Cincinnati champion Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic were eliminated at the start of the revamped mixed doubles tournament at the US Open, whose main singles schedule begins at the end of the week.
Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu fell to the leaders in the scheme Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper 2-4, 2-4. Pegula and Draper then convincingly overcame the Russian tandem Mirra Andreeva/Daniel Medvedev. Andreeva and Medvedev had previously stopped the Serbian duo Olga Danilovic/Novak Djokovic.
In the semifinals, Pegula and Draper will face third-seeded Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud. Swiatek is in top form ahead of the US Open, having won the Cincinnati title and previously lifting the Wimbledon trophy.
The other semi-final match is between the American pair Danielle Collins/Christian Harrison and the current holders of the trophy from Italy, Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who was originally scheduled to play Emma Navarro and then Katerina Siniakova due to the American's withdrawal, withdrew after failing to finish the final in Cincinnati against Alcaraz. The Italian, however, has no physical problem and is expected to defend his title at Flushing Meadows. | BGNES