Alexander Zverev advanced to the US Open fourth round with a straight-sets victory over Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, winning 6:2, 7:6 (7:2), 6:2 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. The 29-year-old German navigated a turbulent second set and a brief moment of frustration in the third to secure the win in two hours and 25 minutes, preserving vital energy after enduring grueling marathons in his opening rounds.
Overcoming Late-Night Fatigue and Early Struggles
Threatening another exhausting night session following matches that ended at 1.55 a.m. and 2.15 a.m. in the tournament’s first week, Zverev wasted little time seizing control. He broke Tabilo twice in the opening stages to race to a 3:0 lead, closing out the first set in just 38 minutes while firing effectively on his first serve.
Tabilo, ranked No. 28 globally, struggled to find a foothold inside the massive Flushing Meadows venue. Despite vocal pockets of supporters attempting to rally the Chilean player from the upper tier with traditional chants, Zverev kept the pressure pinned until late in the second set. A rare double fault from Zverev allowed Tabilo back into the contest before the German regrouped, faving down two set points and claiming the subsequent tiebreak 7:2.
Frustration and a Momentary Outburst
Frustrations surfaced briefly at the start of the third set when Zverev smashed his racket against the back wall behind the baseline following a series of unforced errors. The minor disciplinary incident did little to derail his momentum. Once Zverev secured a service break to move ahead 4:2, Tabilo’s resistance faded, and the match concluded at 1:09 a.m. local time.
The triumph marked Zverev’s 16th victory against left-handed opponents, a statistic aided by a practice session earlier in the day with his brother, Mischa Zverev. Having spent roughly nine and a half hours on court across his first two rounds, the French Open champion successfully avoided another draining five-set battle.
Opening the Path Through a Shaking Draw
Zverev’s path toward a second Grand Slam title has opened significantly following a series of early exits among top contenders. Over the weekend, American rival Taylor Fritz and Italian finalist Flavio Cobolli bowed out of the tournament. Their departures followed earlier eliminations of third-seeded Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime, Novak Djokovic, and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who missed the event due to injury.
As the sole remaining man to reach the fourth round at all four major tournaments this calendar year, Zverev turns his preparation toward his next challenge. He faces 21st-seeded Italian Luciano Darderi in the Round of 16.
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