German Next Gen star Alexander Zverev opened his China Open campaign in Beijing with a 6-3 7-6 (7-3) win over 22-year British player Kyle Edmund in a match which finished after midnight. Zverev went up a double break in the third and ninth games to win the first set.
In the fourth game of the second set Zverev went up 0-40 on Edmund’s serve earning three break points. Edmund saved them to hold his serve for 2-2. Edmund saved another break point in the eighth game. The British player converted his first break point in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead earning a set point. Zverev broke straight back to draw level to 5-5.
As Edmund was serving at 5-6 down, Zverev went up 15-40 to earn two match points. Edmund saved both chance to force the second set to the tie-break. Both players went on serve until 3-3 before Zverev got the decisive mini-break with a backhand passing shot on the seventh point. The 20-year-old German player sealed the win with a forehand volley on the match point.
Zverev is currently in third place in the ATP Race to London with 4220 points. He will face Italian Fabio Fognini in the next round.
