Fritz Falls in Five as the US Open Draws Shed Its Seeds

The third round at Flushing Meadows did what the third round of a hard-court major so often does: it separated reputations from form. Francisco Cerundolo, two sets down and seemingly out, turned his match against Taylor Fritz completely on its head, winning 3-6 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 to remove one of the tournament's most prominent names. The Argentine's willingness to extend rallies rather than trade first strikes gradually eroded Fritz's margins, and the last three sets never looked like slipping away once the momentum had changed hands.

The men's draw lost another seeded name when Alexander Blockx recovered from a first-set tie-break to overwhelm Flavio Cobolli 6-7 6-3 6-0 6-3, a scoreline that reads like a collapse but was in truth a steady tightening of the screw. Elsewhere the favourites held firm. Ben Shelton edged Denis Shapovalov 7-6 6-7 6-3 6-4 in a serving contest that only broke open late; Karen Khachanov was ruthless against Benjamin Bonzi, 6-3 6-2 6-4; and Luciano Darderi dispatched Dane Sweeny in straight sets. Botic Van De Zandschulp needed five sets and two tie-breaks to see off Zizou Bergs, while Arthur Gea came through the same distance against Michael Zheng.

The women's day produced the sharper shocks. Anastasia Potapova was the more assertive player throughout in beating Amanda Anisimova 6-2 7-5, and Qinwen Zheng survived a brutal shift in fortunes to defeat Madison Keys 1-6 7-6 7-5 after being outplayed for a set. Naomi Osaka also went the distance, edging Elise Mertens 6-3 3-6 7-5, and Iva Jovic saw off Alexandra Eala 7-5 3-6 7-5 in a match of continual momentum swings.

At the top of the draw the machine kept running. Coco Gauff needed 6-3 6-4 against Cristina Bucsa, Elena Rybakina came through 7-6 6-3 versus Yuliia Starodubtseva, and Mirra Andreeva beat Nikola Bartunkova 6-2 7-6. Iga Swiatek's 7-6 7-6 win over Marie Bouzkova was the tightest of the group, a two-tie-break afternoon in which the result never quite reflected how close the margins were.

The fourth round now delivers the schedule's marquee item: Carlos Alcaraz, the world number three, against Tommy Paul, ranked 21. Paul's flat, low ball-striking on hard courts has historically troubled bigger names, and his ability to absorb pace will decide whether this becomes an examination or a procession. Alongside it, Daniil Medvedev meets Frances Tiafoe in a rematch of styles as much as players: Medvedev, ranked eighth, against the 12th-ranked American whose serve-and-forward game is built for New York nights.

Aryna Sabalenka opens the women's fourth round against Taylor Townsend, a matchup that pits the world number one's baseline power against one of the few genuine net-rushers left in the draw. Jessica Pegula faces Sorana Cirstea, and Marta Kostyuk meets Linda Noskova in a meeting of two players ranked inside the top dozen, an encounter likely decided by who blinks first in the longer exchanges.