US Open 2026: Fritz wastes a two-set lead, Cobolli mysteriously collapses – top 10 men in freefall

New York, August 31, 2026 – Tennis fans witnessed a dark day at Flushing Meadows as two top seeds, Taylor Fritz (seed No. 9) and Flavio Cobolli (seed No. 5), were sent packing in the third round of the US Open. Not stopping there, six of the top 10 men's seeds were eliminated in the first week, turning the final Grand Slam of the year into a stage for shock results. In the first set, Fritz entered perfectly. He won 6-3, 6-4, creating a dominant position against Francisco Cerundolo. The American served well, played proactively, and almost completely controlled the score. Early in the third set, Fritz broke early, leading 1-0. Everything was within reach. Then suddenly, the wire in his mind seemed to snap. 'I don't know how I let that happen today,' Fritz said in the press conference, his eyes still surprised. His serve became erratic, his return lost depth, and by the middle of the set, Cerundolo had returned with a confident rhythm. The third set ended 6-3 in favor of the Argentine. One might have thought it a brief lapse, but Fritz never regained his feel for the ball. He quickly lost the next two sets 4-6, 4-6, accepting the most painful comeback loss of his Grand Slam career. On the other court, Flavio Cobolli caused a somewhat more bizarre shock. The Italian won the first-set tiebreak 7-6 (7-5), retaining a psychological advantage over Alexander Blockx. But from the start of the second set, Cobolli seemed to transform into a different person. He made constant errors, no longer moved well, and lost 3-6. The pattern repeated in the third set as Cobolli lost 0-6 – a 'bagel' – a rare sight in a match involving the No. 5 seed. In the final set, all comeback attempts were futile, 3-6. The aggregate score was 1-3, and Cobolli left the court head down in silence. What happened? Pure data analysis from the match scores cannot fully answer. There are no statistics on serves, double faults, return points won, winners, or unforced errors. The No. 9 seed led by two sets, broke in the third set, and then lost in five. The No. 5 seed won the opening tiebreak and then lost three straight sets, including a 0-6 bagel. These numbers do not reveal the cause, but they expose an undeniable truth: both players lost mental control at decisive moments. 'People call it the failure of the seeds. I call it the unexcavated layer of earth,' said youth tennis data observer Hoang Nam. Fritz's loss resembles an emotional and match-management issue, not outright tactical helplessness. Cerundolo didn't suddenly play better – Fritz lost his sharpness. As for Cobolli, the 0-6 set after a winning tiebreak is a serious warning sign of focus or fitness. No injury report has been released, so the most plausible interpretation is an unexpected psychological shock. In US Open history, it is not rare to see top seeds upset early, but six of the top 10 falling in the first week is unusual. This raises the question about the depth of the youth development system: are young players like Cerundolo and Blockx truly superior, or are top stars declining due to a congested schedule? Based on my experience of watching matches, seeds often lose their sharpness if pushed into early marathons. But here, there is no data on previous playing hours or physical condition to confirm. My signature phrase in long analyses always reminds: 'In the dust of time, I dig out a pair of gloves still beating.' This time, the glove is the opportunity that slipped from Fritz's hands – a reminder that tennis is not just technique, but a battle with oneself. For Cobolli, the story is not truly over. Let's see how he reacts in upcoming tournaments. After this batch of matches, the fourth-round clash between Francisco Cerundolo and Alexander Blockx promises to be a compelling battle. Both have proven they have the mettle to unsettle big names. But tennis itself, this lonely sport, will be the ultimate test for those who think one great victory has already shaped their future. Here, on the New York court, I don't just see a loss. I see an earthen layer that scouts have overlooked – where young players dare to explore their own limits. When Covid once closed courts, I opened the data vault; now, when seeds fall, I look at the players who move forward. Tennis never stops beating.