Alexander Zverev worked deep into the night to get into the U.S. Open's second round.
The No. 4-seeded Zverev made it through a tight first set and eventually wrested control for a 7-6 (9), 7-5, 6-4 victory over 168th-ranked Darian King, the first player from Barbados to participate in the main draw at any Grand Slam tournament.
The match finished a little past 2 a.m. on Tuesday; the record for latest U.S. Open finish is 2:26 a.m., which has happened three times.
Zverev vs. King didn't get started in Arthur Ashe Stadium until after 11 p.m. on Monday, because it followed Maria Sharapova's three-set win against Simona Halep - which itself followed the opening-night ceremony.
Zverev is a 20-year-old German considered the Next Big Thing in men's tennis. He has won two Masters titles - the men's tier right below the majors - this season, including by beating Roger Federer in the hard-court final at Montreal this month.
Zverev needed four set points to finally close the 80-minute opener against King, who had two set points of his own.
