Alexander Zverev edges Lorenzo Sonego in five sets as German players open US Open campaign
Alexander Zverev survived a 4-hour-52-minute match against Lorenzo Sonego to reach the US Open second round, leading a mixed opening round for German players in New York.
Five-set night victory for Zverev
Top seed Alexander Zverev secured a place in the second round of the US Open after defeating Italy's Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7-9), 7-5, 6-4 in a match that lasted 4 hours 52 minutes. The French Open champion converted match point at 1:55 a.m. in New York, maintaining an undefeated record against the world number 89 with his seventh victory in seven encounters. Zverev suffered a scare half an hour into the contest when he tripped chasing a drop shot and fell on his back, prompting Sonego to climb over the net to check on him before Zverev recovered to take the opening set in 54 minutes. During subsequent changeovers, the 29-year-old regularly tested his blood sugar levels for type 1 diabetes as Sonego won the second set and edged a third-set tie-break following a double fault. Zverev rallied to claim the final two sets on Arthur Ashe Stadium, setting up a second-round fixture against French player Quentin Halys.
Struff advances after Davis Cup exclusion
Jan-Lennard Struff secured his second-round spot with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Argentina's Camilo Ugo Carabelli on Court 4. The 36-year-old took control late in the second set when Ugo Carabelli closed the frame with two consecutive double faults. The victory arrived hours after Struff learned that national coach Michael Kohlmann had left him out of Germany's Davis Cup roster for the upcoming tie against Croatia on 19 and 20 September in Halle/Westfalen. Kohlmann watched from the stands as Struff booked a meeting against seeded Argentine Francisco Cerúndolo.
It was a strange match. I am happy, three sets, good.
Following the match, Struff looked ahead to his second-round encounter against Cerúndolo.
The guy is a top player, I expect a very difficult match.
Mixed fortunes for Lys and Seidel
Eva Lys became the first German player to reach the second round in New York, defeating Czech qualifier Gabriela Knutson 6-3, 6-3 in 72 minutes. After a four-hour rain delay and in humid conditions at 28 degrees Celsius, the 24-year-old recovered from an early 0-2 deficit in the first set and an 0-3 deficit in the second set by claiming six consecutive games, aided by 31 unforced errors from Knutson. The Hamburg native, who entered the tournament following four consecutive first-round defeats, addressed her mental approach after the match.
I came in deathly nervous, but I am just incredibly proud of myself that I kept my nerves and did not lose the fun.
Lys advances to face Russian French Open winner Mirra Andrejewa, who defeated Janice Tjen of Indonesia 6-2, 6-2. In contrast, 21-year-old Ella Seidel exited in her US Open main draw debut after losing 2-6, 2-6 to Ukraine's Julija Starodubzewa.
Rain delays and early exits
Persistent rainfall across Flushing Meadows caused multiple disruptions, shifting several fixtures into Wednesday. Tatjana Maria completed two sets against Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko before rain forced a suspension at 4-6, 6-1. Daniel Altmaier had his scheduled opener against American Zachary Svajda postponed without a ball struck, with play rescheduled for Wednesday at approximately 19:00 CEST.
- Yannick Hanfmann falls to Alejandro Tabilo in four sets, and Tamara Korpatsch exits in the first round.
- Michael Kohlmann names Germany's Davis Cup squad for the Croatia tie, leaving out Jan-Lennard Struff.
- Eva Lys beats Gabriela Knutson 6-3, 6-3, while Ella Seidel loses 2-6, 2-6 to Julija Starodubzewa.
- Jan-Lennard Struff defeats Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 on Court 4.
- Rain halts Tatjana Maria's match at 4-6, 6-1 and postpones Daniel Altmaier's opening fixture.
- Alexander Zverev converts match point against Lorenzo Sonego after 4 hours 52 minutes.
Earlier on Monday, Yannick Hanfmann lost in four sets to Chile's Alejandro Tabilo, while Tamara Korpatsch also suffered an opening-round exit, reducing Germany's eight-player singles contingent. The tournament men's field is competing without world number one Jannik Sinner due to a knee injury, while Novak Djokovic has already been eliminated from the competition.
