Francisco Cerundolo produced one of the biggest comebacks of the US Open 2026, fighting back from two sets down to eliminate ninth seed Taylor Fritz 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in a gripping third-round thriller on Saturday.
Fritz, a US Open finalist in 2024, appeared firmly in control after taking the opening two sets. However, Cerundolo refused to let the match slip away, gradually raising his level from the baseline while Fritz began to struggle with errors and frustration.
The Argentine continued to apply pressure as the contest wore on, eventually completing the biggest comeback of his Grand Slam career on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The victory also sent Cerundolo into the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the first time.
For Fritz, the defeat brought his campaign to a disappointing end and marked his earliest US Open exit in four years. Cerundolo will next face Belgian Alexander Blockx in the Round of 16.
SWIATEK SURVIVES BOUZKOVA TEST
Iga Swiatek also booked her place in the fourth round, but only after being pushed all the way by Marie Bouzkova. The eighth-seeded Pole edged the Czech 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3), winning both tiebreaks by an identical 7-3 score.
Bouzkova refused to allow Swiatek to settle into a rhythm, forcing the four-time Grand Slam champion to fight through two closely contested sets. Swiatek, though, showed her composure in the crucial moments, holding her nerve in both tiebreaks to seal victory.
The result extended Swiatek’s perfect head-to-head record against Bouzkova to 4-0. She had previously beaten the Czech at the 2026 Australian Open, 2025 Wuhan Open and 2024 French Open.
Swiatek entered the match after a convincing 6-3, 6-2 win over Nadia Podoroska in the second round. She will next face Qinwen Zheng, who came from a set down to defeat Madison Keys 1-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5.
BLOCKX KNOCKS OUT COBOLLI
Alexander Blockx continued his breakthrough run in New York by producing another major upset, defeating fifth seed Flavio Cobolli 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 to reach the fourth round.
The Belgian had already impressed in his opening two matches, beating Tomas Barrios Vera 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 before overcoming Marco Trungelliti in the second round.
Blockx saved his biggest performance for Cobolli, who had reached the French Open final earlier this year. After narrowly losing the opening set, Blockx took control of the contest, winning the next three sets comfortably.
He now faces another surprise opponent in Cerundolo, with the pair battling for a place in the quarter-finals.
– Ends
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