Day six of the 2025 US Open left spectators with jaws on the floor as the giants of tennis tumbled one by one, turning the day into a festival of upsets. Ben Shelton’s run to the finals came to an abrupt end after he injured himself mid-set, a shock even to him: “I did something to my shoulder. I don’t know what it is.” Meanwhile, Frances Tiafoe was left stunned by his German opponent.

Moving forward, we saw Barbora Krejcikova deliver a stunning upset over Emma Navarro. On the other hand, Emma Raducanu was outclassed by Rybakina in the third round match at the Louis Armstrong Stadium. And these are just the highlights; there’s much more in today’s Day 6 roundup. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.

Ben Shelton’s injury upset, and Frances Tiafoe’s Grandstand defeat

Ben Shelton fought with all his might, pushing the match against his French opponent, Adrian Mannarino, to a decisive fifth set after trailing 6-4 in the fourth. However, at the crucial point, he couldn’t bear the pain anymore; tears streamed down his face at the courtside, and a look of resignation was on his face. Looking at his protege like this, his father and coach, Bryan Shelton, signaled it was time to stop. As per EDGE AI, “Ben Shelton retired at 2-2 against Adrian Mannarino. Picked up a shoulder injury and couldn’t continue.”

Talking to the media, he stated, “Usually, I’ll play through anything and just kind of find a way. Whether it’s sickness or injury, like, if I can stay out there, I can stay out there. I never felt anything like this before.” This was a tragic end to Shelton’s dreams of taking the US Open trophy. Moving on, we have another upset, as No. 17 seed Frances Tiafoe was shockingly toppled by his German counterpart Jan-Lennard Struff, 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7)

Talking about the match, Struff stated, “It was an incredible match, I think I played some very good tennis today. I knew it was going to be very tough, and the atmosphere was very amazing. Even though you were cheering for him, it was amazing, so thank you guys.” After this, the US Open appears nearly done for the American players, with only two contestants—No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz and No. 14 seed Tommy Paul—remaining.

Emma Raducanu and Emma Navarro were outclassed by their opponents

Two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova made sure that she reached the next round of the US Open when she made a thrilling comeback to defeat the No. 10 seed Emma Navarro 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Friday. Talking to the media, she stated, “I was fighting for every ball and playing point after point.” Their clash was nothing but a roller-coaster ride for the fans with erratic play from both sides. Krejcikova weathered a storm of 53 unforced errors, while Navarro kept it slightly cleaner with 25.

The final game was a masterclass from the Czech, who unleashed two winners to go 30-0 and followed it up with an ace for 40-15. On her first match point, she forced Navarro into a desperate forehand that drifted wide, sealing a hard-fought victory. It was a hard day for the Americans.

On the other hand, the British icon Emma Raducanu also suffered a heavy third-round exit at the US Open against her opponent, Elena Rybakina. The young athlete was looking to make a statement but was outclassed by Rybakina. Ninth seed Rybakina dominated from the baseline, dismantling Raducanu’s serve and breaking her four times with ruthless precision.

Talking to the media, she stated, “It was a difficult experience facing her when she’s playing so well. I just feel that in every department she was better.”

Indeed, Day 6 was full of upsets, turning the tournament into a nightmare for the American contenders. However, amid all the upsets, American star Taylor Townsend cruised through round 3 victory against her Russian counterpart Mirra Andreeva.

Taylor Townsend upsets Mirra Andreeva and cute proposal at the end

Taylor Townsend delivered a sensational performance against fifth seed Mirra Andreeva, toppling her 7–5, 6–2 to reach the US Open fourth round for the first time since 2019. Unseeded and ranked outside the top 100 in singles—but No. 1 in doubles—Townsend unleashed her trademark aggressive net play, winning 21 of 29 points at the net and firing 23 winners compared to Andreeva’s six.

In an interview earlier this week, Townsend reflected on her mission, saying, “I said that I wanted to create and have a legacy. And that’s exactly what I’m doing.” Clearly, she’s on a relentless quest to dethrone everyone in her path.

Day-6 also took some unexpected turns as one heartwarming moment stood out for everyone. During Aryna Sabalenka’s third-round win over Leylah Fernandez, a fan popped the question in the stands at Louis Armstrong Stadium—an unexpected moment of romance that even the No. 1 seed couldn’t help but smile at.

It was a moment to remember as the boyfriend knelt properly before his girlfriend to propose. Love and emotion filled the air, and as they both cried, she finally said yes to the heartwarming gesture. “I think it’s the first time that someone proposed during my match,” Sabalenka said. “It was a very sweet moment, but I was just trying not to start smiling, because it’s very cute and I believe they’re super happy right now.”

Day 6 ended in chaos, with upsets, injuries, and even a heartwarming love story. It had everything—drama, romance, and sorrow. As we move into Day 7, the action is heating up. What are your expectations?