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Almost five hours of agony for the first carrier.
Slovenia⚽ Sports9/2/2026

Almost five hours of agony for the first carrier.

Alexander Zverev, the top-seeded tennis player at this year's US Open, had to fight hard to advance to the second round, winning against Italian Lorenzo Sonega after five sets and nearly four hours of play. Zverev, who won his first Grand Slam title in Paris earlier this year and reached the Wimbledon final, faced a tough challenge against Sonega, who was close to causing an upset by leading in the fourth set and having two match points in the fifth. Zverev managed to save both break points and eventually won the match. Other notable matches included Novak Djokovic, who had a difficult time but ultimately advanced, and American Taylor Fritz, who easily defeated his opponent. The weather affected the schedule, with most matches taking place on indoor courts due to rain.

Alexander Zverev secured his first-round victory at the US Open after nearly five hours of intense play against Italy's Lorenzo Sonego. The match concluded just before two o'clock in the morning in New York with a scoreline of 6:4, 3:6, 6:7, 7:5, 6:4. This was Zverev’s longest first-round match on a Grand Slam tournament, and he expressed relief at finally securing the win. “I needed this victory because usually after such matches, good things happen in the continuation of the tournament,” Zverev stated following the match. The German top seed faced challenges early on, particularly against Sonego, who had struggled throughout the season and had only won two consecutive matches all year. Despite being ranked 89th in the world, Sonego came close to pulling off an upset, leading 5:4 in the fourth set and having two points to win the match. However, Zverev managed to hold his serve and eventually took control of the fifth set, winning the crucial points to secure the victory. In other men’s matches, Flavio Cobolli, the highest-ranked Italian player in the absence of injured Jannik Sinner, defeated Argentina’s Francisco Comesani in four sets. Meanwhile, American Taylor Fritz, the 2022 US Open finalist, advanced comfortably against his fellow countryman Darwin Blanch with a straight-set victory. On the women’s side, most matches were decided in two sets. Kazakhstan’s second seed Elena Rybakina defeated Dutch player Thee Frodinn with ease, while fourth-seeded Cori Gauff beat Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez. Fifth-seed Mirra Andrejeva of Russia also progressed smoothly past Indonesia’s Janice Tjen. Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, suffered a dramatic defeat in his opening match against Argentine Mariano Navone. The match lasted four hours and 36 minutes, ending with Djokovic losing 6:7 (5), 7:5, 6:4, 2:6, 1:6. Djokovic appeared visibly fatigued during the match, often clutching his chest and showing signs of physical discomfort. He admitted that the high humidity and heat contributed significantly to his struggles, adding that his body had been under stress for several years due to recurring health issues. Djokovic’s wife, Jelena, watched from the stands, while his children cheered him on whenever he managed to score a point. Despite taking tablets, using inhalers, and seeking medical attention, Djokovic ultimately succumbed to fatigue and lost the match. This marked his first loss in the first round of the US Open in his 20 appearances at the tournament, with his last first-round exit dating back to 2006 at the Australian Open. Meanwhile, Venus Williams made her return to the US Open at age 46, playing in the main draw with a special invitation from the organizers. She faced American Sofia Kenin in her opening match and lost 2:6, 6:7 (6), extending her streak of consecutive losses to 15. This result sparked discussions about whether the organizers should have invited a younger player instead, given the financial implications of competing at a Grand Slam level. Other notable performances included Carlos Alcaraz, who easily advanced to the second round with a convincing win over Portugal’s Jaime Faria. Alcaraz praised the electric atmosphere on Arthur Ashe Stadium during the evening session. In the women’s draw, top seed Aryna Sabalenka continued her strong performance, defeating Russian Polina Zharikova in less than an hour. Sabalenka aims to make history by becoming the third woman to achieve three consecutive titles at the US Open. The US Open continues with more matches scheduled for the day, including a highly anticipated clash between French player Gael Monfils and Colombia’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo. Monfils, celebrating his 40th birthday, faces the challenge of concluding his career on a high note. Other matches include Taylor Fritz versus Darwin Blanch and Alexander Zverev facing Lorenzo Sonego again in the second round.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 2 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

3 reports

Siol.net logoSiol.netState / PublicCenterFactual 90Objective 909/1/2026
Flavio Cobolli lost the first two rounds, but advanced to the fifth.

Flavio Cobolli, seeded fifth at the US Open tennis tournament, lost the first two sets against Francisco Comesano but eventually won the match after nearly four hours of play. The Italian player, who reached the Roland Garros final this year, made a remarkable comeback by changing his clothes during the break, which he claimed helped him refocus. In contrast, Taylor Fritz advanced smoothly to the second round with a straight-set victory over fellow American Darwin Blanch. Other matches saw Mattia Bellucci defeat Zsombor Piros and Rafael Jodar narrowly beat Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Bias read (Center): The article focuses solely on sports results and does not involve any political figures, policies, or contentious issues. It provides straightforward reporting on tennis match outcomes without any apparent bias or framing that suggests a political angle.

Why factuality (90): This article accurately reports the match between Zverev and Sonego, providing detailed scorelines and match duration. It also mentions Cobolli's victory over Comesana and Fritz's win over Blanch. These details align closely with the cross-source consensus and are well-supported by the narrative.

Why objectivity (90): The article maintains an objective tone throughout, presenting match results and player statements without editorializing or biased language. It focuses on factual reporting while quoting players directly, maintaining neutrality.

Žurnal24 logoŽurnal24IndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 759/2/2026
Almost five hours of agony for the first carrier.

Alexander Zverev, the top-seeded tennis player at this year's US Open, had to fight hard to advance to the second round, winning against Italian Lorenzo Sonega after five sets and nearly four hours of play. Zverev, who won his first Grand Slam title in Paris earlier this year and reached the Wimbledon final, faced a tough challenge against Sonega, who was close to causing an upset by leading in the fourth set and having two match points in the fifth. Zverev managed to save both break points and eventually won the match. Other notable matches included Novak Djokovic, who had a difficult time but ultimately advanced, and American Taylor Fritz, who easily defeated his opponent. The weather affected the schedule, with most matches taking place on indoor courts due to rain.

Bias read (Center): The article focuses solely on sports events and does not involve any political topics, figures, or policies. It provides a balanced account of the tennis matches without showing any particular bias towards any players or outcomes.

Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports the match details between Alexander Zverev and Lorenzo Sonego at the US Open, including the scoreline, duration, and key moments. It also provides context about Zverev’s previous achievements and his current form. The information aligns with the cross-source consensus

Why objectivity (75): The article presents the match objectively but includes some emotionally charged quotes from Zverev, such as referring to the match as 'my longest first-round match at Grand Slam tournaments.' While informative, this adds a slight subjective tone. The rest of the content remains neutral.

Siol.net logoSiol.netState / PublicCenterFactual 75Objective 859/1/2026
A bolt under great pressure, Monfils on his birthday in the last big dance

The article discusses upcoming tennis matches at the US Open, focusing on Alexander Zverev and Gael Monfils. Zverev, who previously won the French Open and reached Wimbledon finals, faces Lorenzo Sonego in his third day at the tournament. Monfils, celebrating his 40th birthday, starts his final Grand Slam event against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo. The article also mentions Taylor Fritz competing against 18-year-old Darwin Blanch. Several other matches are highlighted, including notable pairings between players from different countries.

Bias read (Center): The article provides a straightforward report on tennis matches without any overt ideological or political framing. It focuses on player performances, match-ups, and background information without taking sides or using biased language.

Why factuality (75): The article provides general information about the tournament, including player names, match pairings, and some quotes from Zverev. However, it lacks specific details about match outcomes or scores. The content aligns with the broader consensus found in other articles but does not provide enough dep

Why objectivity (85): The tone remains largely neutral, focusing on facts and match schedules. It includes direct quotes from players without apparent bias. However, it lacks deeper analysis or commentary, which could have introduced more objectivity if present.

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