Tien thanked the people who stayed to watch him do it. “I want to thank everyone for staying here so late,” Thien said in court. “I think if this stadium had been empty, I’m not really sure if I would have won this game tonight.”
It is his sixth top-20 win of the season and comes three days after he ended Gael Monfils’ Grand Slam career by beating the Frenchman 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in Monfils’ 201st and final appearance at a major. In the fourth round, Tien will play against Karen Khachanov.
Zverev finally gets a short night
Alexander Zverev spent 9 hours and 26 minutes on court to reach the third round, becoming the first No. 1 in history to reach it in consecutive five-set matches. Then he won 6-2, 7-6 (2), 6-2 against Chilean Alejandro Tabillo.
“Today was definitely a lot better than the last few days. I think I improved a lot from baseline,” Zverev said. “I wasn’t happy with the second set. Especially at the end of the second set, I lost my focus a little bit. But the first and third sets are a big improvement on other days.”
He was measured by what comes next. “The draw will not be easier. There are 16 players left in the tournament, so I expect some tough matches, but I hope my form will improve as well.” He plays with Italian number 21 Luciano Darderi.
One quarter-finalist will come from the lucky loser and the 70th-ranked man; The strangest matchup pairs 70th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp with French lucky loser Arthur Gea, ranked 87th. One of them will advance to the quarterfinals.
Van de Zandshulp beat No. 6 seed Alex de Minaur 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 in the second round, then saved Zizou Bergs 3-6, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3, two points from a fourth-set loss. It’s his first fourth round in a major in four years and first here in five. Van de Zandschulp is the last man to beat Carlos Alcaraz in the tournament, in the second round in 2024. Since then, the defending champion has won nine in a row here.
No. 31, Bergs is now 0-4 in Grand Slam third rounds.
Gea is 21 years old and is only in this draw because Kasper Rude withdrew before it started. He beat American Zachary Swaida 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cherundolo 6-3, 2-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 and then American wild card Michael Zheng 7-6 (7), 3-6, 4-6, 6-2 in two sets, 4-6. 6-3 He is only the second lucky loser to reach the fourth round in this tournament, after Corentin Moutet in 2022.
What is left of the seed
The US Open has taken its usual toll, and the fourth round is the result. a few no one would have missed and a few no one could have predicted. Ten of the top 17 seeds are already gone. They left before the fourth round. No. 3 Felix Auger-Aliassime, No. 4 Novak Djokovic, No. 5 Coboli, No. 6 De Minaur, No. 9 Fritz, No. 10 Arthur Fils, No. 12 Rafaren Jodar, No. 12. Musetti, 16th seed Brandon Nakashima and 17th seed Mensik.
Francisco Cherundolo made it clear after defeating Fritz. “The level is overload, from the second player in the world to, I don’t know, 80,” he said. “It’s open to everyone. Everyone can win.”
US Open Men’s Singles Fourth Round Schedule
A. Zverev (1) vs L. Darderi (21) – scheduled for Monday
A. Gea (L) vs B. Van de Zandschulp – scheduled for Monday
K. Khachanov vs L. Tien (14) – scheduled for Monday
F. Cerundolo (24) vs A. Blockx (28) – scheduled for Monday
D. Medvedev (7) vs F. Tiafoe (11) – Sunday, Louis Armstrong Stadium, no earlier than 3pm
A. Michelsen vs T. Etcheverry (27) – Sunday, Grandstand, no earlier than 2.30pm
B. Shelton (8) v. S. Tsitsipas – Sunday, Arthur Ashe Stadium, 19:00
T. Paul (20) vs C. Alcaraz (2) – Sunday, Arthur Ashe Stadium, no earlier than 14:00
US Open, men’s singles third round results
A. Zverev (1) d. A. Tabilo (25): 6-2, 7-6(2), 6-2
L. Darder (21) d. D. Sweeney (W): 6-4, 6-3, 6-3
A. Gaea (L) d. M. Zheng (H): 7-6(7), 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
B. Van de Zandschulp d. Z. Bergs (31): 3-6, 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3.
K. Khachanov d. B. Bonzi: 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
L. Tien (14) d. J. Mensik (17): 6-3, 1-6, 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-4.
F. Cerundolo (24) d. T. Fritz (9): 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
A. Blockx (28) d. F. Kobolli (5): 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-0, 6-3.
D. Medvedev (7) d. A. Rinderknekh (26): 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
F. Tiafoe (11) d. V. Vacherot (22): 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
A. Mitchelsen d. D. Merida: 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-3
T. Etcheverry (27) d. Mr. Navone: 6-4, 6-4, 6-3
B. Shelton (8) d. D. Shapoval: 7-6(3), 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4.
S. Tsitsipas d. J. Lehetska (18): 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-1.
Saint Paul (20) d. A. Bublik (15): 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-3.
C. Alcaraz (2) d. Y. Wu: 6-3, 6-4, 6-1
