Sporting a 1970s throwback, Alexander Zverev ended his US Open shift victorious at 2:04 a.m. local time on Tuesday morning. The fourth seed, wearing a striped headband, pinstripe shirt and knee-high socks, admitted to staying up beyond his bed time following a 7-6(9), 7-5, 6-4 first-round win over qualifier Darian King on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The German will next face fellow #NextGenATP Borna Coric of Croatia, who is currently No. 3 in the Emirates ATP Race To London for one of the eight places at the Next Gen ATP Finals, to be held from 7-11 November in Milan. Zverev has already booked his place, having won five ATP World Tour titles this year – including two ATP World Tour Masters...
Four of the Top 5 Americans in the Emirates ATP Rankings were in action on opening day of the US Open, with John Isner, Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson all kicking off their campaigns with victories. Jack Sock succumbed to Jordan Thompson in five gripping sets on Louis Armstrong Stadium. Isner overcame Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to improve to 11-1 in the first round at his home Grand Slam. Seeded 10th, the big-serving North Carolina native launched 59 winners, including 22 aces, to advance after two hours and 23 minutes. His return game was on song as well, saving six of seven break points faced. Isner enters New York following one of the best US Open Series campaigns...
Fifth seed Marin Cilic opened his quest for a second US Open crown with a 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over American Tennys Sandgren on Monday. The 2014 winner in Flushing Meadows rifled 55 winners, including 11 aces, to prevail after two hours and 47 minutes. Cilic looked in fine form in his return to action, having withdrawn from the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati with an adductor injury. The Wimbledon finalist will next face Florian Mayer on Wednesday, following the German's 7-5, 0-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Rogerio Dutra Silva. "Everything feels okay physically," said Cilic. "I'm very happy with that. That's the number one thing. It was a good fight towards the end...
Hyeon Chung led the #NextGenATP charge on Monday, beating Horacio Zeballos 3-6, 7-6(8), 6-4, 6-3 at the US Open. The Korean hit 63 winners and saved 12 of the 13 break points he faced to top the Argentine and reach the second round, where he will face No.10 seed John Isner. Jared Donaldson carried the #NextGenATP torch for the Americans on Monday, downing Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-0, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(6). It looked like the first-round affair would head to a fifth set after Basilashvili broke to open the fourth, but Donaldson drew level and eventually converted his second match point in the ensuing tie-break. The Rhode Island native, who stunned David Goffin in last year's opening round, will look to pull...