Top-seeded Alexander Zverev narrowly avoided a historic first-round exit at the U.S. Open, battling back to defeat Lorenzo Sonego in a five-set marathon that concluded early Wednesday morning. The match, lasting 4 hours and 52 minutes, saw Zverev win 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Zverev, who admitted to struggling in recent tournaments, expressed relief and satisfaction with the hard-fought victory. "I’m just happy I won. That’s it," Zverev stated. "I think yeah, incredible battle. A lot of ups and downs. Nearly five hours. I think this is the longest first round match I’ve ever played in my life! Credit to him, he played amazing tennis today."
He added that this type of grueling match could be beneficial for his tournament run. "Sometimes good things happen after you fight through one of these matches. … So I’m hoping that will be the case for me at this tournament."
The victory extended Zverev's all-time record against Sonego to 7-0. Historically, top seeds have rarely faltered in the first round of Grand Slams. A men's No. 1 seed had not lost in the first round of a major since Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon in 2003, and not at the U.S. Open since Stefan Edberg in 1990.
Zverev was on the brink of elimination in the fourth set, standing just two points from defeat before rallying to force a fifth set. The match's outcome was particularly significant given the early exits of other top contenders, including World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who withdrew before the tournament, and Novak Djokovic, who was eliminated in the opening round.
After taking the first set, Zverev lost the next two. Sonego held a strong position in the fourth set, but Zverev managed to break back and ultimately claimed the set 7-5. Sonego appeared to experience a dip in energy in the fifth set, with his arm being worked on during a medical timeout. Zverev capitalized, securing a crucial break and serving out the match.
