The American doubles team of Brandon Carpico and Nikita Filin defeated the veteran duo of Marcelo Melo and John Peers in the second round of the US Open doubles tournament, with a score of 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 at the Grandstand court. Melo and Peers have partnered intermittently since 2023 and have each reached the U.S. Open final with different partners previously. Carpico and Filin, who entered the tournament as wild cards, had previously upset the No. 8 seeds Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos in the first round.
Taylor Townsend commented on the significance of fans at the U.S. Open, stating, "I played in the COVID year where this entire facility was completely empty. That was a real wake-up call as to how important the fans are. So for me, ever since that year, I would never take fans and people who come out and support and buy tickets and show up and cheer and have 15 Honey Deuces, I will never take that for granted again."
Attendees at the U.S. Open have been lining up for a Salt Hank’s sandwich, which has become popular among fans. Gavin McGee, a 26-year-old from Connecticut, noted that his social media feeds were filled with videos of people enjoying the $38 French dip sandwich. Rob Carlson, a 64-year-old from Brooklyn, mentioned that word of mouth and the long lines made him believe it must be worth the wait. Emma Barrett succinctly stated, "Social media is the reason. … And I’m f–king hungry."
The lines for the sandwich, made with prime rib, caramelized onions, provolone, horseradish aioli, and au jus, have been long since the tournament began. Henry Laporte, the creator of Salt Hank’s, gained fame for his food videos during the COVID-19 pandemic and opened a shop in the West Village that serves only the French dip sandwich. USTA National Tennis Center COO Danny Zausner reported that Salt Hank’s has sold “threefold” its daily total compared to its Manhattan shop throughout the tournament.