Zverev escapes the abyss by miracle in his umpteenth "party session"

Diego Jiménez Rubio - 2 Sep 2026 | 08:12
Alexander Zverev ATP US Open 2026 Lorenzo Sonego

The German needed almost 5 hours of match time to defeat Sonego at the US Open and finished the encounter at 2:00 AM New York time.

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Alexander Zverev wins epic match against Sonego. Photo: gettyimages

Alexander Zverev is accustomed to nighttime epics, marathon matches at ungodly hours, and having his tournament progress influenced by finishing matches in the early morning hours. He took another step in that trend at this US Open 2026, finishing his duel with Lorenzo Sonego at 2 a.m. in New York. The result was 6-4 3-6 6-7 (7) 7-5 6-4 in favor of the German.

The idiosyncrasy of tennis condemns episodes that are as surreal, special, unforgettable, and absurd all at once, like finishing a Grand Slam match at 2 a.m., with fans nodding off and the players exhausted, knowing the winner will have their schedule completely altered and experience a biological upheaval that could affect them in later rounds. Better that than to lose, Alexander Zverev might have thought, accustomed to these episodes, taking away a victory but also the urgent need to improve his tennis for the upcoming rounds.

The German does not seem to be in the best moment of the season. After his achievement at Roland Garros and the great level shown at Wimbledon, the hangover from success may be hitting hard on a player who has achieved his primary goal and feels the mental and physical fatigue of an exhausting year. He relied on his experience and status to put a stop to a rebellion from Sonego that at times seemed poised to overthrow him.

Zverev was two points away from losing against a great Sonego

The Italian player had a great match, showing aggression, exploiting his opponent's hesitant forehand, serving well, and demonstrating a fierce competitive spirit. He came very close to victory in a fourth set in which Zverev brought out the intangibles of a great champion to avoid a fate that seemed inevitable and soared on the court in the fifth set, maximizing every opportunity offered by the Italian.

Sascha found himself two points from losing, facing a situation unprecedented since 1990 for the top seed of the US Open, which had never gone to five sets in the first round during this time. Furthermore, this comeback could provide a tremendous moral boost for the German, who had not overcome a 1-2 deficit in a Grand Slam since 2024, suffering six consecutive losses when matches reached that context. 

The victory should not overshadow all the deficiencies observed in Alexander Zverev's game, hesitant with his forehand, timid regarding aggressiveness on the court, and inconsistent with his serve. In matches like this, one can see the glass as half full or half empty, but in the end, the most important thing is to survive and create the opportunity to move forward. His next opponent in the US Open 2026 will be the Frenchman Quentin Halys.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Zverev elude el abismo de milagro en su enésima "sesión golfa"