World no. 2 Alexander Zverev is off to a winning start in Buenos Aires. Alexander faced Dusan Lajovic in the second round and scored a 6-4, 6-4 win in an hour and 37 minutes, notching his first win at this tournament.
Zverev played his first match since the Australian Open final and performed well. The German claimed 12 points more than his rival and made the difference with his first serve after they both struggled on the second.
World no. 2 defended three of four break points and took 43% of the return points. He seized three breaks from seven chances and controlled the scoreboard after taming his strokes nicely. Alexander landed 27 winners and 20 unforced errors.
Lajovic fired 26 service winners but struggled from the baseline after spraying 28 unforced errors. They served well in the opening six games, reaching 3-3 in 19 minutes. Dusan played a loose service game and sprayed a forehand error in the seventh game to drop serve.
The Roland Garros finalist fired a powerful serve in the eighth game, cementing the lead and settling into a fine rhythm. Lajovic served to stay in the set in game nine and closed it after numerous deuces to extend the battle. Ale
Zverev served for the opener at 5-4 and missed a set point. The Serb earned a break chance, and the German denied it with a fine attack and a volley winner at the net. Alexander converted the second set point with a service winner, wrapping up the opener 6-4 in 44minutes.
The lower-ranked player drew the top seed's mistake in the second game of the second set and opened a 2-0 advantage. Instead of building on that, Dusan sprayed a backhand error in game three, getting broken and bringing Zverev back to the positive side.
Lajovic suffered another break in the fifthgame. He squandered a game point and misjudged the rival's ball on the third break point to drop three straight games and fall behind. The Serb saved a break point in the seventh game and stayed in contention.
Zverev played against two break points in game eight. He saved the first with a winner, and Dusan sprayed an error on the second before world no. 2 held with a forced error. Alexander served for the win at 5-4 and cracked a backhand down the line winner on a match point to seal the deal in style.
