Top-seeded Alexander Zverev rallies just in time to avoid a first-round exit at the US Open
PUBLISHED Sep 2, 2026, 6:53 AM ET
Top-seeded Alexander Zverev narrowly avoided a historic first-round exit at the US Open, rallying to defeat Italian Lorenzo Sonego in a grueling four-hour, fifty-two-minute match. Sonego capitalized on exceptional court coverage and forced Zverev into numerous break-point struggles before physical fatigue set in during the final set. Zverev stepped into the tournament's top seed position following Jannik Sinner's withdrawal due to a right knee injury. The German acknowledged that the taxing physical battle provided crucial momentum after struggling in his previous two tournaments. Zverev advanced to face Quentin Halys in the second round of the hard-court Grand Slam event. The grueling match marked the longest first-round contest of Zverev's professional career. Tournament organizers confirmed the final score after midnight following intense competition across five competitive sets in New York.
By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News
Left: Highlighted physical resilience and previous tournament context for players. Center: Focused strictly on match statistics and game progression details. Right: Emphasized competitive determination and narrow escape from major upset.
Alexander Zverev defeated Lorenzo Sonego in five sets on 2026-08-31. https://apnews.com/article/zverev-sonego-us-open-first-round-2026
Coverage of Story:
From Left
Zverev pushed to the limit in US Open opener
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Top-seeded Alexander Zverev rallies just in time to avoid a first-round exit at the US Open
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