Day 5 Highlights from the 2026 U.S. Open

Welcome to The Athletic’s coverage of the 2026 U.S. Open. Each day’s stories bring a mix of emotions, comebacks, and lessons in tennis. Here’s what happened on Day 5.

Resurgence of Olympic Champion Zheng Qinwen

Zheng Qinwen, the 2024 Olympic gold medalist, advanced to the third round after defeating Yulia Putintseva with a score of 6-4, 2-6, 6-1. Her emotional display post-match came after a long recovery from elbow surgery. She expressed the relief and joy of performing well again and how illness during the second round added to her triumphant emotions.

“When you get sick, you are weak. This weakness made me feel like, ‘Oh, I finally got it,’ and I couldn’t control my emotions.” – Zheng Qinwen

Though Zheng is still regaining her former form, she feels a renewed sense of self. She looks forward to facing Madison Keys in the third round.

Weather Challenges Affect Players

Thursday’s increase in temperature significantly impacted the players. Lorenzo Musetti and Félix Auger-Aliassime both faced difficulties due to the heat.

Musetti, after winning the first set, struggled against the heat, resulting in a loss to Dane Sweeny. He attributed his performance issues partly to the inability to acclimate due to limited warm-up facilities.

Auger-Aliassime also reported feeling unwell, which contributed to his defeat by Karen Khachanov.

Taylor Fritz’s Dominant Performance on Hard Court

Taylor Fritz delivered an impressive performance, defeating Mattia Bellucci 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 in under 100 minutes. Fritz played on hard courts, which complimented his style better than grass, where he previously faced Bellucci.

“Even though I love grass, I do think these conditions are better for me.” – Taylor Fritz

Fritz anticipates facing Francisco Cerúndolo in the next round.

Women’s Draw Sees Consistency, Men’s Faces Upsets

The women’s draw so far features continued successes from top seeds, with all top 10 players advancing. This achievement hadn’t been witnessed at a Grand Slam since 2009. Coco Gauff’s performance highlights the consistent quality within the tour.

In contrast, the men’s draw experienced notable upsets, with several seeds facing exits. Alexander Zverev remains one of the few high seeds in a favorable position, despite enduring challenging matches.

Other Noteworthy Matches and Upcoming Highlights

• Alex Eala from the Philippines triumphed over Oleksandra Oliynykova.
• Madison Keys showcased her resilience in a comeback win against Anna Bondár.
• Upcoming matches include key players like Jessica Pegula, Carlos Alcaraz, and Serena and Venus Williams, among others.