Olympic champ Zverev tops Querrey

NEW YORK – Olympic gold medalist Alexander Zverev ran his winning streak to 12 matches by beating Sam Querrey 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 on Tuesday in the first round of the U.S. Open.

The No. 4 seed from Germany stopped Novak Djokovic's quest for a Golden Slam in Tokyo and is among the players with the best chance to prevent a Grand Slam in New York.

Zverev, the runner-up here last year, followed up his victory in the Olympics by winning the hard-court title at Cincinnati.

“I've won two tournaments, I'm on a 12-match winning streak,” Zverev said. “I hope I can keep the level up and maybe even play better, because to beat Novak here is going to be an extremely difficult task.”

Djokovic plays his first-round match Tuesday night against Danish qualifier Holger Rune. The top-ranked Djokovic is trying to become the first men's player since 1969 to win all four Grand Slam

tournaments in one year.

Djokovic would break a tie with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for most major titles among men if he wins the tournament. They all have 20.

The No. 1 seed on the women's side was also in action, with Ash Barty holding off 2010 U.S. Open runner-up Vera Zvonareva 6-1, 7-6 (7).

USA TODAY SPORTS Alexander Zverev hits to Sam Querrey in their first-round U.S. Open match Tuesday in New York. Zverev, the Olympic gold medalist this summer, won 6-4, 7-5, 6-2.