US Open: Coco Gauff Reaches Fourth Round as Fritz, Anisimova and Keys Exit

Coco Gauff kept American hopes alive at the 2026 US Open on Saturday, advancing to the fourth round while fellow Americans Taylor Fritz, Amanda Anisimova and Madison Keys suffered disappointing exits.   

The fourth-seeded Gauff defeated Spain’s Cristina Bucsa 6-3, 6-4 to reach the last 16 at Flushing Meadows. Although she admitted she was not at her best, the 2023 US Open champion showed composure when it mattered and secured another straight-sets victory.

Gauff, 22, will next face the winner of the match between fellow American Iva Jovic and Alexandra Eala of the Philippines for a place in the quarter-finals. Her victory also marked her fifth consecutive appearance in the fourth round of the US Open.

The day was far more difficult for Taylor Fritz. The ninth seed appeared to be in control after taking the opening two sets against Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, but Cerundolo fought back to win 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in a dramatic five-set contest. The defeat was Fritz’s earliest US Open exit in four years.

Madison Keys also suffered a painful defeat after surrendering a commanding position against China’s Zheng Qinwen. Keys won the opening set 6-1 and led 5-0 in the deciding set, but Zheng produced a remarkable comeback to win 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-5 and move into the fourth round.

Amanda Anisimova, last year’s US Open runner-up, was another American casualty. The 10th seed was beaten 6-2, 7-5 by Austria’s Anastasia Potapova, who saved 13 of 16 break points and reached the fourth round in New York for the first time.

Gauff’s progress therefore provided a much-needed boost for the home crowd after a difficult day for several of the tournament’s leading American players. With Fritz, Keys and Anisimova gone, Gauff now carries much of the remaining American singles hopes as the tournament moves into its second week.

The 2026 US Open is also beginning to produce intriguing matchups, with Zheng set to face eighth seed Iga Swiatek in the fourth round after the Polish star defeated Marie Bouzkova in two tie-break sets.

For Gauff, however, the focus will now turn to the next challenge. Having survived another test at her home Grand Slam, the 2023 champion remains firmly in contention for another deep run and a chance to add a second US Open title to her growing collection of major achievements.