American ninth seed Taylor Fritz suffered a surprising defeat on the US Open, crashing out within the third spherical after a hard-fought five-set battle towards Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo.
IMAGE: Flushing Meadows, New York, United States – September 5, 2026 Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo celebrates profitable his US Open third spherical match towards Taylor Fritz of the USA, at Flushing Meadows, New York, on Saturday. {Photograph}: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
Key Factors
- American favorite Taylor Fritz was eradicated from the US Open within the third spherical by Francisco Cerundolo.
- This marks Fritz’s earliest exit from his residence Grand Slam in 4 years, regardless of not dropping a set in earlier rounds.
- Cerundolo, taking part in on Arthur Ashe Stadium for the primary time, elevated his recreation considerably within the last three units.
- Fritz struggled with uncharacteristic errors and frustration as Cerundolo maintained strain with highly effective, exact pictures.
- Cerundolo’s victory secures his first-ever look within the fourth spherical of the US Open.
IMAGE: Francisco Cerundolo and Taylor Fritz meet on the web after their third spherical match. {Photograph}: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
American Taylor Fritz crashed out within the third spherical of the US Open on Saturday, shedding to Argentine Francisco Cerundolo 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in his earliest exit from his residence main in 4 years.
Fritz had not dropped a set within the earlier two rounds and among the many prime contenders to finish a 23-year US males’s main drought however Cerundolo introduced his greatest stage to succeed in the fourth spherical of the US Open for the primary time.
He subsequent performs both Belgian Alexander Blockx or Italian Flavio Cobolli.
Cerundolo’s Comeback Victory
IMAGE: Francisco Cerundolo upped his stage within the fourth set, making Taylor Fritz dash backwards and forwards. {Photograph}: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
“He was taking part in method higher than me the primary two units,” stated Cerundolo, who performed on Arthur Ashe Stadium for the primary time.
“I began moving into it step-by-step and I believe fourth and fifth I performed actually good tennis. I wasn’t discovering that tennis within the earlier units, earlier rounds.”
Fritz had cruised by way of his second-round match in little greater than 90 minutes and seemed effectively on his option to one other clean victory, saving 11 of the 13 break-points he confronted within the opening two units.
Fritz’s Frustration And Errors
IMAGE: Taylor Fritz reacts after an unforced error within the third set. {Photograph}: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
However after buying and selling breaks early within the third set, the Argentine twenty fourth seed dug in his heels, and the 2024 runner-up seemed exasperated when he hit a wonky shot past the baseline on break level within the sixth recreation.
Cerundolo upped his stage as Fritz struggled with uncharacteristic errors within the fourth set and the ninth-seeded American smacked his racket towards his thigh after sending one other shot lengthy on break level within the fifth recreation.
The Argentine made his opponent dash backwards and forwards alongside the baseline with a sequence of highly effective precision pictures within the ninth recreation of the ultimate set, the place Fritz’s shoelace snapped as he was serving at 15-40 down.
The transient interruption did nothing to interrupt Cerundolo’s stride and Fritz whacked the ball into the web to reward his opponent the break on the subsequent level.
The Argentine sealed the win with a tremendous backhand strike.
