Top seed Alexander Zverev picked up the pace at the US Open on Saturday, virtually sprinting to a 6-2, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 victory over Alejandro Tabilo to reach the last 16 after labouring through a pair of marathon five-setters. The German had already spent nine hours and 26 minutes on court in his first two matches -- the most time a top seed has needed to reach the third round of a major since 1999.&nbsp;"My coach was actually quite smart -- he explained to me a best of five set match doesn't mean you have to play five sets," quipped the French Open champion, who appeared on a mission to end the trend against Tabilo.&nbsp;Meanwhile the 25th-seeded Chilean was out to avenge a loss to Zverev in the second-round last year on the same Arthur Ashe Stadium court.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/naomi-osaka-shocked-us-open-win-mertens-1788679550853">‘I’m Shocked I Won’: Naomi Osaka reflects on US Open thriller against Mertens</a>&nbsp;Zverev didn't face a break point in a brutally efficient first set, winning all 11 points behind his first serve and five of seven on his second serve. He broke Tabilo twice on the way to pocketing the set in 38 minutes, and broke him again on the way to a 4-2 lead in the second.&nbsp;&nbsp;But Tabilo was finding his footing, and the pace slowed as he turned it into a tight back and forth battle. He got his first whiff of a chance when he went up 0-30 on Zverev's serve in the sixth game of the second set.&nbsp;The German quickly snuffed out the danger, but Tabilo pulled a break back in the eighth, winning three straight games to take a 5-4 lead. He had Zverev on the ropes in the 10th game, threatening to break to take the set.&nbsp;Zverev saved a pair of set points then broke Tabilo in the next game, but the Chilean promptly returned the favour to force a tiebreaker that was all Zverev.&nbsp;Undaunted, Tabilo mustered two break points in the opening game of the third set, both denied by Zverev winners.<h2>Big improvement</h2>That was the last chance Tabilo got, Zverev winning the last four games to take the match after two hours and 26 minutes.&nbsp;"I am definitely happy with the improvements," Zverev said. "I spent 10 hours on the court in two matches so I had to find my rhythm somehow, and I did. From back of the court, I was much better.&nbsp;"I was not happy with the second set," he added. "I think especially the end of the second set I lost focus a little bit. I was not moving as well. I was not playing as well. But I think the first and third sets are big improvement to the other days."&nbsp;Zverev still found himself thanking fans who stayed until after 1:00 am. Thanks to a titanic tussle between Iva Jovic and Alexandra Eala in the first night match Zverev and Tabilo didn't take to the court until nearly 11:00 pm.&nbsp;Zverev will face Italian Luciano Darderi for a place in the quarter-finals after the 21st seed beat Australian wild card Dane Sweeny 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

Alexander Zverev defeated Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets to advance to the US Open fourth round. Read full match reaction after the top seed's Arthur Ashe Stadium victory. 

Top seed Alexander Zverev picked up the pace at the US Open on Saturday, virtually sprinting to a 6-2, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 victory over Alejandro Tabilo to reach the last 16 after labouring through a pair of marathon five-setters. The German had already spent nine hours and 26 minutes on court in his first two matches -- the most time a top seed has needed to reach the third round of a major since 1999. "My coach was actually quite smart -- he explained to me a best of five set match doesn't mean you have to play five sets," quipped the French Open champion, who appeared on a mission to end the trend against Tabilo. Meanwhile the 25th-seeded Chilean was out to avenge a loss to Zverev in the second-round last year on the same Arthur Ashe Stadium court. Also read| ‘I’m Shocked I Won’: Naomi Osaka reflects on US Open thriller against Mertens Zverev didn't face a break point in a brutally efficient first set, winning all 11 points behind his first serve and five of seven on his second serve. He broke Tabilo twice on the way to pocketing the set in 38 minutes, and broke him again on the way to a 4-2 lead in the second. But Tabilo was finding his footing, and the pace slowed as he turned it into a tight back and forth battle. He got his first whiff of a chance when he went up 0-30 on Zverev's serve in the sixth game of the second set. The German quickly snuffed out the danger, but Tabilo pulled a break back in the eighth, winning three straight games to take a 5-4 lead. He had Zverev on the ropes in the 10th game, threatening to break to take the set. Zverev saved a pair of set points then broke Tabilo in the next game, but the Chilean promptly returned the favour to force a tiebreaker that was all Zverev. Undaunted, Tabilo mustered two break points in the opening game of the third set, both denied by Zverev winners. Big improvement That was the last chance Tabilo got, Zverev winning the last four games to take the match after two hours and 26 minutes. "I am definitely happy with the improvements," Zverev said. "I spent 10 hours on the court in two matches so I had to find my rhythm somehow, and I did. From back of the court, I was much better. "I was not happy with the second set," he added. "I think especially the end of the second set I lost focus a little bit. I was not moving as well. I was not playing as well. But I think the first and third sets are big improvement to the other days." Zverev still found himself thanking fans who stayed until after 1:00 am. Thanks to a titanic tussle between Iva Jovic and Alexandra Eala in the first night match Zverev and Tabilo didn't take to the court until nearly 11:00 pm. Zverev will face Italian Luciano Darderi for a place in the quarter-finals after the 21st seed beat Australian wild card Dane Sweeny 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

Alexander Zverev defeated Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets to advance to the US Open fourth round. Read full match reaction after the top seed's Arthur Ashe Stadium victory.&nbsp;

Top seed Alexander Zverev beats Tabilo in straight sets to reach US Open fourth round

Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka survived another erratic outing, beating Belgian Elise Mertens 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 on Saturday to reach the US Open fourth round. Osaka had 41 unforced errors, her backhand in particular letting her down as she was unable to build on a comfortable first set for the second straight match.&nbsp;WATCH Osaka's Winning Moment -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Naomi survives the storm 🌪️ Osaka battles past Mertens 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 after a dramatic deciding set. <a href="https://t.co/1F4m2VyE4R">pic.twitter.com/1F4m2VyE4R</a>&mdash; US Open Tennis (@usopen) <a href="https://x.com/usopen/status/2096416463301079317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"I'm literally shocked that I won this match," Osaka, seeded 13th, told an adoring crowd in Louis Armstrong Stadium. "There was a certain point where I felt like I put my entire heart on the court. I just kept trying every point."&nbsp;After an early exchange of breaks in the second set, Osaka failed to convert a pair of chances and Mertens broke again for a 5-3 lead. Osaka gifted the Belgian two break points with a double fault, saving one with a forehand winner before sailing a backhand wide.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/alexander-zverev-beats-alejandro-tabilo-us-open-fourth-round-1788680367665">Top seed Alexander Zverev beats Tabilo in straight sets to reach US Open fourth round</a>&nbsp;Mertens finally took the set when Osaka dumped a backhand into the net.&nbsp;Mertens kept the pressure on in the third and was rewarded with a break for a 3-2 lead, aided by a string of backhand errors from Osaka.&nbsp;Osaka was clearly frustrated, berating herself and exchanging some testy words with her team.&nbsp;"I didn't feel like I played amazing, it was really getting me down," she told the crowd, offering an apology for her behaviour.&nbsp;She was down a break trailing 4-3 when she took a medical timeout for treatment on her left calf and ankle. Osaka returned with renewed vigor, breaking Mertens at love for 4-4 and saving a break point in the next game for a 5-4 lead.&nbsp;Mertens didn't go quietly, saving a match point on the way to 5-5 and saving two more in the final game before Osaka secured the win.

Naomi Osaka admitted she was "shocked" to beat Elise Mertens in a three-set US Open thriller. Read her candid post-match reaction after advancing to the fourth round. 

Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka survived another erratic outing, beating Belgian Elise Mertens 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 on Saturday to reach the US Open fourth round. Osaka had 41 unforced errors, her backhand in particular letting her down as she was unable to build on a comfortable first set for the second straight match. WATCH Osaka's Winning Moment -

Naomi Osaka admitted she was "shocked" to beat Elise Mertens in a three-set US Open thriller. Read her candid post-match reaction after advancing to the fourth round.&nbsp;

‘I’m Shocked I Won’: Naomi Osaka reflects on US Open thriller against Mertens

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Top seed Alexander Zverev beats Tabilo in straight sets to reach US Open fourth round

‘I’m Shocked I Won’: Naomi Osaka reflects on US Open thriller against Mertens