Alexander Zverev fought through another long and difficult match to reach the third round of the 2026 US Open. The top seed defeated France’s Quentin Halys in five sets, winning 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (3-7), 6-3.
The match lasted more than four hours and finished at around 2:15 am local time. It was another demanding night for Zverev, who had already played a five-set match against Lorenzo Sonego earlier in the tournament.
With two long matches already completed, Zverev has now spent nearly 10 hours on court at this year’s US Open. His physical fitness and ability to stay focused through long matches have become important factors in his run at the tournament.
Halys had several opportunities to put more pressure on Zverev. One of his best chances came in the third set when he took a 4-1 lead. Zverev, however, refused to give up. He fought his way back and eventually won the set in a tiebreak.
The first set had initially gone Zverev’s way. He found an important break of Halys’s serve and closed out the set 6-4. Halys responded strongly in the second set, improving his level and using his serve and powerful shots to level the match at one set each.
The third set became a major turning point. Halys moved ahead 4-1 and appeared to have control, but Zverev gradually fought his way back. The German remained calm during the important points and forced a tiebreak, where he played better to win 7-3.
Halys refused to give up and produced another strong performance in the fourth set. He controlled the set and won the tiebreak 7-3, sending the match into a deciding fifth set.
Zverev then took control when it mattered most. He broke Halys’s serve early in the final set and protected his own service games. Despite the tiredness of the long match, the German stayed focused and completed the victory 6-3.
After the match, Zverev admitted that his performance was not at his best, but he was pleased to have found a way to win.
He also joked about his gym workouts, saying they had helped prepare him for another physically demanding match. Zverev thanked the fans who stayed in the stadium until the early hours of the morning to support both players.
The victory sends Zverev into the third round, where he will face Alejandro Tabilo Álvarez of Chile. After spending almost 10 hours on court in his first two matches, Zverev will need to recover quickly for his next challenge.
The German will now look to improve his level while continuing his push for a deep run at the US Open. Although his opening matches have been difficult, Zverev has shown strong fighting spirit and the ability to win even when his game is not at its best.