US Open 2026: Taylor Fritz and Flavio Cobolli out as six of top 10 men's seeds fall in first week
Taylor Fritz was unable to explain how he let a two-set lead slip against Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo as he became one of six top-10 seeds to be eliminated from the men's draw in the first week of the US Open.
The American ninth seed was in complete control and went on an early break in the third set, only for 24th seed Cerundolo to produce a shock 3-6 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 win to reach the fourth round.
Less than an hour later, fifth seed Flavio Cobolli of Italy fell to a 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-0 6-3 defeat by Belgium's Alexander Blockx, opening up the men's draw even further.
However, German top seed Alexander Zverev did survive. The French Open champion won 6-2 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 against Chilean 25th seed Alejandro Tabilo to move into the last 16.
"I don't even know what to say," Fritz said. "I don't really want to talk to anybody, see anybody.
"I need to get out for a couple of days and then get back to work. I don't know how I let that happen today."
Fritz, a finalist at Flushing Meadows in 2024, was bidding to become the fifth American through to the fourth round at this year's tournament.
With world number one Jannik Sinner out injured and Carlos Alcaraz only recently returned from a long-term wrist problem, excitement has been growing that there may finally be another home winner in the men's singles - 23 years on from Andy Roddick's triumph.
That chance remains with Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien left - but Fritz will know he has let a golden opportunity slip.
Cerundolo and 28th seed Blockx will now meet in the fourth round with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.
- Cobolli exit clears path for Zverev
The chance of a maiden Grand Slam title has also escaped Cobolli after his capitulation against Blockx.
Having edged the first set on a tie-break, the Italian lost his way and could not recover after surrendering the third set to love in just 20 minutes.
"I think my energy was a little bit lower than the other days," said the French Open finalist. "I feel a little bit tighter and maybe more tired."
With Cobolli and Fritz out, Zverev and 14th seed Learner Tien - who completed a five-set win over Czech 17th seed Jakub Mensik at 1:35 am in New York - are the only top-20 players left in the top half of the draw.
It means Zverev could reach the final without playing a top-10 opponent.
But first he must focus on getting past Italian 21st seed Luciano Darderi after seeing off Tabilo in another late-night finish.
Zverev's opening two matches were five-set victories finishing around 2am, but this time he got the job done in straight sets at 1:09am local time.
However, he had to save two set points to prevent Tabilo levelling the match at one-set all, and survived two break points early in the third set, before reasserting his authority.
"My coach was smart because he explained to me that a best-of-five match doesn't mean you have to play five sets - which I didn't know until today," joked Zverev.
"I'm happy with the improvements and happy my level is going in the right direction. But I can still play better."
- How the seeds have fallen
This year's biggest shock at Flushing Meadows was also the first, as Novak Djokovic was beaten by Argentina's Mariano Navone on the opening day's play.
Fourth seed Djokovic was eyeing an historic 25th Grand Slam title but was left in tears after a five-set loss to the world number 49.
Next to go was 10th seed Arthur Fils. The Frenchman was another first-round casualty as he went down in four sets against former world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece.
The highest seed ousted thus far is Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, the third seed, who lost to Karen Khachanov in round two, the same stage at which sixth seed Alex de Minaur was beaten.
Those exits looked to have cleared the way for Fritz and Cobolli to go deep into the tournament, but it was an opportunity neither were able to take.
Image source: Getty Images
In the men's doubles, British pair Arthur Fery and Joshua Paris progressed with a 6-4 5-7 6-4 win over Anirudh Chandrasekar of India and Ivan Liutarevich of Belarus.
Britain's Neal Skupski and American partner Christian Harrison, the fifth seeds, also advanced as they beat French duo Arthur Reymond and Luca Sanchez 6-0 7-6 (7-3).