Alexander Zverev notches first win in Shanghai since 2019 | ATP Tour

Match Report

Zverev notches first win in Shanghai since 2019

No. 2 seed advances to the third spherical

October 05, 2024

Alexander Zverev is again to successful methods in Shanghai.

The German registered a cushty 6-4, 6-2 victory over Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci on the Rolex Shanghai Masters within the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly to advance to the third spherical on Saturday.

He was the final of the Prime 4 seeds in motion on Stadium Court docket, wrapping up the star-studded lineup after Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic additionally gained their opening matches.

After withdrawing from the China Open as a result of pneumonia final week, the 27-year-old gained his first match in Shanghai since 2019 in a single hour and 36 minutes. In 2023, he misplaced to Roman Safiullin in straight units within the opening match.

“I didn’t practise, I didn’t do something actually. So, in fact, I’m pleased with the extent,” Zverev stated, admitting there was uncertainty main as much as the match as a result of sickness.

Competing in his first match for the reason that Laver Cup in September, Zverev confirmed some indicators of rust early on and made 12 unforced errors within the first set. Bellucci, enjoying his maiden Masters 1000 occasion, gave the German an excellent battle by saving six of seven break factors. Ultimately, Zverev’s expertise prevailed as he broke the spirited lefty within the eighth sport to take the lead.

Because the match progressed, the 22-time tour-level titlist discovered his groove and made solely two unforced errors within the second set. Zverev broke the Italian twice and surrendered solely two factors on serve within the set. General, he made 71 per cent of his first serves and gained 83 per cent of his first-serve factors. With the win, he improved to 24-0 in opposition to left-handers since 2023 Roland Garros.

“He’s really an excellent participant. He stunned me loads for his dimension. His serve is unimaginable. He will get various velocity on that, and from [the] baseline he’s very, very aggressive,” the German stated about Bellucci.

“All in all, he’s a really gifted participant, and I feel he’s going to rise up the rankings fairly rapidly now, and we’ll be seeing him on these sorts of courts extra usually.”

The victory marked Zverev’s 58th win (58-18) this season in keeping with the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. He sits behind World No. 1 Sinner, who beat Taro Daniel earlier within the day, main the tour with 60 wins. Chasing his first title in Shanghai after making the ultimate in 2019, Zverev gained the ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Rome and reached the ultimate at Roland Garros and Hamburg earlier this yr.

The No. 3 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings will face both Jordan Thompson or Tallon Griekspoor within the third spherical.