{"id":62785,"date":"2026-09-02T04:50:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T04:50:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/tennis\/62785\/"},"modified":"2026-09-02T04:50:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T04:50:15","slug":"us-open-2026-top-seed-alexander-zverevs-huge-scare-in-first-round-match-alex-de-minaur-match-delayed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/tennis\/62785\/","title":{"rendered":"US Open 2026: Top seed Alexander Zverev\u2019s huge scare in first round match, Alex de Minaur match delayed"},"content":{"rendered":"

Top seed Alexander Zverev is facing a battle to survive his first round clash at the US Open. <\/p>\n

Zverev won the first set against Lorenzo Songeo 6-4, only for the Italian to respond by taking the second and third sets 6-3 7-6. <\/p>\n

The last top seed to be knocked out in the first round of a men\u2019s singles grand slam was Lleyton Hewitt at the 2002 Australian Open. <\/p>\n

Zverev, who won his maiden grand slam title and was runner-up to Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon, is looking to win a second grand slam after Sinner withdrew with injury, while Carlos Alcaraz is back from a long lay-off with a wrist injury. <\/p>\n

Kokkinakis admits career at crossroads<\/p>\n

Thanasi Kokkinakis has conceded he may have played the US Open for the final time after pulling out of his first round match due to injury. <\/p>\n

Kokkinakis used his protected ranking to ensure he had a place in the US Open main draw, but he didn\u2019t even make it onto court for his match against Spanish young gun Rafael Jodar on Wednesday (AEST). <\/p>\n

The 30-year-old suffered a nasty ankle sprain last month at the Cincinnati Masters, that left him writhing on the court in pain. <\/p>\n

Kokkinakis had been aiming to recover in time for the final grand slam of the year, but he was unable to be fit for his match in New York. <\/p>\n

\"Tennis<\/p>\n

After years of dealing with countless injuries, Kokkinakis has grown frustrated with his body letting him down. <\/p>\n

Kokkinakis said it\u2019s a \u201cpossibility\u201d he may have played his final US Open match. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going to say never,\u201d he told AAP. \u201cThe thing is I feel like the tennis part, I\u2019ve still got a lot of good tennis left in me.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the limited matches that I\u2019ve played, I\u2019ve shown that I\u2019m more than good enough to still compete and then beat some good players.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, to be honest, I\u2019m sick of going into tournaments not feeling like I can do it physically and everyone asks me how my body is.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said he planned to focus on being fit for next year\u2019s Australian Open and would reassess his career after that. <\/p>\n

Aussies win, secure huge paydays<\/p>\n

Alex de Minaur\u2019s first round match against Italy\u2019s Andrea Guerrrieri was scheduled for Wednesday (AEST) but has been postponed to Thursday (AEST) due to rain in New York. <\/p>\n

It means the sixth seed, Australia\u2019s highest ranked player, will be playing his first round match on the fourth day of the US Open and will have a condensed schedule going forward in the tournament. <\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s strong start to the US Open continued with Dane Sweeny and Tristan Schoolkate winning through to the second round at Flushing Meadows. <\/p>\n

Sweeney defeated France\u2019s Corentin Moutet 7-6 6-4 3-0 in a walkover \u2014 he was well on top when his opponent retired midway through the third set. <\/p>\n

Moutet wanted to retire before calling for the physio, but after being told by the umpire he couldn\u2019t retire, Moutet called for the physio and received treatment before stopping the match soon after.<\/p>\n

Schoolkate defeated the USA\u2019s Nishesh Basavareddy 7-6 3-6 6-3 6-4, firing 25 aces to move into the second round. <\/p>\n

Sweeny and Schoolkate join fellow Australians Alexei Popyrin, James Duckworth, Kim Birrell, Taylah Preston and Maya Joint in the second round. <\/p>\n

The successful Aussie contingent will pocket $190,000 (AUD$265,000) each for reaching the second round. <\/p>\n

Retiring Frenchman Gael Monfils defeated Dani Vallegjo 2-6 6- 6-2 6-0 to reach the second round on his 40th birthday. <\/p>\n

Monfils turned back the clock in a blistering performance which featured a trademark mid-air forehand rocket winner.<\/p>\n

Originally published as US Open: Top seed\u2019s huge scare in 24-year first, Kokkinakis\u2019 brutal admission after withdrawal<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Top seed Alexander Zverev is facing a battle to survive his first round clash at the US 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