Jessica Pegula defeated top-seeded Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals to continue her compatriots’ success at the US Open. Meanwhile, men’s world number one Jannik Sinner defeated Daniil Medvedev to secure a place in the semifinals.

Pegula benefited from a flawless performance from Swiatek to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final in three sets (6-2 6-4), while Sinner won 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 to reach the last four for the first time on Wednesday in Flushing Meadows.

The defeats of Swiatek and Medvedev mean the US Open will award two new champions this year.

Sinner will face Jack Draper for a place in the second Grand Slam final, after the United Kingdom previously surprised Australian Alex de Minaur 6-3, 7-5, 6-2. He is the first Briton to reach the semi-finals since 2012.

History will be written 🏆 photo.twitter.com/TPdLbDGbYL

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2024

Pegula, who has lost six previous Grand Slam quarter-finals, will face Karolina Muchova after the unseeded Czech defeated Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1, 6-4 in the day’s session at Arthur Ashe Stadium despite battling a “virus”.

“I’m very happy to have reached the semi-finals,” said Pegula, who finished the tournament tied with her male compatriots Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe.

“I thought I played a really clean game. I don’t feel like I did anything really bad and I was able to attack her really early and I think I frustrated her.”

Home favorite Pegula was cheered on by several celebrities and former champions during her participation in this year’s US Open, with the latest star in the stands being the celebrated American gymnast Simone Biles.

Swiatek, the 2022 champion, was unable to make this happen as she struggled with her serve in the first set and made 41 unforced errors in the match.

The Pole struggled with her serve early on, but Pegula took advantage of this and took a 4-0 lead in the first set.

Swiatek looked sharper when she broke Pegula early in the second set, but she could not regain momentum as the sixth-seeded American broke back and eventually took the win.

“I didn’t really understand why my service wasn’t working,” Swiatek complained.

“It was difficult for me to find a good solution. Today I just made too many mistakes.”

Medvedev, the 2021 champion, also struggled with mistakes, making 57 unforced errors in a thrilling match against top-seeded Sinner.

The Russian could not capitalise on the momentum he had gained by winning the second set and lost five games in a row in the third set. In the fourth set he gave Sinner a break with an unforced error.

“The first two sets were strange because whoever made the first break started rolling,” said Sinner, who beat Medvedev in the Australian Open final this year before losing to him in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.

“It was very tough… we knew it would be very physical,” Sinner added.

Draper reached his first Grand Slam semifinal without dropping a set in the tournament, recording his first career victory over 10th-seeded De Minaur.

The Australian struggled to find his balance from the start and was quickly broken, setting the tone for the match with the many unnecessary errors he made.

The Australian levelled the score at 4-4 in the second set. However, Draper broke in the eleventh game, but eventually consolidated the set to a 2-0 lead.

Draper’s power and precision in the third set were too much for De Minaur, who has been struggling with a hip injury since Wimbledon.

“The way he can spread the field, as a left-hander and really move around the field, it takes a toll on the body,” De Minaur said. “The accumulation of games takes a toll as well.”

The United Kingdom has not had a representative in the men’s singles semi-finals at the US Open since Andy Murray won the title in 2012.

“I feel fitter than I’ve ever felt and I think Alex has helped me with that in the past,” Draper said.

Not lost a set yet. ❄️@jackdraper0 defeats de Minaur 6-3 7-5 6-2 and advances to the #USOpen semi-finals!@usopen photo.twitter.com/02J7v9bMKG

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 4, 2024

In the day’s opening match, Muchova continued her comeback after a long absence due to a wrist injury she sustained last year at Flushing Meadows.

In only her sixth tournament on tour, Muchova looked good from the start, taking a 4-0 lead over Haddad Maia before winning the first set.

The Brazilian improved in the second set and the players traded breaks before Muchova, after seeing the physiotherapist and the doctor, kept the score at 5-3, before taking advantage of new balls and sealing the victory with an ace.

“I played well in the important moments, meaning I always made a good shot when I had a break point or when I had to serve a match,” Muchova said.

2023 🤝 2024@karomuchova7 is in ANOTHER #USOpen semi-final! photo.twitter.com/C56fjQmzMM

— wta (@WTA) September 4, 2024