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US Open: Arthur Gea reaches first Grand Slam fourth round as last French player standing

From Le Figaro · () French

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

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Arthur Gea, the only French player remaining at the US Open, beat American Michael Zheng 7-6 (9-7), 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
  • The 21-year-old world No. 87 reached a Grand Slam fourth round for the first time and will face Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.
  • Gea overcame a match marked by 106 unforced errors and 13 breaks by raising his aggression and maintaining his physical edge in the final set.

Arthur Gea is the last French player left at the US Open, but the 21-year-old says he has a bigger target than that distinction. “It feels good to be the last Frenchman, but I’d rather be the last player in the tournament,” he said after reaching the fourth round for the first time at a Grand Slam.

It feels good to be the last Frenchman, but I’d rather be the last player in the tournament.

· Arthur GeaGea spoke after becoming the only French player remaining at the US Open.

The world No. 87 defeated American Michael Zheng, ranked 107th, 7-6 (9-7), 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. He will next face Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, ranked 70th, who beat Belgium’s Zizou Bergs, the world No. 37.

The match with Zheng, a 22-year-old recently graduated from Columbia University with a psychology degree, was defined more by intensity and suspense than clean tennis. The players combined for 106 unforced errors and 13 breaks. Gea repeatedly came to the net, doing so 46 times during the match after using the tactic 16 times in the opening set, to disrupt an opponent known for his movement and ability to return almost anything.

A small loss of confidence in attack.

· Arthur GeaGea described the lapse that allowed Zheng to recover in the third set.

Gea won the first-set tiebreak with a powerful forehand, but Zheng quickly responded. The next two sets swung between momentum shifts. Gea led 4-1 in the third before losing five straight games, a spell he attributed to “a small loss of confidence in attack” after Zheng hit several good passing shots. He said it took three or four games to become aggressive again.

He raised his level and started serving really well.

· Michael ZhengZheng assessed Gea’s improvement during the deciding stages of the match.

The Frenchman seized control early in the fifth set, breaking for a 2-0 lead. He moved ahead 5-2 with a double break before closing out the match at love. Zheng said Gea “raised his level and started serving really well.” Gea said his physical condition made the difference late on: “At the end, fitness makes a bit of a difference. I felt he was struggling a little, so I added another layer. I became even more aggressive.”

At the end, fitness makes a bit of a difference. I felt he was struggling a little, so I added another layer. I became even more aggressive.

· Arthur GeaGea explained how he finished the match strongly in the fifth set.
About this summary

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. 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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