Alexander Zverev dropped four games against Jaume Munar in Paris
World no. 4 Alexander Zverev returned to Roland Garros less than two months after losing a Major final to Carlos Alcaraz. The defending Olympic Games champion made a strong start to his Paris campaign, ousting Jaume Munar 6-2, 6-2 in an hour and 23 minutes and sailing into the second round.
The German tamed his strokes nicely on Court Philippe-Chatrier and outplayed his opponent on serve and return. Alexander dropped 11 points in games and defended the only break point, mounting the pressure on the other side.
Jaume could not match that pace, struggling behind the first and second serve and giving away half of the points in his games. The Spaniard played against ten break points and suffered two breaks in each set, ending his campaign in the first round and propelling the better-ranked opponent through.
Munar wasted a game point in the first game of the encounter and experienced three break chances.
Alexander Zverev dropped four games against Jaume Munar at the Olympic Games.
The Spaniard hit a double fault on the third, experiencing an early setback and sending the German in front.
Alexander clinched the second game with a service winner and made another push on the return at 2-0. Munar denied two break points and held with a service winner, reducing the deficit and getting his name on the scoreboard.
Zverev grabbed the fourth game in style and challenged his rival for the third straight time in the next one. Jaume sprayed a drop shot error, losing serve for the second time and finding himself 4-1 behind. Alexander squandered game points in game six and offered his opponent the only break chance after a wayward forehand.
World no. 4 denied it with a forced error and held for a 5-1 advantage, forcing his rival to serve to stay in the set. Facing problems in every service game, Jaume sprayed a forehand error in game seven and offered Alexander a set point.
The Spaniard denied it with a service winner and held, extending the battle.
Zverev served for the opener art 5-2 and held at 15 with an ace, wrapping up the first part of the duel in style and gathering a boost.
Munar netted a routine forehand in the first game of the second set, dropping serve and falling further behind. Alexander cemented the lead with a hold at 15 in game two and made another push on the return in the next one, reading the rival’s serves nicely and controlling the rallies.
Jaume wasted a 40-15 lead and hit a double fault, falling 3-0 behind and closer to the exit door. Zverev served well in games four and six, opening a 5-1 advantage and keeping the pressure on the other side. The Spaniard sprayed a backhand error in the seventh game, offering the German the match point.
Zverev wasted it and allowed Munar to close the game and extend the battle. World no. 4 served for the win at 5-2 and generated three match points with a service winner. He sealed the deal with a forehand down the line winner, moving over the top in style and racing into the second round.
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