Six Top-10 Men Exit Before US Open Quarter-Finals Take Shape

Six of the top 10 seeds in the US Open men's draw were eliminated by the fourth round, leaving only Alexander Zverev, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton from that group. BBC Sport reports that the run of exits has opened a draw already missing Jannik Sinner through injury, while Alcaraz is competing after a lengthy layoff.

Taylor Fritz, seeded 10th, was among the players unable to take advantage. The former US Open runner-up led Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo by two sets in the third round before losing the match. Cerundolo, the 24th seed, said the result reflected how close matches on the men's circuit have become and how quickly a tournament can change.

Former champion Daniil Medvedev followed with a fourth-round defeat on Sunday. Zverev, Alcaraz and eighth seed Shelton were therefore the only top-10 players left. The remaining field contrasts with the recent pattern at the majors, where Sinner and Alcaraz have combined to win 10 of the past 11 men's singles titles.

Several departures came with physical issues. Fourth seed Novak Djokovic went out in the first round as he struggled physically, while third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime cited dizziness after his second-round loss. Fifth seed Flavio Cobolli said he lacked energy during his third-round defeat, attributing the problem to a heavy match schedule and the heat in New York. Cincinnati champion Arthur Fils lost his opener to former world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Top seed Zverev remains in the tournament after winning his first major at this year's French Open and then reaching the Wimbledon final, where he lost to Sinner. Alcaraz, meanwhile, has improved through his matches after returning from four months away. Their progress keeps two of the highest-ranked contenders alive, but the early results have substantially altered the expected shape of the men's event.

The women's draw has been more stable. Eleven of the top 16 seeds advanced to the fourth round, led by two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and Australian Open winner Elena Rybakina, neither of whom dropped a set on the way to the last 16. Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva and Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova also progressed, leaving all of the top six women's seeds intact at that stage.