Francisco Cerundolo Stuns Taylor Fritz in US Open Comeback

September 6, 2026 - 02:12

The US Open delivered one of its wildest nights yet as Francisco Cerundolo erased a two-set deficit to knock out American hope Taylor Fritz in a marathon fifth-set battle. The final score read 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, but the numbers barely capture the shift in momentum that took place under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Cerundolo, playing his first-ever match on that main court, looked nervous early. Fritz, backed by a loud home crowd, was sharp from the baseline and moved ahead comfortably. But something clicked for the Argentine midway through the third set. His forehand started landing deeper, his returns found sharper angles, and his energy lifted noticeably.

By the fourth set, Fritz was the one making errors. His first serve percentage dipped, and Cerundolo began reading his patterns well. The Argentine broke early in the deciding set and then held his nerve through a tense final game, closing it out with a forehand winner that sent a hush over the stadium.

Fritz, who had been seen as a serious contender after a strong summer, was left to explain what went wrong. He credited his opponent for raising his level but admitted his own game slipped in the long rallies.

Cerundolo, ranked outside the top twenty, now moves into the round of sixteen. He said afterward that he had dreamed of winning on that court since he was a kid, and that he simply refused to give up even when things looked bleak. The win marks the biggest of his career at a Grand Slam and sets up a clash with a higher seed in the next round. For American tennis fans, the loss stings, but for neutrals, it was a reminder of how quickly a match can turn in New York.