Alexander Zverev advanced to the French Open second round on Sunday after beating Benjamin Bonzi in straight sets.
The German star proved too strong for his French opponent, winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Zverev, who had been dealing with a back injury ahead of the event, will play Tomas Machac in the French Open second round and the Czech player defeated Zizou Bergs in his own first-round contest.
Do you really believe that Alexander Zverev can win a Grand Slam title?
After defeating Bonzi – who recorded two major victories over Daniil Medvedev last year – Zverev offered his immediate reaction, noting the key change he made mid-match.
Alexander Zverev changed his string tension mid-match
“It was good,” Zverev said of his form while speaking to TNT Sports after the match. “A very good start to the tournament.
“It’s always nice to start with a straight sets win, especially against Benjamin, who I feel can cause a lot of problems to the top players.
“All around, I think a good performance I can build on. I have to build on it, but very happy with the start.”
He went on to discuss the second set, which was quite possibly the most difficult period of the match for the two-time ATP Finals champion.
“I think in five set matches in Grand Slams there is always going to be ups and downs, especially at the beginning of tournaments,” said Zverev.
“You always have to stay focused and come back to yourself. Play your best tennis.
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“I think mentally you always have to be ready, that was very good today. I am looking forward to the next couple of days.
The German, seeded second in Paris, made an important adjustment midway through his victory over Bonzi.
After the first two sets, Zverev switched to a racket with lower string tension and ended up playing his ‘best set’ of the match.
Alexander Zverev’s projected path to the Roland Garros title
- Second round: Tomas Machac
- Third round: Ugo Humbert
- Fourth round: Karen Khachanov
- Quarter-finals: Taylor Fritz
- Semi-finals: Novak Djokovic
- Final: Jannik Sinner
“I went lower [tension]. I am very strange when it comes to rackets and stringing,” Zverev admitted.
“I feel too much sometimes, which is not a good time. I felt my racket was a bit too tight in the first two sets and then I changed it for the third set and that was my best set.
“So sometimes I am strange. You will maybe understand or maybe not but sometimes I feel I have less control when it’s too tight.
“So I went down with a bit of tension and felt I could swing more freely.”
When asked how he would like to improve, Zverev also said: “Benjamin is a great player but I know the further you go the more difficult the opponents will get. I feel everybody will not play their best tennis in the first round.
“If they do, bravo, and hopefully they can continue to play that way but sometimes it’s good to start a bit slower.
“To start feeling you can improve something still, that is my feeling, hopefully I can do that.”
Alexander Zverev’s previous match against Tomas Machac
Zverev has played Machac just once before on the ATP Tour: at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Zverev emerged victorious from their contest, defeating Machac 6-3, 7-5 in the round of 32.
Following the contest, Zverev noted the sweltering conditions in the French capital.
“It was the first time in my life that I’ve played where there was no wind and it was 36 degrees Celsius in the shade,” he said, as per Yahoo Sports.
“It was definitely over 42, 42 on the Chatrier and at some point it felt very warm in the black outfit.”
Zverev was eventually defeated in the quarter-finals by Italian star Lorenzo Musetti.
As for Machac, he won the mixed doubles gold medal while playing alongside Katerina Siniakova.
