Zverev Survives 5-Set Scare, Gauff Opens US Open Title Bid

Top-seeded Alexander Zverev survived a first-round scare at the US Open, rallying to beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4 in a match that lasted 4 hours, 52 minutes and ended early Wednesday morning.

It was Zverev's first time as the No. 1 seed at a Grand Slam tournament, a spot he inherited after top-ranked Jannik Sinner withdrew because of a right knee injury. Had Zverev lost, he would have been the first top-seeded man to fall in the first round of a major since Lleyton Hewitt lost to Ivo Karlovic at Wimbledon in 2003.

"I'm happy that I won this kind of battle," Zverev said. "This is exactly the match that I needed."

The French Open champion's win came two nights after 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic, the No. 4 seed, was eliminated in five sets.

Coco Gauff had a smoother path, opening her defense of last year's title with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey. Gauff regained control midway through the second set after Sonmez raised her level of play.

"I know that I can raise my level if I need to do and I like to challenge my opponent to let them keep up the level the whole match," Gauff said. "And if they do, I clap my hands and I walk off court with my head held high."

Gauff will face either Paula Badosa or Daria Kasatkina in the second round. She arrives in New York with momentum after winning in Cincinnati and reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon and Toronto this season.

Elsewhere on a rain-disrupted day, No. 5 seed Flavio Cobolli rallied from two sets down to beat Francisco Comesana in 4 hours, 12 minutes, and No. 32 seed Maria Sakkari came back from 6-2, 4-0 down to beat Robin Montgomery. No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz and French Open champion Mirra Andreeva both advanced in straight sets, while No. 22 seed Madison Keys beat 19-year-old Alina Korneeva.