Alexander Zverev reached the second round at the ATP tournament at the Hamburg Rothenbaum. The world ranking list won 6: 1, 7: 6 (7: 5) against the American Aleksandar Kovacevic and only wiggled at the end of the second set.
Zverev did not disappoint the expectations of visitors who had come to the tennis stadium despite the HSV’s promotion party. The world ranking third initially played furiously and showed an impeccable performance against number 80 in the world, served strongly, played focused and consistently.
In the second set, 28-year-olds already clearly headed for victory course in a 4-1 lead, but suddenly excitement came up. As if out of nowhere, the American managed a break to 3: 4, which thus fueled properly self -confidence, and finally even the equalization to 4: 4.
The tie break decides in the second set
Zverev stayed calm, confidently brought his service games – the starking Kovacevic too. It went into the tie break, which the German number one won, despite some negligence after a good one and a half hours with 7: 5. The opponent in the round of 16 on Wednesday is the Frenchman Alexandre Muller.
“The first one and a half sentences were almost perfect. I am looking forward to the next matches and enjoy being here,” said Zverev under the cheers of his fans. He patiently signed numerous autographs and made many little tennis fans happy. The 28-year-old is number one by canceling the world ranking of Jannik Sinner.
Zverev wants to collect before French Open Matchpraxis
Because of the unfavorable appointment in the week before the French Open, Zverev actually did not intend to play in his hometown this year. Above all, the coaching team around his father and brother Mischa had pushed to come to Hamburg after the previously mixed sandplace season in order to collect match practice and self-confidence. The French Open in Paris start on Sunday.
In 2023 the local hero won the tournament in the Rothenbaum, last year he had to surrender to the Frenchman Arthur Fils in the final.
Struff and angels in the evening in German duel
In the evening in the German duel Jan-Lennard Struff, Justin Engel meets the youngster Justin Engel in round one. Daniel Altmaier will deal with the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliasime on Tuesday. Talent Diego Dedura, the fifth German, lost to the Italian Luciano Darderi on Sunday.
This topic in the program:
Hamburg Journal | 19.05.2025 | 7:30 p.m.
