In his first clay-court match since his horrific injury, Alexander Zverev battled past Alexander Bublik in a thrilling three-set match.
The German ultimately prevailed 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 in his 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters opener. Zverev, seeded 13th in the tournament, initially struggled to find his rhythm on Court Rainier III. Bublik exploited Zverev's uncertainty, employing smart tactics to unsettle the German's game.
The first set slipped away from Zverev as Bublik snatched it 6-3, leaving the German star with an uphill battle. In the second set, the German even fell after one of the rallies and surely remembered his injury when he sit on the red dirt again.
But soon, he overcame the mental barrier of his right ankle injury and showcased improved movement, and grew more confident in his sliding. Zverev fired 21 winners and minimized his unforced errors to just nine, eventually securing his ninth victory of the season. Reflecting on the hard-fought match, Zverev admitted to struggling with the lingering effects of his injury.
“It felt awful at times to be honest, but he made me feel awful. Tactically he played well, he didn’t let me play my game at all. He didn’t let me have my rhythm and he almost won the match, just a few points here and there."
Zverev admitted that the clay courts are the most natural for him and therefore, it doesn't take a long for him to adjust. He practiced only for a couple of weeks, but he can surely do damage in Monte Carlo.
"I have had two weeks of practice now. It is the most natural surface for me. It usually takes me five or 10 minutes to get used to a clay court, but this year was a bit different. I needed to get the injury out of my head. I needed to get used to sliding again.”
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