French Open: Loose up gallop in Paris – Zverev looks at yourself

After his relaxed up gallop at the French Open, Alexander Zverev did not want to look too far ahead. The German tennis professional, as well as the sovereign victories of defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or industry leader Jannik Sinner, were just as interested in the fact that an anxiety opponent and potential round of 16 opponents.

“I have to win my games first,” said Zverev after his safe 6: 3, 6: 3, 6: 4 against the American Learner Tien at the start in Paris. “I think I caught one of the most difficult draws there. I concentrate on my games first.”

This time no indicator

In the first round, Zverev did it very well. After a previously changeable sandplace season, Zverev showed a solid performance this year at his first appearance in Paris. The 19 -year -old Tien, who had caused a painful defeat at the tournament in Acapulco in February, was also not a indicator for Zverev.

So the previous year’s finalist was slowly able to find the tournament and turn his first match ball after only 1:53 hours. Zverev is now dealing with the Dutch professional Jesper de Jong on Thursday, who falls down Francesco Passaro from Italy in five sets.

“It was a good start to the tournament. I hope that it will continue and that there will be two nice weeks,” Zverev said on the pitch after the game in an interview. “Maybe it was quite good that I had already lost against him.”

There was nothing left of his illness, which had already affected him at the Hamburg Open last week. In his birthplace, Zverev had complained about nausea and fever after the round of 16 against the Frenchman Alexandre Müller. “I feel okay,” said Zverev.

The German number one had and reacted to his unusually early defeats in Madrid and Rome. “It wasn’t the best preparation I’ve ever had. But that wasn’t that before Australia,” Zverev said with a view to the first Grand Slam tournament at the beginning of the year. “Before Melbourne I also had to pull out of the United Cup and could only open again two days before the tournament. And then I reached the final.”

It is still a long way to go to the final in Paris. But Zverev was able to save strength against Tien. The 28-year-old also mastered the few dangerous situations in the second set when he had break balls against him. Above all, his forehand went along the line. “For me, this is the game of the game,” said tennis legend Boris Becker as an expert at Eurosport. “It was a good start. It can go on like this.”

Last year Zverev reached the final in the Stade Roland Garros and only had to surrender to the Spaniard Alcaraz in five sets. Zverev could only meet Alcaraz this year in the final. The opponent could be called Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals. The Serbian record-grand slam champion won its opening match against the American Mackenzie McDonald like Zverev clearly 6: 3, 6: 3, 6: 3.

Maximilian Marterer, on the other hand, is eliminated. The qualifying had to be beaten by Australian Adam Walton in five sets. This means that only three of the nine -started German professionals are in round two. In addition to Zverev, Eva Lys and Daniel Altmaier, who are fighting into the third round this Wednesday.