Taylor Fritz Ousted from US Open in 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 Shocker

No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz exited the US Open on Saturday after blowing a two-set lead to Francisco Cerundolo.

No. 24 Francisco Cerundolo secured a 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz on Saturday at the US Open. The American entered the third-round contest having surrendered only 11 games across his previous two matches, yet he failed to protect a two-set cushion in Arthur Ashe Stadium. This result marks the first time Fritz has lost a match after leading by two sets to love in a Grand Slam environment. The Argentine opponent capitalized on a critical service break in the third set to initiate a comeback that lasted three hours and 28 minutes.

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Statistical data from the opening frames favored the higher seed, as Fritz claimed the first set 6-3 and the second 6-4. However, the momentum evaporated during the third set when the Californian broke serve early, only to immediately relinquish his own service game. Cerundolo admitted that his comfort level increased during his debut on the tournament’s primary show court, noting that his execution improved significantly during the final two frames. The world No. 24 found a rhythm that had been absent during the first 90 minutes of play, hitting winners from both wings to force a decider.

Fritz voiced his frustration following the exit, remarking that he was unsure how the collapse occurred after such a commanding start. The final three sets concluded with identical scorelines of 6-3, 6-4, and 6-4 in favor of the underdog. This defeat adds to a growing list of casualties among the tournament's elite, as six of the top 10 seeds have now been eliminated before the second week. The departure of the top-ranked American man leaves a significant void in the bottom half of the draw, which has been decimated by unexpected results.

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Simultaneously, on the outer courts, No. 28 Alexander Blockx pulled off another major upset by defeating No. 5 seed Flavio Cobolli. The Belgian youngster ousted the recent French Open finalist in a four-set battle, further thinning the ranks of the favorites. Cobolli, who was projected to reach the quarterfinals, struggled to find his range against the aggressive baseline play of Blockx. These consecutive losses by top-five and top-ten seeds have fundamentally altered the path to the final for the remaining competitors.

As the afternoon session concluded on September 5, 2026, the attention shifted to the night schedule featuring top-seeded Alexander Zverev. The German entered his match against No. 25 seed Alejandro Tabilo having already endured two grueling five-set encounters in the opening rounds. Zverev’s survival in the tournament stands in stark contrast to the early exits of his peers, though his physical condition remains a point of observation for analysts. The tournament field continues to narrow as the third round concludes, leaving several unseeded players with clear paths to the later stages.

Cerundolo’s tactical adjustment involved targeting the Fritz backhand with heavy topspin, a strategy that yielded dividends as the match crossed the three-hour mark. The Argentine’s ability to maintain his physical intensity allowed him to dictate play in the fifth set, where he broke Fritz at 4-4 to serve for the match. Despite the vocal support for the home favorite, the No. 9 seed could not generate a single break point opportunity in the final game. The loss ends a summer hard-court swing for Fritz that had previously been defined by consistency and defensive prowess.