The victory spared Zverev from becoming the first men's top seed to suffer a first-round exit at a
A grueling test of endurance
The match, which spanned 4 hours and 52 minutes, proved to be a significant challenge for the German, who entered the tournament as the top seed following the withdrawal of Jannik Sinner due to a right knee injury. Zverev, who recently claimed his first major title at the French Open and reached the Wimbledon final, struggled to convert his opportunities throughout the evening.
Sonego’s defensive prowess and court coverage kept him in the contest, forcing Zverev to work for every point. The Italian consistently tracked down difficult shots, while his ability to deliver under pressure saw Zverev convert only five of his 22 break-point opportunities. Despite the difficulty, Zverev maintained his perfect record against Sonego, extending his head-to-head advantage to 7-0.
Breaking the deadlock
The turning point arrived late in the match as Zverev finally managed to break Sonego’s serve when it mattered most. The victory marks a significant survival for the top seed, who had been in danger of an early exit for much of the night. For Sonego, the result was a narrow miss against a top-10 opponent, a category in which he has historically struggled during Grand Slam competition.
Zverev now advances to the next round, having navigated a difficult start to his US Open campaign. The match serves as a reminder of the competitive depth in the draw, as the top seed looks to build on his recent form following his success in Paris and his runner-up finish at Wimbledon.
