From match point to US Open exit - lucky loser denied history

Arthur Gea, a 22-year-old French player, came within a match point of becoming the first lucky loser to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final at the US Open, but ultimately fell short. In a grueling five-hour and 13-minute match, Gea lost to 70th-ranked Dutch opponent Botic van de Zandschulp 3-6, 6-7 (0-7), 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-3), and 6-4.

The match was the fourth longest on record at Flushing Meadows. Gea, who was not ranked high enough for the main draw, had to go through qualifying to reach the fourth round. He then defeated Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Zachary Svajda, and Michael Zheng to reach the last 16.

Van de Zandschulp's victory secured his second quarter-final appearance at the US Open. He will face German top seed Alexander Zverev in the next round. Zverev, 29, defeated Italian 21st seed Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) to reach the last eight. Zverev joked about playing Van de Zandschulp in a pre-12am match, saying he might go back to practice courts or a bar if they were to play.

Belgium's Alexander Blockx, who was seeded 28th, narrowly avoided retiring injured against Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo before making it to his first major quarter-final. Blockx will face Russian world number 50 Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals if he is fit enough.