Arthur Gea reaches US Open last 16 as Taylor Fritz falls from two sets ahead
Arthur Gea defeated Michael Zheng in five sets on Saturday to become the last French player standing in New York, while Francisco Cerundolo eliminated Taylor Fritz.
Gea secures first Grand Slam fourth round
Arthur Gea, ranked 87th in the ATP standings and the sole remaining French player in the singles draw, advanced to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time on Saturday, 5 September. The 21-year-old from Provence defeated 22-year-old American Michael Zheng, ranked 107th, in a five-set encounter that ended 7-6 (9-7), 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. The match featured 106 unforced errors and 13 service breaks. Gea went to the net 16 times in the opening set and 46 times overall, clinching the first-set tie-break with a forehand winner. Zheng, a Columbia University psychology graduate and two-time US collegiate champion, rallied to win the next two sets after Gea lost five straight games from a 4-1 lead in the third.
It is nice to be the last Frenchman, but I would rather be the last one in the tournament.
- Gea wins 7-6 (9-7) after 16 net approaches and a forehand winner.
- Zheng breaks in game six and closes out the set 6-3 with an ace.
- Gea takes a 4-1 lead before Zheng wins five consecutive games to take the set 6-4.
- Gea wins two separate three-game sequences to take the set 6-3.
- Gea builds a 5-2 double-break lead and serves out the set 6-2.
Turnarounds and exits across the men's draw
Gea restored control in the fourth set by putting together two separate runs of three consecutive games, forcing a fifth set where he broke Zheng twice to lead 5-2 before serving out the match. The Frenchman, who recently won the tournament in Los Cabos, Mexico, will play Dutch competitor Botic van de Zandschulp, ranked 70th, who eliminated Belgium's Zizou Bergs, ranked 37th. Elsewhere in the men's singles bracket, world number ten Taylor Fritz was eliminated despite having won eight straight sets since the start of the tournament. Fritz led by two sets before 25th-ranked Francisco Cerundolo came back to win 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Sixth-ranked Flavio Cobolli, a finalist at Roland-Garros, was also eliminated after a 6-7 (7-4), 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 defeat against his Belgian opponent.
I do not know how I let that get away from me today. I do not want to talk to anyone. I just need to leave for a few days.
Zverev progresses to fourth round
Top seed Alexander Zverev, ranked second globally and competing as the highest seed in Jannik Sinner's absence, recorded a straight-sets victory against 28th-ranked Alejandro Tabilo of Chile, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2. The result followed two five-set matches for Zverev in the first two rounds of the tournament. The German lost his serve twice in the second set and recorded 32 unforced errors over the match, showing visible frustration when Tabilo lengthened rallies or moved to the net. Zverev, the Roland-Garros champion, advanced to meet 22nd-ranked Luciano Darderi of Italy in the second week.
From the back of the court, it was clearly better. I think I can play better, but I am happy with the direction things are taking.
- Alexander Zverev
- 2
- Flavio Cobolli
- 6
- Taylor Fritz
- 10
- Luciano Darderi
- 22
- Francisco Cerundolo
- 25
- Alejandro Tabilo
- 28
- Zizou Bergs
- 37
- Botic van de Zandschulp
- 70
- Arthur Gea
- 87
- Michael Zheng
- 107
Former champions move into second week
In the women's singles draw, multiple former Grand Slam champions secured spots in the fourth round on Saturday. World number two Elena Rybakina, who won on hard courts at the Australian Open earlier in the season, advanced to the round of 16. Two previous US Open singles winners also advanced, with 2022 champion Iga Swiatek and 2023 champion Coco Gauff both winning their third-round encounters. The fourth round matches begin on Sunday as the tournament enters its second week in New York.
