Alexander Zverev achieved a significant milestone on the ATP Tour, becoming the first player born in 1990 or later to reach 500 match victories. The 28-year-old German secured his 24th career tour title in April at the Munich Open, a clay-court event.
“I think I started playing better from the baseline. The longer the match whent on, I started to find my rhythm a bit,” Zverev commented on his performance. “It was actually my backhand that was feeling a bit off in the beginning, which is strange. Doesn’t happen very often. But after I found that shot, I was pleasant and I was happy about the level.”
Currently ranked third in the world, Zverev is the top seed at the hard-court tournament, which still has a week remaining. Notably absent from the event are top-ranked Jannik Sinner (the 2023 champion),world no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, No. 5 Jack Draper, and No. 6 Novak Djokovic.
Zverev is set to face No. 14 Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina in his next match. Cerundolo advanced by defeating his compatriot Tomas Martin Etcheverry with a score of 6-3, 6-4.
In other matches, American Alex Michelsen recorded an upset victory over the third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, winning 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4. Michelsen will now play fellow American Learner Tien, who defeated Reilly Opelka 7-6 (3), 6-3.
Fifth-seeded Holger Rune of denmark also advanced, defeating Alexandre Muller of France 6-2, 6-4. Rune is scheduled to play the defending champion, Alexei popyrin of Australia. Popyrin emerged victorious in a challenging match against the 10th-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia,winning 5-7,6-4,6-4 in a contest that concluded early Friday.
Eighth-seeded Casper Ruud of Norway defeated Nuno Borges of Portugal 7-5, 6-4. Ruud will next compete against 11th-seeded Karen Khachanov of Russia,who beat American Emilio Nava 6-7 (6),6-4,6-1.
