Coco Gauff gave the home crowd a reason to celebrate at the US Open, moving into the fourth round on a day that also saw surprising defeats for fellow Americans Taylor Fritz, Amanda Anisimova and Madison Keys. The 2023 champion, currently ranked among the world’s elite, faced the 40th‑ranked Cristina Bucsa. Although Gauff was not at her peak performance, she managed to grind out a 6‑3, 6‑4 victory, securing her place among the last 16 competitors. The 22‑year‑old will now meet her countrywoman Iva Jovic in the quarter‑finals, a match that could further cement her status as a rising star on the tour.

Reflecting on her win, Gauff noted the stark contrast between playing in daylight versus under the lights. "When I fell behind early in the set, I reminded myself to speed up my shots," she explained. She added that Bucsa proved to be a tricky opponent, capable of varying the pace and disrupting rhythm.

"It was difficult to find my flow, but I’m pleased with how I fought through even when I wasn’t at my best," Gauff said. While Gauff’s progress was a bright spot, the day was otherwise marked by disappointment for the United States men’s and women’s squads.

Taylor Fritz, the ninth seed, appeared to be cruising toward the fourth round after taking a two‑set lead over Argentina’s Federico Cerundolo. The 28‑year‑old, a finalist two years earlier, had not dropped a set all week and seemed poised to join compatriots Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul and Alex Michelsen in the round of 16. However, Cerundolo, who had stunned the field by winning Queen’s Club earlier in the summer, rallied from the brink. After losing the first two sets 3‑6, 4‑6, he turned the match around with a 6‑3, 6‑4, 6‑4 comeback, ending Fritz’s run in a dramatic five‑set battle.

The United States continues to search for its first men’s singles champion since Andy Roddick’s 2003 triumph over Juan Carlos Ferrero. Tommy Paul, seeded 20th, now faces the world No. 2, Carlos Alcaraz, in what promises to be a genuine test of the defending champion’s credentials after his recent injury layoff.

Paul remarked, "I think I’ve played Carlos more than anyone on tour, which is kind of crazy. We’ve had some good matches. He and Jannik Sinner are the real tests.

Carlos hasn’t been seen a lot recently, but he’s looking strong coming back to competition." Top seed Alexander Zverev also advanced comfortably, dispatching Alejandro Tabilo 6‑2, 7‑6, 6‑2 to reach the fourth round. His next opponent will be 25th seed Luciano Darderi, who earned his spot by defeating Australian wildcard Dane Sweeny in straight sets (6‑4, 6‑3, 6‑3), marking his first appearance in the fourth round of a hard‑court major. Fourteenth seed Learner Tien survived a grueling five‑set encounter against Jakub Mensik, prevailing 6‑3, 1‑6, 6‑7, 6‑3, 6‑4. The marathon match stretched into the early hours of Sunday morning, concluding around 1:30 a.m.

in New York. At 20 years old, Tien became the youngest American to reach the US Open fourth round since Andy Roddick’s 2002 run, matching that historic record.

His victory sets up a clash with Russian veteran Karen Khachanov. In another upset, Belgium’s 28th‑seeded Alexander Blockx defeated Italy’s fifth seed Flavio Cobolli 6‑7(4‑7), 6‑3, 6‑0, 6‑3, earning a place in the fourth round where he will meet Argentina’s 24th‑seeded Cerundolo.

On the women’s side, former runner‑up Madison Keys suffered a heartbreaking loss after squandering a sizable lead. The 31‑year‑old fell 1‑6, 7‑6(7‑3), 7‑5 to China’s Qinwen Zheng, admitting after the match, "I started strong, but then I got scared and couldn’t swing. Tennis feels really hard right now, and that fear took over." Amanda Anisimova, who was the finalist the previous year, also exited early, committing 46 unforced errors in a 6‑2, 7‑5 defeat to Austria’s Anastasia Potapova.

Meanwhile, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva (seeded fifth) beat Czech Nikola Bartunkova 6‑2, 7‑6(7‑5) to reach her first US Open fourth round, where she will face Potapova again. Six‑time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek dug deep to overcome 25th‑seeded Czech Marie Bouzkova 7‑6(7‑3), 7‑6(7‑3), advancing to the fourth round. The 25‑year‑old described the match as physically demanding, with many long rallies, adding, "It wasn’t easy." In doubles news, the legendary Williams sisters avoided a fine for not speaking to the media after their loss.

Serena and Venus were defeated in three tight sets by Maya Joint and Chan Hao‑ching in their first match at Flushing Meadows in four years. While players typically face penalties for skipping media obligations, officials indicated that the sisters would not be punished this time. The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports app.

Fans can also attend the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, where the event will be shown live on Sky Sports.