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Fritz and Cobolli Stunned as Six Top-10 Seeds Fall at the US Open

From BBC News · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Taylor Fritz lost a two-set lead to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, while Italy’s Flavio Cobolli fell to Belgium’s Alexander Blockx in the US Open third round.
  • Six top-10 seeds have been eliminated from the men’s draw, leaving Alexander Zverev as the only top-10 player remaining in the upper half.
  • Zverev advanced past Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets, while five American players remain in contention for a home champion.

Taylor Fritz had the match under control, then watched his US Open campaign unravel. The American ninth seed led Francisco Cerundolo by two sets and broke early in the third, but the Argentine 24th seed fought back to win 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and reach the fourth round.

Fritz, a finalist at Flushing Meadows in 2024, could not explain the collapse. “I don’t even know what to say,” he said. “I don’t really want to talk to anybody, see anybody. I need to get out for a couple days and then get back to work. I don’t know how I let that happen today.”

I don’t even know what to say. I don’t really want to talk to anybody, see anybody. I need to get out for a couple days and then get back to work. I don’t know how I let that happen today.

· Taylor FritzFritz spoke after surrendering a two-set lead to Francisco Cerundolo.

Less than an hour later, fifth seed Flavio Cobolli also went out. Belgium’s Alexander Blockx recovered from losing the opening set on a tie-break to win 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-0, 6-3. Cobolli, a French Open finalist, said his energy had dropped and that he felt tighter and more tired than in previous matches.

The losses have opened the upper half of the draw. With Fritz and Cobolli gone, top seed Alexander Zverev and 14th seed Learner Tien are the only top-20 players left in that section. Zverev could reach the final without facing a top-10 opponent, although he must first beat Italy’s 21st seed Luciano Darderi.

I think my energy was a little bit lower than the other days. I feel a little bit more tight and maybe more tired.

· Flavio CobolliCobolli explained his loss to Alexander Blockx.

Zverev advanced by defeating Chile’s 25th seed Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2. He saved two set points in the second set and two early break points in the third. After two previous five-set matches that ended around 2 a.m., he finished this one at 1:09 a.m. “My coach was smart because he explained to me that a best-of-five match doesn’t mean you have to play five sets,” Zverev joked.

The possibility of another American men’s singles champion remains, despite Fritz’s exit. Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien are still in the tournament, 23 years after Andy Roddick’s triumph.

My coach was smart because he explained to me that a best-of-five match doesn’t mean you have to play five sets, which I didn’t know until today.

· Alexander ZverevZverev joked after defeating Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets.
About this summary

Originally published by BBC News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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