(Provided by Tennis World USA)
Alexander Zverev will compete in the Roland Garros third round for the seventh time in the previous eight years. The last year’s semi-finalist returned to Court Philippe-Chatrier for the first time since that terrible ankle injury against Rafael Nadal.
Despite some strong feelings, Alexander played well and scored a 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 triumph over Alex Molcan in an hour and 58 minutes
Zverev played well behind the first and second serve and defended all eight break points, six in the encounter’s closing stages.
Molcan failed to follow that pace, dropping half of the points in his games and allowing Zverev to grab six breaks from 16 opportunities. The German hit 42 winners and 28 unforced errors, kicking off the action with a break and never looking back.
Alexander had the upper hand in the shortest, mid-range and most extended rallies, passing the opening two rounds in Paris with no issues for the first time in a career.
Alexander Zverev toppled Alex Molcan in the Roland Garros second round.
Zverev grabbed a break in the encounter’s first game with a volley winner at the net.
He confirmed it with a drop shot winner in game two and earned more break chances in games three and five. Molcan denied them to remain within one break deficit and held at 15 in game seven with a service winner for 3-4. Alex forced Alexander’s mistake in the eighth game and created his first break chance.
The German denied it with a service winner and served for the opener at 5-4. Alexander held at 30 for 6-4 in 45 minutes. A left-handed Slovak sprayed a backhand error at the start of the second set to suffer a break and chase the result.
Zverev produced two fine holds and opened a 3-1 gap before creating three more break points in game five. Molcan erased them and held with a volley winner at the net to remain within one break deficit. Alexander saved a break point in game six with a service winner and grabbed a break in the next one at 15 to open a 5-2 gap.
Zverev held at love in game eight to open a 6-4, 6-2 lead in an hour and 21 minutes and march toward the finish line. The German forced the Slovak’s mistake at the start of the third set and earned a break at 15 Alexander landed a forehand crosscourt winner in the third game to secure another return game and forge a 3-0 advantage.
Zverev served at 4-1 and faced six break points. Eager to keep his initial shot intact, he denied them with five winners and held for 5-1. Alexander delivered another break in game seven with a forehand winner at the net to sail into the last 32, missing achieving that in Paris only once.