Coco Gauff gave the home crowd a reason to celebrate at the US Open, moving into the fourth round while her fellow Americans Taylor Fritz, Amanda Anisimova and Madison Keys suffered unexpected defeats. The 2023 champion, now 22, was paired against world No. 40 Cristina Bucsa.
Although she was not at her absolute best, Gauff managed to edge out a 6-3, 6-4 victory, securing her place among the last 16 competitors. Her next challenge will be a quarter‑final showdown with fellow U.S.
player Iva Jovic. Speaking after the match, Gauff reflected on the shift in conditions from day to night play. "When I fell behind early in the set, I told myself I had to speed up my shots," she said.
"Bucsa is a crafty opponent who can change the pace and disrupt rhythm, so it was a battle to find my groove. I’m pleased with how I fought through even when I wasn’t playing at my peak." While Gauff’s run continued, the American contingent experienced a series of setbacks.
The tournament’s ninth seed, Taylor Fritz, 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 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 round of 16.
However, Cerundolo, who had pulled off a surprise win at Queen’s Club earlier in the summer, clawed back from the deficit and forced a five‑set thriller, eventually prevailing 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. The United States is still searching for its first men’s singles champion since Andy Roddick’s 2003 triumph over Juan Carlos Ferrero. In another marquee matchup, 20th‑seed Tommy Paul will face world No.
2 Carlos Alcaraz, a test that could prove pivotal for the defending champion after his recent injury layoff. Paul commented, "I think I’ve played Carlos more than anyone on tour, which is crazy.
He and Jannik Sinner are the real tests right now. We’ve had some good matches, and even though we haven’t seen a lot of him lately, he’s looking strong coming back into competition." Top seed Alexander Zverev also sailed into the fourth round with a straight‑sets win over Alejandro Tabilo, posting a 6-2, 7-6, 6-2 scoreline. The world No.
2 now prepares for a clash with 25th‑seed Luciano Darderi, who earned his spot by defeating Australian wildcard Dane Sweeny 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‑setter against Jakub Mensik, winning 6-3, 1-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. The 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 a US Open fourth round since Andy Roddick’s 2002 run, matching that historic record. In other notable upsets, Belgium’s 28th‑seed Alexander Blockx toppled Italy’s fifth‑seed Flavio Cobolli 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-0, 6-3, advancing to face Cerundolo once again in the next round.
Meanwhile, former finalist Madison Keys, who was runner‑up in 2017, saw a promising lead evaporate in a 1-6, 7-6(7-3), 7-5 loss to China’s Qinwen Zheng. Keys admitted, "I started strong, but then I got scared and couldn’t swing. Tennis feels really hard right now, and that anxiety took over." Last year’s finalist Amanda Anisimova also fell short, committing 46 unforced errors in a 6-2, 7-5 defeat to Austria’s Anastasia Potapova. On the women’s side, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva defeated Czech Nikola Bartunkova 6-2, 7-6(5) to reach her first US Open fourth round, where she will meet Potapova.
Six‑time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek dug deep to overcome 25th‑seed Marie Bouzkova 7-6(3), 7-6(3), describing the match as physically demanding with many long rallies. In doubles action, the Williams sisters avoided a fine for not speaking to the media after a loss. Serena and Venus were defeated in three tight sets by the pair of Maya Joint and Chan Hao‑ching in their first match at Flushing Meadows in four years. Typically, players who skip media obligations are penalized, but officials have indicated that the Williamses will not be fined in this instance.
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 look forward to the Laver Cup at The O2 in London, scheduled for September 25‑27, which will also be shown on Sky Sports.