Former champion Zverev off to winning Rome start

2017 Rome Masters champion Alexander Zverev kicked off with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Aleksandar Vukic to power ahead to the third round on Friday.

The German who is trying to recover from indifferent form with Roland Garros starting in just over a fortnight, spent a brief 81 minutes in summery conditions on the clay of the Foro Italico.

Victory over the Australian was the 23rd win this season for the 27-year-old.

Zverev finished on his first match point, a forehand winner down the line.

“I hope this is just a start,” the winner said. “I want to play a good tournament, win a lot of matches and go deep.

“I want the chance to win.”

Zverev was pleased with his opening effort: “I came out firing and I’m happy about today.

“I may be a former champion but I know I need to find my game  and focus on myself. 

“I can lose to anyone but when I find my rhythm I can beat anyone also.”

Bill Scott

Recent Posts

Draper devours semi-final bagel to finally school Alcaraz

Jack Draper will crack the ATP top 10 for the first time after the Brit defeated two-time…

10 hours ago

Swiatek breaks the speed limit in rapid-fire win

Iga Swiatek switched to warp speed after rain delayed her fourth-round match by an hour,…

5 days ago

Alcaraz hits 14 in a row at Indian Wells

Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz ran his hot streak at the Indian Wells Masters to 14…

5 days ago

Sabalenka steamrolls modest Italian opposition

Aryna Sabalenka spent just an hour and a quarter in dispatching Italian Lucia Bronzetti 6-1,…

5 days ago

Gauff scrapes through despite double-fault disaster

Coco Gauff wasted five match points while double-faulting four times in the final game but managed…

6 days ago

Draper increasing confidence with IW win

Jack Draper used the confidence earned just weeks ago in Australia to power past Jensen Brooksby…

6 days ago