Top‑seed Alexander Zverev kept his quest for a first US Open title alive on Thursday with a hard‑won five‑set victory over France’s Quentin Halys. The German, the tournament’s number one, survived a 4‑hour‑33‑minute marathon on Arthur Ashe Stadium, prevailing 6‑4, 4‑6, 7‑6 (7‑3), 6‑7 (3‑7), 6‑3. The match concluded at 2:15 a.m. local time, marking Zverev’s second consecutive late‑night battle after a five‑setter against Lorenzo Sonego that finished just before 2 a.m. on Wednesday.
Zverev endures a grueling night
After the win, Zverev described his performance as “quite s*** to be honest, but I won, that’s the most important thing.” He added that he felt physically fine and expressed pride in his strength, while acknowledging that he was “winning ugly” and hoping to improve his tennis at some point. “It’s also a skill to win ugly and when you’re not playing great tennis. I think I’ve mastered that right now,” he said.
Men’s draw rocked by upsets
Thursday’s action saw three of the tournament’s seeded men exit early. Third‑seed Felix Auger‑Aliassime fell 6‑7 (5‑7), 6‑3, 6‑2, 6‑2 to Russia’s 50th‑ranked Karen Khachanov. Auger‑Aliassime, who described feeling “dizzy and seeing spots,” admitted that his condition did not improve during the match. Khachanov capitalised on 47 unforced errors and eight double faults from the Canadian, noting, “I thought maybe he had some physical issues; it’s part of our sport.”
Sixth‑seed Alex de Minaur was dispatched in straight sets, 6‑4, 7‑5, 6‑2, by Dutch qualifier Botic van de Zandschulp. Van de Zandschulp’s win adds to his reputation as an upset specialist at Flushing Meadows; he previously stunned Carlos Alcaraz in the second round earlier this year.
Thirteenth‑seed Lorenzo Musetti also bowed out, losing 3‑6, 6‑1, 6‑2, 6‑2 to Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny. The victory gave Sweeny his first appearance in a Grand Slam third round.
Women’s champions march forward
In the women’s draw, former champions continued to dominate. Fourth‑seed Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open winner, defeated former world No. 2 Paula Badosa 6‑4, 7‑6 (7‑5). Gauff, who had lost five of her eight previous meetings with Badosa, said she expected a surge from the Spaniard in the second set and praised her own composure: “I think I need matches like this to build my confidence.”
World No. 1 Iga Świątek breezed past Nadia Podoroska 6‑3, 6‑2, fending off four break points at 5‑3 in the first set before closing the match in just over an hour. Świątek, a six‑time Grand Slam champion, faced a player who had fallen to 449th in the world rankings.
Two‑time US Open champion Naomi Osaka overcame Katerina Siniaková 6‑2, 5‑7, 6‑1. Osaka took a 4‑2 lead in the second set without facing a break point, but Siniaková rallied to claim the set. Osaka responded in the decider with a quick break, a 3‑0 lead and two break‑point saves, later stating, “I just felt like I had to fight.”
World No. 2 Elena Rybakina, who is closing in on the top ranking, dispatched Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6‑2, 6‑4. Mirra Andreeva, the reigning Grand Slam champion, rolled past Germany’s Eva Lys 6‑0, 6‑2.
Other notable performances included former Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who survived five match points to beat Anna Bondar 4‑7, 6‑4, 7‑6 (10‑5), and a farewell appearance for Gaël Monfils, who lost 6‑3, 6‑4, 6‑3 to 20‑year‑old American Learner Tien. Monfils thanked the New York crowd, saying, “It’s been a long ride… You are my second‑best crowd.”
The day’s results left the men’s side of the draw dramatically reshaped, with three top‑ten seeds eliminated and several qualifiers advancing deep into the tournament. Meanwhile, the women’s field retained its familiar hierarchy, as former champions and current Grand Slam winners secured their places in the fourth round.
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