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World no. 2 Alexander Zverev will make his Buenos Aires debut this week, facing Dusan Lajovic in the second round. The German will play his first match since the Australian Open final, whichbrought him another setback.
Alexander fell to world no. 1 Jannik Sinner 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 in two hours and 42 minutes. Thus, the Hamburg native suffered his third defeat from as many Major finals, leavingMelbourne heartbroken. However, hewill not give up!
World no. 2 is eager to work on further improvements and become a Major winner and world no. 1. Alexander revealed the upcoming Roland Garros as his next big goal, wishing to go a step further than in 2024.
Zverev played in the final at two of the previous four Majors. Last June, he battled against Carlos Alcaraz in the title clash in Paris. The Spaniard came from two sets to one deficit and prevailed 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 in four hours and 19 minutes.
Alexander gave everything in sets two and three. The German embraced two streaks of five games, performing an incredible comeback and opening two sets to one advantage. However, he lost the ground and took only three games in sets four and five.
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The controversy occurred in the fourth game of the final set. Zverev created three break points at 1-2 and looked good to erase the deficit.The line umpire called Alcaraz's double fault on the second, but the chair umpire, Renaud Lichtenstein, overruled the decision.
Thehawkeyeshowed the ball was 2 millimeters outside the line but it still caused controversyknowing the margin of error of thehawkeyesystem on clay. Many wonderedwhat would have happened had it been called out and had Alexander leveled the score at 2-2.
Zverev complained but continued eventually,wasting four break points in that game and suffering a massive blow. The Spaniard had the upper hand in the rest of the duel and celebrated his third Major title at 21.
The German reached the title clash at this year's Australian Open and faced another formidable opponent. He could not create a break chance against Sinner. The Italian pushed on the return and created ten break points.
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The defending champion seized two and sealed the deal without issues, keeping Alexander empty-handed. Zverev sprayed 45 unforced errors and ruined his chances. He fought well in the second set but fell in the tie break.
Jannik earned a break in the third set and moved over the top.Alexander should be among the favorites at Roland Garros in June, feeling motivated to finally clinch an elusive Major trophy at 28.
"I have to keep believing in myself. If I keep improving, I will have a chance to win Majors and become world no. 1. My next big goal in Roland Garros," Alexander Zverev said.
