US OPEN – New York | By Leo Canaparo. Photo courtesy USTA
Alexander Zverev survived, but his opening performance at the 2026 US Open left many questions unanswered.
The German top seed needed four hours and 52 minutes and five demanding sets to overcome Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego, eventually winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-4 in a dramatic match at Arthur Ashe Stadium that stretched into the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The Italian took full advantage. Sonego won the second set and then produced a strong performance in the third-set tiebreak to move ahead by two sets to one. At that point, Zverev was facing the very real possibility of one of the biggest surprises of the tournament’s opening round.
In truth, the German did not play a particularly good match for long stretches of the night. His groundstrokes lacked their usual consistency, and he was unable to impose himself from the baseline against an opponent who continued to believe in his chances. Zverev, who arrived in New York carrying the confidence of becoming a Grand Slam champion for the first time earlier this year, suddenly found himself in serious trouble.
The turning point came late. Sonego was only two points away from victory in the fourth set, but Zverev managed to survive the critical moments. From there, his level slowly began to rise. His serve became more effective, his baseline game more aggressive and, perhaps most importantly, he found the mental strength to remain in the contest.
He eventually took the fourth set 7-5 and entered the decider with renewed momentum. Even then, however, nothing came easily. The fifth set remained tight, with Sonego continuing to fight and Zverev still far from the dominant form expected of the tournament’s top seed. But the German was finally able to find enough of his best tennis to secure the decisive break and close out a 6-4 victory.
It was a narrow escape rather than a statement. For Zverev, however, the victory keeps alive what has already been the most significant Grand Slam season of his career.
The 29-year-old finally captured his first major title at Roland Garros in June, defeating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in a memorable five-set final. After three previous defeats in Grand Slam finals, Zverev finally broke through and lifted the trophy that had long seemed within his reach.
His success in Paris changed the way his season would be viewed forever. At Wimbledon, he continued his impressive major campaign and reached the final, where he was defeated by Jannik Sinner. According to the season’s recent results, the US Open represents his opportunity to reach a third consecutive Grand Slam final.
His history at Flushing Meadows also provides plenty of motivation. Zverev came agonizingly close to winning the US Open in 2020, reaching the final before losing in one of the most painful defeats of his career. He later reached the semifinals in 2021 and the quarterfinals in both 2023 and 2024, but last year’s third-round exit was a disappointment.
Now, with a Grand Slam title finally on his résumé, Zverev has arrived in New York with different expectations.
But his first match showed that being a champion and playing like one every night are two very different things.
Zverev deserves credit for his resilience. He was in serious danger, raised his level when the match was slipping away and found a way to win. In Grand Slam tennis, surviving a difficult day can sometimes be more important than producing a brilliant performance.
Still, there is no escaping the fact that he will need to improve. The US Open is only beginning, and if Alexander Zverev hopes to add a second Grand Slam title to the one he won in Paris, he cannot continue to give his opponents the opportunities he gave Sonego on Tuesday night.
For now, though, the German remains alive. It was not pretty. It was not dominant. But after nearly five hours of tennis, Alexander Zverev found a way to survive. And sometimes, in New York, survival is all that matters.