World No. 2 Alexander Zverev survived a huge first-round scare at the US Open 2026, battling past Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in a dramatic five-set encounter. The German star eventually won 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7-9), 7-5, 6-4 after nearly five hours on court, keeping his hopes of winning a second Grand Slam title alive.
Zverev entered the tournament as the top seed at a Grand Slam for the first time in his career, but his opening match turned into a major test of his composure and endurance.
Zverev Survives a Five-Set Thriller
The 29-year-old German started strongly against world No. 89 Sonego, taking the opening set 6-4. However, the Italian refused to back down and responded by taking the second set 6-3.
Sonego then produced some of his best tennis of the night in the third set, edging Zverev 7-6(7-9) and moving within one set of a major upset.
The Italian was even two points away from victory in the fourth set, but Zverev managed to fight his way back into the contest. He won the fourth set 7-5 before taking control late in the deciding set to complete a 6-4 victory.
The match lasted 4 hours and 53 minutes, making it the longest first-round match of Zverev’s career.
“Once You Do It, You Want More”
Zverev arrives in New York with a different mindset this year.
Earlier in 2026, he finally achieved the breakthrough that had eluded him for years by winning his maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open.
The German had previously reached three major finals without winning one. His most painful defeat came at the 2020 US Open, when he led Dominic Thiem by two sets and a break before eventually losing the final.
After finally getting his hands on a Grand Slam trophy in Paris, Zverev admitted that the achievement had removed some of the pressure from his shoulders — but it had also increased his hunger for more success.
“Once you do it, you want more,” Zverev said while discussing his ambitions for the US Open.
French Open Triumph Changed His Perspective
Zverev’s French Open victory was the culmination of several years of near misses.
Before winning at Roland Garros, he had reached 10 Grand Slam semi-finals and three major finals. His defeats in the 2020 US Open final, 2024 French Open final and 2025 Australian Open final had made him one of the best players of his generation without a major title.
That changed in Paris this year when he defeated Flavio Cobolli in five sets to finally lift a Grand Slam trophy.
Now, rather than simply chasing his first major, Zverev is attempting to establish himself as a consistent Grand Slam contender.
Zverev’s Fightback Shows His Mental Strength
His victory over Sonego was particularly important because the German was pushed to the brink despite entering the match with a perfect 6-0 record against the Italian.
Sonego’s aggressive approach, including frequent trips to the net, created problems for Zverev throughout the match.
The German eventually found a way to adjust his game, improve his return and become more effective during the decisive stages. He created 22 break-point opportunities and converted five of them.
The comeback also underlined the importance of Zverev’s physical and mental resilience, particularly after spending almost five hours in his opening match.
Quentin Halys Awaits in Round Two
Zverev’s reward for surviving the opening-round battle is a second-round meeting with France’s Quentin Halys.
The German currently leads Halys 2-0 in their head-to-head record, with both previous meetings taking place this year in Miami and at Roland Garros.
Zverev also entered the US Open with a strong 2026 record. According to the ATP, he had already collected a season-leading 47 tour-level match wins, including 19 at Grand Slam level.
Can Zverev Win His Second Major of 2026?
The US Open represents an opportunity for Zverev to complete a remarkable transformation.
For years, the German was repeatedly described as one of the best players yet to win a Grand Slam. That label disappeared after his French Open triumph.
Now the challenge is different: can he turn his first major victory into a period of sustained dominance?
His opening match in New York was far from comfortable, but surviving such a demanding contest could prove valuable as the tournament progresses.
With his first Grand Slam already secured and a second major now firmly in his sights, Zverev’s US Open campaign has survived its first major test — but the road to another Grand Slam trophy has only just begun.
