Coco Gauff gave the home crowd a reason to celebrate at the US Open, securing her place in the fourth round on a day that also saw surprising losses for fellow Americans Taylor Fritz, Amanda Anisimova and Madison Keys. The 2023 champion, currently ranked among the world’s elite, faced off against world No. 40 Cristina Bucsa. Although Gauff was not playing at the level she would have liked, she managed to outlast her opponent with a straight‑sets victory of 6‑3, 6‑4, ensuring her progression to the round of 16.
The 22‑year‑old will now meet fellow countrywoman Iva Jovic in a quarter‑final showdown. Reflecting on her performance, Gauff noted the stark contrast between daytime and nighttime conditions, explaining that a mid‑match dip forced her to accelerate her shot selection.
“I realized I was down that break and told myself I needed to speed up my game,” she said. She added that Bucsa proved to be a crafty opponent capable of disrupting rhythm, which made it challenging to find a flow. Nonetheless, Gauff expressed satisfaction with her resilience, even when she felt she wasn’t at her best. While Gauff’s win added a bright note for the United States, the day was otherwise marked by a series of upset defeats for American men and women.
Taylor Fritz, seeded ninth, appeared to be cruising toward the fourth round after taking a two‑set lead over Argentina’s Federico Cerundolo. The 28‑year‑old, who was the runner‑up two years prior, had not dropped a set all week and seemed poised to join compatriots Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul and Alex Michelsen in the last‑16 field.
However, Cerundolo, fresh off a surprise victory at Queen’s Club earlier in the summer, clawed his way back into the match, turning it into a five‑set thriller and ultimately prevailing 3‑6, 4‑6, 6‑3, 6‑4, 6‑4. The United States continues its quest for a men’s singles champion, a title not claimed since Andy Roddick’s triumph over Juan Carlos Ferrero in 2003. Tommy Paul, the 20th seed, now faces world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in what promises to be a genuine test of the defending champion’s credentials after his recent return from injury.
Paul remarked on his familiarity with Alcaraz, saying, “I think I’ve played Carlos more than anyone on tour, which is kind of crazy. He and Jannik Sinner are the big tests right now, and while we haven’t seen as much of Carlos recently, he’s clearly back in form.” Top‑seed Alexander Zverev also moved comfortably into the fourth round, dispatching Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets, 6‑2, 7‑6, 6‑2. The world No. 2 now awaits 25th‑seed Luciano Darderi, who earned his spot by defeating Australian wildcard Dane Sweeny 6‑4, 6‑3, 6‑3 – a first‑time achievement for Darderi at a hard‑court major.
Fourteenth‑seed Learner Tien delivered a gritty performance, overcoming Jakub Mensik 6‑3, 1‑6, 6‑7, 6‑3, 6‑4 to set up a fourth‑round encounter with Karen Khachanov. Tien’s 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 benchmark. In another notable upset, Belgian 28th‑seed Alexander Blockx defeated Italian 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‑seed Cerundolo. On the women’s side, Madison Keys, the 2017 runner‑up, suffered a heartbreaking loss after surrendering a commanding lead to China’s Qinwen Zheng, falling 1‑6, 7‑6(7‑3), 7‑5.
Keys admitted that the sudden shift in momentum left her feeling frightened and unable to swing freely, describing the experience as “tennis feeling really hard right now.” Amanda Anisimova, last year’s finalist, also exited early, committing 46 unforced errors in a 6‑2, 7‑5 defeat to Austrian Anastasia Potapova. Meanwhile, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva (seeded fifth) beat Czech Nikola Bartunkova 6‑2, 7‑6(7‑5) to advance to her first US Open fourth round, where she will face Potapova. Six‑time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek dug deep to overcome Czech 25th‑seed Marie Bouzkova 7‑6(7‑3), 7‑6(7‑3), securing her own spot in the round of 16.
The 25‑year‑old noted the physical nature of the match, saying, “It got pretty physical, many long rallies. It wasn’t easy.” She will next meet Zheng. In doubles action, the Williams sisters—Serena and Venus—escaped a potential fine for refusing to speak with the media after a three‑set loss to Maya Joint and Chan Hao‑ching.
The pair, playing their first match at Flushing Meadows in four years, were defeated in a tightly contested encounter. While players are typically penalized for neglecting media obligations, officials indicated that the Williams sisters would not be punished in this instance. The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports starting August 30, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports app. Fans in London can also experience the Laver Cup at The O2 from September 25‑27, with coverage provided by Sky Sports.