No. 1 men’s seed Alexander Zverev needed five sets to beat Lorenzo Sonego on Arthur Ashe.The Athletic Live TeamSeptember 2, 2026 at 7:08 AM EDTAlexander Zverev has been taken to five sets by Lorenzo Sonego. Getty ImagesU.S. Open Day 3 — ReactionIt was a thrilling conclusion to a rain-hit Day 3 at the 2026 U.S. Open.No. 1 men’s seed Alexander Zverev was forced to dig deep as Italian outsider Lorenzo Sonego took him to five sets at Arthur Ashe Stadium, before completing his win after almost four hours.Taylor Fritz (9), Elena Rybakina (2), Mirra Andreeva (5) and Madison Keys (22) all advanced earlier in the day, with Belinda Bencic (12) upset in three sets. Coco Gauff (4) opened the night session with a straight-sets win before Alexandra Eala (17) and Gaël Monfils lit up Louis Armstrong Stadium with late victories.Play on the outer courts was suspended as rain hampered the schedule, with several first-round matches left unresolved.Get involved in the Discuss tab or email us: live@theathletic.comSKIP ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementAttention turns to WednesdayAnd with that, Day 3 at the U.S. Open comes to a close.We will be back again to keep you covered with tomorrow’s schedule — well, I guess it’s today’s really as it’s likely Wednesday already where you are!Anyway, the action starts once again at 11 a.m. ET on all courts except Arthur Ashe, where the top matches start from 11:30 a.m.There will be a fair bit of catching up to do across the schedule too, after today’s rain delays. See you then.Zverev hopes battle proves useful Getty ImagesHere are Alexander Zverev’s thoughts as he gets through the challenge of Lorenzo Sonego in the end.That is a lot of expelled energy, but he has a point about it honing his form early in what could prove to be a long fortnight.💬 “I’m just happy I won. That’s it. … Incredible battle. A lot of ups and downs. Nearly five hours … I think this is the longest first round match I’ve ever played in my life! Credit to him, he played amazing tennis today. He would have beaten a lot of players, for sure.“Actually, I’m happy that I won this kind of battle because this is exactly the match that I needed. I struggled the last two tournaments. I didn’t play well. And sometimes good things happen after you fight through one of these matches. “So I’m hoping that will be the case for me at this tournament.”It’s a fair point too, of course. It’s currently 2:02 a.m. in New York! Getty ImagesNot only is Alexander Zverev the second player I’ve seen win late here in two days, and delicately cut short their court interview by saying everyone is probably tired and needs to go home ASAP — Frances Tiafoe did likewise yesterday.But he also gives a really interesting answer to what this kind of exertion means for the rest of his Grand Slam challenge.Those quotes on the way next.GAME, SET, MATCH: Zverev survives!Zverev 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-4 SonegoThere it is! Alexander Zverev survives an almighty scare against Lorenzo Sonego, finally seeing him off in five sets and almost four hours. An epic effort from the Italian. A lot of effort from the No. 1 seed. SKIP ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementOver to you, SaschaZverev 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-5, *5-4 SonegoThe Arthur Ashe crowd tries to keep Lorenzo Sonego’s spirits high as he takes on one more service game, maybe sensing that this could be the end of their epic night.At 0-30, those fears look justified. But Sonego doesn’t want this over just yet either, especially on his own serve.Sonego’s second serve holds up — however, only as far as Zverev reading a drop shot and taking things to deuce.Still, Sonego outlasts the German from the baseline with a deceptive forehand and he gets his hold.Now it’s on Zverev to serve out this match, as he should do from here. Sonego running out of steam5th set: Zverev 5-3* SonegoYou feel for Lorenzo Sonego at this point now. He is trying to rally himself and he is still making opportunities, even this late in the night.But the crunch shot is missing or slipping long, and it’s causing the Italian a bit of anguish. There is a whipped forehand crosscourt winner — which will make the two earlier backhand misses in this game more painful — but it is just a spark, as Zverev sees out the hold in the end.One more of those, and the No. 1 seed is into the second round. Getty Images5th set: Zverev *4-3 SonegoAnd fair play to Sonego, who rattles through his serve to love.Although at this point, Zverev will be saving his energy to make sure his own service games are as polished as he needs.Just two holds and this match can be filed away under ‘scare’ rather than ‘upset’. 5th set: Zverev 4-2* SonegoFair play to Alexander Zverev, he is sticking to his theme that tonight is going to look as difficult for him as possible.It’s a loose scratchy hold in the end but while Lorenzo Sonego is still covering the ground, his composure when he reaches the ball is letting him down now.He nets at the net, Zverev holds and ultimately, it’s just two more games for the No. 1 seed.Sonego hands over the initiative Getty Images5th set: Zverev *3-2 SonegoUt oh. Lorenzo Sonego is a little wild in ending up at 30-30 and then gets overexcited at the chance of a forehand winner, drilling it well beyond the baseline.He follows that with a double fault at break point and it feels like a potentially decisive collapse on serve. SKIP ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementZverev survives break scare Getty Images5th set: Zverev 2-2* SonegoA stunning backhand return from Sonego starts to reel Zverev back from 40-15 and inspires the Italian all the way to his first break point of this fifth set. It comes as Sonego sticks up a high lob, forces a loose smash from Zverev and the German then goes long.A stunning backhand volley a full stretch saves the day for Zverev and from there, Zverev’s strong serve gives him the platform to hold.The pace of play here is slowing down, by the way. We could be in for a late finish. Sonego smiling at hard-fought hold5th set: Zverev *1-2 SonegoSonego has lost the zip of his previous sets and Zverev is starting to move around the court noticeably better than his opponent.A gorgeous inside-in forehand winner down the line from the No. 1 seed brings up a first break point of this fifth set but Sonego produces a saviour of a volley for deuce.From there, Sonego has to lean on his second serve but sees out the old. The Italian survives his first wobble of this final set. And he gives out some big smiles at clinching that game. Getty Images5th set: Zverev 1-1* SonegoZverev follows Sonego’s lead and also holds to 15 with minimal drama.This fifth set is simmering along for now as both players try to restore some energy for the battles to come. 5th set: Zverev *0-1 SonegoA rapid hold to 15? Looks like the medical timeout did the trick. An encouraging, solid start from Sonego. Time for the decider Getty Images5th set: Zverev 0-0* SonegoHere we go! Medical timeout over. No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev has been ready to go for a while.Lorenzo Sonego to serve as this deciding set gets going. SKIP ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementWe have a medical timeout in progress as Lozenzo Sonego takes some treatment to his right wrist and forearm. Hopefully it isn’t a major issue. The man himself looks pretty relaxed about it all.Alexander Zverev had plenty of faults in that fourth set, including converting just two of his 12 break points. Sonego himself made 12 unforced errors.However, Zverev won 62 percent of the points on his second serve — and that was crucial, especially as Sonego managed just 29 percent on his. Zverev takes us to fiveZverev 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-5, 0-0* SonegoA 10th ace of the night delivers 40-0 and three set points to take us to a fifth, which all shows how the dynamic in this match has shifted in recent minutes.Indeed, Lorenzo Sonego’s energy levels and enthusiasm look miles short of where they were not so long ago.No. 1 seed Zverev takes the first set point as Sonego nets, and on into the decider we head. And he follows with a break!Zverev 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), *6-5 SonegoSome signs that Lorenzo Sonego’s incredibly high levels from earlier in this set are starting to drop now.This fourth set is already through the hour mark, and we’re approaching four hours for the match.And a double fault for 15-40 shows the toil. Two break points for Alexander Zverev — and for once, he is clinical with the first as the return forces Sonego’s forehand wide from the baseline. The top seed is one hold away from taking this to a deciding set. Priceless hold for Zverev Getty ImagesZverev 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 5-5* SonegoZverev has to lean on a second serve again and it delivers, leading him into the net to take the point for 40-30.Sonego’s return is then long and Zverev gets a hold that looked a little ropey at times there.We remain on serve in the fourth, at we’re approaching 1 a.m. in New York.We could yet have another set too!