Niels Vink caused an upset in his delayed opening round match at the US Open, knocking out defending champion Sam Schroder in straight sets to advance to the semi-finals of the quad singles.

The 18-year-old Dutchman held commanding leads at 4-0 and 5-1 in the first set before his compatriot battled back to force a tiebreak. Vink maintained his composure however and his trademark heavy forehands helped him to reel off four straight points on his way to securing the opener.

Vink continued to use great height on the ball and some acute angles to give him the edge over Schroder who failed to capitalise on numerous break point opportunities, thanks in part to some impressive serving from his opponent. The reigning US Open champion could never quite get ahead in the match and exited the tournament at the hands of his doubles partner 7-6(5) 6-4.

“I’m happy with the win but the level was really low. The first games at the beginning of the sets were good and then I don’t know what happened but I started to make more mistakes,” said Vink, who won quad doubles gold with Schroder at the Tokyo Paralympics

“Even if it wasn’t my best match I’m happy I took the win in a fight. Normally I have a bad match every tournament so hopefully this was it.”

Vink will face Andy Lapthorne in his semi-final on Saturday after the Brit two-time champion overcame Heath Davidson 7-5 6-1.

Dylan Alcott wasted little time in securing his opening match win, cruising past wildcard Bryan Barten 6-0 6-1 in 41 minutes to remain on course to claim the historic Golden Slam.

The world No.1 needed just 17 minutes to win the first set and all the momentum was with the Australian as he eased to a 2-0 lead in the second. A loose service game, however, allowed the American to get his game on the board before Alcott regained control of the match and eased to victory.

Alcott will face Koji Sugeno in the semi-finals after the Japanese player prevailed in a tough three-setter against David Wagner.

Meanwhile, Schroder and Vink continued the momentum after winning their doubles gold medal in Tokyo, defeating reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champions Lapthorne and David Wagner 7-5 6-0 in the quad doubles semi-finals. 

The Dutch pairing now face a rematch of the Tokyo gold medal contest when they play Alcott and Davidson for the US Open title on Saturday.

Another player to remain on course for a Golden Slam is Diede de Groot who was ruthless from start to finish in her semi-final match against countrywoman Aniek van Koot, running out a 6-1 6-0 victor in just 47 minutes.

De Groot showed complete focus and determination throughout the match, breaking van Koot seven times and recording 22 winners to her opponent’s three, to storm into the final where she will face Yui Kamiji. The No.2 seed dropped four games as she ended Jordanne Whiley’s US Open hopes in her semifinal.

The men’s final will see world No. 1 and defending champion Shingo Kunieda take on No. 2 seed Alfie Hewett.

It will be the third time since 2018 that Kunieda and Hewett have met in the final in New York, Hewett having won their 2018 title decider before Kunieda won his seventh US Open title in 2020 in a third and final set tie-break.

While Alcott and De Groot remain on course for the Golden Slam, Hewett and Gordon Reid are one match win away from completing the calendar Grand Slam in men's doubles.

The Brits, winners of the last seven Grand Slam titles, kept their bid for a fifth US Open title in tact with a 6-1 6-0 semi-final win over Tom Egberink and Casey Ratzlaff.

Their opponents in the final will be Fernandez and Kunieda, who defeated Tokyo Paralympic champions Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer 6-4 6-4.