In a dramatic opening match at the US Open, top seed Alexander Zverev managed to fend off a potential upset, defeating Italian player Lorenzo Sonego in a five-set battle that lasted nearly five hours. The match, which concluded at 1:55 a.m. local time, saw Zverev triumph with a scoreline of 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4, allowing him to advance to the second round where he will face Quentin Halys.
Zverev's victory was crucial, as a loss would have marked only the sixth time in the Open Era that a No. 1 seed was eliminated in the first round of a Grand Slam event, a feat not seen in over 20 years. The last instances of such an upset occurred in major tournaments like the 2003 Wimbledon, where Lleyton Hewitt faced a similar fate.
The match began with Zverev showcasing the powerful serve and solid groundstrokes that have characterized his successful season, which included winning the French Open and reaching the Wimbledon final. His performance in the first set was commanding, allowing him to take an early lead. However, Sonego, known for his aggressive playing style, began to find his rhythm, employing riskier shots and making frequent trips to the net to challenge Zverev.
For much of the match, Sonego's strategy seemed effective. He was able to keep pace with Zverev, even leading at times, and his willingness to take risks paid off as he pushed Zverev to his limits. The Italian was just two points away from winning the match in the fourth set while Zverev was serving, but the physical demands of the match began to take their toll on Sonego.
As the match progressed, Zverev found a way to regain control, breaking Sonego's serve at a critical moment in the fourth set. This pivotal moment allowed Zverev to force a fifth set, where an early break gave him the momentum he needed to secure his victory.
Despite his win, Zverev's statistics raise concerns for his future matches. He converted only 5 of 22 break points and had a high number of unforced errors, with 39 compared to Sonego's 43. These numbers reflect a level of inconsistency that Zverev will need to address as he continues in the tournament, especially after early exits in his last two tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati.
The US Open is shaping up to be unpredictable, with other top players facing challenges as well. Notably, Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament due to a knee injury, and Novak Djokovic experienced a shocking first-round defeat. With Carlos Alcaraz's fitness also in question after a lengthy layoff, Zverev's path to success may be less straightforward than it was during his French Open campaign earlier this year.
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