Alexander Zverev grinded out a 7-6(4) 6-3 2-6 6-7(5) 6-3 win over John Millman to reach the second round of Roland Garros.
There are no easy matches for Alexander Zverev lately, who won in four hours to beat John Millman in five sets to reach the second round.
The German survived a mini-comeback from the Australian to set up a second round meeting with Swedish qualifier Mikael Ymer.
While there were also wins for Juan Martin Del Potro and Fabio Fognini early on day three of the French Open.
It was a Zverev, who started the match better as he used his forehand to power past Millman early on in the opening set.
Recently that shot had failed him in recent matches but he barely missed with it against the Australian as he stormed to a double break lead after five games.
But even a double break lead isn’t safe when your Alexander Zverev at the moment as Millman started to target the German’s backhand.
The fighting spirit of the 29 year-old saw him immediately claw back one of the breaks as he saw a chance to take advantage of the fifth seed’s vulnerable tennis at times.
Even though Zverev’s serve was looking better, there were was still a lack of faith on the second serve as a double fault handed Millman the second break back when serving for the set.
After having set point, the German looked increasingly frustrated as a first set tiebreak loomed. But all good champions produce their best tennis when it matters and that is what the ATP Finals champion did.
A couple of big shots in the tiebreak saw Zverev close out a complicated first set in 68 minutes.
There was still work left to do for the German though as his confidence has been on a downward slide in recent weeks and being broken twice in the second set didn’t help.
Luckily for the 22 year-old, his opponent didn’t take advantage of his lack of conviction on serve as the Australian produced a number of unnecessary errors.
In the seventh game, Zverev’s serve was working as well as his return was and a couple of big backhands ensured he had a grip on the third set.
A comfortable hold at the end of the set saw the German have a two sets to love lead and in control of the match.
However that was far from the end of the match as Zverev’s focus dropped, the Australian’s confidence got bigger and bigger as he knew this match was still there to be won.
The world number 56 got two breaks of serve towards the end of the third set to start the comeback as the German showed a lack of killer instinct.
Then after Zverev got the early break, Millman broke to love in the eighth game as more double faults started to creep into the German’s game.
In the fourth set tiebreak it was the turn of Millman to win the crucial points and force a fifth set which saw Zverev break a couple of rackets.
(🎥@Eurosport_RU ) pic.twitter.com/F4FPi7Clbi
— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) May 28, 2019
Eventually though Millman’s comeback was halted as a magnificent point at 3-3 turned the final set on its head and gave Zverev belief again.
Falls down, still wins point.
That's Alexander Zverev. 😎#RG19 pic.twitter.com/PhA7ETaUxc
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2019
After breaking the Australian from 40-0 down, the world number five closed out the victory in four hours and nine minutes, in the most complicated fashion.
A match, which showed Millman’s fighting spirit but Zverev’s lack of confidence, vulnerability but ability to grind out wins at the moment when he looks like losing.
Next up for last year’s quarter-finalist is Swedish qualifier Mikael Ymer on Thursday.
There were also four set wins for Juan Martin Del Potro and Fabio Fognini as they overcame tough tests in Nicolas Jarry and Andreas Seppi respectively.
