\n<\/p>\n
Top-seeded Alexander Zverev kept his bid for a first US Open title on track with a gritty five-set victory over Quentin Halys, staying the course as a spate of upsets rocked the men\u2019s draw on Thursday.<\/p>\n
A trio of former women\u2019s champions \u2014 Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka \u2014 booked third-round berths, along with reigning Grand Slam champions Elena Rybakina and Mirra Andreeva.<\/p>\n
But men\u2019s third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime tumbled out, along with sixth-seeded Alex de Minaur and 13th-seeded Lorenzo Musetti.<\/p>\n
Zverev labored util 2:15 am Friday on Arthur Ashe Stadium to shake off 52nd-ranked Frenchman Halys 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7\/3), 6-7 (3\/7), 6-3.<\/p>\n
The four-hour 33-minute marathon followed his wild first-round five-setter against 89th-ranked Lorenzo Sonego that kept Zverev at it until shortly before 2 am on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe performance was quite shit to be honest, but I won, that\u2019s the most important thing,\u201d Zverev said afterwards.<\/p>\n
\u201cPhysically, I feel fine. I am proud, I think, to be physically quite strong. I just hope at some point I\u2019ll start playing better tennis.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m winning ugly right now. It\u2019s also a skill to win ugly and when you\u2019re not playing great tennis. I think I\u2019ve mastered that right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Zverev survived, Auger-Aliassime fell 6-7 (5\/7), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, to 50th-ranked Russian Karen Khachanov, pulled away relentlessly from the physically ailing Canadian, who said he was \u201cdizzy and seeing spots.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought maybe it would pass, but it didn\u2019t,\u201d a dejected Auger-Aliassime said.<\/p>\n
Khachanov took full advantage of 47 unforced errors, with eight double faults, from Auger-Aliassime, who struggled particularly on serve.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought maybe he had some physical issues, it\u2019s part of our sport,\u201d Khachanov said. \u201cFrom my side I tried to give my best performance, fighting, fighting.\u201d<\/p>\n
De Minaur fell to Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 while 123rd-ranked Australian Dane Sweeny shocked 13th seed Musetti 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the third round of a major for the first time.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not the first time Van de Zandschulp has sprung an upset at Flushing Meadows, where he shocked Carlos Alcaraz in the second round in 2024.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile top women contenders marched on.<\/p>\n
Fourth-seeded Gauff, the 2023 champion, thrilled the Ashe night crowd with a 6-4, 7-6 (7\/5) victory over former world number two Paula Badosa of Spain.<\/p>\n
Swiatek sailed through with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Nadia Podoroska while Osaka survived a second-set swoon to beat Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.<\/p>\n
Australian Open winner Rybakina, the world number two who is closing in on Aryna Sabalenka\u2019s number one ranking, saw off Spain\u2019s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2, 6-4, and Andreeva rolled over Germany\u2019s Eva Lys 6-0, 6-2.<\/p>\n
Gauff, 22, had lost five of her eight prior meetings with Badosa, so she was ready when the Spaniard piled on the pressure in the second set, regaining a break to force the tiebreaker.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew she would raise her level. She\u2019s capable of blasting winners and blasting return winners,\u201d said Gauff, who was pleased she kept her composure.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I need matches like this to build my confidence,\u201d the 2023 US Open winner said.<\/p>\n
Swiatek, whose six Grand Slam titles include the 2022 US Open, had things mostly her own way against Podroska, a former top-40 player now 449th in the world.<\/p>\n
She fought off four break points at 5-3 in the first set then pulled away to polish off the win in little more than an hour.<\/p>\n
Japan\u2019s Osaka, who counts two US Open titles among her four majors, looked in total control against Siniakova as she raced through the first set and to a 4-2 lead in the second without facing a break point.<\/p>\n
But the Japanese star\u2019s unforced errors began to pile up and doubles world number one Siniakova pounced to climb from 5-3 down and take the set.<\/p>\n
Osaka regrouped in the decider, riding a quick break to a 3-0 lead and fending off a pair of break points on the way to victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just felt like I had to fight,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
So did former Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who saved five match points to beat Anna Bondar 4-7, 6-4, 7-6 (10\/5).<\/p>\n
There was a bittersweet goodbye on Louis Armstrong Stadium, where 20-year-old American Learner Tien ended 40-year-old Gael Monfils\u2019s Grand Slam career with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a long ride,\u201d Monfils told an adoring New York crowd. \u201cYou are my second best crowd. Of course, it can\u2019t top Paris, but you are up there!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n