Alexander Zverev is already a two-time champion of the Nitto ATP Finals. On Monday afternoon he faced an opponent who was making his tournament debut.
No matter that the opponent was world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz. Unsurprisingly, Zverev was too good for the 20-year-old Spaniard on the indoor hard courts of tournament as the German powered his way to a 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4 victory after two hours and 32 minutes. Zverev served at 77 percent, struck 16 aces compared to just two double-faults, and also broke Alcaraz three times.
After dropping the first set, one break was enough for the 26-year-old in each of the next two. Alcaraz may have had a chance to get a break back in the final game of the match, but Zverev came up with an incredible backhand pass at 0-15. From there, big serving got him across the finish line.
“I think I missed a lot of opportunities in the first set; probably should have won that,” Zverev assessed. “In the first game of the second set, if he breaks me maybe he would have won that. In general obviously I’m happy with the win; I’m happy to beat someone like Alcaraz.
“My serve helped me a lot. Saving the break point in the first game of the second set helped me. You don’t want to go down a set and a break against the world No. 2.”
Zverev will face the winner of Daniil Medvedev vs. Andrey Rublev on Wednesday, while Alcaraz awaits the loser.
nice one, Zverev
Zverev was in serve bot mode, but Alcaraz made some dreadful shot selection choices.