Zverev Conquers #NextGenATP Alcaraz In Acapulco
Second seed Alexander Zverev has stamped his authority on #NextGenATP contender Carlos Alcaraz in Acapulco on Monday night. The German pulled clear of the precocious 17-year-old 6-3 6-1 as he reached the second round of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC.
In Alcaraz’s first showdown against a Top 10 opponent, the Spaniard broke first for 2-0 and while unable to consolidate, he stood toe-to-toe with the World No.7 to 3-all. On his fourth opportunity, however, Zverev landed what proved to be a pivotal break for 4-3 in the opening set.
He ended up claiming nine of the last 10 games to secure his passage after 84 minutes. There was a moment of all-court brilliance from Alcaraz when he drilled groundstrokes from corner to corner before he closed to pull off a deft drop-shot winner, serving at 1-4 in the second set.
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However, it was all too brief, as Zverev landed the fifth break of the match and served it out on his 11th ace. He dropped just four points on his first serve.
The German will meet Laslo Djere for a place in the quarter-finals after the Serbian posted a 6-2, 6-3 victory over American Steve Johnson. In a dominant night on serve, Djere claimed 89 per cent of his first-serve points and dropped only four points on his second-serve points. The World No. 54 did not face a break point.