Alexander Zverev Triumphs Over Fellow German in U.S. Open First Round

Fourth seed Alexander Zverev defeated fellow German Maximilian Marterer 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3 6-2 in the first round of the U.S. Open. Zverev, aiming for his first Grand Slam title, showcased his powerful serve with 21 aces. Marterer, a 'lucky loser,' won the second set but couldn't hold off Zverev.

Fourth seed Alexander Zverev outdueled fellow German Maximilian Marterer 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the U.S. Open on Monday. Zverev, who aims to win his debut Grand Slam title after reaching the Australian Open semis and the Roland Garros final this year, showcased his dominant serve by blasting 21 aces on the Grandstand.

Unseeded Marterer, the 'lucky loser' who entered the draw after Emil Ruusuvuori withdrew last week, captured a close second set but was ultimately overpowered by the world No. 4. Zverev looked sharp in the first set, breaking his opponent's serve in the opening game before Marterer battled back to claim a back-and-forth second set in a tiebreak.

Zverev showed signs of frustration at times, tossing his racket at the start of the third set after committing one of 44 unforced errors. Reflecting on his topsy-turvy performance, Zverev characterized it as a typical opening round for him and expressed confidence in improving his game as the tournament progresses. 'I think my performance will improve over the next few matches,' he said, looking ahead to a second-round clash against either Alexandre Muller or Adam Walton.

(With inputs from agencies.)