Taylor Fritz upset by Francisco Cerúndolo in third round at US Open

Taylor Fritz upset by Francisco Cerúndolo in third round at US Open.

Key points

• Cerúndolo moves on to the fourth round for the first time at the US Open to play Belgium's Alexander Blockx.
• But it was Fritz's serve, perhaps his biggest asset, that let him down, winning only 67% of the first serves.
• But the disappointment at another failed Grand Slam run was obvious on Fritz's face in the post-match press conference.
• US Open matches are running late, with some finishing after 2 a.m.

Taylor Fritz upset by Francisco Cerúndolo in third round at US Open. Scooby Axson USA TODAY. Does the US Open have a late-night scheduling difficulty?

US Open matches are running late, with some finishing after 2 a.m. We asked fans if the schedule is too late or if they love the late-night tennis.

NEW YORK – Taylor Fritz, thought to be one of the favorites to break the American men's streak of not winning a Grand Slam championship since 2003, blew a two-set lead and went down in defeat in the third round of the US Open to Francisco Cerúndolo of Argentina, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

It now will be left to the six American men left in the singles tournament as they try to break a string of futility on the sport's highest stages and win major since Andy Roddick was triumphant at Flushing Meadows two decades ago.

Fritz won the first two sets with little trouble, using his powerful ace to obtain out of trouble and avoid break points. He won the first game of the third set before Cerúndolo turned it on and let the No. 9 seed self-destruct on his own, filling up games with unforced errors and timely shots, scoring winners.

But it was Fritz's serve, perhaps his biggest asset, that let him down, winning only 67% of the first serves. It sometimes negated those 12 aces. Fritz applauded Cerúndolo's ability to return his serve and remarked his sometimes troublesome knee was not an problem in the match.

"I don't even know what to say. I don't want to, like — I don't really want to talk to anybody, see anybody, " Fritz remarked. "I kind of just need to, like, obtain out for a couple of days and then just kind of secure back to work. I don't know how I let that happen today."

Up 4-3 and 40-0 with a chance to break and then serve for the match, Fritz couldn't maintain the momentum; Cerúndolo held his serve, then put him away with a forehand winner and another Fritz error.

When it was Cerúndolo's chance to end the match, Fritz was again up, this time 30-0, and let it slip away again, and the three-hour, 40-minute match concluded with Fritz's 54th and final unforced error.

Cerúndolo moves on to the fourth round for the first time at the US Open to play Belgium's Alexander Blockx. This person upset No. 5 Flavio Cobolli in four sets. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around taylor Fritz upset by Francisco Cerúndolo in third round at US Open point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.