The loss marks a significant departure from the form Fritz displayed earlier in the tournament, where he had dropped only 11 games across his first two matches. Following the defeat, a visibly disappointed Fritz admitted his confusion regarding the match's trajectory, stating, "I don't know how I let that happen today."
Cerundolo finds rhythm in comeback victory
The match initially followed a predictable script as Fritz secured an early break to start the third set, seemingly poised to close out the contest in straight sets. However, Cerundolo responded immediately, finding his footing in his debut appearance on the tournament's premier stage. As the Argentine grew more comfortable, the momentum shifted decisively in his favor, allowing him to dictate play and dismantle the American's rhythm.
Reflecting on his performance, Cerundolo noted that his level of play improved significantly as the match progressed. "I think fourth and fifth I played a really good tennis that I wasn't finding that tennis in the previous sets and the previous rounds," he explained.
Top seeds continue to tumble in New York
The departure of Fritz adds to an increasingly volatile men's draw at this year's US Open. The tournament has seen a significant thinning of the field, with the loss of No. 5 seed Flavio Cobolli—who fell in four sets to No. 28 Alexander Blockx—contributing to a trend that has now seen six of the top 10 seeds eliminated from contention.
As the tournament progresses, the pressure remains on the remaining favorites to navigate the draw. Top-seeded Alexander Zverev, who endured challenging five-set encounters in his opening two rounds, was scheduled to face No. 25 seed Alejandro Tabilo in a night session match as the competition looks to stabilize following a series of high-profile upsets.
