Cerundolo overturns two-set deficit to eliminate Fritz at US Open

The Guardian reports that Francisco Cerundolo recovered from two sets down to eliminate American ninth seed Taylor Fritz from the US Open. Cerundolo won their third-round match at Arthur Ashe Stadium 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, ending the run of the player who reached the final in New York two years earlier.

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Fritz controlled the opening stages and moved two sets ahead before breaking Cerundolo in the first game of the third. The direction of the match changed after Fritz then dropped serve. Cerundolo took the third set and stayed in the contest through the fourth, forcing a deciding set after Fritz had appeared to be firmly in command.

The fifth set produced another opportunity for Fritz. He held three break points that would have given him a 5-3 lead and the chance to serve for the match, but Cerundolo saved them and completed the comeback. The result sent the Argentine into the fourth round while ending Fritz's attempt to make another deep run at his home Grand Slam.

Fritz, 28, had reached a career-high ranking of world number four in 2025. His 2024 US Open final made him the first American man to reach the men's singles championship match at the tournament since Andy Roddick in 2006. He had also reached the New York quarter-finals in both 2023 and 2025, losing to Novak Djokovic on each occasion.

The defeat came in an unusually open men's draw. World number one Jannik Sinner was absent because of injury, Djokovic had lost in the first round, and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz entered the event after a four-month injury layoff. That landscape had increased the opportunity for Fritz and other contenders seeking a major title.

Seven American men were still in the singles draw at the start of the day, including Fritz, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Learner Tien, Tommy Paul, Alex Michelsen and Michael Zheng. Cerundolo's comeback removed the highest-ranked name from that group and delivered one of the tournament's most notable reversals, built on his ability to recover after losing the first two sets and falling behind early in the third.