Sascha Says Goodbye To Service Yips, Hello To Third Round

Seventh-seeded German Alexander Zverev has advanced to the third round of the Australian Open for the fourth consecutive year – and without dropping a set - after a solid 7-6(5), 6-4, 7-5 win over 27-year-old Belarusian Egor Gerasimov.

The 22-year-old continues to put behind him the service yips that haunted him last season, when he averaged 5.9 doubles a match, second only to Benoit Paire (6.6). After serving four double faults in his opening-round win over Italian Marco Cecchinato, Zverev did not serve any against Gerasimov.

The 2018 Nitto ATP Finals champion delivered nine aces today on Rod Laver Arena and won 86 per cent of first-serve points and 68 per cent of second-serve points. He also clipped 39 winners to 25 unforced errors.

He put 77 per cent of first serves into play (down slightly on his impressive clip of 84 per cent in the first round) and lost just six second-serve points.

The 6’ 6” Zverev, who has won 11 ATP Tour titles, next will play the winner of Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili and Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/36pynH3