American charge falters as big names exit US Open at third-round stage
The host nation is still looking for its first men’s singles title winner since 2003
The American charge faltered at the US Open after shock defeats for Taylor Fritz, Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova.
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Fritz, the ninth seed, looked to be cruising into the fourth round when he moved two sets ahead of Argentina’s Federico Cerundolo.
The 28-year-old, runner-up two years ago, had not dropped a set all week and appeared to be on the verge of joining compatriots Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul and Alex Michelson in the last 16.
But Cerundolo, the surprise winner at Queen’s Club earlier this summer, scrapped his way back into an error-heavy match and won 3-6 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4.
The host nation is still looking for its first men’s singles title winner since 2003, when Andy Roddick beat Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final.
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Paul, the 20th seed, takes on Carlos Alcaraz in what should be a first genuine test of the defending champion’s title credentials following his return from injury.
“I think I played Carlos more than anybody on tour, for me, which is kind of crazy,” he said.
“We’ve had some good matches.
“But, I mean, he’s the test, him and (Jannik) Sinner. They have been playing great, and I guess Carlos we haven’t really seen too much, but he’s obviously doing pretty well coming right back to competition.”
Madison Keys, the 2017 runner-up, was crestfallen after blowing a healthy lead to lose 1-6 7-6 (3) 7-5 to China’s Qinwen Zheng.
The 31-year-old said: “I feel like I obviously got off to a really good lead, and then I just got really scared, like I couldn’t swing.
“I don’t know. Tennis just feels really hard right now, so I feel like that kind of took over.”
It was a stunning comeback from former world number five Zheng, from 5-0 and match point down in the third set.
The 23-year-old, who has slipped down the rankings through injury, is the first qualifier to reach the fourth round since Emma Raducanu won the title in 2021.
“At the end when I won the match, it’s like ‘wow, that’s incredible’. Finally, one time, the luck is on my side,” Zheng said, adding she had suffered “a lot” in recent months.
Last year’s beaten finalist Amanda Anisimova hit 46 unforced errors in a 6-2 7-5 defeat by Austrian Anastasia Potapova.
Coco Gauff did get a win on the board for the USA, beating Cristina Bucșa of Portugal.
The 2023 champion will face another American, 18-year-old Iva Jovic, who beat Alex Eala of the Philippines 7-5 3-6 7-5.
Naomi Osaka also needed three sets to dispatch Elise Mertens 6-3 3-6 7-5.Meanwhile, Serena and Venus Williams escaped a fine for not talking to the media after their defeat in the doubles on Friday night.
The superstar sisters were beaten in three tight sets by Maya Joint and Chan Hao-ching in their first match at Flushing Meadows in four years.
Players are usually fined for not fulfilling their media duties, but it is understood the Williams’ will not be punished.
The US Open said that they were “not available” to speak to the press, presumably because Serena does not want to answer questions on her future.
Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki let slip on commentary for ESPN that Serena plans to return to singles, while the word in the locker room is that the sisters are targeting the Los Angeles Olympics in two years.