Alexander Zverev advanced to the third round of the US Open on Friday after defeating France’s Quentin Halys in another lengthy five-set contest at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The German, 29, recovered from a difficult start and eventually secured a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 victory in a match that lasted about four hours and 33 minutes.
The win came two days after Zverev also needed five sets to get through his opening-round match, leaving the tournament’s top seed facing another demanding test early in his campaign.
Zverev Recovers After Halys Levels Match
Zverev took the opening set after converting the only break opportunity of the set and holding serve to move ahead 1-0.
Halys responded in the second set, capitalising on a double fault from Zverev to create two set points before converting his opportunity to level the match.
The Frenchman then built a 4-1 advantage in the third set, but Zverev fought back to level at 4-4. After both players held serve through the remainder of the set, Zverev dominated the tiebreak to take a two-sets-to-one lead.
Halys again forced a decisive set by taking control of the fourth-set tiebreak. Zverev, however, regained the initiative in the fifth.
Late Break Sends German Into Third Round
Halys made the decisive error early in the fifth set when he sent a forehand wide, allowing Zverev to secure a crucial break.
Zverev held his next two service games to establish a 5-3 lead before breaking Halys again to close out the match.
Speaking after the contest, Zverev criticised his own performance but said securing the victory was the priority.
“The performance was quite shit to be honest, but I won, that’s the most important thing,” he said.
Zverev also acknowledged the spectators who remained at the stadium until after 2am following the marathon contest.
“The couple thousand people (who stayed) made up for the 15,000 that left,” he said.
Zverev will now face his next opponent in the third round as he continues his bid for a deep run at the season’s final Grand Slam.