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Alexander Zverev Survives 5-Set US Open Thriller as Coco Gauff, Rybakina Advance

Sandy Verma | September 2, 2026 10:24 PM CST

Alexander Zverev Survives 5-Set US Open Thriller as Coco Gauff, Rybakina Advance/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Top-seeded Alexander Zverev survived a five-set, nearly five-hour battle against Lorenzo Sonego in the U.S. Open first round. Coco Gauff began her pursuit of a second New York title with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Zeynep Sonmez. Flavio Cobolli and Maria Sakkari produced dramatic comebacks, while rain disrupted several matches across the tournament.

Coco Gauff, of the United States, reacts to the crowd during her match against Zeynep Sonmez, of Turkey, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Gael Monfils, of France, celebrates after defeating Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, of Paraguay, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Quick Look

Zverev defeated Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4.
Their match lasted 4 hours and 52 minutes.
Zverev is seeded No. 1 at a Grand Slam for the first time.
Gauff beat Sonmez 6-3, 6-4.
Gauff arrived after winning Cincinnati and reaching the Wimbledon and Toronto semifinals.
Gael Monfils won on his 40th birthday.
Alex Eala defeated Mary Stoiana 6-1, 6-2.
Cobolli rallied from two sets down to beat Francisco Comesana.
Sakkari recovered from a 6-2, 4-0 deficit against Robin Montgomery.
Taylor Fritz, Mirra Andreeva, Madison Keys and Elena Rybakina advanced.
Belinda Bencic lost to Yulia Putintseva in three sets.
Rain repeatedly limited play to the two stadiums with retractable roofs.

Alexandra Eala, of the Philippines, reacts during her match against Mary Stoiana, of the United States, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

A couple sits under an umbrella during a rain delay on the Grandstand court during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Deep Look

Zverev narrowly avoids first-round exit

Alexander Zverev survived a major opening-round scare at the U.S. Open, rallying to defeat Lorenzo Sonego in five sets early Wednesday morning.

The top-seeded German prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4 after 4 hours and 52 minutes.

Zverev, ranked No. 2 in the world, became the tournament’s No. 1 seed after top-ranked Jannik Sinner withdrew with a right knee injury.

Had Zverev lost, he would have become the first top-seeded man eliminated in the opening round of a Grand Slam since Lleyton Hewitt lost to Ivo Karlovic at Wimbledon in 2003.

French Open victory gives Zverev confidence

This is the first time Zverev has entered a major tournament as its top seed.

He also arrived with the confidence of a Grand Slam champion after winning the French Open.

That momentum nearly disappeared against Sonego, who moved within a set of producing another major upset in a men’s draw already missing several prominent players.

Fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, lost a five-set match in the opening round Sunday. No. 10 Arthur Fils was also eliminated early.

Gauff begins second US Open title bid

Coco Gauff opened her campaign with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez.

Sonmez raised her level midway through the second set, but Gauff regained control and closed out the match in straight sets.

Gauff advanced to face either Paula Badosa or Daria Kasatkina in the second round.

Gauff returns with momentum and confidence

Gauff entered the previous U.S. Open struggling with her serve and began working with a new coach immediately before the tournament.

She survived a difficult opener but was eliminated by Naomi Osaka in the fourth round.

This year, Gauff arrived as a leading contender after winning the Cincinnati title and reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon and Toronto.

Her season resembles her buildup to the 2023 U.S. Open, when she also won Cincinnati before capturing her first Grand Slam singles championship.

Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka in that final, becoming the first American teenager to win the U.S. Open since Serena Williams in 1999.

Monfils celebrates 40th birthday with victory

Gael Monfils won his first-round match on his 40th birthday inside Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Fans sang “Happy Birthday” to the French veteran following his victory, which extended his Grand Slam career.

Monfils’ celebration contributed to a spirited atmosphere on a day when rain interrupted much of the tournament schedule.

Filipino fans celebrate Eala victory

Seventeenth-seeded Alex Eala followed Monfils onto Louis Armstrong Stadium and defeated Mary Stoiana 6-1, 6-2.

A large group of Filipino supporters created an energetic environment for Eala, who controlled the match from the beginning.

Her victory continued her rise as one of the women’s tournament’s prominent young players.

Cobolli rallies from two sets down

Fifth-seeded Flavio Cobolli produced his first career comeback from a two-set deficit, defeating Francisco Comesana 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

The French Open runner-up needed 4 hours and 12 minutes to complete the turnaround.

Cobolli took a bathroom break after the second set and changed everything he was wearing before returning to the court.

The comeback prevented Cobolli from joining Djokovic and Fils among the men’s early departures.

Sakkari escapes after falling behind

Maria Sakkari produced another dramatic comeback against Robin Montgomery.

The 32nd seed trailed 6-2, 4-0 before recovering for a 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory.

Sakkari reached the semifinals at both the U.S. Open and French Open in 2021.

Fritz and Andreeva advance comfortably

Ninth-seeded Taylor Fritz had a straightforward opening match, defeating 18-year-old American Darwin Blanch 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Fritz was the U.S. Open runner-up in 2024.

French Open champion Mirra Andreeva also advanced comfortably with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Janice Tjen.

Keys returns with opening victory

Madison Keys defeated 19-year-old Alina Korneeva 7-5, 6-4 in the first match of the day at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Keys, seeded 22nd, was the U.S. Open runner-up in 2017 but lost in the opening round last year.

Rybakina beats teenage American

Second-seeded Elena Rybakina defeated 17-year-old Thea Frodin 6-3, 6-2 after outdoor play finally began during the afternoon.

Frodin, a California native, served as the body double for Demi Singleton, who portrayed Serena Williams in the 2021 film “King Richard.”

Rybakina moved through the match without serious trouble once the rain allowed play to begin.

Rain disrupts opening-round schedule

Showers that began Monday night delayed play on every outdoor court Tuesday.

Only Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadiumboth equipped with retractable roofs, could host matches during the wettest periods.

Play eventually began outside during the afternoon, but rain returned Tuesday night and again restricted competition to the two covered stadiums.

The delays meant some first-round matches could not be completed before Wednesday.

In another result, 12th-seeded Belinda Bencic lost to Yulia Putintseva in three sets.