Despite saving four match points, Alexander Zverev booked his place in the Vienna second round and is now just one win away from the top of the ATP rankings.
The opening round of the ATP 500 tournament in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday, October 27, delivered a tormented script for Alexander Zverev. Facing Spain's Martin Landaluce, world No. 67, the German had to dig deep to prevail in three sets, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (13/11), after more than two hours of tight combat.
The match was decided by the finest of margins. Zverev saved four match points over the course of the contest, a situation that could have cost him dearly. In the deciding set, the tiebreak swung back and forth between the two players before the German finally made the difference at the thirteenth point, at the end of a decisive rally.
The win carries particular weight in the race for the world ranking. By qualifying for the second round, Zverev moves closer to the world No. 1 spot, which is now only one victory away. The German will, however, need to confirm his form in the coming rounds to turn that ambition into reality.
For his part, Martin Landaluce may be left with some regrets. The Spaniard responded well in the second set, taking it 6-3, and came within a whisker of tipping the match in his favour in the third. His performance confirms the progress of a player capable of competing with higher-ranked opponents.
The Vienna tournament continues with the first second-round encounters, where Zverev will again have to raise his level of play to keep his run in the Austrian event going.
The match was decided by the finest of margins. Zverev saved four match points over the course of the contest, a situation that could have cost him dearly. In the deciding set, the tiebreak swung back and forth between the two players before the German finally made the difference at the thirteenth point, at the end of a decisive rally.
The win carries particular weight in the race for the world ranking. By qualifying for the second round, Zverev moves closer to the world No. 1 spot, which is now only one victory away. The German will, however, need to confirm his form in the coming rounds to turn that ambition into reality.
For his part, Martin Landaluce may be left with some regrets. The Spaniard responded well in the second set, taking it 6-3, and came within a whisker of tipping the match in his favour in the third. His performance confirms the progress of a player capable of competing with higher-ranked opponents.
The Vienna tournament continues with the first second-round encounters, where Zverev will again have to raise his level of play to keep his run in the Austrian event going.
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Source: Ouest-France