Zverev Survives Aussie Millman In Paris

Alexander Zverev spent more time on court than he would have liked on Tuesday to start his run at Roland Garros, considering he played three three-set matches last week in Geneva en route to the title in Switzerland.

But the 2018 quarter-finalist will take the outcome. Zverev, the fifth seed in Paris, battled past Aussie John Millman 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3 on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

A year ago here, Zverev reached the last eight at a Grand Slam for the first time. But he needed five sets in the second through fourth rounds to do so. And Millman pushed him to the brink in the German's opener this year.

It was not the first time Millman has challenged a star on a big stage, having defeated Roger Federer to reach last year's US Open quarter-finals. And the 29-year-old showed his fighting spirit again to battle from two sets down, attempting to reach the second round on the Parisian terre battue for the first times. 

The Aussie forced a fifth set after a tight fourth-set tie-break, when Zverev sliced a backhand into the net on the Aussie's third set point. But Zverev lost just four service points in the decider, breaking serve at 4-3 and holding to love to escape the test.

Zverev won his first tour-level title of the season on Saturday, beating Chilean Nicolas Jarry to win the Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open, an ATP 250 event. The German was a late addition to the tournament as he was seeking more matchplay after reaching just one quarter-final at the three clay-court ATP Masters 1000 events.

Last year, Zverev won his second clay-court Masters 1000 title at the Mutua Madrid Open. But Zverev hadn't reached a final on this surface until Saturday in Switzerland. The 21-year-old will next face Swede Mikael Ymer, who qualified and then, during his Grand Slam main draw debut, beat Slovakian qualifier Blaz Rola 6-0, 6-3, 7-6(5).

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://bit.ly/2KeEyWZ