Taylor Fritz sent out a statement of intent as he dropped just two games against Mattia Bellucci to reach the third round of the US Open.

Fritz, who also won in straight sets in the first round, took just 98 minutes to dispatch Bellucci 6-0 6-1 6-1 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The American started the match with a first-set bagel, giving up just two points across his first two service games, though he had to defend three break points in the fifth game.

It was a better start to the second set for Bellucci, who held off a break point to hold for the first time, but he struggled to lay a glove on Fritz.

The 28-year-old reeled off the final five games in the second but failed to extend that streak at the start of the third, as Bellucci once again held, this time after saving three break points.

But that was the last game the Italian won, as Fritz cruised through a six-game winning streak with little fuss.

Cruising by @Taylor_Fritz97 | @usopen | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/Qqot8xS2Gu

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 3, 2026

There were some upsets at Flushing Meadows on Thursday, though, with last year's semi-finalist Felix Auger-Aliassime beaten in four sets by Karen Khachanov.

The third seed explained after the match that he was struggling physically, and Khachanov took advantage to register a 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-2 6-2 win in three hours and 16 minutes.

Lorenzo Musetti's US Open campaign was also brought to an end at the second round, as he was stunned by Dane Sweeny.

The Australian is through to the third round at a major for the first time after coming from behind to beat Musetti 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-2, earning the biggest win of his career.

Luciano Darderi is through to the next round as well, but he had to dig deep in a marathon clash with Dalibor Svrcina to triumph 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-4.

Fritz keeps his eye on the prize

Fritz was a beaten finalist at the 2024 US Open and is still chasing a first grand slam title, but he showed he is laser-focused on trying to get the crown.

He is bidding to become the first American player to win a major since Andy Roddick in 2003 and is now 33-15 for the season and 19-5 on American soil. 

With his victory in the second round, Fritz became the fourth man to record 200 hard-court tour-level wins this decade after Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner and Andrey Rublev.

But Khachanov's result was an eye-catching one as he recorded his first top-10 victory of the year after beating Auger-Aliassime. 

The 30-year-old has now ensured that he has reached the third round at all four majors this year, having struggled on hard courts in the build-up to this tournament.