New York: Alexander Zverev and Coco Gauff advanced to the last 16 of the US Open, but the tournament took a sharp turn for American hopes as several leading home players were eliminated.
Top seed Zverev overcame Alejandro Tabilo 6 to 2, 7 to 6, 6 to 2 to reach the fourth round. The German produced a more controlled performance after being pushed to five sets in each of his opening two matches, spending more than nine hours on court before facing Tabilo.
Zverev will next face 21st seed Luciano Darderi for a place in the quarter finals. The German entered the tournament as French Open champion and Wimbledon runner up, making him one of the leading contenders in New York.
Gauff also continued her campaign, defeating Cristina Bucsa 6 to 3, 6 to 4 to reach the fourth round for the fifth consecutive year. The 22 year old American, who won the US Open in 2023, has not dropped a set at this year’s tournament.
Gauff will now face fellow American Iva Jovic, who reached the last 16 by beating Alexandra Eala in a three hour contest. Their meeting guarantees an American place in the quarter finals.
The wider picture was less encouraging for the home crowd. Ninth seed Taylor Fritz surrendered a two set lead before losing to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo 3 to 6, 4 to 6, 6 to 3, 6 to 4, 6 to 4. The defeat marked Fritz’s earliest US Open exit in four years.
Madison Keys also fell after failing to protect a substantial advantage against Zheng Qinwen, while last year’s finalist Amanda Anisimova was beaten by Anastasia Potapova.
The results leave Gauff among the most prominent American hopes in the women’s draw, although the United States (US) still has several players progressing in the men’s competition.
With the tournament entering its second week, the contrasting fortunes of the leading contenders have opened the draws further, leaving both established champions and emerging players with opportunities to make deep runs in New York.
