ATP: Tough tasks for Zverev and Nadal

Alexander Zverev and Rafael Nadal start in the Masters-1000-Tournament in Paris-Bércy and face tough opening hurdles. Especially for “Sascha” Zverev it could be a nerve test.

After Roger Federer’s cancellation, the focus of the Masters-1000 tournament in Paris-Bércy has shifted to other players. Two top stars will enter the tournament on Wednesday and play their opening match in the French capital.

The world’s number one and top favourite for the title Rafael Nadal will be confronted with the Korean Hyeon Chung. The NextGen star won his first-round match against the German Mischa Zverev surprisingly smoothly 6-0 and 6-2. The 21-year-old with strong legs showed himself to be in great shape and was particularly solid on the forehand against Zverev, who with his net attacks ran into the hard passing strokes of the Korean with his sports glasses.

Nadal, on the other hand, will go to court in Paris for the first time and will return to the tour with a week’s break. After his defeat in the Masters final in Shanghai against Federer, the 31-year-old took a break for regeneration.

The number four seedling, Alexander Zverev, will also be honoured on the fifth day in Paris. The 20-year-old travels to France with a disappointment in his luggage. In the quarter-finals at the ATP-500 tournament in Vienna, the top seed suffered a 6:7 (6) and a 2:6 defeat against the later finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. About a week later, the best German tennis player will meet Robin Haase from the Netherlands, who won 6-2 and 6-1 against the American Steve Johnson in his opening match and will go into the game with a lot of self-confidence. Zverev has to be careful of the serve and the wit of the world’s number 43.

The single panel in Paris-Bércy