The match, which concluded shortly after 2:15 a.m. local time on Arthur Ashe Stadium, lasted four hours and 33 minutes. Having already endured a lengthy five-set opening round earlier in the week, the 29-year-old has now spent nearly 10 hours on court across his first two appearances in the tournament. He is now set to face Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo in the next stage of the competition.
A Late-Night Battle of Attrition
Reflecting on the physical toll of the contest, Zverev remained pragmatic about his performance while acknowledging the challenging circumstances. During his post-match interview, he noted that while the level of play was not where he wanted it to be, securing the win remained the primary objective. He also expressed gratitude to the remaining spectators who stayed until the early hours to witness the conclusion of the marathon encounter.
The match began with Zverev appearing in control, securing a vital break to take the first set 6-4. However, the momentum shifted in the second set. Despite Zverev pushing for a late break, Halys held firm and capitalized on a vulnerable service game from the German, including a double fault at 15-40, to level the match at one set apiece.
The third set saw Zverev claw back from a 4-1 deficit to force a tiebreak, which he dominated to regain the lead. The fourth set followed a similar trajectory, but this time it was Halys who dictated the tiebreak to force a decider. In the final set, the tension reached its peak until Halys faltered, hitting a forehand wide to gift Zverev a decisive break. Zverev capitalized on the opportunity, holding his serve before breaking the Frenchman once more to seal the victory.
