Can Alexander Zverev cap a strong year of Grand Slam performances with his maiden major title at the US Open?
The fourth seed made a solid start to his campaign on Monday in New York with a 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 triumph against Maximilian Marterer. Zverev sent down 21 aces and converted six of 16 break points he earned to wrap a two-hour, 53-minute victory on Grandstand and set a second-round clash with Adam Walton or Alexandre Muller.
With victory against his fellow German Marterer, Zverev improved to 15-3 at the majors this year. The 27-year-old reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open, the championship match at Roland Garros, and the fourth round at Wimbledon, and his past history at the US Open suggests he is more than capable of forging a deep run this fortnight. Zverev reached his first Grand Slam final at the 2020 edition of the hard-court major before falling to Dominic Thiem.
Zverev is also competing in New York knowing that he can further boost his strong position in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. The 22-time ATP Tour champion is currently third behind Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in his bid to secure a spot at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals.
Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz, Matteo Berrettini and Ugo Humbert all enjoyed comfortable early victories on Monday in New York. The 2022 finalist Ruud overcame Chinese qualifier Buyunchaokete 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2 to set a second-round clash against Gael Monfils or Diego Schwartzman. Ruud has now racked up a 45-14 record for the season, including a 20-6 tally on hard courts.
Ruud will face either Gael Monfils or Diego Schwartzman in the US Open second round (Photo Credit: Mike Stobe / Getty Images)
Italy’s Berrettini booked his first tour-level win on hard courts for the season by defeating Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-3. Berrettini, a former US Open semi-finalist who has this year lifted three ATP 250 clay-court crowns in Marrakech, Gstaad and Kitzbuhel, respectively, will next meet 12th seed Taylor Fritz. The No. 1 American in the PIF ATP Rankings downed Camilo Ugo Carabelli 7-5, 6-1, 6-2.
The 17th seed Humbert eased past Thiago Monteiro 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the second round for the third time in his career. Humbert, who is now 27-18 for the season, will take on Francisco Comesana next after the Argentine defeated Dominic Stricker 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3.
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The fourth seed made a solid start to his campaign on Monday in New York with a 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 triumph against Maximilian Marterer. Zverev sent down 21 aces and converted six of 16 break points he earned to wrap a two-hour, 53-minute victory on Grandstand and set a second-round clash with Adam Walton or Alexandre Muller.
aaaaannnd breathe
No. 4 seed @AlexZverev digs deep to defeat his compatriot Marterer in four sets.@usopen | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/sviS6K3ogY
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 26, 2024
With victory against his fellow German Marterer, Zverev improved to 15-3 at the majors this year. The 27-year-old reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open, the championship match at Roland Garros, and the fourth round at Wimbledon, and his past history at the US Open suggests he is more than capable of forging a deep run this fortnight. Zverev reached his first Grand Slam final at the 2020 edition of the hard-court major before falling to Dominic Thiem.
Zverev is also competing in New York knowing that he can further boost his strong position in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. The 22-time ATP Tour champion is currently third behind Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in his bid to secure a spot at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals.
Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz, Matteo Berrettini and Ugo Humbert all enjoyed comfortable early victories on Monday in New York. The 2022 finalist Ruud overcame Chinese qualifier Buyunchaokete 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2 to set a second-round clash against Gael Monfils or Diego Schwartzman. Ruud has now racked up a 45-14 record for the season, including a 20-6 tally on hard courts.
Ruud will face either Gael Monfils or Diego Schwartzman in the US Open second round (Photo Credit: Mike Stobe / Getty Images)
Italy’s Berrettini booked his first tour-level win on hard courts for the season by defeating Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-3. Berrettini, a former US Open semi-finalist who has this year lifted three ATP 250 clay-court crowns in Marrakech, Gstaad and Kitzbuhel, respectively, will next meet 12th seed Taylor Fritz. The No. 1 American in the PIF ATP Rankings downed Camilo Ugo Carabelli 7-5, 6-1, 6-2.
The 17th seed Humbert eased past Thiago Monteiro 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the second round for the third time in his career. Humbert, who is now 27-18 for the season, will take on Francisco Comesana next after the Argentine defeated Dominic Stricker 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3.
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