Zverev Survives Halys in Five Sets to Reach US Open Third Round

Alexander Zverev survived a second consecutive five-set test at the US Open, defeating Quentin Halys 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (3-7), 6-3 to reach the third round. BBC Sport reported that the match ended at 2:15 a.m. local time in New York after four hours and 33 minutes.

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The top seed exchanged control with the world number 52 across a humid evening. Zverev won the opening set before Halys levelled, then took the third-set tie-break only for the Frenchman to answer in another tie-break. The German finally separated himself in the deciding set, closing out a result that again demanded a full five sets.

According to BBC Sport, Zverev is the first top seed in the Open era to play five-set matches in each of the opening two rounds of a major. His first-round victory over Lorenzo Sonego also ran deep into the night, and the 29-year-old said he did not get to sleep until 5 a.m. on Wednesday after that contest.

Zverev acknowledged after beating Halys that his tennis has not yet reached the level he wants. Despite those fluctuations, he remains in a section of the draw that has lost several highly seeded players. He is the only top-20 player left in his quarter and will meet 25th seed Alejandro Tabilo next. BBC Sport noted that Zverev has not previously lost to Tabilo.

Two potential later opponents were eliminated on Thursday. Australian wildcard Dane Sweeny beat 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 after Musetti struggled physically, while Botic van de Zandschulp defeated sixth seed Alex de Minaur. Musetti had been a possible fourth-round opponent for Zverev, and De Minaur could have met him in the quarter-finals based on the seedings.

Elsewhere in the men's draw, third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime became the highest-ranked player eliminated so far. Karen Khachanov beat the Canadian 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Auger-Aliassime said he began feeling unwell early in the match and experienced dizziness and visual symptoms that did not pass. Zverev, meanwhile, advances with a more favorable draw but another demanding recovery before round three.