Day 4 of the US Open men’s draw delivered a mix of grit, shocks, and dominance as Arthur Rinderknech battled through a marathon, Belgian youngster Gilles-Arnaud Collignon stunned a former finalist, and Novak Djokovic showed his championship resilience.
The day’s headline clash came from Arthur Rinderknech, who outlasted Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in a five-set thriller. The Frenchman, known for his big serve and attacking style, held his nerve in the crucial moments to claim victory in just over four hours. With both players trading momentum swings throughout, Rinderknech’s composure and precise shot-making proved the difference as he advanced to the next round.
In one of the tournament’s biggest upsets so far, 20-year-old Gilles-Arnaud Collignon produced a fearless performance to knock out 12th seed Casper Ruud, a former US Open finalist. Collignon’s mix of aggressive baseline play and calm decision-making in pressure situations saw him edge the Norwegian in a dramatic five-set battle, winning 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. The victory marked the Belgian’s first top-20 scalp and a career-defining moment on the Grand Slam stage.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic, the three-time US Open champion, shook off a slow start to defeat American wildcard Zachary Svajda. After dropping the opening set in a tiebreak, the World No. 1 raised his intensity and tightened his game to secure a 6-7, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win. Djokovic’s trademark defense and relentless consistency ultimately proved too much as he powered through the final three sets with ease.
With Rinderknech’s marathon, Collignon’s breakthrough, and Djokovic’s recovery, the men’s draw served up another day of drama at Flushing Meadows.
