Zverev defeated Quentin Halys in five sets to reach the third round of the 2026 US Open. The German won 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-3 in New York. The victory keeps the top seed’s campaign alive after another demanding contest.
Zverev will face 25th seed Alejandro Tabilo next at Flushing Meadows on September 5, 2026.
In this article, we will see the key moments, match score, shoe change, marathon workload, and Zverev’s next challenge.
Zverev Overcomes Halys After Five-Set Battle
Zverev made a better start to the chase and claimed the opening set 6-4 against Halys. The German secured the only break needed during the opening set and protected his advantage. Halys then raised his level and took the second set 6-4 to level the match.
The third set became a major turning point as Halys moved 4-1 ahead. Zverev recovered the deficit and brought the set back to 4-4. The German then took control of the tiebreak and won it 7-3.
Halys once again refused to let the match slip away in the fourth set. He forced another tiebreak after the players stayed level through the set. The Frenchman won the breaker 7-3 and sent the match into a deciding fifth set.
Zverev Finds the Break He Needs in the Fifth Set
The deciding set finally gave Zverev the opening needed to move ahead. He secured a break for a 4-2 lead and put himself in a stronger position. Halys could not produce another comeback as the German protected his advantage.
Zverev continued to apply pressure as the final set moved towards its conclusion. He created another opportunity on Halys’ serve and moved closer to victory. The German eventually closed out the deciding set 6-3.
The victory came after 4 hours and 33 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match finished shortly after 2:15 a.m. local time in New York. Zverev therefore completed another late-night marathon to keep his tournament alive.
Zverev’s Unusual Shoe Change During the Match
An unusual moment occurred during the third set while Halys had built a 4-1 lead. Zverev requested permission to change his shoes while facing two break points. The chair umpire permitted the change before play resumed.
The interruption came during a difficult period for the German. Halys had already taken control of the set and was applying pressure. Zverev then recovered from the deficit and eventually won the set in a tiebreak.
The incident quickly became one of the match’s talking points. However, the more important development came from Zverev’s recovery afterward. He turned a difficult third-set position into a set victory before eventually winning the match.
Zverev Completes Another Five-Set Marathon
The victory marked Zverev’s second consecutive five-set match at the 2026 US Open. His opening-round battle against Lorenzo Sonego had lasted 4 hours and 53 minutes. He had also finished the match against Sonego after midnight in New York.
The Halys contest added another 4 hours and 33 minutes to his workload. Zverev has therefore spent almost ten hours on court across his first two matches. Both victories have also required him to win a deciding fifth set.
The demanding opening comes during his first Grand Slam as the top seed. Zverev also arrived in New York as the reigning French Open champion. He won his maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros earlier in 2026.
What’s Next for Zverev at the US Open?
Zverev will face Alejandro Tabilo next, with their head-to-head record favouring the German 2-0. They met at the 2024 Rome Masters and 2025 US Open, and Zverev won both matches.
Tabilo’s left-handed angles could challenge Zverev’s baseline game and two-handed backhand. However, Zverev’s power from the baseline gives him a strong platform for controlling longer exchanges against Tabilo.
The matchup could become even more interesting because Zverev has already played two consecutive five-set matches. With almost 10 hours on court, his physical condition could play an important role against Tabilo.
Conclusion
The victory keeps Zverev’s campaign on course after a difficult opening stretch in New York. More importantly, it gives the top seed another opportunity to build on his Grand Slam progress.
His ability to navigate difficult matches will remain important as the tournament moves deeper into the draw. For now, Zverev can take confidence from surviving another major test and maintaining his title hopes.
