French Open 2023: Alexander Zverev moves into the third round with a party in the night session – no chance for Mulkan

Alexander Zverev tore off his headband and smiled at the audience. It was clear to Germany’s number one player how much this victory on Court Philippe Chatrier meant to him.

It was Zverev’s return to the place where he had sustained a serious ankle injury in the semi-final against Rafael Nadal exactly a year earlier.

“I was very nervous when I entered the court,” a relieved Olympic champion admitted after the match. “I’m glad I found my form and my rhythm again.”

The shock, that’s for sure, was quickly overcome by the 26-year-old.

Zverev improved against Molkan

Zverev started the match perfectly and quickly took his serve from the 25-year-old Slovakian on his first serve match.

With his own serve, the German top seed presented himself far more stable than facing South African Lloyd Harris in the first round, allowing only eight break balls the entire match, all of which he was able to save.

The mood was good on Philippe Chatrier. Zverev was greeted with open arms when he returned to the largest court in Paris. Notable gatherings such as Zverev’s tweener, which weren’t enough to win a point, were appreciated with a standing ovation.

After 47 minutes, the Hamburg native grabbed the first set and held on to the second.

Baker excited: “It’s like he forgot the handcuffs.”

“Zverev is doing his job perfectly,” the expert praised. Boris Becker at Eurosport microphone About this stage of the game: “I haven’t seen him play tennis this way for a long time. Today he plays like he forgot his handcuffs. He plays freely.”

Needing just 37 minutes for the second set, Zverev left absolutely no doubt about who would win and added two bars early in the third.

After an hour and 58 minutes, the 26-year-old converted his second match point and now meets American Frances Tiafoe in the third round. [12]who defeated Russia’s Aslan Karatsev in four sets (3: 6, 6: 3, 7: 5, 6: 2).