Turin, 15 Nov. (LaPresse) – Alexander Zverev got off to a smooth start at the ATP Finals in Turin. In the first singles match of the tournament, which began today, the world number one defeated debutant Rafael Jodar in two sets, winning 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 28 minutes. In the evening session, starting no earlier than 8.30 pm, Ben Shelton will face Arthur Fils. The world number one put in a solid first set, comfortably holding his service games and putting debutant Jodar under pressure from the very first games, breaking serve on his third break point in the seventh game (4-3) with an unreturnable backhand. The German faltered briefly only when closing out the set: the Spaniard earned two break points, which Sascha saved thanks to his serve, winning four points in a row (6–4). In the second set, Zverev broke early (2-1), capitalising on a net error by Jodar, and from then on gave his young rival no breathing space, though the Spaniard clung on until the very end, winning two hard-fought games in deuce and saving a further three break points. The German, however, was unbeatable on his own serve – an unsolved puzzle for the Spaniard, who eventually succumbed after almost an hour and a half of play.
ATP Finals: a successful start for Zverev – Jodar beaten in two sets
Turin, 15 Nov. (LaPresse) – Alexander Zverev got off to a smooth start at the ATP Finals in Turin. In the first singles match of the tournament, which began today, the world number one defeated debutant Rafael Jodar in two sets, winning 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 28 minutes. In the evening session, starting no earlier than 8.30 pm, Ben Shelton will face Arthur Fils. The world number one put in a solid first set, comfortably holding his service games and putting debutant Jodar under pressure from the very first games, breaking serve on his third break point in the seventh game (4-3) with an unreturnable backhand. The German faltered briefly only when closing out the set: the Spaniard earned two break points, which Sascha saved thanks to his serve, winning four points in a row (6–4). In the second set, Zverev broke early (2-1), capitalising on a net error by Jodar, and from then on gave his young rival no breathing space, though the Spaniard clung on until the very end, winning two hard-fought games in deuce and saving a further three break points. The German, however, was unbeatable on his own serve – an unsolved puzzle for the Spaniard, who eventually succumbed after almost an hour and a half of play.