Botic van de Zandschulp produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the 2026 US Open, fighting back from two sets down to defeat Arthur Gea in a five-hour thriller and book his place in the quarter-finals.
The Dutchman defeated the Frenchman 3-6, 6-7(0), 7-6(7), 7-6(3), 6-4 after 5 hours and 13 minutes on court. The victory marks the second time in his career that van de Zandschulp has reached the last eight at Flushing Meadows.
Botic van de Zandschulp Survives Arthur Gea
The match appeared to be slipping away from Botic van de Zandschulp after Arthur Gea took the opening two sets. Gea looked on course for a place in the quarter-finals, but the Dutchman refused to surrender.
The turning point came during the third-set tie-break. Gea had a match point while serving at 6-5, but van de Zandschulp managed to escape the danger and eventually take the set.
The comeback continued in the fourth set. Gea was serving for the match at 5-4, but van de Zandschulp broke back before forcing another tie-break. He then won the tie-break to send the contest into a deciding fifth set.
Van de Zandschulp maintained his composure in the final set and eventually completed the remarkable turnaround with a 6-4 victory.
Gea Tennis Run Ends After Historic Attempt
Arthur Gea, 21, had been one of the surprise stories of this year’s tournament. His run was particularly notable because he entered the main draw as a lucky loser.
The Frenchman’s performance at the US Open gave him an opportunity to make tennis history. According to the ATP, Gea was attempting to become the first lucky loser to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final.
Although his run ended against van de Zandschulp, Gea’s performance remains one of the notable stories from the tournament.
What Is a Lucky Loser in Tennis?
For fans wondering what is a lucky loser in tennis, the term refers to a player who loses in the final round of qualifying for a tournament but gets into the main draw because another player withdraws.
Lucky losers normally enter the tournament after qualifying for the event but failing to win their final qualifying match. If a place becomes available in the main draw, one of the eligible qualifying losers can be selected to replace the withdrawn player.
That system gave Gea a chance to compete at the US Open, and he took full advantage of the opportunity by reaching the fourth round.
Van de Zandschulp Continues Marathon US Open Run
The victory over Gea was not the first marathon match of the tournament for van de Zandschulp.
The world No. 70 had already spent four hours and 29 minutes on court during his third-round victory over Belgium’s Zizou Bergs. His fourth-round battle with Gea lasted another 5 hours and 13 minutes.
That means the Dutchman has now won consecutive five-set matches at the US Open, demonstrating remarkable physical and mental resilience.
The 5-hour-13-minute contest against Gea was also recorded as the fourth-longest US Open match since 1991.
Van de Zandschulp Sets Up Zverev Quarter-Final
Botic van de Zandschulp will now face top seed Alexander Zverev in the US Open quarter-finals.
Zverev reached the last eight after defeating Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(3). The German has become the only men’s player to reach the quarter-finals at all four Grand Slam tournaments during the 2026 season.
The quarter-final will also be the first ATP head-to-head meeting between Zverev and van de Zandschulp.
Zverev enters the match chasing his second Grand Slam title after winning Roland Garros earlier this year, while van de Zandschulp will look to continue his remarkable resurgence at Flushing Meadows.
A Remarkable US Open Chapter for Botic van de Zandschulp
Van de Zandschulp has already enjoyed memorable moments at the US Open. In 2024, he shocked Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets during the second round.
His latest run is another major highlight in his career. After difficult years, the Dutchman has acknowledged that he has started playing better again this season.
His victory over Arthur Gea could prove to be one of the defining moments of his 2026 campaign. After saving a match point and surviving more than five hours of intense tennis, van de Zandschulp now has another major challenge ahead against Zverev.
For Gea, the defeat ended a historic lucky-loser journey. For van de Zandschulp, it opened the door to another US Open quarter-final and an opportunity to continue an extraordinary comeback.
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