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Alexander Zverev
Photo: David Gray / AFP
Alexander Zverev has reached the second round of the Australian Open after a show of strength. He defeated his compatriot Dominik Koepfer in Melbourne with difficulty 4: 6, 6: 3, 7: 6 (7: 2), 6: 3 and must improve significantly for the dream of the first Grand Slam title. In the second round, Germany's number one will meet Slovakian qualifier Lukas Klein.
"In the first laps you have to find your rhythm. I have to play better and hope I do that from tomorrow," Zverev said in the on-court interview: "In the first round I'm always terrible. But also respect to Dominik, he played fantastic."
Zverev got off to a bad start in hot and humid conditions in the Margaret Court Arena, looked struggling in the direction of his box and gave up the first set. Zverev improved in the second round, but Koepfer held strong with his powerful forehand.
In the tiebreak of the third set, Zverev needed strong nerves - in the end he did not let insects disturb him while serving. After a commanding fourth set, he used his third match point to win and reach the second round at the Australian Open for the eighth time in a row.
Only Struff also in round two
Zverev had started the year strongly and had taken a good feeling from the triumph at the United Cup to Melbourne. As number six in the world, he is one of the favorites at the first major tournament of the year. His best result in Melbourne is reaching the semi-finals in 2020.
Of the German tennis pros, only Jan-Lennard Struff had reached the second round before Zverev. Daniel Altmaier, Yannick Hanfmann and Maximilian Marterer failed at their opening hurdles.
Angelique Kerber was also eliminated in the first round on her Grand Slam comeback after the baby break. She lost to American Danielle Collins 2-6, 6-3, 1-6.
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