Top Seed Zverev Avoids Upset in Five-Set Thriller
- On Wednesday morning, top-seeded Alexander Zverev defeated Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 , 7-5, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in a five-set thriller lasting nearly five hours.
- Zverev arrived in New York as French Open champion and top seed, widely favored with world number one Jannik Sinner absent and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz recently returning from injury.
- Sonego's court speed allowed him to track down difficult balls, while Zverev converted only 5 of 22 break-point opportunities, leaving him two points from defeat before forcing the deciding set.
- After the 4-hour, 52-minute marathon, Zverev said, "I'm happy to be through," noting it was his longest first-round Grand Slam match and crediting the victory to fighting through adversity.
- Zverev narrowly avoided becoming the first top seed to lose in a first round since Lleyton Hewitt fell at Wimbledon in 2003, preserving his status as tournament favorite heading into his second-round matchup against Frenchman Quentin Halys.
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US Open top seed Alexander Zverev defeated Lorenzo Sonego 3-2 in straight sets – 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4.
Zverev out-lasts Sonego in wild five-setter to advance at US Open
Zverev fought off a determined challenge from Sonego in a tense all-court battle spiced by unlikely retrievals, impossibly angled winners and some inexplicable errors, which wrapped up on Arthur Ashe Stadium after four hours and 53 minutes at 1:55 in the morning. "I'm just happy I won, that's it," Zverev said. "Incredible battle, a lot of up and downs -- nearly five hours for a first round, I think it's the longest first round match I ever playe…
US Open: Zverev Survives First-round Scare, Monfils Celebrates 40th Birthday with Win
Get latest articles and stories on Sports at LatestLY. Competing as a top seed for the first time at a Grand Slam event, the Germany star was just two points away from an embarassing first round exit, serving at 4-5, 30/30 in the fourth set, but seized control at the right time to keep dreams of a second Grand Slam title alive. Earlier this year, he had won the French Open, beating Flavio Cabolli in the final. Sports News | US Open: Zverev Survi…
Currently, one of the best tennis players in the world, Alexander Zverev (ATP-2), experienced real drama in the first round of the US Open tournament.
Alexander Zverev outlasts Lorenzo Sonego in US Open thriller
Top-seeded Alexander Zverev scraped into the second round of the US Open on Tuesday, beating 89th-ranked Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7/9), 7-5, 6-4. Zverev fought off a determined challenge from Sonego in a tense all-court battle spiced by unlikely retrievals, impossibly angled winners and some inexplicable errors, which wrapped up on Arthur Ashe Stadium
US Open 2026: Top seed Alexander Zverev battles past Lorenzo Sonego in five sets to reach second round
Alexander Zverev survives a five-set US Open 2026 first-round scare against Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, extending his perfect head-to-head record as the top seed battles into the second round.
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