Alexander Zverev was tested to the limit  on Tuesday on the ATP Halle grass as the new French Open champion squeezed out a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 opening win over Czech Vit Kopriva.

“I’m very pleased and happy to play my first match as a Grand Slam champion in Germany, but I don’t think that affected me too much,” the 29-year-old  Zverev said. 

“It (his problem) was really the change of surface, and my opponent was really good today. 

“I’m very pleased with the win, it  was a difficult match, a difficult opponent, and for the first grass-court match, it was not too bad.”

While the German top seed and world No. 3 was going about his business, a pair of lesser seeds hit the exits in northern Germany, with seventh seeded two-time titleholder  Alexander Bublik  going down to Italy’s Mattia Bellucci 7-6 (6), 6-1.

The Kazakh seed won the trophy here in 2023 and a year ago.

Bellucci is only the second man to upset a reigning champion in the opening round at the venue and set up a second-round encounter with qualifier Raphael Collignon, who defeated  Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 6-2.

No. 8 seed Andrey Rublev was defeated by Poland’ Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 6-2,

Main photo:-Alexander Zverev with his maiden Grand Slam Trophy in Paris – by Roger Parker/ISF Ltd

Tommy Paul managed 15 aces in a relatively pedestrian start on the summer grass, with the 2024 Queen’s club champion outlasting US compatriot Zachery Svajda 7-5, 6-3 on Monday.

With the Wimbledon start less than a fortnight away, the eighth seeded winner knows he will have to lift his game this week as the grass campaign heats up fast.

Paul won the title two years ago but missed last year’s edition through injury.

Missing here is defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who has not played a match since April and will not return until at least the upcoming hardcourt campaign after healing a wrist injury.

Spain’s Rafael Jodar, tipped as an up-and-comer, made a Queen’s withdrawal, officials confirmed.

With local west London crowds still hungover with excitement after the weekend WTA finals appearance of national No. 1 Emma Raducanu, it may take some doing for a relatively weak ATP field to spark huge interest .

The 500 series draw is headed by Alex de Minaur with Czech Jiri Lehecka second.

Paul, ranked 28th and winner of one title from three finals this season, ws able to advance over Svajda with a break in each set as he got used to the new surface.

“The first match on grass is always a little difficult,” Paul said after sending over a winner to clinch victory on his first match point.

“Zachery has been playing some great tennis, I’ve practised with him a few times but it’s always different playing someone for the first time.”

The former champion sparked some crowd enthusiasm as he praised the club as having “the best grass courts in the world.

“It just takes a week to get used to everything. There is always a little bit of slippage at the start of the (grass) season.

“These grass courts feel good under my feet.”

Paul will play his second-round match against Dutchman Botic Van De Zandschulp, who beat No. 223 Brit Harry Wendelken 6-4, 7-6 (5) in two hours.

Boris Becker and two-time former champion Matteo Berrettini were in the crowd on Sunday as Ben Shelton lifted the first grass title of his career with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 defeat of Taylor Fritz.

The result between the American pair prevented Fritz from defending the title he won at the hilltop Weissenhof club a year ago. 

Italy’s Berrettini, injured at Roland Garros last week, showed up in Germany at the request of tournament and his personal sponsor Hugo Boss, presumably for multiple rounds of handshaking at personal appearances.

Becker is rarely missing from German tournament finals.

ATP No. 5 Shelton earned a sixth career title a second in Germany this season  after winning Munich in April.

Shelton withstood 14 aces from Fritz while saving nine of the 11 break points which came his way on the grass.

Shelton defeated Fritz in the Dallas final last February and now holds thetop American spot ahead of his ninth-ranked compatriot.