Zverev Advances to US Open Quarterfinals

Top-seeded Alexander Zverev advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Open 2026 on Monday, defeating Italy's Luciano Darderi in straight sets. Zverev secured his place in the next round with a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) victory on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court, a performance that marked a significant step forward in his tournament campaign. After navigating his first two matches in grueling five-set contests, Zverev expressed satisfaction with his improved level of play. "I think it was another step forward, which I'm very happy about," Zverev said. "I thought the third-round match was a big step forward compared to the first two matches, which was very, very needed. And yeah, I'm happy to be in the quarterfinals with this kind of performance." Zverev, who admitted to struggling with confidence on American hard courts coming into the tournament, credited his early-round wins for helping him find his rhythm. "I was struggling on the American hard courts, so I didn't come in with a lot of confidence initially," he explained. "I think I really needed, especially the first round, I really needed a win like that.