From backlash over Chris Evert, John McEnroe's commentary after Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula's US Open SFs to Taylor Townsend's Frances Tiafoe, Coco Gauff shoutout: 4 notable moments from US Open 2024 | Day 11

Day 11 of the 2024 US Open was filled with memorable moments both on and off the court. From Taylor Townsend's heartfelt tribute to Frances Tiafoe and Coco Gauff after her mixed doubles final loss to Aryna Sabalenka’s playful interaction with the crowd following her semifinal win, there was no shortage of headlines.

Jessica Pegula’s expressing gratitude toward her family after reaching her first Grand Slam final also captured attention, while Chris Evert and John McEnroe faced mounting criticism for their controversial commentary throughout the tournament. Here are four notable moments from an action-packed day at the US Open.

Here's a look at these standout moments from a riveting Day 11:

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Taylor Townsend lauds Frances Tiafoe and Coco Gauff after mixed doubles final loss

Taylor Townsend highlighted the positive influence of Black tennis players such as Frances Tiafoe and Coco Gauff in her speech after losing 6-7(0), 5-7 to the third-seeded Italian duo Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori in the mixed doubles final at the 2024 US Open.

Townsend and her partner Donald Young, who received a wildcard for the mixed doubles event, defeated Asia Mohammed/Andres Molteni, Nadiia Kichenok/Hugo Nys, Anna Danilina/Harri Heliovaara, and the eighth seeds Rohan Bopanna/Aldila Sutjiadi on their way to the final.

In her post-match speech, Townsend said that her and Young’s success, along with Gauff’s 2023 women’s singles title and Tiafoe’s semifinal appearance, proves that Black athletes can excel in Grand Slam tournaments.

"This isn’t the trophy that we wanted. But at the end of the day, I’m the only Black woman left in the tournament & there are two black men left in the draw. And ultimately, I just hope that Donald and I standing here today, Frances [Tiafoe] in the semifinals, Coco [Gauff] being the defending champion, just shows people that look like us that it’s possible," Townsend said.

The 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff got eliminated by eventual semifinalist Emma Navarro 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in the fourth round. 12th seed Frances Tiafoe, meanwhile, reached his semifinals for the second time where he will face compatriot and 20th seed Taylor Fritz on September 7th.

Townsend’s singles campaign ended after a 6-3, 7-5 defeat to 26th seed Paula Badosa in the second round. In women's doubles, she and her partner Katerina Siniakova advanced to the semifinals but were defeated 5-7, 6-4, 3-6 by Zhang Shuai and Kristina Mladenovic.

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Aryna Sabalenka playfully teases US Open crowd after SF win

Aryna Sabalenka playfully teased the US Open crowd after securing her second consecutive US Open final with a 6-3, 7-6(2) win over home favorite Emma Navarro. Sabalenka advanced to her fourth Grand Slam final by defeating Priscilla Hon, Lucia Bronzetti, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Elise Mertens, and Zheng Qinwen along the way.

In her post-match on-court interview, the 2023 US Open runner-up humorously noted the crowd’s sudden shift in support after her victory, pointing out how they had been firmly cheering for Navarro throughout the match.

"Well guys, now you're cheering for me. I mean, it's a bit too late. No, no, that really means a lot, and even if you guys first supported her (Navarro), obviously I had the goosebumps from you cheering up her and there was really an incredible atmosphere," Sabalenka said.

Second seed Aryna Sabalenka will take on another home favorite Jessica Pegula in the championship match on 8th September. This will be their eighth meeting on the WTA Tour, with Sabalenka having a better head-to-head record, 5-2. They last met in the Cincinnati Open final, where the Belarusian won 6-3, 7-5.

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Jessica Pegula thanks family for support after SF win

Sixth seed Jessica Pegula came back from a set to defeat unseeded Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 to reach her maiden Grand Slam final at the 2024 US Open.

Until this match, Pegula had not lost a set in the tournament, having previously defeated fellow Americans Shelby Rogers, Sofia Kenin, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, 18th seed Diana Shnaider, and top seed Iga Swiatek.

In a post-match on-court interview, Pegula expressed her gratitude for the support she got from her family throughout the tournament and was thrilled to celebrate the victory with them.

"I mean it's amazing. I have my brother there and my sister there, on the screen with my dad and my brother in law, lots of friends, lots of family all scattered around. Obviously my husband. He is not even standing up he doesn't want to be seen," Pegula said.

"But yeah, I have so much family here and they've been here watching a lot of my matches so to still be here and have them still here supporting me is crazy. I am glad that they're able to share this moment with me," she added.

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Chris Evert and John McEnroe slammed for their US Open commentary

Chris Evert and John McEnroe have faced repeated criticism for their commentary during the 2024 US Open. McEnroe drew backlash for frequently mentioning Jannik Sinner's doping controversy and questioning the ITIA's decision during the Italian's first-round match.

Evert, on the other hand, was criticized for comparing Karolina Muchova's playing style to that of a male player, making an allegedly "racist" remark about Naomi Osaka's custom outfit, and for being "biased" toward Coco Gauff during her fourth-round defeat.

The latest incident arose during the semifinals when Evert called Aryna Sabalenka's win over Emma Navarro the best women's match of the tournament, sparking disagreement among fans, who felt better matches had taken place.

Many fans took to social media to demand that both Evert and McEnroe be removed from the broadcasting team.