Alex Eala moved into the US Open second round while top seed Alexander Zverev survived a near five-hour marathon against Lorenzo Sonego to avoid a shock first-round exit.
Key facts
- Alex Eala advanced to the US Open second round with a comfortable win.
- Top seed Alexander Zverev beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4.
- Zverev's win avoided the first men's No. 1 seed first-round grand slam loss since 2003.
- Americans Madison Keys, Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz also progressed, along with Gael Monfils.
Alex Eala advanced smoothly into the second round of the US Open, cruising through her opening match at the grand slam tournament, according to Al Jazeera.
The bigger drama of the day came from the men’s draw, where top seed Alexander Zverev was pushed to the brink before surviving a near five-hour marathon. The German edged Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4 in a thriller that ended in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the Guardian reported.
Zverev described it as the longest first-round match he had played. He struggled to convert his chances, failing to cash in on repeated opportunities to break Sonego’s serve for much of the night before rallying to close out the contest.
The victory carried added significance. Zverev was in danger of becoming the first men’s No. 1 seed to lose in the first round of a grand slam tournament since 2003, when Ivo Karlovic beat Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon.
Elsewhere, several American players powered through to the second round. Madison Keys, Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz all advanced, according to Al Jazeera, as did Gael Monfils, who the outlet noted was celebrating his birthday.
With Eala through and the top seed still standing, the early rounds set the stage for the tournament to continue, though Zverev’s grueling escape underlined how quickly a favorite’s campaign can be tested.
Why it matters
Grand slam upsets in the opening rounds can reshape an entire tournament, and Zverev came within a match of an historic first-round exit for a top seed. Meanwhile, breakthrough performances like Eala's draw attention to rising players on the sport's biggest stages.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score of the Zverev match?
Alexander Zverev beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4, according to the Guardian.
Why was Zverev's win considered significant?
Zverev avoided becoming the first men's No. 1 seed to lose in the first round of a grand slam tournament since 2003, when Ivo Karlovic beat Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon.
Which other players advanced?
Al Jazeera reported that Alex Eala, Madison Keys, Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz and Gael Monfils all reached the second round.