Alexander Zverev, now holding the top seed in a Grand Slam event for the first time and boosted by his recent major win, faced a close call at the U.S. Open. The French Open victor managed to stage a comeback against Lorenzo Sonego, prevailing 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4 in a marathon match lasting nearly five hours. This intense battle unfolded early Wednesday morning, almost resulting in Zverev’s premature exit from the tournament.
Following Novak Djokovic’s surprising elimination in a previous match, Zverev found himself on the brink of a similar fate. The absence of top-ranked Jannik Sinner due to injury elevated Zverev to the No. 1 seed position at the U.S. Open. A loss would have marked the first time a top-seeded player fell in the opening round of a major since 2003.
Reflecting on his hard-fought victory, Zverev expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I’m happy that I won this kind of battle. This is exactly the match that I needed.”
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff cruised to a comfortable win in her opening match, defeating Zeynep Sonmez 6-3, 6-4. Gauff, aiming for her second U.S. Open title, exhibited control throughout the match, asserting her confidence in challenging opponents to maintain a high level of play. She now looks ahead to a second-round encounter against either Paula Badosa or Daria Kasatkina.
In another eventful day at the U.S. Open, Gael Monfils celebrated his 40th birthday with a victory, while Alex Eala delighted her Filipino fans with a win. The spirited atmosphere at Louis Armstrong Stadium persisted despite the rainy conditions in New York.
Elsewhere, Flavio Cobolli and Maria Sakkari staged remarkable comebacks, with Cobolli overcoming a two-set deficit to secure a hard-fought victory. Sakkari, the No. 32 seed, rallied from a daunting deficit to defeat Robin Montgomery. Both players showcased resilience and determination in their matches, setting the stage for an exciting tournament.
The U.S. Open witnessed rain delays affecting several matches, prompting play to be restricted to select courts. Madison Keys, Elena Rybakina, and Belinda Bencic were among the players who navigated through challenging conditions to secure wins in their respective matches. The unpredictable weather conditions added an element of uncertainty to the tournament proceedings, underscoring the resilience and adaptability required in elite tennis competition.