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“We’re Not Robots”: Why US Open Men’s Contenders Have Tumbled

From BBC News · () English

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

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Ongoing story
  • Six of the top 10 men’s seeds, including Taylor Fritz and Daniil Medvedev, exited before the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.
  • The early losses came as Jannik Sinner missed the tournament through injury and Carlos Alcaraz returned from a lengthy layoff.
  • Players and analysts pointed to the depth of the field, pressure, illness, injuries and fatigue as factors behind the unpredictable draw.

Talent, athleticism and commitment alone do not make a Grand Slam singles champion. At the US Open, the early collapse of several leading men has highlighted another requirement: the belief that a player can beat anyone while the world is watching.

Six of the top 10 seeds were out by the fourth round at Flushing Meadows. Taylor Fritz squandered a two-set lead against Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo in the third round, while former champion Daniil Medvedev also fell in the fourth round. The remaining top-10 players are top seed Alexander Zverev, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and eighth seed Ben Shelton.

It shows you how even the circuit is, how tight every match is, how difficult it is to win matches. Anything can happen right now.

· Francisco CerundoloHe reflects on the early exits by leading seeds.

Cerundolo said the results showed “how even the circuit is, how tight every match is, how difficult it is to win matches.” The exits came in a draw that appeared open after Jannik Sinner missed the tournament through injury and Alcaraz returned from a long layoff.

The two-horse race between Sinner and Alcaraz is not healthy for the tour.

· Pat CashThe former Wimbledon champion assesses the dominance of the two leading players.

The pressure created by the dominance of Sinner and Alcaraz has also shaped the field. The pair have won 10 of the past 11 men’s Grand Slam singles titles. Fritz has said he would feel an “emptiness” at the end of his career if he failed to win a major, while Zverev revealed that nerves had previously left him unable to sleep or eat during Grand Slam fortnights. After winning his first major at the French Open, he reached the Wimbledon final and remains in contention in New York.

Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash described the sport’s “two-horse race” as unhealthy for the tour. He said Alcaraz was becoming more of a favourite with every win and could win the US Open despite having played no matches for four months. Pressure, however, is not the only explanation. Illness, injuries and fatigue have also contributed during a demanding season, while the current top 10, apart from Sinner and Alcaraz, may be weaker than in previous years.

With every win, Alcaraz is becoming more of a favourite. Four months off, no matches and he could win the US Open.

· Pat CashHe discusses Alcaraz’s return and growing status in the tournament.
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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