US Open 2026 Round of 16: Gauff-Jovic, Swiatek-Zheng and the Upset Awaiting Zverev

Round of 16 at the US Open on Monday promises fireworks as Coco Gauff faces Iva Jovic, Naomi Osaka must get past Elena Rybakina, while Iga Swiatek meets Zheng Qinwen, who beat her at the Paris Olympics. Top seed Alexander Zverev also has to deal with Luciano Darderi, the Italian who defeated him back in May. Gauff, the 2026 US Open champion, has won all three matches without dropping a set. After defeating Cristina Bucsa, the 22-year-old said she was in 'flow state'. Earlier in May, Gauff lost the first set to Jovic before coming back, and she admitted that tight matches help her stay focused. “Anybody can lose – that keeps my guard up,” Gauff said. Iva Jovic, an American teen, just beat Alexandra Eala in the third round. She plays fearless and aggressive tennis. But Gauff has already beaten Jovic and knows her weaknesses. It could be an emotional battle on Arthur Ashe Stadium. For Osaka vs Rybakina, the Japanese star needs to take on the No.2 seed on a fast court. Rybakina has a powerful serve and deep Grand Slam experience. Osaka, a four-time major winner, always dangerous versus big hitters. The match will be quick and may be decided in a tiebreak. Zverev advanced after beating Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets, but he had two five-set battles earlier. He knows the draw won’t get easier. The biggest threat is Darderi, who saved four match points to beat Zverev in Rome. Darderi says: ‘Everything is possible’. The highlight is Swiatek vs Zheng. Swiatek leads 7-1 head-to-head, but Zheng won their most important meeting at the Paris Olympics. After elbow surgery in July 2026, Zheng struggled for form, but her comeback win over Madison Keys proves she is close to her best. She faced elimination at 5-0 in third set, saved match point and won seven games in a row. “These last three, four, five months were tough, but hard work paid off,” said Zheng. Swiatek also had a rough match against Marie Bouzkova, being pushed to two tiebreaks. Zheng has an excellent backhand and can hit early, putting pressure on Swiatek's serve. But Swiatek can move better and control long rallies. Experts say Gauff and Swiatek are favourites, but tennis always has surprises. Zheng is not afraid of Swiatek, and Darderi has shown Zverev is not unbeatable. If underdogs take their chances, this fourth round could spark a shift. Monday's matches will show who can survive the stacked draw. Expect long, dramatic clashes. It’s time for Vietnamese tennis fans to prepare for a sleepless night.