Alexander Zverev ends US Open night tied with Quentin Halys
Alexander Zverev closed US Open Day 5 still locked with Quentin Halys after a tough path into the second round. The No. 1 seed needed a Round 1 five-setter that finished near 2 a.m., and preview analysts favored him to advance—yet the Frenchman's aggressive baseline game kept the night unfinished and tied.
Key Takeaways
- No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev ended US Open Day 5 still tied with Quentin Halys in their second-round clash.
- Zverev had already survived a Round 1 scare, leaving the court around 2 a.m. after a five-setter.
- Preview picks from Last Word On Sports unanimously favored Zverev, projecting a win in three or four sets.
- Analysts flagged Halys's aggressive baseline style as a past trouble spot for the German on hard courts.
- Day 5 was set to wrap the men's second round with 16 matches, keeping the third-round picture incomplete overnight.
What happened to Alexander Zverev on Day 5?
According to live coverage from TennisUpToDate, Alexander Zverev's night finished still tied with Quentin Halys as second-round play continued at Flushing Meadows. The German, the tournament's No. 1 seed, had been "pinned against the wall" in his opener and was hoping for a smoother path this time.
That hope met a familiar challenge. Halys, a veteran Frenchman, arrived with an aggressive baseline game that has troubled Zverev before. For fans chasing oddball sports twists alongside the usual draw drama, more offbeat headlines live in our Bizarre News & Florida Man hub.
Why did the Zverev–Halys matchup matter so much?
Day 5 was scheduled to finish the men's second round, with 16 matches on the board despite rainy conditions earlier in the 2026 US Open. Advancing would keep Zverev on track in what one preview called an open draw.
The context of his Round 1 scare matters. Last Word On Sports reported that Zverev left the court at 2 a.m. after a five-set opener and has struggled on hard courts this summer. A long night against Halys only adds to the physical load as the third-round lineup nears completion.
For the full Day 5 men's preview board, including Mensik–Rodionov and Tien–Monfils takes, see the Last Word On Sports US Open predictions.
Who did analysts pick before Alexander Zverev faced Halys?
Before the ball was struck, three Last Word On Sports voices all backed Zverev. Zain Mustafa and Yesh Ginsburg each projected Zverev in four sets. Shane Black went further, calling the overnight scare the jolt Zverev needed and picking him in three.
Mustafa still warned the tie could get trickier than the seed would like. Ginsburg noted Zverev "did not look good" in round one and would need a higher level. Those caveats aged well once Day 5 closed with the pair still tied.
What else defined men's Day 5 at the US Open?
Beyond the Zverev–Halys stalemate, TennisUpToDate flagged Felix Auger-Aliassime versus Karen Khachanov as another heavyweight second-round test. Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, Lorenzo Musetti, and Flavio Cobolli were also in the hunt for third-round spots.
Learner Tien against Gael Monfils was billed as a blockbuster, with preview writers split on whether the young American or the crowd-fueled Frenchman would prevail. Until unfinished business like Zverev–Halys is resolved, the third-round board remains a work in progress.