The third round is now set at the 2026 United States Open. Here are the top 10 third round matches starting Friday.
(3) Jessica Pegula–USA vs. (31) Leylah Annie Fernandez–CAN
This is a battle of grand slam singles finalists. Pegula made the 2024 United States Open final and Fernandez made the 2021 United States Open final. Pegula is 3-1 all-time versus Fernandez. In their only meeting in 2026, Pegula won 6-2, 6-2 in the third round of Miami.
(7) Karolina Muchova–CZE vs. (26) Emma Navarro–USA
Muchova made the French Open Final in 2023 and the Wimbledon Final in 2026. Navarro made the semifinals of the United States Open in 2024. This will be their first meeting head to head.
(7) Daniil Medvedev–RUS vs. (26) Arthur Rinderknech–FRA
Medvedev won the 2021 United States Open, However, Rinderknech had an impressive 6-2, 2-0 win over Frances Tiafoe of the United States in the third round of the National Bank Open in Montreal and cannot be counted out. They have beaten each other once. Medvedev won 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 in the second round of the 2022 United States Open. Rinderknech won 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals of Shanghai in 2025. I like the French upset here!
(8) Ben Shelton–USA vs. Denis Shapoivalov–CAN
This is a battle of grand slam semifinalists. Shelton made the final four of the United States Open in 2023 and the Australian Open in 2025. Shapovalov made the final four of Wimbledon in 2021. Shelton is 4-0 all-time against Shapovalov including a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 win in the semifinals of Dallas in February.
(13) Naomi Osaka–JPN vs. (23) Elise Mertens–BEL
Osaka has won four grand slam championships. They came at the 2018 and 2020 United States Open and 2019 and 2021 Australian Open. Mertens made the semifinals of the 2018 Australian Open. Osaka has won six of nine meetings head-to-head including two wins this year–second round of Bad Homburg (6-3, 6-3) and third round of Toronto (6-1, 6-2).
(14) Learner Tien–USA vs. (17) Jakub Mensik–CZE
Tien made the semifinals of Montreal, and Mensik made the quarterfinals of Montreal. Tien won their only prior matchup at the 2024 NextGen event.
(15) Alexander Bublik–KAZ vs. (20) Tommy Paul–USA
Bublik has reached the fourth round at the last three grand slams not on clay. Paul made the quarterfinals of Cincinnati. Paul has won three of four meetings head-to-head. Bublik won the last meeting, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-7, 6-1 in the third round of the 2025 United States Open.
(18) Jiri Lehecka–CZE vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas–GRE
Lehecka made the quarterfinals of the United States Open last year. Tsitsipas is s two-time grand slam finalist (2021 French Open and 2023 Australian Open). Tsitsipas and Lehecka have beaten each other twice head-to-head. Tsitsipas won their only meeting at a major, 6-3, 7-6, 6-4, in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Australian Open.
(22) Madison Keys–USA vs. Qinwen Zheng–CHN
Keys won the 2025 Australian Open. Zheng reached the 2024 Australian Open final. Keys and Zheng have beaten each other once. Keys won 7-5, 6-1 in the first round of Washington in 2023 and Zheng won 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the third round of Miami in 2026.
(31) Zizou Bergs–BEL vs. Botic van de Zandschulp–NED
Bergs reached the third round of the United States Open last year and Wimbledon this year. Van de Zandschulp just upset Australia’s best hope, the sixth seed Alex de Minaur of Sydney, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 in the second round on Thursday.
