Van de Zandschulp and Sweeny Tear Up the Seedings as the US Open Reaches Boiling Point

The US Open's second round produced the kind of afternoon that reorganises a draw. Botic Van de Zandschulp, ranked No. 70, dismantled Alex de Minaur 6-4 7-5 6-2, never allowing the Australian a foothold on serve or a rhythm from the baseline. It was a controlled, unfussy performance rather than a smash-and-grab, and it removed one of the most consistent hard-court performers in the men's field.

The damage did not stop there. Dane Sweeny recovered from losing the opening set to beat Lorenzo Musetti 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-2, the Italian's game unravelling badly once the match settled into extended exchanges on a surface that offers his variety far less reward than clay. Alejandro Tabilo also came from a set down to see off Alexei Popyrin 2-6 7-6 7-6 6-2, the two tie-breaks effectively deciding a match that could have swung either way.

Elsewhere the favourites protected the form book. Taylor Fritz was ruthless against Mattia Bellucci, winning 6-0 6-1 6-1 in a performance that barely required a second gear. Jakub Mensik came through Jurij Rodionov 6-3 3-6 6-2 6-3, Flavio Cobolli recovered from a set down against Tristan Schoolkate to win 3-6 6-3 6-4 7-5, and Benjamin Bonzi needed only a brief detour through a second-set tie-break to beat Ignacio Buse 6-2 7-6 6-0. Learner Tien was similarly efficient in ending Gael Monfils' campaign 6-3 6-4 6-3, while Michael Zheng, Alexander Blockx, Arthur Gea and Zizou Bergs all advanced in four sets.

In the women's draw, Mirra Andreeva delivered the cleanest scoreline of the day, beating Eva Lys 6-0 6-2 in a match that lasted barely long enough to register. Coco Gauff had far more to do against Paula Badosa, edging a high-quality contest 6-4 7-6, and Qinwen Zheng needed three sets to subdue Yulia Putintseva 6-4 2-6 6-1. Amanda Anisimova dropped a set to Lilli Tagger before closing out 6-3 3-6 6-1, and Madison Keys survived the most anxious afternoon of all, recovering from a set down to beat Anna Bondar 5-7 6-4 7-6.

The day's headline women's upset belonged to Yuliia Starodubtseva, who lost the opening set 1-6 to Maria Sakkari before turning the match completely to win 1-6 7-6 6-2. Cristina Bucsa, meanwhile, produced the endurance test of the tournament so far, outlasting Himeno Sakatsume 7-6 6-7 7-6 across three tie-breaks. Iva Jovic, Alexandra Eala, Marie Bouzkova and Nikola Bartunkova, who beat Tatjana Maria 6-7 6-2 6-3, all moved on.

The upcoming schedule is heavy with names. Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, faces Kamilla Rakhimova (No. 92), while Carlos Alcaraz (No. 3) meets the unranked Wu Y. and Alexander Zverev (No. 2) takes on Quentin Halys (No. 52). The most instructive men's match may be Alexander Bublik (No. 16) against Tommy Paul (No. 21), a contrast between improvisation and structure, with Jiri Lehecka (No. 19) versus Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 53) close behind. Daniil Medvedev (No. 8) plays Arthur Rinderknech (No. 29) in a test of return depth against a big serve.