Alexander Zverev is not yet in top form in Paris. However, it was still enough to advance to the third round—because he improved against a Dutch opponent.
One shaky set, three sets like in training: After initial difficulties, tennis star Alexander Zverev easily reached the third round of the French Open. Last year’s finalist defeated Dutch player Jesper de Jong 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 in Paris. Zverev converted his second match point after 2 hours and 58 minutes and followed Daniel Altmaier into the third round. In the women’s competition, however, all German players have already been eliminated.
Zverev got off to a weak start in the third-largest stadium at the complex. The 28-year-old seemed a little sleepy and not really prepared for his opponent. De Jong repeatedly annoyed the world number three with his short balls, which Zverev couldn’t reach because he was standing too far behind the baseline. Zverev also made some unusual mistakes on overhead shots. All in all, this led to a 6-3 win for the Dutchman after 47 minutes.
“The first set was definitely not my best tennis,” Zverev admitted in an interview on court. ‘Then I improved, and I can be very happy with sets two, three and four.’
Improvement at the start of the second set
Zverev also had a scare at the start of the second set. The Hamburg native had to fend off two break points, but mastered the critical phase and shortly afterwards achieved his first break himself. Zverev now found his rhythm and had the match firmly under control from then on. While Zverev finally played more consistently, de Jong was unable to maintain his good level from the first set and had no chance from then on.
Sets two, three, and four were nothing more than a good training session for Zverev. Even two discussions with the umpire about ball marks couldn’t rattle Germany’s best tennis player. Unlike almost all other tournaments, there is no electronic line monitoring in Paris. Instead, line judges make the decisions.
Now against an Italian
In the battle to reach the round of 16, Zverev will now face Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, who defeated his compatriot Matteo Arnaldi. Cobolli recently impressed in Hamburg, winning the title at the Rothenbaum. Zverev was knocked out in the round of 16 there and complained of nausea and fever afterwards.
However, that was not the reason for his weak performance against de Jong at the start. “I feel okay again. That’s the advantage of a stomach virus. You feel like crap for a while, but then you’re fine again quickly,” Zverev said after his first-round victory against American Learner Tien. “It was a good test,” Zverev said after the match against de Jong. “In general, I have to continue playing good tennis in the next matches, the opponents won’t get any easier.”
Altmaier with chance of reaching the round of 16
While Zverev can now rest for another day, Daniel Altmaier will fight for a place in the round of 16 this Friday. The German number two will face 21-year-old Serbian Hamad Medjedovic in the late afternoon (third match after 11:00 a.m./Eurosport). It would be Altmaier’s second appearance in the round of 16 in the French capital after 2020.
Jannik Sinner is in the same position as Zverev in the third round. The world number one from Italy defeated Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-0, 6-4, ending the Frenchman’s career. In the women’s draw, Coco Gauff had no trouble defeating Tereza Valentova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-4.