Alcaraz, Sabalenka in US Open 2nd Round

Defending champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka headline the US Open second-round action on Wednesday. A busy Day 4 schedule also includes top American contenders Jessica Pegula and Ben Shelton, with some first-round matches still to be completed after Tuesday's rain delays.

According to a preview from Ubitennis.net, third seed Jessica Pegula faces wildcard Sofia Kenin in the day's first notable match on Arthur Ashe Stadium at 11:30 a.m. Pegula, a semifinalist or better at three of the last four hard court majors, comfortably won her opening round. Kenin advanced after a late-night victory over Venus Williams. Pegula leads their head-to-head 4-2.

Key American Contests

Eighth seed Ben Shelton follows on Ashe against Hubert Hurkacz. Shelton recovered from a nervous first-set loss to win his opener in four sets. Hurkacz also won in four sets as he works to rebuild his ranking following multiple surgeries. This marks the first career meeting between the two big servers.

On Louis Armstrong Stadium, 11th seed Marta Kostyuk takes on wildcard Sloane Stephens. Kostyuk reached her first two major semifinals this year but has never advanced past the US Open's round of 16. Stephens, the 2017 champion, is now ranked outside the top 200. Kostyuk defeated Stephens in straight sets just two weeks ago in Cincinnati.

Defending Champions in Action

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka is scheduled for Arthur Ashe Stadium not before 7:00 p.m. Against qualifier Polina Iatcenko. Sabalenka has not lost this early at a major in six years, though she has failed to reach the quarterfinals at her last three tournaments. Iatcenko, 22, earned her first-ever major match win in a nearly three-and-a-half-hour battle on Monday.

Second seed Carlos Alcaraz closes the night on Ashe against Jaime Faria. Alcaraz returned from a four-month injury layoff on Monday, defeating Roman Safiullin in straight sets. Faria, a 23-year-old from Portugal, won a five-set opener and recently reached the round of 16 in Cincinnati as a qualifier.

Late-Night Spotlight

Eleventh seed Frances Tiafoe is set for Louis Armstrong Stadium not before 7:00 p.m. Against Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto. Tiafoe staged a two-sets-to-one comeback to win his first-round match on Monday. He is a two-time US Open semifinalist but has not reached a major quarterfinal in over a year. Sakamoto, 20, earned his first main-draw major win in five sets after qualifying by defeating Kei Nishikori. The preview describes him as a tall, powerful player with a huge serve.

The full order of play for Wednesday is available via the source.