam tennis continues against Wu Yibing, with the defending champion looking to take another significant step toward the second week in New York.

Alcaraz arrived at the US Open with considerably more uncertainty surrounding him than usual following his extended absence from competition.

Those questions became even louder when the Spaniard dropped the opening set of his second-round encounter against Portugal’s Jaime Faria.

Alcaraz responded like a champion.

After losing the first set 6-4, the No. 2 seed completely changed the direction of the match, storming through the second set without dropping a game before eventually recording a 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 victory.

More important than the score was the progression of his tennis.

Alcaraz began finding his range from the baseline, moving more freely around the court and introducing the variety that makes him such a difficult opponent. His ability to transition from defence to attack remains one of the defining characteristics of his game.

Now comes a different challenge.

Why Wu Yibing Could Test Alcaraz

Wu Yibing has the type of aggressive hard-court game that can become dangerous when he is striking the ball cleanly.

The Chinese star is comfortable taking the ball early and attempting to dictate from inside the baseline. Rather than allowing Alcaraz unlimited time to construct points, Wu will likely look to shorten exchanges and attack whenever the defending champion leaves a ball sitting in the middle of the court.

Wu has also reached the third round without dropping a set, setting up an intriguing contrast between a confident underdog and a champion still rediscovering his best level.

There is precedent between them.

Alcaraz defeated Wu 7-6, 6-3 at the 2024 Shanghai Masters, meaning Friday’s encounter will be their second career meeting.

Wu’s challenge will be turning early opportunities into sustained pressure.

Few players in men’s tennis are better than Alcaraz at changing the complexion of a match within a handful of games.

Key to the Match: Alcaraz’s Return Position

Wu needs his first serve to create opportunities for his first-strike tennis.

Alcaraz, meanwhile, will attempt to neutralize that advantage with one of the most versatile return games on tour.

Watch how Alcaraz adjusts his return position throughout the match. If he begins consistently putting Wu’s first serve back into uncomfortable areas, the Chinese player could find himself defending considerably more than he would like.

Alcaraz will also want another clean physical performance as he continues rebuilding match fitness following his lengthy absence.

Prediction: Carlos Alcaraz in four sets.

Wu has enough firepower to make sections of this match uncomfortable, but Alcaraz’s movement, variety and ability to elevate his level should eventually separate the defending champion.

Ben Shelton vs. Denis Shapovalov: Left-Handed Firepower Comes to Flushing Meadows

Few third-round matches on the men’s side promise as much explosive shot-making as Ben Shelton vs. Denis Shapovalov.

Two athletic left-handers.

Two enormous forehands.

Two players comfortable producing spectacular winners from virtually anywhere on the court.

And two competitors who thrive when the atmosphere becomes electric.

For Shelton, this represents another important test in what could become a deep run at his home Grand Slam.

The No. 8 seed survived an entertaining second-round battle against former world No. 6 Hubert Hurkacz, prevailing 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5.

It was precisely the type of match Shelton may benefit from later in the tournament.

Hurkacz forced the American to return one of the biggest serves in tennis while making him work through difficult moments from the baseline. Shelton acknowledged afterward that the match helped him identify the style of tennis he wants to play moving forward.

Now he faces an opponent capable of creating an entirely different kind of chaos.

Can Shapovalov Break Through Against Shelton?

Shapovalov remains one of the most naturally explosive players in men’s tennis.

The Canadian’s combination of a left-handed serve, one-handed backhand and attacking forehand can overwhelm opponents when everything is synchronized.

The difficulty has always been maintaining that level.

Against Shelton, Shapovalov cannot afford extended stretches of loose errors because the American can accumulate service holds extremely quickly.

There is also an important historical factor working in Shelton’s favour.

Shelton owns a 4-0 career record against Shapovalov entering their US Open third-round meeting.

That gives the American both tactical familiarity and psychological confidence.

Shapovalov, however, has very little reason to play conservatively. His best chance is likely to attack Shelton’s second serve, take the ball early and prevent the American from establishing comfortable patterns with his forehand.

The Battle of the Left-Handed Serves

This matchup could revolve around who protects the second serve more effectively.

Both players can dominate behind their first deliveries.

The real opportunities may come when the first serve misses.

Shelton has become increasingly effective at using his serve to create the next forehand rather than relying exclusively on aces. Shapovalov, meanwhile, will want to attack quickly and avoid being dragged into prolonged neutral rallies.

If Shelton can consistently force Shapovalov to hit additional balls under pressure, the Canadian’s error count could become decisive.

But if Shapovalov finds his rhythm early, this has the potential to become one of the most entertaining matches of Day 6.

Prediction: Ben Shelton in four sets.

Shapovalov’s shot-making makes him dangerous, but Shelton’s serve, confidence and 4-0 head-to-head advantage give the American the edge.

Aryna Sabalenka vs. Kamilla Rakhimova: World No. 1 Continues Chase for US Open Three-Peat

Aryna Sabalenka’s relationship with the US Open has evolved dramatically.

New York was once the Grand Slam where her immense power repeatedly brought her close to the championship.

Now Flushing Meadows has become her territory.

After winning the 2024 and 2025 US Open women’s singles titles, Sabalenka entered the 2026 tournament attempting to capture an extraordinary third consecutive championship.

So far, the defending champion has looked every bit like the player to beat.

Sabalenka overwhelmed Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 in the second round, producing another commanding performance as she moved comfortably into the final 32.

Her next opponent is Kamilla Rakhimova, who now faces one of the most demanding assignments in women’s tennis.

How Can Rakhimova Trouble Sabalenka?

Trying to simply match Sabalenka’s power is rarely an effective strategy.

Rakhimova instead needs to disrupt her rhythm.

That means varying the height and direction of the ball, defending effectively into the corners and making Sabalenka hit additional shots whenever possible.

The longer rallies become, the greater the opportunity for Rakhimova to introduce uncertainty into the match.

But accomplishing that against Sabalenka on a hard court is considerably easier in theory than practice.

The world No. 1’s first serve immediately puts opponents under pressure, while her ability to attack second serves allows her to dictate points before a neutral rally has even developed.

Sabalenka’s Biggest Advantage: First-Strike Tennis

The defending champion doesn’t necessarily need long rallies to establish control.

Serve.

Return.

Forehand.

Those first three shots frequently determine the outcome of Sabalenka’s service and return games.

If Rakhimova begins leaving second serves short, Sabalenka will step inside the baseline and attack aggressively.

That can quickly create scoreboard pressure.

And once Sabalenka establishes a lead, opponents can feel forced to take greater risks simply to stay with her.

Can Anyone Stop Sabalenka in New York?

That could become one of the defining questions of the women’s tournament.

Winning consecutive Grand Slam titles is difficult enough.

Winning the same major three consecutive years requires a remarkable combination of consistency, confidence and physical durability.

Sabalenka has already demonstrated how comfortable she has become under the bright lights of New York.

Rakhimova now gets the opportunity to attempt to disrupt that dominance.

Prediction: Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.

Rakhimova has earned her place in the third round, but Sabalenka’s combination of serving, returning and baseline power makes the defending champion an overwhelming favourite.

US Open 2026 Day 6: Three Matches That Could Shape the Tournament

Friday represents another important transition point at the 2026 US Open.

The first week is approaching its conclusion and the contenders can see the second week on the horizon.

For Carlos Alcaraz, Day 6 provides another opportunity to rebuild the rhythm and confidence that helped make him one of the sport’s dominant players.

For Ben Shelton, the challenge is different. The American is attempting to turn home-court energy into another deep run in New York, but Denis Shapovalov possesses enough explosive tennis to make their third-round encounter dangerous.

And then there is Aryna Sabalenka.

The two-time defending champion continues pursuing history as she attempts to win a third consecutive US Open crown.

The margins become smaller from here.

The opponents become stronger.

And by the end of Day 6, the picture surrounding the contenders for the 2026 US Open men’s and women’s singles championships should become considerably clearer.

US Open 2026 Day 6 Featured Matches

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Wu Yibing
Prediction: Alcaraz in four sets

Ben Shelton vs. Denis Shapovalov
Prediction: Shelton in four sets

Aryna Sabalenka vs. Kamilla Rakhimova
Prediction: Sabalenka in straight sets