03 September,2026 08:51 AM IST | New York | Agencies
Germany’s Alexander Zverev celebrates his win over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in New York City on Tuesday. Pic/AFP
[popcorn number="100" desc="No. of Grand Slam wins for Zverev in this decade; he becomes the third player to reach the three-figure victory mark after Novak Djokovic (129) and Jannik Sinner (100)" class="Default"]
[popcorn number="4hr 53min" desc="Alex Zverev had to play the longest first-round match of his career to beat Lorenzo Sonego on Tuesday" class="Default"]
[popcorn number="7-0" desc="Zverev's win-loss record against Sonego after Tuesday's match" class="Default"]
[popcorn number="One" desc="No. of times Zverev has entered a Grand Slam as the top-seeded player" class="Default"]
A gritty Alexander Zverev registered yet another five-set win in a Grand Slam, this time scraping into the second round of the US Open on Tuesday, beating 89th-ranked Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7/9), 7-5, 6-4.
Interestingly, this was the 27th five-setter for Zverev in Grand Slams since his 2015 debut. And better still, the German has won a whopping 18 of these marathon encounters - that's nearly 70 per cent.
Furthermore, Zverev also holds the record for playing most five-setters - 17 - in the opening week of the Grand Slams since the ATP rankings were published for the first time back in 1973. American Pete Sampras comes in a close second here at 15, with another German Boris Becker at 13.
On Tuesday, Zverev fought off a determined challenge from Sonego in a tense all-court battle spiced by unlikely retrievals, impossibly angled winners and some inexplicable errors, which wrapped up on Arthur Ashe Stadium after four hours and 53 minutes at 1:55 in the morning.
"I'm just happy I won, that's it," Zverev said.
"Incredible battle, a lot of ups and downs - nearly five hours for a first round, I think it's the longest first round match I ever played in my life.
"Credit to him, he played an incredible match," Zverev said, adding it was just the kind of battle he needed after lacklustre performances in two hard court tournaments coming into the Open.
Zverev, who followed his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros with a Wimbledon final appearance, notched his seventh win in as many matches against Sonego.
He avoided becoming the first men's top seed in 23 years to fall in the first round of Grand Slam, booking a second-round meeting with France's Quentin Halys.
After fending off a break point early in the fifth set, Zverev broke for a 3-2 lead - aided by two unforced errors and a double-fault from Sonego. It was all the opening Zverev needed.
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