Alexander Zverev defeated Vit Kopriva, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, in the first round of the Halle Open.
The German was made to work hard for his place in the second round as Kopriva proved to be a more difficult opponent than many expected.
Showing the class of a Grand Slam champion, Zverev eventually prevailed in three sets, advancing to the second round, where he will meet his countryman, Yannick Hanfmann.
Who is your early shout to win the men’s Wimbledon title?
During his post-match interview, Zverev shared what Kopriva did that surprised him.
Alexander Zverev had ‘barely witnessed’ someone return as well as Vit Kopriva on grass
“Of course, I’m very pleased and very happy to play my first match in Germany as a Grand Slam champion, but I don’t think that affected me too much; I think it was really the change of surface, and my opponent was really good today,” said Zverev.
“I thought he played a fantastic match. He was hitting his groundstrokes incredibly well, serving unbelievably well, returning second serves; I’ve barely witnessed it on a grass court. I was serving 190 sometimes, and the ball is coming back faster.
Alexander Zverev vs Vit Kopriva – Match stats
| Stats | Alexander Zverev | Vit Kopriva |
| Aces | 16 | 12 |
| Double faults | 1 | 4 |
| 1st Serve % | 71% | 63% |
| Win % on 1st Serve | 81% | 68% |
| Win % on 2nd Serve | 62% | 47% |
| Break points | 3/14 | 1/2 |
“To be honest, I’m very pleased with the win, because I think it was a difficult match, a difficult opponent; for the first grass-court tournament, it was not too bad.
“Look, I feel with every point I play on a grass court I’m going to play better and better; the first couple of matches are always tricky.
“I think his level dropped a tiny bit in the end. I hung in there, I took my chances, the one I had, and I’m happy with that.”
Zverev will be keen to win as many matches as possible on grass before travelling to London for Wimbledon.
The 29-year-old has yet to record a landmark result at the All England Club, performing far worse at Wimbledon than at the other three Grand Slams.
Only time will tell if he can make a step forward in 2026…
Alexander Zverev does what Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz couldn’t after winning a Grand Slam
After winning Roland Garros, Zverev won his opening singles match in Halle, but others didn’t fare quite so well in their next match they played after lifting maiden Grand Slam titles.
Three of the last 10 first-time major champions lost their next match.
| First-time major champion | Next match | Result | Score |
| Alexander Zverev (2026 French Open) | 2026 Halle Open – 1R vs Vit Kopriva | WIN | 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 |
| Jannik Sinner (2024 Australian Open) | 2026 Rotterdam Open – 1R vs Botic van de Zandschulp | WIN | 6-3, 6-3 |
| Carlos Alcaraz (2022 US Open) | 2022 Astana Open – 1R vs David Goffin | LOSS | 5-7, 3-6 |
| Daniil Medvedev (2021 US Open) | 2021 Laver Cup vs Denis Shapovalov | WIN | 6-4, 6-0 |
| Dominic Thiem (2020 US Open) | 2020 French Open – 1R vs Marin Cilic | WIN | 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 |
| Marin Cilic (2014 US Open) | 2014 Davis Cup – WG PO vs Thiemo de Bakker | WIN | 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 |
| Stan Wawrinka (2014 Australian Open) | 2014 Davis Cup – WG vs Dusan Lajovic | WIN | 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 |
| Andy Murray (2012 US Open) | 2012 Japan Open – 1R vs Ivo Karlovic | WIN | 7-6, 6-4 |
| Juan Martin del Potro (2009 US Open) | 2009 Japan Open – 1R vs Edouard Roger-Vasselin | LOSS | 4-6, 4-6 |
| Novak Djokovic (2008 Australian Open) | 2008 Davis Cup WG – vs Nikolay Davydenko | LOSS | 6-4, 6-3, 4-6 (RET) |
Carlos Alcaraz lost to David Goffin in Astana after winning the US Open in 2022, Juan Martin del Potro lost to Edouard Roger-Vasselin in Tokyo after winning the US Open in 2009, and Novak Djokovic lost to Nikolay Davydenko at the Davis Cup after winning the Australian Open in 2008.
When Zverev dropped the second set to Kopriva in Halle, it looked as though he was set to join that list, but he managed to avoid defeat.
Zverev will now look to push on and win the Halle Open, a title that has eluded him so far in his career.
The world number three will return to take on Hanfmann for a place in the quarter-finals later this week.
