Alexander Zverev of Germany hits a return during the men's singles first round match between Alexander Zverev of Germany and Lorenzo Sonego of Italy at the 2026 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Sept. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Top-seeded Alexander Zverev needed nearly five hours to fend off an upset bid by unseeded Lorenzo Sonego of Italy, while Yulia Putintseva came from behind to defeat former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic in the first round of the U.S. Open on Tuesday.
Zverev, who claimed his first Grand Slam title at the French Open this year, was pushed to the brink by the 89th-ranked Sonego, but finally prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4.
"Incredible battle, a lot of ups and downs, nearly five hours for a first-round match," Zverev said. "I think this is the longest first-round match I've ever played in my life."
"Credit to him, he played amazing tennis today," added Zverev, who converted five of 22 break-point chances. "He would have beaten a lot of players for sure. But I'm happy to be through."
In the women's singles, 12th-seeded Bencic, the Tokyo Olympic champion from Switzerland, was the only seeded player to lose on Tuesday. She was downed by Kazakhstan's Putintseva 6-4, 5-7, 3-6. Putintseva will next face reigning Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen of China.
Second-seeded Elena Rybakina beat wild-card entry Thea Frodin of the United States 6-3, 6-2, while Coco Gauff cruised past Zeynep Sonmez 6-3, 6-4, and Mirra Andreeva advanced with a 6-2, 6-2 victory against Janice Tjen of Indonesia.
China's Bu Yunchaokete earned a spot in the men's main draw as a lucky loser after Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis withdrew with an injury. Bu will face 12th-seeded Rafael Jodar of Spain in the first round. ■
Lorenzo Sonego of Italy hits a return during the men's singles first round match between Alexander Zverev of Germany and Lorenzo Sonego of Italy at the 2026 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Sept. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Lorenzo Sonego of Italy hits a return during the men's singles first round match between Alexander Zverev of Germany and Lorenzo Sonego of Italy at the 2026 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Sept. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Alexander Zverev of Germany hits a return during the men's singles first round match between Alexander Zverev of Germany and Lorenzo Sonego of Italy at the 2026 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Sept. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Lorenzo Sonego of Italy reacts during the men's singles first round match between Alexander Zverev of Germany and Lorenzo Sonego of Italy at the 2026 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Sept. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Alexander Zverev of Germany hits a return during the men's singles first round match between Alexander Zverev of Germany and Lorenzo Sonego of Italy at the 2026 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Sept. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Gael Monfils of France hits a return during the men's singles first round match against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay at the 2026 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Sept. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay hits a return during the men's singles first round match against Gael Monfils of France at the 2026 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Sept. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Gael Monfils of France celebrates victory after the men's singles first round match against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay at the 2026 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Sept. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Gael Monfils of France celebrates scoring during the men's singles first round match against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay at the 2026 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Sept. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
