Top-seeded Zverev beats Sonego after 5 sets in US Open 1st round

Alexander Zverev got back just in time to avoid becoming the 1^st men’s top seed to lose in the 1^st round of a Grand Slam tournament since 2003, defeating Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4 in a US Open game that finished Wednesday morning.

The German couldn’t cash in on repeated chances to break Lorenzo’s serve for much of the game and was very close to becoming the 1st number 1-seeded man to be eliminated in his 1st Grand Slam clash since Ivo Karlovic beat Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon in 2003.

The last time this happened in the major in the Big Apple was when Alexander Volkov defeated Stefan Edberg in 1990. Alexander finally broke through against his Italian opponent’s serve late to be able to win in the end after almost 5 hours on the court.

“Nearly 5 hours for a 1^st round, I believe this is the longest 1^st-round game I have ever played in my career,” Alexander shared after his victory. “Sonego played really well today and would have defeated a lot of players, without a doubt, but I’m happy that I survived.”

More on this topic:

No mercy for Zverev – Sinner clinches second Australian Open in a row

17 – Alexander Zverev (17) has played the most five-setters in the opening week at Grand Slams of any ATP top 10 player, since the ATP rankings were first published in 1973. Attritional.#USOpen | @usopen @atptour pic.twitter.com/T2Z8WmPw9M

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) September 2, 2026