TENNIS – Alexander Zverev weathered a storm from Lorenzo Sonego to reach the US Open second round on Tuesday and keep alive his bid to reach a third straight Grand Slam final, after relentless rain wreaked havoc with the schedule at Flushing Meadows.
French Open champion and Wimbledon finalist Zverev, handed top billing in New York in the absence of injured world number one Jannik Sinner, was taken the distance by Sonego but came through with a 6-4 3-6 6-7(7) 7-5 6-4 win.
Americans Madison Keys, Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz earlier powered through under the roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium before new crowd favourite Alexandra Eala from the Philippines underlined her growing promise with a near-flawless display.
Eala mowed down qualifier Mary Stoiana 6-1 6-2.
Yesterday, Daniil Medvedev flew into the third round after an avian disruption, as American Jessica Pegula crushed compatriot Sofia Kenin on another rainswept day that wreaked havoc with the tournament schedule.
Medvedev, the 2021 winner, beat US wildcard Sebastian Gorzny 6-1 6-3 7-5 to start the action on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
The third-ranked Pegula needed just 56 minutes to dismantle 2020 Australian Open winner Kenin 6-3 6-1 in the first match on Arthur Ashe Stadium to set up a meeting with the 2021 Canadian runner-up Leylah Fernandez.
Opening the action on the Grandstand court, Alex Michelsen upset fellow American and 16th seed Brandon Nakashima 6-3 6-4 6-4 in their second-round match.
“He is an amazing tennis player,” Zverev said after the four-hour, 53-minute battle with Sonego. “He has an amazing serve and forehand, and he can return so quickly.
“I would say I have one of the fastest second serves on tour, and he was attacking it all the time. I have to give credit to him, but I’m happy I managed to win in the end.
“Funny enough, I think I missed a few more backhands than I usually do tonight ... Overall, it was a great battle and a match that I needed after the last couple of weeks.”
Zverev was two points from defeat at one stage but kept his composure when it mattered to set up a clash with Quentin Halys.
Keys, the runner-up in 2017, was undone by debilitating nerves in the first round a year ago but found the right formula this time around in the main showcourt opener as she defeated Alina Korneeva 7-5 6-4.
Ninth seed Fritz had an easy time in the second match of the day at the showpiece stadium, moving past 18-year-old compatriot Darwin Blanch 6-3 6-2 6-4.
At Louis Armstrong Stadium, men’s fifth seed Flavio Cobolli survived a gritty encounter with Francisco Comesana 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 while women’s fifth seed Mirra Andreeva advanced with a 6-2 6-2 win over Janice Tjen.
Gauff earlier beat Zeynep Sonmez 6-3 6-4 to begin her quest for a third Grand Slam crown.
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