Day 3 of the 2026 U.S. Open ended with Alexander Zverev, the tournament’s top men’s seed, narrowly avoiding an early exit after a dramatic five-set struggle against Lorenzo Sonego. The match at Arthur Ashe Stadium lasted close to four hours, with momentum swings and relentless pressure from the Italian challenger. Zverev secured his place in the next round after a contest that tested him physically and mentally.
Persistent rain disrupted the schedule earlier in the day, forcing play to stop on the outer courts. Several first-round matches remain unresolved, leaving a backlog organizers will need to address in the coming days. Despite the weather, basic matches inside the basic stadiums continued: Taylor Fritz, Elena Rybakina, Mirra Andreeva and Madison Keys all advanced. Belinda Bencic, the 12th seed, was eliminated in three sets, adding to the day’s surprises.
Coco Gauff opened the night session with a commanding straight-sets victory, while Alexandra Eala and Gaël Monfils won late-night matches on Louis Armstrong Stadium. The rain delays have left organizers with a challenging schedule: matches will need to be rescheduled, and players may have less time to recover between rounds.
After the marathon win, Zverev acknowledged the intensity of the contest, saying it was one of the longest opening-round matches of his career. He credited Sonego for his level of play and said overcoming such a demanding test could boost his confidence, especially after recent struggles in previous tournaments. How well he recovers and adapts will be closely watched as the competition progresses.
The U.S. Open has a history of adapting to weather challenges. Organizers are expected to prioritize completing outstanding matches, with play set to resume at 11 a.m. ET on all courts except Arthur Ashe, where top matches will begin at 11:30 a.m. The effort to catch up on the schedule may affect player performance and tournament dynamics in the coming days.
While the focus in New York remains on tennis, the broader sports world continues to produce unexpected results and strategic battles. Recent analysis from MotorLand Aragón highlighted how calculated victories can shape a tournament’s narrative. As the U.S. Open continues, players and organizers will need to adapt to changing conditions.
The U.S. Open is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments and is known for its demanding schedule and unpredictable weather. Matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium are often played under a closed roof during rain, but delays on outer courts can disrupt the rhythm for players and fans. The tournament’s outcome can affect player rankings and the broader tennis calendar, particularly when early upsets or scheduling challenges arise. Attention will remain on how top seeds handle the physical and mental demands of back-to-back matches, and whether new contenders emerge from the disrupted draw.
