Alexander Zverev, now the top seed in a Grand Slam event for the first time, showcased his championship form as he narrowly avoided an early exit from the U.S. Open. In a grueling encounter lasting almost five hours, the French Open victor overcame Lorenzo Sonego in a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4 battle that concluded in the early hours of Wednesday.
Following Novak Djokovic’s shocking elimination two nights prior, Zverev was on the brink of joining the list of top players ousted from the tournament. Elevated to the No. 1 seed due to Jannik Sinner’s absence, Zverev teetered on the edge of becoming the first top-seeded player since 2003 to fall in the opening round of a major event.
Expressing relief after the challenging match, Zverev commented, “I’m pleased to have won this intense battle. It was the exact type of match I needed.”
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff enjoyed a smoother start to her U.S. Open campaign, dispatching Zeynep Sonmez 6-3, 6-4. Gauff, feeling confident after her Cincinnati triumph and strong performances at Wimbledon and Toronto, now looks ahead to a second-round clash against either Paula Badosa or Daria Kasatkina.
In other matches, Flavio Cobolli and Maria Sakkari staged remarkable comebacks to avoid early exits, with both players showcasing their resilience and determination on the court. Cobolli, the No. 5 seed and French Open runner-up, staged an impressive turnaround to defeat Francisco Comesana, while Sakkari rallied from a significant deficit to overcome Robin Montgomery.
Despite rain delays disrupting some matches and pushing others back, the tournament continued with exciting on-court action, setting the stage for further thrilling encounters in the days ahead at the U.S. Open.
