Alexander Zverev has won his first match in the ATP Tour Finals with an energetic performance. He defeated the Croatian Marin Cilic 6-4,3-6,6-4.
By Florian Goosmann from London
Zverev was very concentrated and determined from the beginning. He used his second breakball in the first game of the match and, thanks to a few Cilic mistakes, went into the lead with a 2:0 lead, had to fight afterwards, but finally kept his lead to 6:4. Zverev was the more active player, with 12 winners (to Cilics 3) and 19 Unforced Errors (Cilic: 12) standing after the first round.
In the second set the reverse game: Cilic broke – also because Zverev’s forehand allowed himself a break -, shot to 3-0 and didn’t let anything happen on his own serve, 15 unforced mistakes at Zverev were ultimately too much.
Also in the decisive set Cilic broke early to the 2:1, he was meanwhile the clearly more aggressive player. Zverev finally seemed annoyed after missing a few chances and rushed, but was prevented by a second break for Cilic after 1-3 and 0-30 thanks to strong serves.
The decisive phase in the 3:2 for Cilic: After another 40-15 lead error for the Croatian, Zverev’s racket was killed – after which he fought his way through to the rebreak and held his serve with another four points in a row. At the 5:4, Zverev took three match points and scored the first to win the ATP Tour Finals.
Zverev will now face Roger Federer, the other winner of the day, in his second group game on Tuesday. Cilic is playing Jack Sock.
More information will follow!