Guy Sasson, a prominent Israeli wheelchair tennis player, reached the quad singles semifinals at the US Open, falling just short of achieving a calendar-year Grand Slam in doubles. He and his partner Niels Vink advanced to the semifinals but were ultimately defeated in the finals matchup.
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Three Israeli athletes, including fellow wheelchair player Sergei Lysov and junior competitor Dan Brand, participated in the tournament, but none secured a championship title. The US Open concluded on September 10, 2026, with Alexander Zverev defeating Ben Shelton in the men's singles final.
Sasson, who held the third seed in the quad singles, faced his doubles partner Vink, the top seed, in the semifinals. After battling back from a 5-2 deficit in the first set, Sasson could not secure a win, losing the match 7-5, 6-3. Vink subsequently won the singles championship.
In the doubles competition, Sasson and Vink aimed for their fourth consecutive Grand Slam title after victories at the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon. After losing the first set 6-2, they leveled the match by winning the second set 6-3, but ultimately lost 10-7 in a super tiebreak.
Despite the disappointing results, Boaz Kramer, CEO of the Israel ParaSport Center, commended Sasson and Lysov for their performances. He emphasized their dedication and noted that achieving a Grand Slam requires significant commitment from the athletes and their support systems.
Lysov, competing in his second US Open, lost his opening singles match in three sets and was eliminated in the first round of doubles in a super tiebreak. Brand, 17, made his US Open debut, winning his initial singles match in three sets but losing in the second round after cramping. In doubles, Brand and his partner, Thilo Behrmann, advanced to the second round before being ousted by a pair from Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Brand's father expressed pride in his son's achievements and resilience, highlighting the challenges he has faced in pursuing his tennis career despite limited resources. He also acknowledged the International Tennis Federation's support through the Grand Slam Player Development Program.
Following a brief visit to Israel, Brand is set to compete in Japan at the J500 Osaka tournament from September 21-27. Meanwhile, Israel’s senior tennis team will compete against Slovenia in the Davis Cup World Group II tie on September 18-19.