Van de Zandschulp fights back to reach US Open quarter-finals for second time

Botic van de Zandschulp reached the US Open quarter-finals for the second time after a five-hour, 13-minute win over Frenchman Arthur Gea. Van de Zandschulp trailed by two sets early, then won the third and fourth sets on tie-breaks before taking the final set 6-4.

Gea took the first set 6-3. Van de Zandschulp had two break-point chances at 3-3 in that set but failed to convert. The second set ended in a tie-break, which Gea won 7-0. At that point Van de Zandschulp faced elimination.

The Dutch player turned the match around in the third set, saving match point when Gea served for it in the third-set tie-break, then winning that tie-break. He also won the fourth set in a tie-break. In the final set Van de Zandschulp made the decisive break at 3-3 and served out the match.

During the match Van de Zandschulp was warned by the umpire after smashing a ball out of the stadium in frustration. He regrouped and continued to wear down Gea as the match swung back and forth.

Van de Zandschulp's reward is a quarter-final against top seed Alexander Zverev. Zverev reached the last eight by beating Italy's Luciano Darderi in straight sets. Zverev is pursuing a second Grand Slam title after a French Open win in June and a run to the Wimbledon final earlier in the season.

Why this match matters for Van de Zandschulp

The victory demonstrates physical endurance and mental resilience: two tie-break wins and a long final set after more than five hours on court. Progressing to the quarter-finals again means facing a higher-ranked, in-form opponent in Zverev, where match strategy and recovery between rounds will be decisive.

Short-term recovery: Van de Zandschulp must manage fatigue after a five-hour match.

Mental edge: Handling big points and avoiding lapses that lead to warnings or penalties could affect momentum.

Van de Zandschulp's comeback win shows match toughness and advances him into a demanding quarter-final against the tournament's top seed. The outcome will depend on recovery, serve consistency, and handling high-pressure moments.