Italian top seed Jannik Sinner took down ailing Briton Jack Draper 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 to reach the US Open final on Friday, overcoming muggy conditions in a chaotic match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

World number one Jannik Sinner reached his first US Open semi-final on Wednesday with a four-set victory over 2021 champion and two-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev.

Jessica Pegula became the fourth American to reach this year's US Open semifinals on Wednesday by stunning world number one Iga Swiatek as Jack Draper broke through to his first Grand Slam last-four.

Top seed Swiatek, who won the title two years ago, showcased her all-court game in a straightforward 6-4, 6-1 win over Russian Liudmila Samsonova to open the evening session at Arthur Ashe Stadium and warned she was only going to improve.

Alexei Popyrin insisted that his shock US Open triumph over defending champion Novak Djokovic was "not unbelievable" and that winning his maiden Masters title in Montreal on the eve of the tournament "was way bigger".

Novak Djokovic slumped to his earliest exit at the US Open in 18 years on Friday as a four-set, third round defeat to Alexei Popyrin sparked more questions over his long term future in the sport.

Coco Gauff survived late-match drama to keep her US Open title defence alive with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Elina Svitolina on Friday.

Daniel Evans rallied from 0-4 down in the final set to beat Karen Khachanov in the longest match in US Open history on Tuesday, a five-hour, 35-minute epic on court six.

Midnight matches may be popular with fans but not with old campaigner Novak Djokovic, who bemoaned a late night at the start of his U.S. Open title defence on Monday.

Djokovic, speaking to reporters as he prepared to defend his US Open title, said players who have bemoaned a lack of transparency in the Sinner case make a valid point.

World number one Jannik Sinner is "honest to the core" and is an "innocent victim" his coach Darren Cahill said after the Italian was cleared of any wrongdoing despite twice testing positive for a banned substance.

"Hi all, writing today to let you guys know that I have decided not to compete at this year's US Open, a place where I have amazing memories," Nadal posted. "I will miss those electric and special night sessions in NYC at Ashe.

The 38-year-old Spanish left-hander has a protected ranking of ninth to put himself into the field for the Flushing Meadows fortnight, which begins on August 26.

Rory McIlroy broke his silence about his devastating U.S. Open loss on Monday, saying he would take a few weeks away from the game to "process everything."

Patience is a virtue that Sinner does possess, and eventually that paid off.

Novak Djokovic, who won his 24th Grand Slam title on Sunday, will dominate men's tennis for years because younger players have yet to reach his level, according to Andy Murray.

"I thought about doing this t-shirt a few days ago," said Djokovic. "I didn't share it with anybody. Kobe was a close friend of mine, we chatted a lot, about the winner's mentality."

The 36-year-old Serb becomes the oldest U.S. Open men’s winner in the Open Era and the first to win three Grand Slam events in a season for the fourth time.

Gauff, 19, produced a gutsy performance on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in 2hr 6min to complete a fairytale transformation in her season's fortunes.

Novak Djokovic earned himself another shot at a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title after beating unseeded American Ben Shelton in straight sets on Friday to advance to his 10th US Open final.