Overview
- Top seed Alexander Zverev survived a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-3 win over Quentin Halys after a 4-hour, 33-minute match that finished in the early hours of Friday, making him the first top seed in the Open Era to begin a Grand Slam with consecutive five-setters.
- Zverev has spent nearly ten hours on court across two matches and will face 25th seed Alejandro Tabilo in the third round, a sequence that raises questions about his recovery ahead of tougher rounds.
- Twenty-year-old Alexandra Eala reached the US Open third round with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Oleksandra Oliynykova, drew large Filipino support on major courts, and publicly said she does not control tournament scheduling after fans questioned her court assignments.
- The men’s draw has opened up after several upsets that toppled high seeds including Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alex de Minaur and Lorenzo Musetti, creating clearer paths for lower-ranked players to advance deep into the tournament.
- Two-time defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the round of 16 with a straight-sets win over Kamilla Rakhimova, a result that keeps her on course while the late finishes and compressed schedule underscore recovery and fitness as key factors to watch this fortnight.