US Open Day 5 Recap: Zverev Survives Another Marathon as Monfils Bows Out

Alexander Zverev survived his second five-set examination in three days, Coco Gauff overcame a tricky opponent and Gael Monfils brought his Grand Slam career to an emotional close on a compelling fifth day at the US Open.

Taylor Fritz delivered the most emphatic performance of the day, while Madison Keys saved five match points in a remarkable escape. There were significant departures, too: Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alex de Minaur and Lorenzo Musetti were all eliminated earlier than expected.

Zverev crawls into the third round

Zverev spent another four hours and 33 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium, eventually overcoming Quentin Halys 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-3 in a match that finished at 2.15am.

It was the second consecutive five-setter for the top seed, who had required almost five hours to subdue Lorenzo Sonego in the opening round. Across the two matches, Zverev spent more than nine hours on court.

Once again, the French Open champion made no attempt to disguise his dissatisfaction with his level.

“The performance was quite shit, to be honest, but I won and that’s the most important thing,” Zverev said.

Halys, ranked No. 52, repeatedly exposed Zverev’s uncertain form. After losing the opening set by a single break, the Frenchman levelled the match and then moved 4-1 ahead in the third. Zverev recovered to force a tiebreak, which he won 7-3, but Halys responded by taking the fourth-set breaker by the same score.

Zverev finally created some breathing space when he broke for a 4-2 lead in the deciding set. He protected the advantage and completed the victory by forcing an error on match point.

“I hope at some point I’ll start playing better,” Zverev admitted. “For now, I’m happy to be in the third round.”

The 2020 finalist will face 25th seed Alejandro Tabilo next.

Monfils receives his New York farewell

Monfils’ final Grand Slam appearance ended with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 defeat to 20-year-old American Learner Tien.

The 40-year-old Frenchman had celebrated his birthday by beating Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in four sets on Tuesday, but he could not summon another comeback against an opponent exactly half his age.

Tien absorbed Monfils’ attacks, moved him around the court and remained composed whenever the crowd attempted to lift the veteran. Monfils produced one final burst of trademark shot-making in the third set, but Tien refused to allow the evening to develop into a prolonged farewell drama.

After the match, the US Open played a tribute video featuring some of Monfils’ most memorable moments from more than two decades in New York.

“It’s been a long ride,” Monfils told the crowd. “I came here in 2003 as a junior, and here I am in 2026.”

A former world No. 6, Monfils reached the US Open semifinals in 2016 and the Roland Garros semifinals in 2008. He plans to retire from professional tennis at the end of the season.

Tien, seeded 14th, will face Jakub Mensik in the third round.

“It was an incredible match,” Tien said. “I told him in Montreal I hoped to play him one more time.”

The American then offered a smiling apology for the repeated use of one particularly effective tactic: “Sorry for drop-shotting you so much tonight.”

Gauff passes difficult Badosa test

Gauff reached the third round with a hard-earned 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over Paula Badosa.

The scoreline was straight sets, but little about the contest was straightforward. Badosa entered the match ranked No. 87 after an injury-disrupted period, yet had won her two previous meetings with Gauff, including their match at the 2025 Australian Open.

Gauff saved two break points early in the opening set before securing the decisive break with the help of a Badosa forehand error. The second set produced four breaks of serve—two for each player—and required a tiebreak.

Neither woman established a significant early advantage in the breaker, but Gauff held her nerve late and completed the victory when Badosa sent the ball long.

“Paula is a tough player,” Gauff said. “I think I need matches like this to build my confidence.”

It was another encouraging serving performance from the 2023 champion, who had saved all three break points she faced in a pivotal game against Zeynep Sonmez in the opening round.

Gauff will play another Spaniard, Cristina Bucsa, for a place in the fourth round.

Keys saves five match points

Keys produced the escape of the tournament so far, recovering from 5-2 down in the deciding set and saving five match points to beat Anna Bondar 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(5).

Bondar held her first two match points while serving at 5-2 but double-faulted on both. Keys broke back, only to fall behind 15-40 in the following game. She saved another two match points with forehand winners and erased a fifth later in the same game, again with her forehand.

After forcing the match into a deciding 10-point tiebreak, the 22nd seed completed the comeback 10-5.

It was the first time Keys had won a match after saving match point at the US Open. She has now achieved the feat at three of the four Grand Slam tournaments, having also escaped match points against Iga Swiatek at the 2025 Australian Open and Sofia Kenin at the 2025 French Open.

Keys will face Zheng Qinwen in the third round.

Fritz delivers a demolition

Fritz needed only 98 minutes to dismantle Mattia Bellucci 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The ninth seed took the opening set in 35 minutes and never allowed the Italian to settle. Bellucci finally reached the scoreboard early in the second set, but Fritz remained in complete control from the baseline and finished the match having won 18 of the 20 games played.

“I thought I played really well today,” Fritz said. “I came out and felt good from the beginning.”

The 2024 runner-up has not dropped a set through his opening two matches. After striking 14 aces in his first-round victory over Darwin Blanch, he backed that performance up with another efficient display in which Bellucci failed to convert any of his three break-point opportunities.

Fritz also stressed the value of avoiding long matches during the opening week.

“It is really important not to kill yourself in the first couple of matches,” he said.

The American will next play 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo.

Auger-Aliassime struggles physically as Khachanov advances

Third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime became the highest-ranked casualty of Day 5, losing 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to Karen Khachanov.

Auger-Aliassime recovered from surrendering an early break to win a tight opening-set tiebreak, but his physical condition deteriorated as the match progressed. The Canadian later said he had experienced dizziness, vision problems and cramping.

Khachanov remained focused on the task in front of him. The former US Open semifinalist broke serve seven times and saved seven of the nine break points he faced.

“I tried to give my best performance, fighting, fighting,” Khachanov said. “I’m super happy to get this win.”

The victory was only Khachanov’s second over a top-10 opponent at a Grand Slam. It also means he has reached at least the third round of all four majors in the same season for the first time.

Auger-Aliassime said he had considered retiring during the match but continued in the hope that his condition would improve. He is expected to undergo medical tests to determine the cause of the problem.

Sweeny stuns Musetti as Australian fortunes split

Dane Sweeny recorded the biggest victory of his career, recovering from a set down to defeat 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.

The 25-year-old Australian, ranked No. 123, had never previously reached the third round of a Grand Slam. After losing the opening set, he conceded only five games across the next three, using his speed and defensive skills to frustrate the Italian.

It was a striking reversal for Musetti, who had beaten Arthur Fery in straight sets in the opening round. Once Sweeny established control in the second set, the Australian maintained his intensity and gave Musetti few opportunities to regain momentum.

There was disappointment for Australian No. 1 Alex de Minaur, however. The sixth seed was eliminated 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 by Botic van de Zandschulp.

De Minaur had defeated the Dutchman in all four of their previous encounters, but Van de Zandschulp reversed that history by converting five of 11 break points. De Minaur created only five break opportunities and converted one.

The defeat ended De Minaur’s run of consecutive US Open quarterfinal appearances after reaching the last eight in both 2024 and 2025.

Eala continues her New York rise

Alexandra Eala reached the US Open third round for the first time by defeating Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-1, 6-4 in a little over an hour.

The result reversed Eala’s defeat to the Ukrainian in Strasbourg earlier this season. This time, the 17th seed controlled the opening set, producing 11 winners before Oliynykova registered her first.

The second set was closer, with the players exchanging breaks before Eala made the decisive move in the seventh game. She eventually completed the victory with an unreturned serve.

“My patience and the consistency of my focus—that was the key to winning the match today,” Eala said.

The 21-year-old was again backed by a sizeable Filipino contingent inside Louis Armstrong Stadium.

“I think we all represent something,” she said. “I’m proud of what I represent.”

Eala, who reached the Wimbledon fourth round earlier this year, arrived in New York ranked No. 18 after ending 2025 at No. 50.

Osaka regroups; Rybakina and Andreeva cruise

Naomi Osaka survived a difficult middle set to beat Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.

Osaka committed only four unforced errors in the opening set but made 20 in the second as Siniakova forced a decider. A bathroom break allowed the two-time champion to reset, and she won the first three games of the final set before closing out the match with an unreturned serve.

“I think I was a little bit too hard on myself,” Osaka said. “I tried to regroup and have no regrets.”

Osaka will face 23rd seed Elise Mertens in the third round.

Elena Rybakina defeated Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2, 6-4, while Iga Swiatek advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Nadia Podoroska.

Mirra Andreeva was even more emphatic, dismissing Eva Lys 6-0, 6-2. The fifth seed has conceded only six games across her first two matches after also defeating Janice Tjen 6-2, 6-2 in the opening round.

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