Paris (AP) – After a day without German individual games, Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber are back in focus at the French Open. Olympic champion Zverev will face American Brandon Nakashima late on Friday afternoon. In the only duel with the 20-year-old US boy so far, Zverev had to go over four sets at the US Open two years ago.
Zverev will have to improve further in the second round compared to the five-set thriller against Argentinian Sebastian Baez. “I know I have to play better,” said Zverev, who was already convincing against Baez in sets three to five.
In the second game after eleven o’clock, Kerber will face Alexandra Sasnowitsch from Belarus. The 34-year-old used the free Friday mainly for regeneration. After her victory in Strasbourg and the first-round thriller in Paris, it will be crucial for Kerber how fresh she is against Sasnowitsch, who after all knocked out US Open champion Emma Raducanu.
“I can already feel the many matches,” said Kerber. “However, the Strasbourg title also gave me a lot of confidence.” The three-time Grand Slam tournament winner ended the sporting dry spell this year. “It’s also a good feeling to win matches again, to have tight situations under control again and to feel this self-confidence in me,” said Kerber, who won against Sasnowitsch in three sets on the way to the title in Strasbourg.