World No. 2 Alexander Zverev began his campaign at the Australian Open with a solid victory over Lucas Pouille, a former semi-finalist, on the iconic Rod Laver Arena. Zverev triumphed with a straight-sets win, defeating Pouille 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in a match that lasted two hours and 21 minutes. This victory marked Zverev’s 102nd win in Grand Slam tournaments and his 26th at the Australian Open. The German showcased his powerful serve, hitting 18 aces and maintaining an impressive first-serve percentage of 73%.
Despite being a seasoned competitor, Pouille struggled to keep pace with Zverev throughout the match. The Frenchman managed to serve at only 55% and lost 35% of the points in his service games. Although he defended 15 of 18 break points, Pouille was unable to prevent Zverev from breaking his serve once in each set, ultimately leading to his exit from the tournament. Zverev recorded a total of 40 winners compared to 29 unforced errors, demonstrating his ability to dominate in both short and mid-range rallies.
The match began with Zverev taking control early, breaking Pouille in the fifth game of the first set and generating three set points at 5-3, although Pouille managed to save them temporarily. Zverev ultimately closed out the set 6-4 after 46 minutes. He maintained his momentum in the second set, breaking serve in the opening game and holding off Pouille’s attempts to mount a comeback. After taking a two-set lead, Zverev continued to apply pressure, breaking Pouille again in the third set and sealing the match with another ace, securing his place in the second round of the tournament.
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