Coco Gauff Exits US Open Early, Zverev Advances to Quarterfinals
Coco Gauff’s hopes of defending her US Open title were cut short after a fourth-round defeat to fellow American Emma Navarro. In a closely contested match, Gauff lost 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, making her the latest high-profile player to exit the tournament early. Gauff had been eager to bounce back from her Wimbledon loss, but Navarro’s aggressive play at Arthur Ashe Stadium stunned the crowd and earned her a spot in the quarterfinals.
Despite a valiant effort to fight back after dropping the first set, Gauff struggled with 19 double faults and 60 unforced errors, ultimately sealing her fate. Reflecting on her loss, Gauff expressed disappointment but praised Navarro’s performance, saying, “Mentally and emotionally, I gave it my all. I wish I could have served better, but Emma played really well.”
Navarro will now face Spain’s Paula Badosa, who breezed through her match against Wang Yafan, winning 6-1, 6-2 to reach her first US Open quarterfinal.
Zverev Moves to Quarterfinals Alongside Fritz and Tiafoe
On the men’s side, Alexander Zverev, Grigor Dimitrov, Taylor Fritz, and Frances Tiafoe advanced to the quarterfinals. With Novak Djokovic’s early exit in the third round, the bottom half of the draw is wide open, giving these players a chance to push for a deep run.
Zverev, still chasing his first Grand Slam title at 27, secured a place in the quarterfinals for the 13th time in his career. He came back from a set down to defeat American Brandon Nakashima 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. Reflecting on his drive to achieve his goals, Zverev said, “I’m still very motivated. I still want to achieve some of my dreams and goals.”
Next, Zverev will face fellow American Taylor Fritz, who overcame Casper Ruud, the 2022 finalist, with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory.
Tiafoe’s Victory Sets Up Clash with Dimitrov
Frances Tiafoe joined Fritz in the quarterfinals after defeating Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3. The American faced a challenging second set but fought back from a 5-2 deficit to regain control of the match. With the crowd’s support on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Tiafoe powered through to secure his place in the next round.
Tiafoe will now face Grigor Dimitrov, who was cheered on by tennis legend Serena Williams as he outlasted sixth seed Andrey Rublev in a five-set thriller, winning 6-3, 7-6(3), 1-6, 3-6, 6-3.
Sabalenka Continues Strong Run, Moves to Quarterfinals
In the women’s draw, second seed Aryna Sabalenka displayed her dominance with a 6-2, 6-4 win over former doubles partner Elise Mertens. Sabalenka, last year’s US Open runner-up, delivered a powerful performance, excelling with her serve and forehand. Despite facing a tougher challenge in the second set, Sabalenka’s 23 winners propelled her into the quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive year.
“I love playing here,” Sabalenka said. “The crowd is amazing, and I want to stay as long as possible to enjoy this incredible atmosphere.”
Sabalenka will next meet Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, who defeated Donna Vekic 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-2 in a match that finished at 2:15 AM, setting a new record for the latest women’s match finish at the US Open.
Late Matches Stir Debate Over Scheduling
The late finish of Zheng’s match reignited the debate over tennis scheduling. Former world number one Andy Murray expressed his frustration on social media, calling the situation a “total mess.” He urged tennis governing bodies to resolve the issue, stating that matches concluding at 2 or 3 AM appear unprofessional.
The intense competition continues at the US Open, with the quarterfinals shaping up to be thrilling as both established stars and emerging talents vie for the title.
