Blockx's Brave Stand at US Open Semi-Finals

Karen Khachanov is through to the US Open semi-finals, but the story of the night belonged just as much to the young man who couldn’t finish.

Alexander Blockx, 21 years old and playing his first ever main-draw US Open, finally stopped mid-way through the third set, his body giving out after days of punishment. The handshake at the net was brief but telling. Khachanov advanced. Blockx had nothing left.

“Blockx has nothing left,” Nick Lester said in commentary as they met at the net. It didn’t sound like criticism. It sounded like recognition.

Blockx’s brave stand falls short

The Belgian had been patched together from the start. Blisters on his feet, treatment on his back at the changeovers, and a rib injury he reportedly carried into the match. Every sit-down became a mini medical timeout. Every game a test of how much more his body would tolerate.

“It’s looking ominous for the Belgian on his US Open debut. It’s been memorable, but the clock is ticking,” Lester warned as Khachanov pocketed the second set and tightened his grip on the match.

The score was 1-1 in the third when the inevitable happened. Blockx, who had insisted on fighting on long after common sense said otherwise, finally called it. The retirement ended a run that had lit up the tournament and caught the eye of seasoned observers.

Jelena Dokic, watching on for Nine, could hardly hide her admiration.

“We can see what a great competitor he is … I give him so much credit for (continuing) competing because he doesn't want to retire and he wants to stay out here on the court and finish the match,” she said.

Then came the hard reality.

“But then if you've got this many injuries and depending on also what they are, especially the rib as well … you've got to think, ‘can I do more damage here as well?’”

Blockx kept going for as long as he could, not hobbling or surrendering cheap points, but pushing through, trying to convince himself and everyone watching that he still belonged out there with Khachanov, a proven Grand Slam force.

“He’s showing incredible competitive spirit. This also actually sends a big message to the locker room as well – everyone is always watching,” Dokic added. “He's going to stay out there, that he's a great competitor. He's just 21! To stay out here and keep playing is an incredible effort.”

Robbie Koenig struck a similar tone, looking past the immediate disappointment to what might come next.

“He’s had some great wins, played some mesmerising tennis, especially against (Flavio) Cobolli,” Koenig said. “We are going to see a lot more of this young man in the years to come – fingers crossed that he can stay healthy for long periods of time. He's got such an exciting game, he's got such a great attitude out on the court and he's got a big time mentality."

The match slipped away. The impression he made did not.

Tiley promises look at brutal late-night schedule

While Blockx’s body broke down, the schedule itself is under scrutiny.

New USTA chief executive Craig Tiley has promised a review after the tournament produced its latest-ever finish. On Wednesday (AEST), Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton did not walk onto Arthur Ashe Stadium until after 11pm local time. Shelton closed it out with an ace at 3.33am.

Tiley, who stepped into the role after his long tenure with Tennis Australia and the Australian Open, pointed to the rare convergence of epic matches that pushed the program into the early hours.

“If you look back at schedules, you don't get that ever. So that was particularly special,” he told Stan Sports. “The stadium was full. Everyone was loving it. We had people watching from all around the world. It was a great time for many people – not necessarily for everyone having to stay up here late and watch it – but it’s just one of those things.

“One thing we always do at the end of every event, we have a look and see what's worked best. Scheduling is also on that list. We'll always look at our options.”

The numbers from that day underline how merciless the program became.

In the day session, Aryna Sabalenka needed 2hrs 22min to edge Linda Noskova 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7). Frances Tiafoe then staged a marathon comeback to beat Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6) in 4hrs 39mins.

By the time the night session finally began, it was almost two hours behind schedule. Jess Pegula and Emma Navarro then went 2hrs 21min, Pegula winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Only then could Alcaraz and Shelton start their five-set thriller, which the American took 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) in 4hrs 28mins.

Full house. High drama. But a finish closer to dawn than midnight. Tiley knows that conversation isn’t going away.

Gauff channels Tiafoe in escape act

Coco Gauff watched Tiafoe’s heroics and decided she wanted her own version.

Up against Mirra Andreeva, Gauff dropped the first set and stood on the brink in the second-set tiebreak, staring down match points. The teenager refused to yield, clawed her way out, and then surged through the decider, feeding off a raucous Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"I came out not feeling the ball, giving her too many free points, and Mirra is playing at a great level," she said in her courtside interview.

She admitted she had Tiafoe’s comeback against Michelsen in her mind. On Wednesday (AEST), Tiafoe had trailed by two sets, with Michelsen serving for the match, before somehow flipping the script in five.

"To be honest I was thinking about Frances Tiafoe and how he came back yesterday. We all want to do well in front of this crowd.

“I was just trying to leave this court with no regrets, I didn’t know how the outcome would go, but really, really thank you to you guys. You really pulled me through.”

Next up for Gauff is the toughest possible test: newly-crowned world No.1 Elena Rybakina in the semifinals on Friday (AEST).

Rybakina ends Sabalenka’s reign at the top

The WTA Tour woke up to a new order.

Elena Rybakina will officially become world No.1 when the rankings update on Monday, ending Aryna Sabalenka’s remarkable 99-week hold on the top spot. Since Ash Barty’s sudden retirement in 2022, only Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek had occupied No.1. Now the baton passes again.

Rybakina secured the summit by beating Qinwen Zheng in three sets this morning, overtaking Sabalenka even though the Belarusian remains alive in the tournament.

“It’s just a number right now and of course I’m in the semis so my goal is to win the tournament,” Rybakina said. “It’s an amazing achievement but you know how quick everything can change in tennis, ranking-wise, during the match, so I feel like I just need to focus on my game, try to recover and enjoy tomorrow.”

A young Belgian limping out of a quarterfinal, a teenager channelling a compatriot’s miracle comeback, a new No.1 crowned, and a Grand Slam wrestling with its own punishing schedule – the US Open is shifting on multiple fronts. The question now is who can still stand tallest when the last ball is struck.