Botic van de Zandschulp earned one of the most memorable comebacks of the US Open on Monday, when he dramatically rallied from two sets to love down and saved a match point to return to the quarter-finals.
The Dutchman, who reached the last eight as a qualifier in 2021, escaped Arthur Gea 3-6, 6-7(0), 7-6(7), 7-6(3), 6-4 after five hours and 13 minutes, the fourth-longest match at the American major (since 1991). Gea, 21, had a match point on serve at 6/5 in the third-set tie-break and worked his way forward before van de Zandschulp ripped a forehand to draw a backhand volley error from the Frenchman.
“I have no clue, actually,” a relieved van de Zandschulp said when asked how he managed to come back. “It wasn’t going my way in the beginning. I think it was a sloppy match a little bit, but he started to play well at some point.
"For me, I was looking for my form. Haven’t found it yet, but hopefully in a couple days I find it. It’s been a crazy comeback. Five hours, [almost] 15 minutes. Still standing, so that’s a good thing.”
Longest US Open matches on record (since 1991)
| Time | Result | Year |
| 5 hours, 35 minutes | Evans d. Khachanov | 2024 R1 |
| 5 hours, 26 minutes | Edberg d. Chang | 1992 SF |
| 5 hours, 15 minutes | Alcaraz d. Sinner | 2022 QF |
| 5 hours, 13 minutes | van de Zandschulp d. Gea | 2026 R4 |
Gea was aiming to become the first lucky loser to reach a major quarter-final. In the fourth set, he served for the match at 5-4, but was broken by a free-swinging Van de Zandschulp.
The No. 70 player in the PIF ATP Rankings has won back-to-back five setters. In the third round, he toppled Belgian Zizou Bergs after four hours and 29 minutes. Van de Zandschulp next faces top seed Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals. It will be the pair's first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.
“I think this is probably even better than the first quarter-final I made here,” said van de Zandschulp. “It’s been some tough years, but started to play better this year again.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet, but I think tomorrow it’s going to be a great feeling.”
One of van de Zandschulp’s career-best wins came at Flushing Meadows in 2024, when he shocked Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets in the second round.
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