NEW YORK — Alexander Zverev is through to the third round of the 2026 US Open—but once again, the top seed was pushed to the absolute limit.
The reigning French Open champion survived Frenchman Quentin Halys in a dramatic five-set battle, winning 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-3 on Thursday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The victory keeps Zverev’s bid for a first US Open title alive, but the manner of his progression will raise questions about how much more punishment the German can absorb as the tournament moves deeper into the draw.
Zverev pushed to the brink again
Zverev appeared to have control after taking the opening set 6-4, but Halys immediately responded.
The Frenchman attacked aggressively in the second set and levelled the match at one set apiece, forcing the No. 1 seed into another lengthy battle just days after his exhausting first-round encounter with Lorenzo Sonego.
The third set became even more dramatic.
Zverev surrendered an early break and found himself trailing 1-4, putting his campaign in serious danger. Instead of allowing the match to slip away, however, the German fought his way back, levelled the set and eventually won the tiebreak 7-3 to move within one set of victory.
Halys refused to fold.
The Frenchman took the fourth set in another tiebreak, 7-3, sending the match into a deciding fifth set and leaving the top seed facing another potential upset.
Zverev keeps his nerve in the decider
With the match hanging in the balance, Zverev finally found the opening he needed.
He built a 4-2 advantage in the fifth set, including a key overhead smash at the net, before raising his level again late in the contest.
Halys eventually committed an error on match point, allowing Zverev to close out the four-hour, 33-minute battle and book his place in the third round.
The win was Zverev’s second consecutive five-set victory at this year’s US Open.
His opening-round match against Lorenzo Sonego had also gone the full distance, meaning the German has already spent close to 10 hours on court across his first two matches.
Zverev admits his performance was far from perfect
Despite reaching the next round, Zverev was blunt about his own performance after the match.
The German acknowledged that his tennis was not at the level he wanted, but emphasized that getting through the match was ultimately what mattered.
He also joked about finishing another marathon match deep into the night, highlighting just how physically demanding his start to the tournament has been.
That resilience could prove crucial as the tournament progresses.
Alejandro Tabilo awaits in the third round
Zverev’s next opponent will be 25th seed Alejandro Tabilo of Chile.
That creates another intriguing test for the top seed, who has already been forced to fight through two difficult matches rather than cruising through the opening rounds.
Tabilo advanced to the third round after defeating Alexei Popyrin, setting up the clash with Zverev.
For Zverev, the objective remains clear: win enough matches to claim the US Open championship that has so far eluded him.
But after two consecutive five-set battles, the question is no longer simply whether the top seed can survive.
How much more can Zverev’s body and game withstand before the US Open finally catches up with him?
For now, the German is still standing—and still chasing his first title in New York.
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