ATP: Alexander Zverev loses opening game in Indian Wells against Joao Sousa

Alexander Zverev was eliminated at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells: German number one was defeated by Joao Sousa in the third set with 5:7,7:5 and 4:6.

Wrong start for Alexander Zverev in the two big U. S. hard court tournaments: The native of Hamburg could not use the lead in the first and in the third set and had to leave the field after 2:23 hours against Joao Sousa as loser. The Portuguese, who had to go over the full distance in round one against Mikhail Youzhny, came back after a break in the third set and scored the last four games 7-5,5-7 and 6-4. Sousa will now face Canadian Milos Raonic, who defended his place in the Canadian duel with youngster Félix Auger-Aliassime in two sets.

Zverev seemed to be well on the way to turning the tide in the final set. The break to the 3-1 break had the potential to discourage the Portuguese, but Sousa managed to equalize to the 4-4 and then immediately regained the German’s serve to win the match.

Mischa Zverev also had to say goodbye a few hours before his younger brother: The left-hander lost Sam Querrey from the USA as he did at the US Open 2017. Philipp Kohlschreiber is the only German in round three. Kohlschreiber defeated Tim Smyczek in three sets and now faces the tournament’s number two, Marin Cilic.

Here the single panel in Indian Wells