Day 4 of the US Open witnessed plenty of drama as the second round came to an end. Top seeds Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner booked their place in the third round with comfortable wins. Jasmine Paolini, the runner-up at the last two Majors, advanced further after Karolina Pliskova retired just minutes into their match.
Jessica Pegula, Caroline Wozniacki, and Daniil Medvedev made it through in straight sets as well. Czech teen Jakub Mensik scored the day’s biggest comeback win as he rallied from two sets down to beat Tristan Schoolkate 6-7 (4), 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3).
However, the day also saw plenty of high-profile players being dumped out of the tournament, including a leading title favorite. Here’s a look at the most shocking results from Day 5 of the US Open:
#5 – Naomi Osaka
After an impressive performance against World No. 10 Jelena Ostapenko, Osaka’s journey in New York came to an end in the second round against Karolina Muchova. This was going to be a tough match but the Japanese’s erratic gameplay coupled with her opponent’s tactics made it an uphill battle for her.
Osaka matched Muchova shot for shot at the start, and then dropped four games in a row to lose the set. The former World No. 1 served for the second set and even held three set points but fumbled them. She even led 4-2 in the eventual tie-break but lost the plot once again to lose the match 6-3, 7-6 (5).
Osaka’s forehand, usually a weapon, was helpless against Muchova’s backhand slice. With her latest loss, she failed to move beyond the second of a Major since her return to the tour this year.
#4 – Elena Rybakina
Rybakina’s body let her down once again as an injury forced her to pull out of the US Open before her second-round match against Jessika Ponchet. While she’s had some great results this season, her physical issues have started to become a huge concern.
Rybakina withdrew due to an illness in Dubai, which also forced her to skip the Indian Wells Open. She couldn’t defend her title in Rome due to another illness, and retired from her match in Berlin due to an injury.
The Kazakh then withdrew from the Paris Olympics and the Canadian Open due to bronchitis. She aims to recover following her latest withdrawal in order to finish the rest of the season on a high.
#3 – Sebastian Korda
Korda was one of the most in-form players heading into the US Open. He won the Citi Open and reached the semifinals of the Canadian Open. It looked like this might finally be his time to shine at his home Slam but it wasn’t meant to be.
Tomas Machac beat the American 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, marking yet another early exit for him. He’s yet to move beyond the second round of the US Open, and has a 2-5 record at the venue.
Additionally, Korda didn’t progress beyond the third round of any Major this year. A deep run here could’ve possibly set the stage for him to make his top-10 debut later this year.
#2 – Hubert Hurkacz
Hurkacz became the first top-10 player to bow out of the US Open when he lost at the start of the day. He led Jordan Thompson 5-2 in the first set, and then dropped the ball big time. He lost the set in the tie-break, and then was completely outplayed in the second set.
Hurkacz had a set point at 5-4 in the third set but couldn’t close it out, and that was the final nail in the coffin. The match was over soon after that as Thompson won 7-6 (2), 6-1, 7-5. This marked the Pole’s fifth consecutive year losing in the second round, and he has never been past this stage here.
#1 – Carlos Alcaraz
Botic van de Zandschulp scored one of the biggest upsets in recent memory as he beat Alcaraz 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 under the lights in the final match of the day at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Spaniard had won the last two Majors, and claimed his maiden Major title here two years ago as well.
However, van de Zandschulp wasn’t overwhelmed either by his opponent or the occasion. He chased every ball down, served incredibly well, and raised his level when it looked like Alcaraz was going to claw his way back into the match.
This marked Alcaraz’s earliest exit from a Major since losing in the second round of Wimbledon in 2021. This was also the first time he bowed out of the US Open prior to the quarterfinals. The loss most likely brings an end to his quest to end the season as World No. 1, unless Jannik Sinner also bows out early.
