Full Breakdown
Wild-Card Americans Pull Off Second-Round Upset at 2026 US Open
9/7/2026, 8:29:10 AM
Upset Victory on Day Eight
On Day Eight of the 2026 U.S. Open men’s doubles, the wild-card pairing of Brandon Carpico and Nikita Samuel Filin defeated the veteran team of Marcelo Melo and John Peers in three sets, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, at the Grandstand court. The win marked a notable surprise, as Melo and Peers had previously reached U.S. Open finals with different partners and had been playing together intermittently since 2023.
Duo’s Recent Momentum
Carpico and Filin entered the tournament as a wild-card entry and had already upset the No. 8 seeds Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos in the first round. Their back-to-back victories against higher-ranked opponents highlighted a rapid rise for the 26-year-old Connecticut native and his partner, whose chemistry was evident during a fist-bump after the match.
Veteran Pair’s Track Record
Marcelo Melo, a former world No. 1 in doubles, and John Peers, a former Grand Slam champion, have each appeared in U.S. Open finals with other partners. Their combined experience and prior successes set expectations that they would advance beyond the second round, making the American duo’s triumph all the more striking.
Verbatim Quote
- “I played in the COVID year where this entire facility was completely empty,” — Taylor Townsend
