The last year’s Roland Garros semi-finalist Alexander Zverev is desperate for a good result in Paris following a nasty injury from a year ago that ruined his career. Alexander is out of the top-50 on the Live ATP Ranking list and will give everything to repeat the result from last June. Zverev faced his coeval Lloyd Harris in the first round and scored a hard-fought 7-6, 7-6, 6-1 triumph in two hours and 43 minutes. The German scored only one break in the opening two sets, saving two set points in the second set’s tenth game and storming over the opponent in the tie break for a massive advantage. Harris had nothing more left in the tank in the third set, suffering two breaks to propel a better-ranked player into the second round. Zverev hit ten aces and seven double faults. His second serve worked better than usual, and he saved seven out of eight break points to keep the pressure on the other side. Lloyd lost serve three times to end his courageous campaign on the losing side.
Alexander Zverev defeated Lloyd Harris in the Roland Garros first round.
Alexander fired 29 winners and 42 unforced errors and will have to raise his level in the upcoming matches to achieve a good result. The South African found the rhythm behind the initial shot straight on, facing no break points in the opening set and keeping the pressure on the other side. Alexander denied a break point in the third game with a service winner, and they both served well until 5-5. The German saved two break points in the 11th game, and they headed toward the tie break. Zverev came from 3-1 down and opened a 6-4 lead after Harris’ backhand error in the tenth point. The South African saved them before spraying a forehand error at 6-7 to hand the opener to the German. Alexander erased a break point in the second set’s fourth game and served to stay in it at 4-5. Lloyd created two set points, eager to level the overall score and improve his chances.
The last year’s semi-finalist denied them with winners and made a crucial hold for 5-5. Harris netted a backhand in the 11th game to lose serve for the first time, two hours since the start of the duel! Zverev served for the set at 6-5 and faced three break points after a costly double fault. He sprayed a forehand error to lose serve at love and keep the rival in contention. Alexander started all over in the tie break and moved 4-0 up after the rival’s routine forehand error. Lloyd dropped another point on serve, and Alexander claimed the breaker 7-0 with a service winner for a massive boost. The German had the upper hand in the third set. He broke in the fourth game and delivered another at 4-1 after forcing the South African’s mistake. Zverev fired an ace on a break point at 5-1 and sealed the deal with a smash winner.