Alexander Zverev survived a huge first-round scare at the 2026 US Open against Italian Lorenzo Sonego in a five-set thriller that lasted nearly five hours. The top-seeded German won 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-4 to earn the second round.
The match ended around 1:55 a.m. local time, with Zverev having to fight back after falling behind by two sets to one. The win spared him from a big first-round upset for the men’s top seed.
Zverev Survives Five-Set Battle
Zverev started the match strongly and won the opening set 6-4. Sonego was quick to respond in the second set and won 6-3 to level the match.
The Italian then took the third set in a tiebreak to win. Sonego won the tiebreak 9-7, and Zverev was one step away from a shock early exit.
The pressure increased in the fourth set, but Zverev was able to get back in the game. He won the set 7-5 and forced a deciding fifth set.
Zverev held his nerve in the last set. He won 6-4 to complete the comeback and secure his place in the second round.
Sonego Pushes Top Seed To The Limit
Sonego entered the contest as the lower-ranked player but performed well against the top seed.
The Italian repeatedly challenged Zverev from the baseline and took advantage when the German struggled to maintain his early momentum. After losing the first set, Sonego won the next two and was in a good position to cause one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
Zverev did, however, change the momentum in the fourth set, but his ability to hold his serve under pressure helped him stay in the match, and eventually he completed the comeback.
The result also kept Zverev's unbeaten record against Sonego. It was his seventh victory in seven meetings with the Italian.
Zverev avoids historic first-round exit.
The victory was special for Zverev because he entered the tournament as the men's No. 1 seed.
A loss would have made him the first men's No. 1 seed to lose in the opening round of a Grand Slam since 2003. He also avoided becoming the first men's top seed to suffer a first-round defeat at the US Open in the Open Era.
But Zverev did have the strength to survive a tough opening match and keep alive his title hopes.
The German arrived in New York with confidence after winning his first Grand Slam title at the French Open in June. He is going to the US Open as a major champion for the first time.
Zverev’s Big Opportunity
Zverev also comes to this tournament in a good position as many of the main challengers are absent or even in doubt over their fitness.
Jannik Sinner is not at the tournament, and Carlos Alcaraz has recently returned from injury. Novak Djokovic was also eliminated in the first round and lost to Mariano Navone in five sets.
That has increased expectations on Zverev, who is the top seed and one of the most likely to win the title.
But his first-round match showed that the path will not necessarily be straightforward. The German was pushed to his limits by Sonego and needed almost five hours to progress.
Zverev To Face Quentin Halys Next
Zverev will now face Frenchman Quentin Halys in the second round. Halys won against Facundo Diaz Acosta in the first round.
The match is set for Thursday, September 3, according to the tournament draw. Zverev will be hoping for a more comfortable outing after his exhausting opening-round battle.
But for now, the biggest takeaway is that the top seed survived. Zverev was close to an early exit, but he was able to escape when it was most needed and won three of the last four sets to get into the second round of the US Open.
