New York – In a dramatic showdown on Arthur Ashe Stadium, American No. 12 seed Taylor Fritz was knocked out of the U.S. Open in the third round, losing to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo 3‑6, 4‑6, 6‑3, 6‑4, 6‑4. The defeat marks Fritz’s earliest exit from his home Grand Slam since 2022 and ends his hopes of ending the 23‑year U.S. men’s major drought.
Match recap
Fritz entered the match after cruising through his first two rounds without dropping a set, including a 90‑minute second‑round victory in which he saved 11 of 13 break points. The American appeared poised to continue his strong form, but Cerundolo raised his level early, taking the first two sets 6‑3 and 6‑4.
“He was playing way better than me the first two sets,” Cerundolo said after the match. “I started getting into it step by step and I think fourth and fifth I played really good tennis. I wasn’t finding that tennis in the previous sets, previous rounds.” The Argentine, playing on the iconic stadium for the first time, said he built momentum by staying patient and attacking when opportunities arose.
Fritz fought back in the third set, breaking Cerundolo’s serve to claim the set 6‑3. However, the Argentine responded with a surge of powerful, precise shots in the fourth, taking the set 6‑4. In the deciding set, Fritz’s shoe lace snapped at a critical 15‑40 break‑point, briefly halting his rhythm. The interruption did not deter Cerundolo, who continued to press, eventually forcing a net error from Fritz that gave him the final break and the match.
What the loss means for Fritz
Fritz’s exit is a setback for U.S. tennis fans who have been hoping he could be the next American champion at Flushing Meadows. The 27‑year‑old has been a steady presence on the tour, reaching the 2024 US Open final and earning a reputation for a strong serve and solid baseline play. While this loss is disappointing, his overall season remains strong, and he will likely regroup for the upcoming hard‑court swing.
Looking ahead for Cerundolo
Cerundolo advances to the fourth round, where he will face either Belgium’s Alexander Blockx or Italy’s Flavio Cobolli. The Argentine’s performance in New York demonstrates his ability to compete with top‑ranked players and could signal a deeper run in the tournament.
Both players will be watching the next rounds closely, as the U.S. Open continues to deliver high‑quality tennis and memorable moments for fans across the nation.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
