Top seed Alexander Zverev staved off a stunning first-round upset at the 2026 US Open, grinding past unseeded Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-4 in a gruelling 4-hour, 53-minute battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York on 2 September 2026. The defending Roland Garros champion was two points from defeat before clawing his way back to keep his title defence on track.

How Close It Got

Zverev found himself staring down elimination at 4-5 in the fourth set, a precarious position for the world's top-ranked player against a man ranked No. 89 in the world. Sonego, playing an aggressive net-rushing game, had neutralised Zverev's baseline dominance and pushed the match to its limit. Yet the German dug deep, seizing control in the latter stages of the fourth set and carrying that momentum through a decisive fifth.

Zverev entered the match with a flawless 6-0 ATP head-to-head record against Sonego, but that history provided little comfort as the Italian delivered one of the most inspired performances of his career on the sport's biggest stage.

Sonego's Remarkable Stand

For Sonego, competing in his 10th US Open, the match was a statement of intent, even in defeat. He has never progressed beyond the second round in New York, yet his shot-making and tenacity over nearly five hours underscored why he remains a dangerous floater in major draws. The 4-hour, 52-minute contest — the source lists both figures — was laden with pressure points and momentum swings that kept a packed Ashe crowd on edge throughout.

Zverev's Path and Season Context

The victory extends Zverev's season-leading tally to 47 tour-level match wins, including 19 at Grand Slam level. Having claimed his maiden major title at Roland Garros earlier this year, he arrives in New York as the man to beat. His second-round opponent will be Frenchman Quentin Halys.

Cobolli Completes Stunning Comeback

Elsewhere in the men's draw, Italian Flavio Cobolli produced a remarkable recovery of his own, rallying from two sets to love down — for the first time in his US Open career — to defeat Argentine Francisco Comesana 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in 4 hours and 12 minutes. The 25-year-old had arrived in New York in strong form after reaching the semi-finals at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati last month.

Cobolli's survival kept the Italian contingent alive in a draw already shorn of big names: No. 4 Novak Djokovic and No. 10 Arthur Fils had both exited within the first three days of the tournament. The Italian's breakthrough season included a run to the Roland Garros final — where he lost to Zverev in five sets — followed by a Wimbledon quarter-final appearance, and a title at Acapulco. He has never advanced beyond the third round in New York, though last year he won back-to-back five-set matches before being forced to retire in the third round due to physical fatigue. His next opponent is qualifier Tristan Schoolkate.

With two Italians through and the draw opening up following early exits, the second round at Flushing Meadows promises fresh intrigue.