US Open First Round: Zverev Edges Sonego in Marathon Match

In a grueling opening‑round encounter at the US Open 2026, Alexander Zverev overcame Lorenzo Sonego in a five‑set marathon that lasted 4 hours 53 minutes. The match, played on the show‑piece Arthur Ashe Stadium, ended 6‑4, 3‑6, 6‑7(7), 7‑5, 6‑4, sending the top‑seeded German into the second round.

Zverev was on the brink of a loss at 4‑5 in the fourth set, but he dug deep, seized the crucial break and eventually clinched the set before closing out the decisive fifth. Despite entering with an unblemished 6‑0 ATP head‑to‑head record against the Italian, Sonego, ranked 89th globally, fought back fiercely and kept the contest alive.

Having logged a season‑best 47 tour‑level victories, Zverev now prepares for a second‑round showdown with France’s Quentin Halys.

In another noteworthy first‑round match, Italy’s Flavio Cobolli rallied from two sets down to defeat Argentine Francisco Comesana 3‑6, 2‑6, 6‑3, 6‑4, 6‑4, logging a 4‑hour‑12‑minute comeback and securing his own place in round two.

Cobolli’s performance ensures his continued participation in what could be his final major of the season, positioning him alongside early‑round heavyweights Novak Djokovic (seed 4) and Arthur Fils (seed 10).