ATP Tour

Zverev guts out 52-shot rally en route to Toronto opening win

If a 52-shot rally is any indication how Alexander Zverev is feeling in his first outing since a shocking first-round upset at Wimbledon, the German appears recharged for the North American hard-court swing.

Zverev, the top seed at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers in Toronto, began his campaign Tuesday by ousting Adam Walton 7-6(6), 6-4, during which the 28-year-old survived a lung-busting exchange to crucially earn set point in the opener. After trailing 3/5 in the tie-break, Zverev seized momentum following that lengthy rally at 5/5 and found more rhythm from the baseline to advance.

“It was a very important moment, very important point for me,” Zverev said. “Lucky to get through in the first set and finishing it off in two.”

Zverev’s level fluctuated throughout the night, but he dropped just three points behind his hefty first serve to move within one of 500 career tour-level wins, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Zverev was broken when he served for the match at 5-3, yet quickly regrouped to close out the one-hour, 42-minute match the following game.

“Sometimes it’s about winning a match, [despite] not always playing your best," said Zverev. "I know it wasn’t the prettiest match, for sure, but I haven’t played a match in four weeks. I took some time off, which I needed also for myself. I’m happy to be playing again. Tomorrow is another day and I hope I will be better tomorrow.”

A seven-time ATP Masters 1000 champion, including a triumph in Canada in 2017, the No. 3 player in the PIF ATP Rankings will continue his quest to add to that haul against 32nd seed Matteo Arnaldi, who defeated Australian Tristan Schoolkate 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Zverev leads Arnaldi 1-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, with their lone meeting coming in Acapulco this year.

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In other action, #NextGenATP Learner Tien fought off home favourite Denis Shapovalov 7-6(4), 7-5 in an all-lefty battle to add to his ever-growing resume. Shapovalov served for the second set at 5-4, yet Tien avoided a decider by claiming three consecutive games. The 19-year-old, third in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, is into the third round of an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time.

Eighth seed Casper Ruud, competing in just his second tournament since Roland Garros, raced past Roman Safiullin 6-3, 6-3. The Norwegian next faces Nuno Borges, who rallied past Argentine qualifier Facundo Bagnis 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-2.

American Reilly Opelka, a 2021 finalist in Toronto, outlasted 16th seed Tomas Machac 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 6-3 after crushing 24 aces. 14th seed Francisco Cerundolo escaped Jaume Munar 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4 in a two-hour, 58-minute battle while Cerundolo's countryman Tomas Martin Etcheverry upset 24th seed Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 7-6(4).