Zverev Survives Halys Scare to Reach US Open Third Round another Five-Set Epic for Top Seed

Alexander Zverev overcame Frenchman Quentin Halys in another five-set marathon, winning 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-3 in 4 hours and 33 minutes to reach the US Open third round.

Alexander Zverev's US Open campaign has been anything but straightforward. The top seed was pushed to the limit once again, surviving a second-round scare against France's Quentin Halys with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-3 victory that stretched into the early hours of Friday morning at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Another Late-Night Marathon

The German, who had already spent nearly five hours on court in his first-round win over Lorenzo Sonego, was forced to go the distance once more. The match ended at 2:15 AM local time, with Zverev spending close to 10 hours on court across his first two matches. Despite the grueling schedule, Zverev's resilience proved decisive against the world No. 52. He broke early in the fifth set to take a 3-2 lead and never looked back, sealing the win to book a third-round clash with Chile's Alejandro Tabilo.

"The Performance Was Pretty Sh*t"

Zverev was brutally honest in his assessment of his own display. "The performance was quite sh*t to be honest, but I won, that's the most important thing," he said in an on-court interview.

"Another four-and-a-half hour, 2:15 am, that's what I go to the gym for," he added.

The Turning Points

The French Open champion looked in control early, taking the first set on the back of a solitary break. But Halys, who had never beaten a top-five player, responded emphatically by leveling the match and even threatening a major upset by taking a 4-1 lead in the third set. Zverev, visibly frustrated and struggling with the humid conditions, changed his shoes midway through the third set and fought back to force a tiebreak. He took the breaker 7-3, but Halys matched him again in the fourth, dominating the tiebreak to force a decider. In the final set, Zverev's greater experience told. He broke Halys for a 3-2 lead and held his nerve to finish the job after 4 hours and 33 minutes.

Here is the question this grueling victory raises. The top seed has spent nearly ten hours on court across two matches, showing grit but also vulnerability. When a Grand Slam champion survives back-to-back five-set scares, is it a sign of champion resilience or a warning that a deeper run in the draw is unlikely?

FAQ:

Q: How did Alexander Zverev perform in his US Open second-round match?
A: Zverev survived another five-set test, defeating Quentin Halys 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-3 in 4 hours and 33 minutes to reach the third round.

Q: Who will Alexander Zverev face in the US Open third round?
A: Zverev will face Chile's Alejandro Tabilo, the 25th seed, in the third round.

Q: How much time has Alexander Zverev spent on court at the 2026 US Open?
A: Across his first two matches, Zverev has spent nearly 10 hours on court, with his first-round win lasting 4 hours and 53 minutes.

Q: What did Alexander Zverev say about his performance against Halys?
A: Zverev was self-critical, describing his performance as "quite sh*t" but emphasised that winning was the most important thing.

Q: Was Quentin Halys close to beating Zverev?
A: Yes, Halys took a 4-1 lead in the third set and pushed Zverev to a fifth set. He was attempting to become the third Frenchman to defeat Zverev at a Grand Slam.