Zverev into US Open third round after another five-set marathon

Top seed Alexander Zverev claimed a second straight five-set win on Thursday evening to advance to the third round of the US Open.

The German opened his campaign with a five-set win over Lorenzo Sonego after almost five hours. And he got another taste of it in the 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (3-7), 6-3 victory over Frenchman Quentin Halys in New York.

The match ended at 2:15 am (0615 GMT). On Tuesday, the clash against Sonego was over at 1:55 am.

"That's what I go to the gym for," the French Open champion said after the marathon.

"That's what I go to the track for and train for - to be able to come out on top of these difficult moments when you're not playing best, when you're not hitting winners left and right, just getting through these kinds of matches."

Up next for Zverev is 25th seed Alejandro Tabilo on Saturday.

Zverev is one of the top favourites to win the US Open, which would be the second Grand Slam title of his career.  He was a finalist in New York in 2020.

World number one Jannik Sinner of Italy is out with a knee injury, while record Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has already been eliminated. Top contender Carlos Alcaraz, meanwhile, it's returning from injury after a four-month break.