Alexander Zverev struggled early in the 2023 season, but at his most recent event, he showed that he's back to his best.
The German, who missed the majority of the 2022 season due to an injury that he picked up in a semifinal clash with Rafael Nadal in Roland Garros, struggled in his first matches back on ATP Tour, but his semifinal run in Dubai confirmed that he's back to being dangerous.
In the first round of the 2023 Indian Wells, Zverev took on Pedro Cachin, who came to the Californian desert with a three-match losing streak, but broke it in the first round against Nikoloz Basilashvili from Georgia. But his second-round opponent would prove to be much more difficult obstacle for the Argentinian.
In the first four games, both players lost two points on each their service games, but no one could get close enough to get a break point. However, one game later, Zverev did exactly that, using his only chance and breaking his opponent to lead in the first set.
The tall German looked to keep his advantage and clinch the first set, but he was stopped by the weather as the Indian Wells Tennis Garden was hit by a rain delay when Zverev led 5-3 in the first set.
Soon, both players returned and Zverev didn't wait around. He broke his opponent's serve to win the first set 6-3 and after surviving a rain storm, Cachin faced another one that stood on the other side of the court.
In the second set, Zverev was hitting one precise groundstroke after another and only after an hour and 17 minutes, he won the match 6-3, 6-1 to book a third-round meeting with Emil Ruusuvuori.
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