Vienna
Zverev races into R2 in Vienna, reaches 60 wins for 2024
World No. 3 will play Giron or Michelsen next at ATP 500
October 21, 2024
e-motion/Image agency Zolles KG/Christian Hofer
Alexander Zverev in action against Joel Schwaerzler on Monday in Vienna.
By Andy West
Alexander Zverev wasted little time kick-starting his Erste Bank Open campaign on Monday night in Vienna.
The No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings eased past home #NextGenATP wild card Joel Schwaerzler 6-2, 6-2 at the indoor hard-court ATP 500. With his 67-minute victory, Zverev equalled his personal best of 60 tour-level wins in a season from 2018.
Top seed Zverev did not face a break point in his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with the 18-year-old Schwaerzler. He won 96 per cent (23/24) of points behind his first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and generally proved too powerful for his relatively inexperienced opponent, who was playing just his second ATP Tour match.
Awaiting Zverev in the second round in Vienna will be #NextGenATP Alex Michelsen or Marcos Giron. He has never lost before the quarter-finals in three previous appearances in the Austrian capital, where he lifted the trophy in 2021.
More to follow…
