Top classifier Alexander Zverev He kept his attempt to win his first US Open title on track with a five-set win over Quentin Hales, continuing his run amid a series of upsets that rocked the men’s draw on Thursday.
Three former women’s champions – Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka – have booked a place in the third round, along with Grand Slam champions Elena Rybakina and Mira Andreeva.
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But Felix Auger-Aliassime, the men’s third seed, was eliminated from the tournament along with Alex de Minaur, seeded sixth, and Lorenzo Musetti, seeded 13th.
Zverev struggled until 2:15 am on Friday morning at Arthur Ashe Stadium to overcome Frenchman Hales, ranked 52nd, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (3/7), 6-3.
The marathon followed, which lasted four hours and 33 minutes Wild in the first round of five sets Against 89th-ranked Lorenzo Sonego, who kept Zverev down until just before 2am (06:00 GMT) on Wednesday.
“The performance was very bad to be honest, but I won, and that is the most important thing,” Zverev said afterwards.
“Physically, I feel good. I think I pride myself on being physically strong. I just hope at some point I can start playing better tennis.”
“I win badly now. It’s also a skill to win ugly and when you’re not playing great tennis. I think I’ve mastered that now.”
While Zverev survived, Auger-Aliassime lost 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to 50th-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov, who relentlessly moved away from the ailing Canadian, who said he “feels dizzy and sees spots.”
“I thought maybe it would pass, but it didn’t,” a depressed Auger-Aliassime said.
Khachanov took advantage of 47 unforced errors, including eight double faults from Auger-Aliassime, who particularly struggled with his serve.
“I thought he might have had some physical problems; it’s part of our sport,” Khachanov said. “For my part, I tried to do my best, fight, fight.”
De Minaur fell to Boteach van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-5, 6-2, while Australian Dan Sweeney, ranked 123rd, defeated Musetti, ranked 13th, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, to reach the third round in a major tournament for the first time.
This is not the first time that Van de Zandschulp has achieved an upset in Flushing Meadows, as he defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the second round in 2024.
Meanwhile, the female competitors came out on top.
Fourth-seeded Gauff, the 2023 champion, stunned the Ashes night crowd with her 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) victory over Spain’s Paula Badosa, formerly ranked second in the world.
Swiatek qualified for the second round by defeating Nadia Podoroska 6-3, 6-2, while Osaka survived the loss of the second set to beat Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.
Rybakina, winner of the Australian Open, and ranked second in the world and close to the top ranking of Aryna Sabalenka, defeated Spain’s Jessica Pozas Manero 6-2, 6-4, and Andreeva defeated German Eva Liss 6-0, 6-2.
Gauff (22 years old) had lost five of her previous eight meetings with Badosa, so she was ready when the Spanish player increased the pressure in the second set, recovering her break to force the tiebreak.
“I knew she was going to raise her level. She’s capable of blowing up winners and blowing up winners on the comeback,” said Gauff, who was happy that she maintained her composure.
“I think I need matches like this to build my confidence,” the 2023 US Open winner said.
Swiatek, who has six Grand Slam titles including the 2022 US Open, had things mostly her own way against Podroska, a former top-40 player who is now ranked 449th in the world.
She overcame four break points at 5-3 in the first set, then withdrew to seal the win in just over an hour.
Osaka, who has won two US Open titles among her four major rivals, appeared to be in complete control of Siniakova during the first set and led 4-2 in the second without facing any break point.
But the Japanese star’s unforced errors began to pile up, and Siniakova, ranked first in the world in doubles, jumped in to recover from a 5-3 deficit and win the set.
Osaka regrouped in the deciding set, converting to a quick serve to take a 3-0 lead and saving a few break points en route to victory.
“I felt like I had to fight,” she said.
So did former Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who saved five match points to beat Anna Bondar 4-7, 6-4, 7-6 (10/5).
There was a bittersweet farewell on Louis Armstrong Court, where 20-year-old American learner Tian ended 40-year-old Gael Monfils’ Grand Slam run with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory.
“It’s been a long journey,” Monfils told a crowd of fans in New York. “You’re my second best audience. Of course, they can’t beat Paris, but you’re up there!”
