Alexander Zverev kicked off his eighth Wimbledon campaign with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Roberto Carballes Baena on Court No. 1. Alexander had the upper hand from start to finish, sealing the deal in an hour and 53 minutes and moving into the second round for the seventh time.
The German fired 18 aces and played well behind the first and second serve, saving all five break points in the third set and mounting the pressure on the other side. The Spaniard failed to follow that pace, dropping 45% of the points in his games and suffering five breaks from 14 opportunities provided to world no.
4. Alexander rushed to the net and landed 46 winners and 27 unforced errors, keeping the points on his racquet and sailing over the top. Zverev drew Carballes Baena's mistake in the first game of the encounter, creating three break points.
The German squandered them, avoiding forging an early advantage.
Alexander held at 15 in the second game with a forced error and locked the result at 2-2 with an unreturned serve two games later.
Zverev raised his level on the return in the fifth game and clinched a break when Carballes Baena sprayed a backhand error. World no. 4 closed the sixth game at love with a service winner, settling into a fine rhythm and overcoming a 40-0 deficit on the return in the next one.
Alexander created two break points and converted the second with a forced error for a double break and a 5-2 advantage. Zverev served for the set in game eight and landed an ace, wrapping up the opener 6-2 after 31 minutes.
The better-ranked player sailed through his service games in the second set, losing a couple of points and keeping the pressure on the other side. Roberto saved a break point in the third game with a forehand down the line winner and held after deuces for 2-1.
Alexander Zverev made a winning start at Wimbledon.
Alexander grabbed the fourth game with a service winner and created two break points in the next one.
The German converted the first with a smash winner after an entertaining point, building a set and a break advantage after 56 minutes. World no. 4 produced a hold at love in game six and repeated them two games later for a 5-3 lead, forcing his rival to serve to stay in the set.
Carballes Baena served to prolong the set in the ninth game and faced two set points. The Spaniard saved them with service winners and held after more deuces to reduce the deficit to 5-4. Zverev left those chances behind and held at 15 in game ten, wrapping up the set with a powerful serve and moving closer to the finish line after an hour and 17 minutes.
Alexander clinched another break at the beginning of the third set before experiencing the first issues behind the initial shot in the next one. Roberto created three break chances, and world no. 4 denied them with winners.
Zverev fired two more powerful serves, closing the game in style and keeping his serve intact.
Carballes Baena played a loose forehand right after the serve in the fourth game, offering his rival a break chance. The Spaniard saved it with a crafty point at the net and held after the German's wayward backhand. Zverev hit a double fault in the fourth game, offering Carballes Baena a break point.
Alexander denied it with a backhand winner right after the serve and held with a powerful initial shot that sent him 3-1 in front. Roberto produced a hold at love in game five, landing a drop shot winner and staying in touch.
After two challenging service games, Zverev served better and grabbed the sixth with a backhand drive-volley winner, moving 4-2 in front and closer to the finish line. World no. 4 hit a routine backhand winner at the net in the seventh game, generating two break points and seizing the second with a forehand down the line return winner.
Alexander served for the victory at 5-2 and faced a break point after Roberto's forehand attack. The Spaniard missed a forehand and faced a match point after the German's service winner.
Alexander sealed the deal with a crafty backhand volley winner at the net, moving into the second round and setting the clash against Marcos Giron. Zverev claimed his 95th Major victory, but only the 14th at Wimbledon. The German is yet to show his A-game at the All England Club, reaching the fourth round only two times in the first seven visits!
Alexander lost a thriller three years ago to Felix Auger-Aliassime, losing in five sets and missing Wimbledon in 2022 due to a severe ankle injury. Zverev returned last year and fell to Matteo Berrettini in straight sets in the third round after a tight battle. Zverev lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Roland Garros final, and he hopes for another good result in London.
