Zverev, Tsitsipas triumph in Halle’s grass-swing opening
Tuesday’s Terra Wortmann Open saw Alexander Zverev navigate through a challenging opening-round match. The second-seeded German beat fellow countryman Oscar Otte 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4.
In an attempt to surpass his two Halle finalist performances from 2016 and 2017, Zverev used patience to outlast Otte in baseline rallies and took advantage of pressure situations by using first-strike tennis to progress.
“I was essentially still playing on clay a week ago. In his on-court interview, Zverev stated, “He made it really tough for me, no rhythm at all.” “That’s just the way grass-court tennis is sometimes, and I’m grateful for the victory.” I have to give him credit because he really made it difficult for me. Naturally, I’m pleased with my victory and
The prerequisite Otte often put Zverev to the test by serving and volleying and using an off-speed slice to absorb the World No. 4’s aggression. The Roland Garros finalist, however, persisted in his hard hitting and won in two hours and seventeen minutes at the OWL Arena, hammering 54 winners to his 40 unforced mistakes, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
In their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, Zverev is now 2-0 against Otte. In both of their encounters, Otte has caused problems for the 22-time tour-level champion. In the opening round at Roland Garros in 2021, Otte led Zverev two sets to love when the two-time ATP Finals winner stormed back to win and go to the semi-finals.
The 35-10 Rome winner will try to continue his unbeaten 3-0 record against Italian Lorenzo Sonego.
After Wimbledon last year, Otte, who is ranked No. 474 in the PIF ATP Rankings, was playing in his first tour-level match. The 30-year-old disclosed on Instagram in August 2023 that he needed surgery for a knee injury he sustained during the grass-court major.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, ranked sixth, also had a successful start to the grass season, defeating home favorite Henri Squire 7-6(7), 7-6(2). In the tie-break in the opening set, the Greek saved a set point at 5/6.
Throughout the whole sixty-two-minute match, Tsitsipas battled heroically, trailing his second serve by just three points. Squire, who was rated 181 in the PIF ATP Rankings, was matched with
In the second round, Tsitsipas will play either Jan-Lennard Struff or Luis Darderi. The 25-year-old wants to win his 12th career ATP Tour championship and his second grass trophy in Mallorca in 2022. Tsitsipas is making his fourth appearance in Halle this week. At the ATP 500, he has not advanced past the second round.
