In a heart-pounding second-round clash at the 2025 National Bank Open in Toronto, top seed Alexander Zverev battled past Australia’s Adam Walton with a 7-6(6), 6-4 victory, electrifying the Sobeys Stadium crowd with a jaw-dropping 52-shot rally that marked the longest exchange of the year. The match, a testament to Zverev’s resilience after a month-long hiatus, showcased his ability to overcome mental and physical challenges to advance to the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 event. The German, ranked world No. 3, described the pivotal rally as a turning point, saying, “It was a very important moment, very important point for me.” His triumph, which included seven aces and just three points dropped on his first serve, brought him to the cusp of 500 career tour-level wins.
Zverev’s return to competitive tennis came after a challenging period. A first-round exit at Wimbledon 2025 against Arthur Rinderknech, coupled with mental burnout, prompted the 28-year-old to take a break, including a visit to Rafael Nadal’s Mallorca academy for consultations. “Lucky to get through in the first set and finishing it off in two,” Zverev reflected, acknowledging the match’s intensity. Facing Walton, ranked No. 88 and fresh off an upset over Benjamin Bonzi, Zverev found himself tested early. Walton surged to a 5-3 lead in the first-set tiebreak, but the momentum shifted at 5-5 during the epic 52-shot rally, where both players showcased relentless baseline tenacity. Zverev’s forehand winner sealed the point, giving him set point, which he converted to claim the opener 8-6 in the tiebreak.
The second set saw Zverev elevate his game, leveraging his powerful serve and precise groundstrokes to secure a break in the sixth game for a 4-2 lead. “Zverev sees the free left corner and takes the point with a forehand cross,” a commentator noted, capturing his ability to exploit openings. Walton, however, refused to fade, saving break points early and breaking back when Zverev served for the match at 5-3, capitalizing on a rare forehand error from the German. Undeterred, Zverev regrouped, forcing a Walton double fault on match point to seal the victory after one hour and 42 minutes. The Australian’s resilience was evident, with 31 winners to Zverev’s 23, but his 35 unforced errors compared to Zverev’s 32 proved costly.
The match was a microcosm of Zverev’s 2025 season—a mix of brilliance and challenges. With a 35-14 win-loss record, including an Australian Open final and a Munich title, Zverev has shown flashes of his 2017 Canadian Open championship form, but inconsistency, like his Wimbledon stumble, has lingered. Walton, meanwhile, has climbed from No. 91 to No. 88, reaching Challenger finals in Brisbane and Busan, and pushing top players in ATP events. “Walton’s recent performances on hard courts command respect,” noted a tennis analyst, highlighting his semi-final run in Los Cabos.
Zverev’s victory sets up a third-round clash with Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi, who defeated Tristan Schoolkate 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Zverev leads their head-to-head 1-0 from a 2025 Acapulco meeting, but Arnaldi’s aggressive style promises another test. The absence of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in Toronto elevates Zverev’s status as the favorite, yet the field remains stacked, with Lorenzo Musetti, Daniil Medvedev, and Holger Rune also advancing on Tuesday. Local hope Denis Shapovalov fell to #NextGenATP star Learner Tien in a tight 7-6(4), 7-5 battle, while Casper Ruud cruised past Roman Safiullin 6-3, 6-3.
The 52-shot rally, described on social media as “unbelievable” and “the longest of the year,” became the match’s defining moment, with fans and analysts marveling at both players’ endurance. “Zverev and Walton leaving it all out there!” one post exclaimed, capturing the intensity that sent the Toronto crowd into a frenzy. As Zverev pursues a second Canadian Open title, his ability to navigate high-pressure moments like the rally underscores his championship pedigree. With Toni Nadal now in his coaching corner, the German’s quest for a sixth Masters 1000 crown is gaining momentum, promising more thrilling battles in Toronto.
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