ATP Roland Garros: Alexander Zverev survives another scare. Del Potro wins
Playing only the eighth match in 2019 and the first since wasting match points against Novak Djokovic in Rome, last year's Roland Garros semi-final Juan Martin del Potro made a winning start for his 95th Grand Slam triumph. In one of the most anticipated encounters of the opening round, Juan Martin took down Nicolas Jarry 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 in two hours and seven minutes, losing serve once in the opening set and dominating in the rest of the match to make a winning start. The young Chilean came to Paris after wasting two match points in the final in Geneva against Alexander Zverev on Saturday and he fought well today too, firing almost 50 winners and 40 unforced errors and leaving del Potro on more reduced 20-21 ratio. Nonetheless, the more experienced player lost just 21 points in sets two, three and four, controlling the pace and moving over the top with a comfortable victory that propels him into the second round.
Settling into a fine rhythm, Nicolas had the upper hand in the opening set, delivering five rock-solid service games and breaking in game two with a smash winner at the net for an early boost. Serving well and doing a lot of damage with his powerful forehand, Jarry held at love in game nine for a 6-3 after just 29 minutes, looking for more of the same in the rest of the clash. He was the more aggressive player in set number two as well but this time it was Delpo who had the upper hand after a break in game two following a double fault from Nicolas. The Argentinian saved a break point in the seventh game and closed the set with another break a few minutes later for a 6-2 when the Chilean hit another costly double fault. Juan Martin dominated in the third set with breaks in games four and six, taking two sets to one lead with a forehand winner in game seven after less than an hour and a half and looking good to bring the match home from there.
Nicolas earned a break point in the second game of the fourth set, denied by a powerful forehand from del Potro who grabbed a break in the very next game to forge the crucial lead. With no troubles in the next four service games, Juan Martin sealed the deal with a service winner in game ten, setting the second round meeting with Yoshihito Nishioka. After winning the first ATP title of the season in Geneva on Saturday, world no. 5 Alexander Zverev arrived in Paris with high hopes of turning a mediocre year into something good, playing in the first Grand Slam quarter-final here a year ago. Instead of a commanding start, the young German barely survived stern John Millman test and prevailed 7-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-7, 6-3 in four hours and eight minutes for the 26th Grand Slam win, avoiding yet another poor results at Majors.
Zverev hit 16 aces but also 14 double faults, facing 13 break points and suffering seven breaks, the same number of chances Millman converted from 17 opportunities! They both had more unforced errors than winners although it was an entertaining battle from the baseline that saw many good points that kept the crowd pleased in the entire match. Despite a 4-1 lead in the opener, Alexander needed 70 minutes to secure it in the tie break, wasting a set point in the tenth game before prevailing 7-4 in the breaker. The second set offered five breaks in nine games, three for Zverev who opened a healthy lead before losing ground in the third set to bring John back into contention. The fourth set was a rollercoaster ride and the Aussie came from a 4-2 down to steal in the tie break, setting up a deciding set where Zverev won the last three games from 3-3 to wrap up the triumph and bypass another terrible loss in the already poor season so far.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2WtSEdt
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