21:24
A. Zverev – A. Molcan 6: 4, 1: 0
Zverev fights for a third breakball after the debut and diligently sends Molcan from left to right. However, Zverev does not go straight to the punk, but waits for Molcan to make the mistake. With success, he secures the break!
21:22
A. Zverev – A. Molcan 6: 4, 0: 0
Zverev has Molcan exactly where he wants him and “only” has to sink the backhand longline. So far, the Hamburg player has been almost flawless on his backhand, but now of all times he fires the ball wide.
21:21
A. Zverev – A. Molcan 6: 4, 0: 0
And now Zverev actually has the opportunity to steal the opponent’s serve directly. Two break chances for the German!
21:20
A. Zverev – A. Molcan 6: 4, 0: 0
Zverev is preparing to start the sentence very well again! The Hamburg player leads here quickly by 30:0 and that when the opponent serves.
21:17
A Zverev – A Molcan 6:4
Molcan keeps trying with the slice to get Zverev into trouble. However, the 26-year-old remains courageous and immediately attacks a slice that has become too short with his backhand. This means that the German can finally get through this first round as well.
21:15
A Zverev – A Molcan 5:4
Very well served again by Zverev, who can keep the pressure up so directly. There are two set balls for the German!
21:14
A Zverev – A Molcan 5:4
You can tell the importance of the game to both of them. Nobody wants to make the mistake and so the rally goes extremely long. Zverev is brave at first and plays the stop that Molcan can no longer bring back cleanly.
21:10
A Zverev – A Molcan 5:4
Molcan shows all his skills here. The Slovakian brings Zverev to the net with the stop and then plays a great lob from the back. So he can send Zverev back and forth and secure the game. However, the 25-year-old now needs the break, while Zverev will serve to win the set.
21:07
A Zverev – A Molcan 5:3
At 221 km/h, Zverev serves his second ace in this service game and lays the foundation for the 5: 3. The body language of the German is also correct. A good performance by the 26-year-old so far.
21:06
A Zverev – A Molcan 4:3
Well served by Zverev, who forces his opponent to make the return error. Very nervous from the hamburger!
21:05
A Zverev – A Molcan 4:3
And now the 26-year-old makes a volley error on the net. There is therefore the first breakball for Molcan!
21:05
A Zverev – A Molcan 4:3
The spectators see Alexander Zverev’s first closer service game, although he played a large part in it himself. The German scored the two points for the opponent himself with a forehand mistake and a double mistake. 30:30!
21:00
A Zverev – A Molcan 4:3
However, Zverev also needs his serve, because now Molcan can throw in a solid service game. The Slovak is certainly not to be written off here as far as the outcome of round one is concerned.
20:57
A Zverev – A Molcan 4:2
However, if Alexander Zverev continues to play on his own serve, nothing will burn in the first set. The German doesn’t even go for the direct points, but tries to keep his quota high on the first serve so that he can then build up pressure directly. So far it works almost perfectly.
20:54
A Zverev – A Molcan 3:2
Molcan drives Zverev wide on serve and then plays the quick stop. This works twice in a row and ensures that the Slovakian stays in the game.
20:51
A Zverev – A Molcan 3:1
Zverev has the breakball here again, but Molcan fends it off with a service winner. Nevertheless, the momentum is still on the Hamburg side.
20:47
A Zverev – A Molcan 3:1
However, this does not change anything at the end of the service game. Zverev serves well and dominates rallies from the baseline. The Hamburger is very easy to 3:1.
20:46
A Zverev – A Molcan 2:1
This is not possible! Zverev gets a lob from the opponent with great footwork and is there again in time against the following stop. Molcan plays a lob again, but too short. But Zverev puts the ball in the net. There was more in it!
20:42
A Zverev – A Molcan 2:1
That will do the challenger good. After fending off a breakball, the Slovakian can now secure the game. With a great, short slice, the 25-year-old catches Zverev on the wrong foot.
20:41
A Zverev – A Molcan 2:0
Now, however, Zverev is getting too short and is then driven far to the outside by the left-hander with the forehand. No chance for Sascha Zverev to get into the rally again.
20:41
A Zverev – A Molcan 2:0
Molcan itself does not manage at all to earn free points with its own service. Zverev uses this to continue going into the balls with a lot of self-confidence. So far, a lot is going right for the Hamburger, who has a breakball again.
20:37
A Zverev – A Molcan 2:0
Great start from Zverev, who can secure his serve without any problems. The German played with a lot of courage and aggressiveness from the start. The 26-year-old wants to decide the points himself and is currently doing so in his favour.
20:35
A Zverev – A Molcan 1-0
Zverev gets the break! The German does not hit a forehand cleanly at all, but is lucky that the ball lands on the line. Again the Hamburger goes to the net and pushes the volley into the field.
20:34
A Zverev – A Molcan 0-0
Very good return again from Zverev, who immediately goes offensively on the ball and puts pressure on him. He is rewarded with the first breakball of the game!
20:32
A Zverev – A Molcan 0-0
The game goes in with the Slovak’s serve. Molcan is too short after Zverev’s return and gets his backhand fired around his ears.
20:21
Everything prepared for the first duel
The two actors will soon enter the court. After a short impact phase, it can finally start. Incidentally, Zverev and Molcan meet for the first time on the tour today.
20:01
A challenger not to be underestimated
In today’s game he faces world number 86 Alex Molcan. A year ago, however, the Slovak was 50 places higher in the world rankings. The 25-year-old has not had a good year either. In Rome and Madrid he also did not get past the second round.
19:46
Think game by game
Alexander Zverev started the French Open with little confidence. Without much success in the preparatory tournaments, the Hamburger returned to the place where his difficult phase began last year against Rafael Nadal. At that time, the German twisted his ankle in a duel with the Mallorcan and was out for almost half a year. Since then, Zverev has been looking for his form, but is currently thinking from game to game for the time being.
19:26
Good evening!
Hello and welcome to the French Open! The last second round games are on the program for Thursday evening. Alexander Zverev, who is up against Slovakian Alex Molcan, is also fighting to get into the third round from 8:15 p.m.