Top seed Zverev avoids upset in five-set thriller

Top seed Alexander Zverev avoided an early exit at the U.S. Open, defeating Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-4 in a first-round match that lasted nearly five hours and ran into the early hours of Wednesday. Zverev arrived in New York after winning the French Open in June and was viewed as a leading contender with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner absent and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returning from injury. The German converted one of seven break points early, but Sonego seized momentum with a hold to take the second set and then led via a tiebreak double fault. Zverev recovered, saved two points from defeat, and will next play Quentin Halys.