TENNIS – ALEXANDER Zverev was dragged the distance for a second straight match at the US Open but the top seed outlasted Quentin Halys on Thursday to reach the third round, while Madison Keys, Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff also battled through.
Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime became another major casualty of the chaotic opening week at Flushing Meadows before French showman Gael Monfils made his final bow at the year’s last Grand Slam event.
French Open champion Zverev narrowly avoided the trapdoor again, grinding out a 6-4 4-6 7-6(3) 6-7(3) 6-3 win over Halys to keep his bid for a second major title alive. Although the German’s fitness held up, his form will be under the scanner.
“Physically, I feel fine,” said Zverev, who has spent more than nine hours on court after the clash with Halys and another marathon against Lorenzo Sonego in the opening round.
“I’m proud, I think, to be physically quite strong. So, yeah, I hope at some point I’ll start playing better tennis. It’s also a skill to win ugly and when you’re not playing great tennis ...
“I said it last year, New York has always been difficult for me. Just the conditions.”
Auger-Aliassime, a semi-finalist last year, took the opening set but was then swept away 6-7(5) 6-3 6-2 6-2 by Karen Khachanov.
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