Fritz, Keys, Anisimova exit US Open in third-round upsets
Former US Open finalists Taylor Fritz, Madison Keys, and Amanda Anisimova were all eliminated on Saturday. Keys lost after holding a match point, Fritz fell from two sets up, and Anisimova was defeated in straight sets.
Three American former US Open finalists suffered third-round defeats on a dramatic Saturday at Flushing Meadows. Last year's runner-up Amanda Anisimova lost in straight sets, 2017 finalist Madison Keys squandered a match point, and 2024 finalist Taylor Fritz fell after leading by two sets.
Madison Keys' stunning collapse
Madison Keys suffered a spectacular collapse against China's Qinwen Zheng. The American 22nd seed had raced to a 5-0 lead in the final set and held a match point on her own serve at 5-1. She failed to convert it, and Zheng won the final seven games of the match to secure a 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-5 victory. Keys, who had saved five match points in her previous round, was left smacking her head with her racquet in frustration.
Zheng, an Olympic champion who has slumped to world No. 121 after elbow surgery, came through qualifying to reach the main draw. She has twice been a US Open quarter-finalist. "I'm just telling myself keep holding every single point, never give up, stay there and somehow little by little it just happened," Zheng told The Independent. "The hard work pays off."
Anisimova's grand slam struggles continue
Earlier in the day, 10th seed Amanda Anisimova fell 6-2, 7-5 to 24th seed Anastasia Potapova, who was born in Russia but now represents Austria. Anisimova, also on a comeback trail from a wrist injury, was defeated in the third round of a grand slam for the third consecutive time. She converted just three of her 16 break point chances during the match. The 25-year-old Potapova equaled her best-ever performance at a major tournament.
Taylor Fritz lets lead slip
Later on Saturday, Taylor Fritz lost a five-set thriller to 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo. The American, the 2024 US Open finalist, won the first two sets but ultimately fell 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 4-6. Fritz spurned three break points at 4-3 in the decisive fifth set before immediately losing his own serve. Cerundolo, playing his first match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, kept his cool to serve out the match from 0-30 down. It was only the second time in his career he has won from two sets down.
"In the third I started to get into it, step by step, and in the fourth and fifth I played really good tennis," Cerundolo said. "Taylor is a top player, he's played in the final here, so winning, my first time on Arthur Ashe, it's fantastic."
Other notable results
The day of shocks extended beyond the American contingent. French Open finalist and fifth seed Flavio Cobolli lost in four sets to Belgian 28th seed Alexander Blockx, 7-6(5), 3-6, 0-6, 3-6. Blockx is through to the last 16 of a major for the first time. Reigning 2022 champion Iga Swiatek avoided an upset, holding off Czech 25th seed Marie Bouzkova in two tight tiebreaks, 7-6(3), 7-6(3).
