Olympic champion Alexander Zverev struck gold at the ATP Cincinnati Masters on Wednesday with his first victory at the US Open tuneup event...
Olympic champion Alexander Zverev struck gold at the ATP Cincinnati Masters on Wednesday with his first victory at the US Open tuneup event in seven attempts.
The German has been deep in a rut from his first appearance in 2015 at the Midwest US venue, exiting in the first round every time. But that all changed as Zverev celebrated success with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 win over South African Lloyd Harris to break his duck.
“I’m happy where I’m at and I’m happy to get my first win in seven years here,” he said. “It’s obviously a great start to the week.”
The breakthrough victory was the seventh in a row for the 24-year-old.
“When I came on court and they said Olympic gold medalist, it did give me goosebumps,” Zverev said. “It made me a little nervous at the beginning of the match, I have to say, because it is a special feeling.”
Zverev now goes up against Argentine Guido Pella, a winner over Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-1, 7-5.
Top seed Daniil Medvedev, last week’s Toronto champion, also advanced in a no-drama 6-2, 6-2 defeat of American Mackenzie McDonald that took just an hour for the 2019 Cincinnati champion.
Number two seed Stefanos Tsitsipas fought off Sebastian Korda for a 7-6 (7/5),...
