Top-seeded German tennis player Alexander Zverev has secured his first straight-set victory at the 2026 US Open after navigating two grueling five-set matches in earlier rounds. The top seed defeated Chilean opponent Alejandro Tabilo on Saturday with a commanding 6-2, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 performance, advancing to the tournament’s final 16.
Zverev’s path through the opening rounds proved demanding, with his first two contests consuming nearly nine and a half hours combined. Saturday’s decisive victory took considerably less time at just over two hours, prompting the French Open champion to humorously reflect on his newfound efficiency. He noted that his coaching team helped him understand that competing in a best-of-five format does not necessarily require playing all five sets.
The match against Tabilo presented moments of tension, particularly during the second set when Zverev held a 4-2 advantage before his opponent earned two set points at 5-4. Zverev recovered composure, saving both chances and ultimately prevailing in a tiebreaker to clinch the set with controlled play before dominating the third set.
Looking ahead, Zverev will face Italian competitor Luciano Darderi in the next round after Darderi’s convincing defeat of Australian wildcard Dane Sweeny. As one of the tournament favorites seeking his second Grand Slam title, Zverev benefits from a favorable draw with world number one Jannik Sinner sidelined by injury and defending champion Novak Djokovic already eliminated.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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