German tennis player Alexander Zverev faced an extremely difficult first-round match at the US Open. The player needed five sets and over four hours of play to manage to overcome Frenchman Quentin Halys, demonstrating that the path in the tournament would not be easy at all.
The confrontation took place on the same day that another Frenchman, Gaël Monfils, made his farewell from Grand Slam tournaments. Monfils' elimination marked the end of a career of almost two decades on the professional circuit, coinciding with an emotional day for French tennis.
Zverev, who has been world number two and won the Tokyo Olympics, showed difficulties throughout the match. The prolonged battle against Halys highlighted the competitiveness that characterizes first-round matches at Grand Slam tournaments, where lower-ranked players frequently surprise the favorites.
