Alexander Zverev wins in 5 sets, Coco Gauff starts her quest for a second US Open title
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Alexander Zverev narrowly avoided a historic first-round exit at the US Open, rallying past Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 in a match lasting nearly five hours. Elevated to the men's top seed following Jannik Sinner's withdrawal and Novak Djokovic's early elimination, Zverev struggled before securing the deciding set early Wednesday. In the women's draw, defending champion Coco Gauff began her campaign with a steady 6-3, 6-4 victory over Zvenep Sonmez, overcoming early pressure to advance to the second round. Inclement weather disrupted play across Flushing Meadows, restricting early matches exclusively to the retractable-roof arenas of Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium. Notable indoor wins included Gael Monfils celebrating his 40th birthday with a victory and Maria Sakkari staging a dramatic comeback against Robin Montgomery. Tournament organizers worked to clear the backlog of delayed first-round fixtures as outdoor courts finally opened mid-afternoon.
Timeline
- On August 25 2026 Tournament organizers announced seedings following multiple high-profile player withdrawals.
- On August 31 2026 Persistent heavy rain showers disrupted the opening day tournament schedule.
- On September 1 2026 Novak Djokovic suffered a shock five-set defeat in early rounds.
- On September 2 2026 Alexander Zverev completed a gruelling five-set victory past Lorenzo Sonego.
- On September 2 2026 Coco Gauff opened her title defense with a straight-sets win.
- On September 2 2026 Maria Sakkari completed a remarkable comeback win over Robin Montgomery.
- On September 2 2026 Outdoor courts resumed play after afternoon weather delays cleared.
- On September 3 2026 Remaining delayed first-round matches will conclude across all courts.
- On September 5 2026 Second-round competition will transition into decisive third-round elimination matches.
- On September 13 2026 Tournament officials will crown the final men's singles champion.
Sources
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