Alexander Zverev has averted an early setback in the race to reach the ATP Finals at the Masters 1000 tournament in Paris-Bercy.
The Olympic tennis champion downed Hungarian qualifier Marton Fucsovics 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 to narrowly avoid a looming first-round exit. After a long disappointing performance, the world number nine will now face Frenchman Ugo Humbert.
“A very difficult match “
“It was a very difficult match,” said the 26-year-old from Hamburg. Just a few points would have made the difference. “He played incredibly well,” he praised his opponent. “In the end I found my level, I’m happy about that.”
Zverev is still fighting to qualify for the ATP Finals, the season-ending event for the year’s top eight pros in Turin from Nov. 12-19. He has not yet secured his place in seventh place and could still be overtaken by, among others, the Dane Holger Rune, who is now coached by tennis icon Boris Becker, or the Pole Hubert Hurkacz. US pro Taylor Fritz, on the other hand, withdrew from the tournament in Paris on Tuesday due to an abdominal muscle injury and can no longer displace Zverev.
Zverev was far from his best tennis for a long time in his first-round match. He did not find his rhythm and could not cope with the game of the world No. 52 Fucsovics. Zverev lost the decisive service game 4:6 in the first set and double-faulted on set point. In the second set, Zverev threatened to fall behind again with a break. It was not until the end of the set that he stepped up his game to win the match.
Problems with the surface
He had never played on a court where the balls bounce so flat, Zverev said. “His slice was effective. I usually like when people slice against me,” he said of the undercut balls, “But I didn’t know what to do on the surface.” He had only practiced once before on Centre Court, he said. That’s why he still has to get used to the court, he said.
Daniel Altmaier already advanced to the round of 16. The world No. 54 from Kempen defeated the slightly favored French talent Arthur Fils 6:2, 6:4 in the opening round. Since Fritz would have been his next opponent, he advanced one more round without a fight. Jan-Lennard Struff from Sauerland was defeated by the favored Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 6:7 (3:7), 4:6.
