US Open: Alexander Zverev embraces the night and reaches the fourth round

Alexander Zverev has played four matches and worked four late shifts, if he gets his way. After reaching the US Open round of 16, the German said he would gladly return for another night session.

“I don’t want to play during the day because I’m in rhythm,” Zverev said after beating Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 in the third round in New York. He has adapted to the tournament’s unusual hours and said he has not gone to sleep before 4 or 5 a.m. so far. “I don’t want to play at 12 now,” he said.

Zverev expects to face Italy’s Luciano Darderi in the evening at Arthur Ashe Stadium. He said the tournament director had given him a choice. His form also improved in his third match after two difficult five-set battles. The Hamburg player looked much sharper in the first and third sets and recovered from moments of frustration.

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I don’t want to play during the day because I’m in rhythm.

Early in the third set, Zverev angrily threw his racket against the wall behind the baseline. After 2 hours and 25 minutes, however, he was celebrating at 1:09 a.m.

His chances of winning a second Grand Slam title are also growing as the leading competition weakens. American rival Taylor Fritz and French Open finalist Flavio Cobolli of Italy were the latest potential title contenders to leave the tournament. Third seed Félix Auger-Aliassime and Novak Djokovic had already suffered early exits, while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner is absent with an injury.

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I don’t want to play at 12 now.