Alexander Zverev Survives Five-Set Thriller as Rybakina and Gauff Advance at US Open
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
Top seed Alexander Zverev overcame a major challenge from Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in a dramatic five-set contest at the US Open, while Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff moved into the next round with comfortable victories.
Zverev eventually secured a 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7-9), 7-5, 6-4 win over world No. 89 Sonego in a match that lasted four hours and 53 minutes.
The contest at Arthur Ashe Stadium finished at 1:55 am after both players produced a series of impressive rallies, powerful winners and unexpected errors.
Zverev Stages Late Comeback
The German appeared close to elimination in the fourth set when he trailed 5-4 and was only two points away from defeat.
Zverev held his serve before breaking Sonego in the following game. He then secured the only break of the deciding set to complete the comeback.
“I’m just happy I won, that’s it. Incredible battle,” Zverev said after the match.
The victory extended Zverev’s perfect record against Sonego to seven wins from seven meetings.
Zverev, who won his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros before reaching the Wimbledon final, said the demanding match was useful preparation after disappointing results at two hard-court tournaments before the US Open.
He also praised Sonego for producing a strong performance during the lengthy contest.
Rybakina Moves Forward Without Trouble
Second seed Elena Rybakina had a much easier outing, defeating American teenager Thea Frodin 6-3, 6-2.
The Kazakhstan player is targeting a third Grand Slam title and is also competing for the world No. 1 ranking.
Rybakina looked comfortable throughout the match and showed no major signs of the left heel injury that forced her to retire from her quarter-final in Cincinnati earlier this month.
She faced only two break points and handled both successfully.
“I’m happy with the match. Especially when you don’t know your opponent, it always can be dangerous, but overall I’m happy with the first match and how it went,” Rybakina said.
Gauff Continues Strong US Open Start
Former US Open champion Coco Gauff also advanced after defeating Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez 6-3, 6-4.
Gauff produced a confident display, with her improved serve playing an important role in the victory.
She controlled the opening set but faced more resistance in the second when Sonmez recovered an early break and briefly moved ahead.
Gauff responded strongly, saving three break points at 3-3 before breaking Sonmez in the following game to regain control.
“I think I was just trying not to panic,” Gauff said, acknowledging the pressure created by her opponent’s improved play.
Andreeva Records Comfortable Victory
French Open champion Mirra Andreeva also progressed without much difficulty.
The fifth-seeded teenager defeated Indonesia’s world No. 36 Janice Tjen 6-2, 6-2.
The result gave Andreeva another victory over Tjen within a period of less than two weeks.
Andreeva had previously faced Tjen in Cincinnati, where she was forced to work harder for the victory. This time, she adopted a more aggressive approach from the beginning.
The Russian has struggled for consistency on North American hard courts since winning her maiden Grand Slam title in Paris, but she looked much sharper in New York.
Cobolli Completes Major Comeback
Fifth-seeded Flavio Cobolli produced another remarkable comeback by recovering from two sets down to defeat Argentina’s Francisco Comesana 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
It was the first time Cobolli had overturned a two-set deficit in his career.
The Italian recovered after a difficult opening and eventually sealed the four-hour, 13-minute match on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Cobolli, who finished runner-up to Zverev at the French Open, celebrated the victory by dropping to his knees and raising his arms.
“In a Grand Slam it’s never done. You have to fight to the last point,” Cobolli said.
Keys and Fritz Also Advance
American Madison Keys successfully negotiated her opening-round match after defeating 19-year-old Russian Alina Korneeva 7-5, 6-4.
The former Australian Open champion had suffered a first-round exit at the US Open last year, but avoided another early disappointment this time.
Ninth seed Taylor Fritz also progressed comfortably, defeating fellow American Darwin Blanch 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva defeated 12th-seeded Swiss player Belinda Bencic 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Rain Disrupts US Open Schedule
Rain caused significant delays across the tournament grounds.
Matches on the covered Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums continued according to schedule, but players competing on outside courts were forced to wait through lengthy interruptions.
The delays included almost four hours before some matches could begin, followed by additional disruptions during the evening.
Five matches scheduled late in the day were eventually postponed because of the weather.
With several leading players advancing despite the challenging conditions, the US Open continues to build toward the decisive stages of the tournament.
