Van de Zandschulp produces five-hour-13-minute epic comeback against Gea at US Open 2026

New York – Tuesday night at Flushing Meadows, the Grandstand court witnessed one of the most memorable matches of the 2026 US Open. Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands completed a sensational comeback against France's Arthur Gea, 3-6, 6-7(0), 7-6(7), 7-6(3), 6-4, after five hours and 13 minutes of intense play. The victory not only put the Dutchman into the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the second time in his career, but also placed this five-hour marathon into US Open history. Arthur Gea started the match in brilliant fashion. The young Frenchman moved well, served smartly and kept putting pressure on Van de Zandschulp's groundstrokes. Gea clinched the first set 6-3 with a decisive break. In the second set, a tight battle eventually reached a tie-break, where Gea dominated and won it 7-0 to leave Van de Zandschulp on the brink of defeat. The turning point arrived in the third-set tie-break. Gea earned a match point but Van de Zandschulp saved it with a brave shot. Soon after, a backhand volley error from Gea shifted the momentum, allowing the Dutchman to take the tie-break 9-7 and win the set 7-6(7). Van de Zandschulp then won another tie-break in the fourth set, 7-3, to force a deciding set. In the final set, an important break at 5-4 allowed Van de Zandschulp to serve out the match and finish with a 6-4 score. After the match, Van de Zandschulp spoke honestly: 'For me, I was looking for my form. Haven’t found it yet, but hopefully in a couple of days I find it. It’s been a crazy comeback. Five hours (and almost) 15 minutes. Still standing, so that’s a good thing.' The victory means Van de Zandschulp has reached the US Open quarter-finals for the second time, after his first last-eight appearance in 2026. It also made the match the longest of the 2026 US Open, the fourth-longest at the tournament since 2026, and the sixth match to surpass the five-hour mark during that period. From a tactical standpoint, Van de Zandschulp changed his positioning from the third set onward. He stood closer to the baseline, returned more aggressively and started making Gea play difficult shots. The Dutchman also served extremely well in key moments, giving him a huge advantage in both tie-breaks. Gea, meanwhile, will look back on his careless net shot in the third-set tie-break as the moment when a historic win slipped away. The match will be remembered for its drama and endurance, but it also represents a breakthrough for Van de Zandschulp. Despite spending over five hours on court, he showed remarkable mental strength. His next challenge will come in the quarter-finals, where he will hope to press beyond the achievement of 2026. For Gea, despite the pain of losing, this match proved he belongs on the Grand Slam stage and should bring him confidence for the next chapter of his career.