Alexander Zverev by no means dropped his serve regardless of the gusting wind to assert a 6-4 7-6(3) win over final weekend’s Washington Open finalist Tallon Griekspoor of their first-round match.
Little separated the pair till the 2017 champion earned the competition’s first break level alternative on set level, which he transformed when Griekspoor allowed a backhand passing shot to go previous him.
The ball dropped in for the winner, and the towering German set free a triumphant roar.
Zverev rode that momentum within the second set and took agency management when an more and more dejected Griekspoor shanked a forehand to offer Zverev a 4-2 lead within the second set breaker.
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Zverev’s twelfth ace introduced up match level and he sealed the win on an errant backhand by the Dutch participant.
The match was Zverev’s first on the laborious courtroom summer time swing main as much as the U.S. Open as he seems to be to proceed to construct confidence on the floor following the brutal ankle harm he suffered at Roland Garros in 2022.
“All in all, it was a good first hard court match in over four months for me,” he mentioned.
“Especially since the last time I was on a hard court, I was still not 100% healthy with my ankle. I’m moving very different, sliding around the court more now.
“Generally, I’m extremely happy because he’s playing at a very high level at the moment.”
Next up for Zverev is Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Zverev holds a 3-0 lifetime document in opposition to the Spaniard.
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Alex de Minaur fought again from a 5-3 first-set deficit to upset eleventh seed Cameron Norrie 7-5 6-4.
Norrie appeared rattled after he didn’t serve out the primary set and struggled to get again on observe because the speedy de Minaur stayed on the assault.
The Australian will subsequent face Gabriel Diallo after the Canadian outlasted Washington Open champion Dan Evans of England 7-6(4) 7-5.
Rising American Ben Shelton beat Spain’s Bernabe Zapata Miralles 7-6(1) 6-4 beneath the lights and can face world primary Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz within the second spherical on Wednesday.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com