Alexander Zverev took off his sweat-soaked T-shirt and strode off the court, relieved but exhausted: Germany’s tennis star had more trouble than expected at his start at the Australian Open with the rebellious Dominik Koepfer.
“In the first few rounds you have to find your rhythm. I have to play better and I hope I can do that from the day after tomorrow.”said Zverev after the hard-fought 4:6, 6:3, 7:6 (7:2), 6:3 against his compatriot. He has to improve to dream of his first Grand Slam title. In the second round, the Slovakian qualifier Lukas Klein is waiting for the Hamburger.
Winner is self-critical
“It was my fault that I made it complicated. I played a few classes worse than in Sydney”Zverev remarked self-critically afterwards. That’s just how he is “Not a good first-rounder: I had to work my way in, it wasn’t a brilliant performance.”
In the match against his compatriot, whom the victorious Zverev certified a good performance, he “changed a few things”in order not to be eliminated.
discontent was obvious
Zverev got off to a very weak start in the Margaret Court Arena. The 26-year-old conceded an early break and dropped the first set after just 37 minutes. Instead of sixth in the world rankings, Koepfer dictated the events.
Put up a lot of resistance: Dominik Koepfer
He repeatedly put Zverev in trouble with his powerful groundstrokes. Zverev’s dissatisfaction was clearly noticeable; he repeatedly argued and looked at his family in the stands.
Work victory in the evening hours
In the second round, however, Koepfer had a small phase of weakness. Zverev used this to break to 4:2 and equalized the set after 1:22 hours. But that didn’t give Zverev any security.
The Olympic champion also found it very difficult in the evening when the temperatures were still mid-summer. With the score at 4:5, Zverev even had to fend off two set points before he won the round in the tiebreak after 2:30 hours.
Now Koepfer’s resistance was broken and Zverev completed the victory. He had shown strong nerves, especially in the fourth set, and didn’t allow himself to be disturbed by a wasp and bird droppings next to him when he served.
Set balls successfully fended off: Alexander Zverev
Carlos Alcaraz wins in three sets
Other favorites among the men also showed no signs of being naked. Above all, number two seed Carlos Alcaraz: The 19-year-old Spaniard defeated the tough veteran Richard Gasquet (France) 7:6 (7:5), 6:1, 6:2 in the evening hours.
“Of course I want to play tennis that people like”said Alcaraz about some spectacular shots. The world number two’s next opponent is the Italian Lorenzo Sonego.
Holger Rune and Casper Ruud without any effort
Holger Rune (Denmark) had previously won his first round match against the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka with some difficulty 6:2, 4:6, 7:6 (7:3), 6:4.
Previously, world number eleven Casper Ruud (Norway) had also mastered his opening hurdle without any problems; the three-time Grand Slam finalist won against Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6:1, 6:3, 6:1.
Iga Swiatek defies the midday heat
In the women’s race, Iga Swiatek started with a lackluster victory. The Pole defeated the American Sofia Kenin, 2020 champion in Melbourne, in a hot battle at midday with 7:6 (7:2), 6:2.
Jelena Rybakina, third in the world rankings, followed suit in the evening. The 2022 Wimbledon winner won 7:6 (8:6), 6:4 against the Czech Karolina Pliskova.
The young Brit Emma Raducanu, who won the US Open in 2021 as a qualifier and returned to the tour at the beginning of the year after a long injury break, easily defeated the American Shelby Rodgers 6:3, 6:2.