Taylor Fritz, the ninth seed and 2024 finalist, was eliminated from the US Open 2026 by 24th seed Francisco Cerúndolo 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday in the third round. The Argentine came back from two sets down to claim the biggest win of his career on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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Two sets of control, then a collapse
Fritz had dominated the first two sets, dictating rallies with his serve and forehand power. The Californian appeared headed for a comfortable round-of-16 berth on home soil. But from the third set onward, the American gradually unraveled. His 54 unforced errors against 41 winners tell the story of a player who lost his way as Cerúndolo found his rhythm. The Argentine built relentless consistency from the baseline, forcing Fritz into increasingly costly gambles.
The decisive moment in the fifth set
At 3-4 in the decider, Cerúndolo found himself staring down the barrel: 0-40 on his own serve. Three consecutive unreturned first serves and a blistering forehand later, the Argentine saved all three break points before immediately breaking Fritz in the very next game. That swing sealed the match after 3 hours and 39 minutes.
An early exit for the American
For Fritz, this marks his earliest departure from Flushing Meadows since 2022. The world number 14, who reached the final against Jannik Sinner two years ago, could not handle the pressure of a match slipping away. "Winning here, on Ashe for the first time, is fantastic," Cerúndolo said after his victory. The 24-year-old Argentine will face Alexander Blockx in the round of 16, in a wide-open quarter of the draw following the exits of fifth seed Flavio Cobolli and Fritz. (Sources: ATP Tour, Yahoo Sports)
