By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Photo Credit: US Open.
Alexander Zverev was two points from an early exit. Coco Gauff, by contrast, barely had to break stride.
The contrasting fortunes summed up a rain interrupted third day at the US Open, with top seeded Zverev eventually escaping Italian qualifier Lorenzo Sonego in a five set battle that finished shortly before 2am in New York.
Zverev needed four hours and 52 minutes to survive, winning 6 4, 3 6, 6 7, 7 6, 6 4 after finding himself two sets to one down and under mounting pressure on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
For long periods, the German looked nervous and inconsistent. Sonego played with energy and enthusiasm and appeared to have the momentum needed to produce one of the tournament’s biggest first round upsets.
But Zverev found a way back.
By the final set, Sonego’s intensity had dropped from the levels he had produced earlier in the match, although he continued to fight for every point. Zverev, meanwhile, was still serving at 138 miles per hour deep into the contest and looked the stronger player physically when it mattered most.
It was the sort of escape that can change the course of a Grand Slam campaign.
Earlier in the evening, Gauff had a far more straightforward introduction to this year’s tournament, beating Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez 6 3, 6 4.
The fourth seed, who won the US Open in 2023, was broken only once and produced a performance built around a serve that has become a major focus of her preparation.
“It’s incredible to be back on this court,” Gauff told the crowd. “I love playing in this atmosphere.”
Gauff’s service problems contributed to her fourth round exit last year and prompted a coaching change shortly before the tournament. This time, she arrived in New York with considerably greater belief after winning the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati.
She has also been working with biomechanics expert Gavin Macmillan, focusing on making her ball toss more consistent.
“It’s been a gradual change with the serve,” Gauff said. “Slowly it’s adapting to maybe the way it should look.”
The improvement was evident early. Gauff moved through the first set without facing a break point, with Sonmez struggling to make clean returns and often leaving the American with a short ball to attack.
The second set was more competitive. Gauff broke early, only for Sonmez to respond with heavier groundstrokes and several trips to the net. The Turkish player levelled at 2 2 and briefly took control.
Gauff then faced multiple break points at 2 3 before producing the big serves she needed to escape. “That was real important,” she said.
The hold appeared to settle Gauff. She broke in the following game and took control again, finishing the match in straight sets.
“I like to challenge my opponent to let them keep up the level the whole match,” Gauff said. “If they do, you know I clap my hands and I walk off court with my head held high. But I was able to settle down.”
Taylor Fritz, Elena Rybakina, Mirra Andreeva and Madison Keys also advanced in the early session, while Belinda Bencic was beaten in three sets. Alexandra Eala and Gaël Monfils added late wins on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Rain, however, left several first round matches unfinished and forced players back onto court on Thursday.
Among the women’s matches still to be completed are Iva Jovic against Magdalena Frech at 4 4, Magda Linette against Francesca Jones with Linette yet to begin the second set, and Nikola Bartunkova against Mayar Sherif, with Bartunkova leading 6 1.
Daria Kasatkina trails Paula Badosa 1 6, 4 5, while Tatjana Maria and Jeļena Ostapenko are level at one set apiece.
After a day in which Gauff looked firmly in control and Zverev came within touching distance of going home, the weather has ensured the opening round still has plenty left to settle.