

The Russian seized it with a forehand winner and delivered his first professional victory over his former junior doubles partner. Rublev squandered it with a loose backhand but created the sixth at 10-9. He sprayed a routine forehand error and faced the fifth match point at 8-9. Zverev denied the fourth match point at 6-7 with a booming serve and created a set point.

He denied the first and cracked a backhand crosscourt return winner at 5-6 to prolong the duel. Alexander sprayed a forehand error at 4-4 and lost the tenth point to face two match points. Zverev saved it with a forehand winner and brought the game home to introduce a tie break. The German squandered two game points at 5-6 and faced a match point after a loose forehand. Andrey clinched the ninth game after two deuces, and Alexander closed the next one at 15 for 5-5 and more drama. Both players served well in the second set's opening eight games to stay locked at 4-4. Rublev returned in game nine and painted a forehand crosscourt winner to wrap up the opener after 46 minutes. The Russian held at love in game six for 4-2 and closed the eighth game at love after a service winner to move 5-3 up. Instead of building on that, Alexander placed a backhand long in the fifth game to experience another break and send Andrey 3-2 ahead. Still, Zverev climbed back and grabbed a break when the defending champion missed a backhand. Rublev held at love in game two and built a 40-15 advantage at 2-1. The German made a terrible start and wasted game points in the encounter's first game.Īlexander hit a double fault on Andrey's third break chance to push the rival in front after an 11-minute game. Andrey Rublev defeated Alexander Zverev after five consecurive losses.

