The autumn I turned unhinged

The GIST: We’re somehow already halfway through the US Open women’s singles quarter-finals (QFs), which means it’s time for a tourney status update. Here’s who’s putting the “hard” in hard courts at the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year.

👀 World No. 4 Jess Pegula eyes a rematch with No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka: One of two American women left standing, Pegula has yet to drop a set at the US Open. Now that incredible run will be put to the test when she faces a familiar foe in tomorrow’s semis: defending champ Sabalenka, whom Pegula lost to in last year’s final. Spicy.

👏 No. 24 Naomi Osaka reaches first major QF since 2021: Twenty months after her return to the WTA Tour following the birth of her daughter, the four-time major champ is making a deep run, knocking out No. 3 Coco Gauff on Monday. 2025 has truly been the year of the tennis super mom, with mothers advancing to at least the QFs at all four Grand Slams.

💐 Top-seeded Taylor Townsend-Kateřina Siniaková duo oust celebrated Venus Williams-Leylah Fernandez pairing in women’s doubles: The joyful run from tennis legend Williams and Canada’s own Fernandez came to an end after they lost in straight sets to Townsend/Siniaková during yesterday’s QF.

• That said, this tourney proved to be a tremendous showing from the unlikely Williams/Fernandez pairing, who hadn’t even played together before the US Open. Give them all the flowers.

The GIST: Over on the men’s side, the two top players in the world appear to be on a collision course to their third Grand Slam final showdown of the year — but it’s not over ’til it’s over. Let’s take a look at how reigning champ and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz are handling their US Open draws, plus the underdogs who just might shake things up.

👏 Dominant is an understatement: Both Sinner and Alcaraz have made light work of their opponents thus far: Alcaraz, cheeky and quick as ever, has yet to drop a set and already has his semis spot locked in, while Sinner’s big serve and consistency have yielded only one set thus far.

• The defending champ faces his Italian countryman, No. 10 Lorenzo Musetti, a player he’s never lost to, in tonight’s primetime QF. Sinner and Alcaraz appear destined for Sunday’s title match…but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.

🔧 So which contender has the best shot at an upset?: How about four-time US Open winner No. 7 Novak Djokovic, who secured himself a semis date vs. Alcaraz with last night’s four-set win over No. 4 Taylor Fritz, the 38-year-old’s 11th win over the American in 11 matches.

• And on the other side of the draw, Canadian No. 27 Felix Auger-Aliassime, the lowest ranked men’s player remaining, could cause some trouble if he can advance past No. 8 Alex de Minaur in today’s 11:30 a.m. ET QF.

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✨ LA Sparks vs. 💤 Atlanta Dream — Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET — WNBA League Pass

• The Sparks are currently ninth in the standings, meaning they’d miss the playoffs if the season ended today. With just five games left on the schedule, every single one is a must-win for LA, including this tilt against the postseason-bound Dream, who are jostling for playoff positioning themselves.

🪐 Phoenix Mercury vs. 🔮 Washington Mystics — Tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. ET — Prime Video

• The Mystics couldn’t conjure up enough wins to secure a playoff berth this year, but their future is bright with rookie ’Stics Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen virtual locks for this year’s All-Rookie Team.

• As for tomorrow night, Washington has the perfect opportunity to wreak havoc on the fourth-place Mercury’s quest to secure homecourt advantage in the first round.

🐱 Minnesota Lynx vs. 🃏 Las Vegas Aces — Tomorrow at 10 p.m. ET — Prime Video

• The 2025 league MVP frontrunners — Aces superstar A’ja Wilson and Lynx icon Napheesa Collier — are facing off in a top-of-the-table showdown. Have an afternoon nap, drink a cup of coffee, and settle in, because this is what hoop dreams are made of.