Germany’s top‑seed Alexander Zverev opened his campaign at a major on Tuesday with a tough assignment that would test his resolve for the rest of the week.
The 29‑year‑old German rallied to defeat Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego 6‑4, 3‑6, 6‑7(7), 7‑5, 6‑4 in the opening round of the U.S. Open at the National Tennis Center.
After a 4‑hour, 53‑minute battle that concluded around 1:55 a.m. local time, Zverev said, “I’m just happy I won. It was an incredible battle. This was the longest first‑round match I’ve ever played, so credit to him. He played amazing tennis today, but I’m happy to be through.”
Facing a 4‑5 service game in the fourth set, Zverev saved two match points at 30‑30, won the game, broke immediately and held serve to force a deciding fifth set.
A lone break in the final set gave him a 3‑2 advantage, and Zverev sealed the victory on his own serve.
“I’m happy to win this kind of battle, because this is exactly the match that I needed,” Zverev added. “I struggled the last two tournaments and needed a match like this. I hope it marks a turnaround for the rest of the week.”
Zverev’s win avoids a rare occurrence: a No. 1 seed losing in the opening round of a major. The last No. 1 to fall at the U.S. Open was Stefan Edberg in 1990, while Lleyton Hewitt suffered the same fate at Wimbledon in 2003.
In a parallel five‑set thriller, fifth‑seed Flavio Cobolli ousted Argentina’s Francisco Comesana 3‑6, 2‑6, 6‑3, 6‑4, 6‑4 after a four‑hour, 13‑minute contest.
Cobolli, who has climbed from No. 22 to No. 6 this season, credited his support team for an “incredible comeback.” “After two sets down I changed everything,” he said. “You have to fight until the last point.”
The Italian will be pleased to avoid facing Arthur Fery again, having lost to the unseeded Briton in two of their last three Grand Slam meetings—Melbourne in January and Wimbledon’s quarterfinals this summer.
Fery’s hopes of another Grand Slam encounter were dashed when No. 13 seed Lorenzo Musetti defeated him 6‑3, 6‑3, 7‑5 earlier on Tuesday.
Other seeded players posted straight‑set victories. Ninth‑seed Taylor Fritz dominated wild‑card Darwin Blanch 6‑3, 6‑2, 6‑4, while No. 24 seed Francisco Cerundolo beat Austrian Filip Misolic 6‑4, 6‑3, 7‑5.
Fritz, reaching the final two years ago, snapped a two‑match losing streak at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Californian fired 14 aces, placed 74 % of his first serves in play, and broke a 2‑2 tie in the final set.
“It’s never easy to come out and play a young American,” Fritz said after his first‑round win.
Fritz will face Italian Mattia Bellucci in the second round. Bellucci advanced with a 6‑4, 6‑2, 6‑0 win over Hungary’s Zsombor Piros.
Cerundolo’s victory was highlighted by a decisive 6‑4, 6‑3, 7‑5 triumph over Misolic.
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