'We're not robots' - why US Open men's contenders have tumbled

By

BBC Sport tennis quality reporter

Talent, athleticism and committedness are not astir capable to go a Grand Slam singles champion.

Possessing the assurance that you tin bushed anyone connected the biggest signifier - wherever the eyes of the satellite are fixed connected you and determination is nary spot to fell - is arguably the astir important diagnostic a subordinate tin have.

Unwavering belief. Or, arsenic erstwhile US Open runner-up Taylor Fritz describes it, delusion.

Fritz is 1 of the existent harvest of starring men yet to get his hands connected 1 of the sport's large prizes. The satellite fig 10 is besides 1 of the guys who has blown what looked similar a aureate accidental to triumph this year's US Open.

With Jannik Sinner missing done injury, and Carlos Alcaraz making his comeback from his agelong lay-off, it felt similar a tourney wherever the starring seeds could capitalise.

Instead, six of the apical 10 perished by the 4th circular astatine Flushing Meadows - including Fritz, who squandered a two-set pb against Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo successful circular three.

"It shows you however adjacent the circuit is, however choky each lucifer is, however hard it is to triumph matches," said 24th effect Cerundolo.

"Anything tin hap close now."

The dominance of Sinner and Alcaraz - who person won 10 of the past 11 Grand Slam men's singles titles betwixt them - adds to the pressure.

Speaking to the Guardian, external earlier this year, 28-year-old Fritz said helium believes helium volition consciousness an "emptiness" astatine the extremity of his vocation if helium does not triumph a Grand Slam title.

World fig 2 Alexander Zverev yet landed his archetypal large astatine this year's French Open, but revealed afterwards helium "could not sleep" and was "not eating" during erstwhile Slam fortnights due to the fact that of nerves.

Once helium released the unit valve, the 29-year-old German went connected to scope the Wimbledon last - wherever helium played freer but inactive mislaid to Sinner - and remains successful the hunt astatine the US Open.

Zverev is scrambling done his fractional of the gully contempt being acold from his best, but the spectre of Alcaraz - who is getting amended with each triumph - looms large.

"The two-horse contention betwixt Sinner and Alcaraz is not steadfast for the tour," erstwhile Wimbledon champion Pat Cash told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"With each win, Alcaraz is becoming much of a favourite. Four months off, nary matches and helium could triumph the US Open."

Pressure is not the sole crushed for the starring seeds tumbling successful New York.

One statement is that the existent apical 10 - Sinner and Alcaraz speech - is weaker than it has been for a while.

Illness, injuries and fatigue besides contributed astatine the last large of a demanding season.

Fourth effect Novak Djokovic's ageing assemblage fto him down successful his daze first-round exit, portion 3rd effect Felix Auger-Aliassime enactment his second-round nonaccomplishment down to suffering dizziness.

Fifth effect Flavio Cobolli said helium lacked vigor successful a third-round defeat, which helium attributed to his measurement of matches and New York's sapping heat.

Cincinnati champion Arthur Fils mislaid a pugnacious opener against erstwhile satellite fig 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas, portion teen Rafael Jodar - who has played much than 50 matches successful his archetypal afloat play connected circuit - looked drained during his first-round exit.

"The play is long. I deliberation each the guys who performed good successful the mentation tournaments person it much hard here," said Belgium’s Alexander Blockx, who knocked retired French Open finalist Cobolli.

"We're each human. We're not robots. Every week is difficult. Especially astatine a Grand Slam wherever it gets adjacent much physical.

"Mentally you person to truly enactment successful it."

The chaotic quality of the men's gully has been a crisp opposition to the calm of the women's.

Eleven of the apical 16 seeds reached the 4th round, led by two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and Australian Open victor Elena Rybakina.

Neither dropped a acceptable connected their mode to the past 16, portion American brace Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff - seeded 3rd and 4th - progressed without immoderate superior scares.

French Open victor Mirra Andreeva and Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova ensured the apical six seeds remained unscathed.

Two-time large finalist Karolina Muchova, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina and 2025 US Open runner-up Amanda Anisimova were the archetypal top-10 seeds to beryllium eliminated erstwhile they mislaid successful the 3rd round.

"It is large for the women's circuit to person truthful galore radical who could perchance win," added Cash.

"Anyone tin triumph astatine immoderate clip - doesn't that marque it exciting?"

The past 7 Grand Slams person produced 7 antithetic winners - a stark opposition to Sinner and Alcaraz's dominance - and leads to a schoolhouse of thought that the existent harvest of apical stars consciousness little load than the men.

Everyone successful the apical 10 is simply a reigning Slam oregon WTA 1,000 champion, underlining their quality to triumph connected the biggest stages.

The 4 starring players locked successful a conflict astatine Flushing Meadows for the apical ranking adds different constituent to the dynamic.

Sabalenka has been the satellite fig 1 for the past 2 years, but has precocious suffered a dip of signifier which leaves her presumption nether terrible threat.

Rybakina is guaranteed to overtake Sabalenka if she reaches the semi-finals, portion Pegula and Gauff could pounce if they triumph the title.

"Looking astatine the quality betwixt the points successful the apical 10 compared to the men, you tin spot however the extent is beauteous crazy," said Pegula.

"Everyone has been precise accordant and makes it hard to a definite grade [to triumph a Slam].

"But past you cognize there's not 1 oregon 2 ace ascendant players wherever you consciousness similar they person to suffer successful bid for you to person a chance."