French Open: weak start, then increase: zverev in round three

One sentence trembles, three sentences such as in training: tennis star Alexander Zverev effortlessly reached the third round at the French Open after initial difficulties. The previous year’s finalist prevailed in Paris against the Dutchman Jesper de Jong 3: 6, 6: 1, 6: 2, 6: 3. Zverev converted his second match ball after 2:58 hours and followed Daniel Altmaier in round three. In contrast, all German players have already left women.

Zverev got a weak start in the third largest stadium in the complex. The 28-year-old looked a bit sleepy and not really prepared for his opponent. De Jong repeatedly annoyed the world ranking thirds with his short balls, which Zverev could not reach because he was too far behind the baseline. In addition, Zverev made some unusual mistakes on overhead balls. In total, this led to a 6: 3 after 47 minutes for the Dutch.

“The first set was certainly not the best tennis,” Zverev admitted in an interview on the court. “Then I increased myself, I can be very satisfied with sentences second, three and four.”

Increase at the beginning of the second sentence

At the beginning of the second set, Zverev also had to survive a fright moment. The native of Hamburg had to ward off two break balls, but mastered the critical phase and shortly afterwards made his first break. Now Zverev found his rhythm and had the game under control from then on. While Zverev was finally playing constant, de Jong could no longer keep his good level from the first set and was without a chance.

Sentences two, three and four were no more than a better training session for Zverev. Even two discussions with the referee about ball bumps could no longer get Germany’s best tennis player. Unlike almost all other tournaments, there is no electronic monitoring of the lines in Paris. Instead, line judges make the decisions.

Now against an Italian

In the fight for moving into the round of 16, Zverev is now against the Italian Flavio Cobolli, who prevailed against his compatriot Matteo Arnaldi. Cobolli most recently triumphed in Hamburg and won the title on the Rothenbaum. Zverev had already left in the round of 16 and then complained about nausea and fever.

His weak appearance at the beginning was not against de Jong. “I feel okay again. This is the advantage of a stomach virus. You feel shit briefly, but then it goes quickly again,” Zverev said after his first round victory against the American Learner Tien. “It was a good test,” said Zverev after the duel with de Jong. “In general, I still have to play good tennis in the next matches, the opponents don’t get any easier.”

Altmaier with chance of the round of 16

While Zverev can rest for a day again, Daniel Altmaier is fighting for the round of 16 this Friday. The German number two will deal with the 21-year-old Serbs Hamad Medjedovic in the late afternoon (third game after 11:00 a.m./Eurosport). It would be Altmaier’s second round of 16 in the French capital after 2020.

Like Zverev in the third round, Jannik Sinner is. The world ranking list from Italy won 6: 3, 6: 0, 6: 4 against Richard Gasquet and ended the French career. Coco Gauff had no trouble at 6: 2, 6: 4 against the Czech Tereza Valentova at 6: 2, 6: 4.