Alexander Zverev survives five-set thriller at the US Open

German tennis player Alexander Zverev won his opening match at the US Open in New York against Italian Lorenzo Sonego in a gripping five-set battle. The match concluded after nearly five hours of play with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4. This marks Zverev's first step in the tournament, as he enters as the number one seed.

The flow of the match was fiercely contested, with Zverev facing a set deficit in the third set. Despite having several opportunities to break Sonego's serve, he was unable to capitalize on those advantages during the game and found himself in a precarious position.

The match took place in the early hours of Wednesday, keeping the players on the court past midnight. Zverev himself commented after the match, highlighting that this might have been his longest first-round match at a Grand Slam.

Zverev's victory over Sonego was crucial in preventing him from becoming the first seeded player since 2003 to lose in the first round of a Grand Slam. However, in the later stages of the match, he managed a pivotal turnaround that secured his advancement to the second round.

According to reports, Zverev is also preparing for another five-set thriller in the second round. Although he triumphed in the first round, there were signs of strain associated with the intense workload.

As the tournament progresses, it will be observed whether Zverev can maintain his fitness and form, especially in light of the upcoming challenges that await him.