Alexander Zverev survived a five-set thriller against Lorenzo Sonego, while Gael Monfils marked his 40th birthday with a historic victory as rain disrupted the US Open schedule on Tuesday. Madison Keys, Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz and Mirra Andreeva also advanced, while Alexandra Eala continued her breakthrough run with another impressive performance at Flushing Meadows.
French Open champion and Wimbledon finalist Zverev, handed top billing in New York in the absence of injured world No. 1 Jannik Sinner was pushed to the limit by Sonego before eventually prevailing 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-4.
Alexander Zverev Survives Lorenzo Sonego Thriller
Zverev was two points from defeat at one stage but kept his composure when it mattered, eventually completing a four-hour, 53-minute battle against Sonego.
The German had to withstand relentless pressure from the Italian, particularly on his second serve, but found a way through to keep alive his hopes of reaching a third consecutive Grand Slam final.
“He is an amazing tennis player,” Zverev told reporters after the match. “He has an amazing serve and forehand, and he can return so quickly.
“I would say I have one of the fastest second serves on tour, and he was attacking it all the time. I have to give credit to him, but I’m happy I managed to win in the end.
“Funny enough, I think I missed a few more backhands than I usually do tonight … Overall, it was a great battle and a match that I needed after the last couple of weeks.”
Zverev will face Quentin Halys in the second round.
A pretty good way to end day 3 of singles 👏 pic.twitter.com/GTKYJQM5GY
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2026
Gael Monfils Celebrates 40th Birthday With Historic US Open Win
Gaël Monfils celebrated his 40th birthday with a milestone victory in the first round of the U.S. Open on Tuesday in New York.
The French showman recovered from a slow start against Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo to complete a remarkable 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 victory and become the first player to win a U.S. Open singles match at age 40 or older since 1992.
The last player to achieve the feat was Jimmy Connors, who also won on his 40th birthday. Connors had famously reached the U.S. Open semifinals in 1991 before falling in the second round the following year.
Monfils’ achievement came just a day after Stan Wawrinka, aged 41, lost his opening-round match in what was the final Grand Slam appearance of his career. Wawrinka had missed the U.S. Open last year.
The crowd made sure Gael felt the love 🤗 pic.twitter.com/cidKQtn9Fs
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2026
The Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd then gave Monfils a memorable birthday celebration, breaking into a rendition of “Happy Birthday” after his victory.
“That was definitely very special, to play on the day of my 40th birthday,” Monfils told the fans after the match. “You guys always make it electric. The atmosphere is unbelievable. I feel great here. I always try to put on a great show, so let’s keep it up for the second round.”
Monfils will next face 14th-seeded Learner Tien, who is half his age. The pair have met only once, with Tien winning their three-set encounter in Montreal in early August.
Madison Keys Finds Her Composure
Madison Keys, the 2017 U.S. Open runner-up, avoided another early exit as she defeated Alina Korneeva 7-5, 6-4 in the opening match on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Keys had been undone by debilitating nerves in the first round a year ago, but produced a much more composed display this time around to move into the second round.
“It’s so hard to play the first round of a Grand Slam. So nervous and wanting to do well,” Keys said.
“So grateful I was able to fight through that.”
Keys will next meet Hungary’s Anna Bondar.
Taylor Fritz Returns to Winning Ways
Ninth seed Taylor Fritz enjoyed a straightforward start to his campaign, defeating 18-year-old compatriot Darwin Blanch 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 2024 U.S. Open finalist had endured an inconsistent run in the build-up to the year’s final Grand Slam, winning in Washington before suffering a first-round exit in Montreal and reaching the Cincinnati quarter-finals.
Fritz, however, looked back to his best in New York as he continued his bid to become the first American men’s Grand Slam singles champion since Andy Roddick won the U.S. Open in 2003.
“It’s super important for me,” Fritz said.
“I’d be pretty disappointed in the end of it if I wasn’t able to achieve that. In my life, any time I have set a big goal for myself, I’ve always done it.”
Coco Gauff and Alexandra Eala Impress
Coco Gauff began her pursuit of a third Grand Slam title with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Zeynep Sonmez.
The American controlled the key moments to avoid an early scare and advance into the second round.
Alexandra Eala, meanwhile, continued to emerge as one of the most exciting young players at Flushing Meadows with an emphatic 6-1, 6-2 victory over qualifier Mary Stoiana.
The Filipino teenager produced a near-flawless display and once again underlined why she has become one of the most closely followed players at this year’s tournament.
Mirra Andreeva and Flavio Cobolli Survive
Women’s fifth seed Mirra Andreeva produced a dominant display at Louis Armstrong Stadium, defeating Indonesia’s Janice Tjen 6-2, 6-2 to advance comfortably.
Men’s fifth seed Flavio Cobolli had a much tougher battle, recovering from two sets down to defeat Francisco Comesana 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Elena Rybakina Defeats Thea Frodin
American teenager Thea Frodin attracted plenty of attention during her Grand Slam debut, having previously served as the tennis-playing double for a young Serena Williams in the 2021 film “King Richard.”
The home crowd backed the teenager during her WTA Tour-level debut, but second seed Elena Rybakina proved too strong, securing a 6-3, 6-2 victory.
Rybakina had been under scrutiny over injury concerns but showed little sign of being affected as she moved into the second round.
Lorenzo Musetti Advances as Rain Disrupts Schedule
Lorenzo Musetti also progressed with a convincing 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 win over Briton Arthur Fery, who had made a surprise run to the Wimbledon semifinals.
The day’s schedule, however, was heavily disrupted by persistent rain at Flushing Meadows. Thousands of spectators were forced to wait as play on the outdoor courts was delayed, while several matches were ultimately cancelled when the rain returned in the evening.
Alex de Minaur’s scheduled clash with Italian qualifier Andrea Guerrieri was among the matches called off.
Organisers now face a packed Wednesday, with a total of 14 first-round matches needing to be completed, including suspended encounters.
(With inputs from Reuters)
