The US Open 2026 has already delivered a series of major upsets, with several high-profile players exiting the tournament earlier than expected. As the final Grand Slam of the season reaches the quarter-final stage, both the men’s and women’s draws have seen leading contenders knocked out.
The men’s singles draw has been particularly unpredictable. Seven of the top 10 men’s seeds have already been eliminated, leaving only Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton from the original top 10. Fifteen of the top 20 men’s seeds are also out, highlighting just how open the tournament has become.
US Open 2026: Major Eliminations at a Glance
| Player | Seed | Round Eliminated | Date Eliminated | Lost To |
| Novak Djokovic | 4 | First Round | Aug 30 | Mariano Navone |
| Felix Auger-Aliassime | 3 | Second Round | Sept 3 | Karen Khachanov |
| Alex de Minaur | 6 | Second Round | Sept 3 | Botic van de Zandschulp |
| Taylor Fritz | 9 | Third Round | Sept 5 | Francisco Cerundolo |
| Flavio Cobolli | 5 | Third Round | Sept 5 | Alexander Blockx |
| Arthur Fils | 10 | First Round | Aug 31 | Stefanos Tsitsipas |
| Daniil Medvedev | 7 | Fourth Round | Sept 6 | Frances Tiafoe |
| Iga Swiatek | 8 | Fourth Round | Sept 7 | Zheng Qinwen |
| Madison Keys | 22 | Third Round | Sept 5 | Zheng Qinwen |
| Amanda Anisimova | 10 | Third Round | Sept 5 | Anastasia Potapova |
| Naomi Osaka | Unseeded | Fourth Round | Sept 7 | Elena Rybakina |
Novak Djokovic Knocked Out in the First Round
One of the biggest early shocks came when Novak Djokovic, the fourth seed, was eliminated in the opening round by Argentina’s Mariano Navone. Djokovic’s early exit immediately changed the shape of the men’s draw and removed one of the tournament’s most experienced contenders.
Djokovic’s first-round defeat was followed by several other unexpected results involving seeded players, creating a much more open path for the players who remained in the competition.
Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alex de Minaur Also Exit Early
Third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime was another major casualty, losing to Karen Khachanov in the second round. The Canadian struggled physically during the match and finished with 47 unforced errors, according to reports from the tournament.
Sixth seed Alex de Minaur also failed to progress beyond the second round. He was beaten by Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, adding another top-six seed to the list of early exits.
Taylor Fritz Suffers a Dramatic Comeback Defeat
American ninth seed Taylor Fritz was another high-profile casualty. Fritz appeared to be in control against Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo after winning the opening two sets and moving into a strong position.
However, Cerundolo produced a remarkable comeback to win 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and eliminate Fritz in the third round. The result was particularly significant because Fritz had been one of the leading American hopes at the tournament.
Daniil Medvedev Falls to Frances Tiafoe
Seventh seed Daniil Medvedev also failed to reach the quarter-finals. The 2021 US Open champion was beaten by American Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round.
Tiafoe defeated Medvedev 7-6(1), 6-4, 7-6(6) to reach the quarter-finals, where he will face fellow American Alex Michelsen. The result gives the United States two men’s singles players in the quarter-finals.
Flavio Cobolli and Arthur Fils Join the List
Fifth seed Flavio Cobolli was eliminated in the third round by Belgian Alexander Blockx. The result was one of the tournament’s notable surprises, with Blockx continuing his breakthrough run into the later stages.
Tenth seed Arthur Fils also departed in the opening round after losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas. With Fils’ exit, seven of the men’s top 10 seeds had been eliminated by the quarter-final stage.
Major Women’s Names Also Knocked Out
The women’s singles draw has also produced several significant upsets. Iga Swiatek, the eighth seed and six-time Grand Slam champion, was eliminated in the fourth round by China’s Zheng Qinwen.
Zheng recovered from an early deficit to beat Swiatek 7-5, 6-3 and reach the quarter-finals. The result ended Swiatek’s run in New York and added another major name to the list of tournament casualties.
American Madison Keys, seeded 22nd, was also eliminated in the third round by Zheng. Keys surrendered a one-set lead before Zheng completed a comeback with a 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-5 victory.
Last year’s runner-up Amanda Anisimova also exited in the third round, losing to Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 7-5. Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka was another major name to leave the tournament, losing to second seed Elena Rybakina 6-1, 6-4 in the fourth round.
What the US Open 2026 Upsets Mean
The early exits have left the US Open 2026 men’s draw particularly open. Alexander Zverev, the top seed, has reached the quarter-finals after defeating Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(3). Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion, is also through to the last eight, while Ben Shelton will face him in the quarter-finals.
Zverev’s progress is also notable because he has now reached the quarter-finals at all four Grand Slam tournaments in 2026, becoming the only man to achieve that feat this season.
With so many seeded players already eliminated, the remaining rounds of the US Open 2026 promise further high-stakes matches and potential surprises. The tournament runs through September 13, with the men’s and women’s singles champions set to be crowned at Flushing Meadows.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka are among the major names eliminated.
Seven of the men’s top 10 seeds have been eliminated, including Djokovic, Auger-Aliassime, Medvedev, de Minaur, Cobolli, Fritz and Fils.
Zheng Qinwen eliminated eighth seed Iga Swiatek in the fourth round with a 7-5, 6-3 victory.
Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton are among the notable players remaining in the men’s singles draw.
