Ace attack carries Zverev into Dutch second round

Alexander Zverev threw down 10 aces for his third win of a comeback season, with the German advancing to the second round of the ATP Rotterdam event over South Korea’s Soonwoo Kwon 6-4, 7-6(4) on Tuesday.

Zverev, who missed more than half of last season after damaging ankle tendons in the Roland Garros semi-finals last spring, saved three break points in the victory lasting for one and three-quarter hours.

He will bid for the quarter-finals against Dutch wild card Tallon Griekspoor, a winner over Swedish qualifier Mikael Ymer 7-6(7), 7-5 at the Ahoy stadium.

“Every match for me is very important right now,” the 17th-ranked Zverev said.

“Having wins against very high-level players is very important for my confidence as well.” 

He added; “We’ll see how this week goes, but I’m definitely excited for every match that I’m going to play here.”

In five previous appearances here, Zverev has only once reached the quarters (2016).

Holder Felix Auger-Aliassime was unroubled 6-2, 6-3 over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in an opening encounter lasting for 82 minutes.

The winner of his first four career titles in 2022 next faces off against France’s Gregoire Barrere.

Fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz required three hours to advance over Roberto Bautista Agut 7-5, 6-7(7), 7-6(4), saving six of the nine break points.

Main photo:- Alexander Zverev served 10 aces in first round match in Rotterdam