The top-seeded German was two points from a first-round exit, but came through to reach round two.

Chris OddoSeptember 2, 20262 minute read

Another 2AM finish in Flushing Meadows. 

Another win for Alexander Zverev at the Grand Slams in 2026. 

This time it was a difficult affair, as the 2026 Roland Garros champion needed nearly five hours to cast aside Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in an entertaining night session battle that capped off a rainy Day 3 at the US Open. 

Zverev survived, claiming a 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-4 victory and sets a second-round clash with Frenchman Quentin Halys. 

“I think he’s an incredible player who struggled this year, and it’s as simple as that sometimes,” the top-seeded German said after the match. “Today he played like he normally plays, and he’s an amazing tennis player. 

“For me he has an amazing serve, amazing forehand. He can return so quickly. I would say I would have one of the fastest second serves on tour, and he was attacking it all the time.”

Zverev fell behind two sets to one when he failed to convert a set point in the third set tiebreak, but he didn’t panic. 

Sonego was two points shy of winning the match, with Zverev serving at 4-5, 30-all in set four. He then broke for 3-2 in the fifth on a Sonego double-fault and never looked back. 

“Incredible battle, a lot of ups and downs, nearly five hours for a first-round match,’’ Zverev said. “I think this is the longest first-round match I’ve ever played in my life.

“So he played amazing. I have to give credit to him, but yeah, I’m just happy that in the end I managed to win.”