TENNIS – Fourth seed Alexander Zverev out-duelled fellow German Maximilian Marterer 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3 6-2 in the first round of the US Open yesterday.
Zverev, seeking a debut Grand Slam title after reaching the Australian Open semis and the Roland Garros final this year, flexed his dominant serve as he blasted 21 aces on the Grandstand.
Unseeded Marterer, the “lucky loser” that entered the draw after Emil Ruusuvuori withdrew last week, captured a close second set but was ultimately overpowered by the world No. 4.
Zverev looked sharp in the first set, breaking his opponent’s serve in the opening game before Marterer battled back to claim a back-and-forth second set in a tiebreak.
The big-serving Zverev looked frustrated at times, tossing his racket at the start of the third set after committing one of 44 unforced errors.
The win sets up a second round clash with either Frenchman Alexandre Muller or Australia’s Adam Walton.
Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz leaned on his dominant forehand to beat Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli 7-5 6-1 6-2 and reach the second round.
World number 12 Fritz, the highest ranked of 17 American men in the main draw, won 79 per cent of points on his first serve and converted seven of 11 break-point chances to secure victory on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Up next for Fritz, looking to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open, will be a clash with Italy’s Matteo Berrettini.
In the women’s section, defending champion Coco Gauff overcame early nerves to cruise by France’s Varvara Gracheva 6-2 6-0 in the first round.
Gauff was popular as ever with her home crowd as she sent 10 aces over on Arthur Ashe Stadium, showing her determination to put a string of frustrating performances behind her in New York.
Gauff suffered early exits at tune-up tournaments in Cincinnati and Toronto and there were early signs of trouble as she had five double faults in the first set.
She had to fend off three break points to hold her serve in the second game but the world number three found her footing from there, breaking her opponent’s serve in the third and seventh games.
Gracheva was never able to match Gauff’s firepower, with 25 unforced errors and just five winners, as the American ploughed through the second set in 27 minutes.
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