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

Nick Kyrgios on Monday pulled the plug on any chances of a summer grasscourt revival as the temperamental Aussie withdrew on the first day of the pre- Wimbledon Halle event.

The former Wimbledon singles finalist played only his second match of the season last week in Stuttgart, winning a round and later withdrawing from doubles.

Any speculation that the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up currently ranked just inside the top 1000 might receive a wild card singles entry to the All England club event was out to rest on Monday when the list was released.

Kyrgios and Alexander Bublik were granted free entry in doubles, with singles cards going to retiring Swiss three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka  and Bulgarian crowd-pleaser Grigor Dimitrov along with the usual cluster of local Brits.

Roland Garros finalist Maja Chwalinska got a free entry on the women’s side.

In Halle before he withdrew, the 31-year-old Kyrgios had paid tribute to French Open champion Alexander Zverev, one of the few players born in the 1990s “lost generation” to win a major.

But before any compliments, Kyrgios had to pat himself on the back::

“I’ve realized that I’ve been more successful than most athletes, not just in tennis but in any sport and practically any field. 

“That’s why I’m confident enough to know when my time was, but also humble enough to understand that now it might be someone else’s time.”

He added: “Seeing Sascha (Zverev) finally overcome that barrier has been incredible. A lot of people forget that that terrible injury he suffered ends the careers of 99 per cent of players. 

“He could have been content with everything he’d already achieved, but he had the ambition to come back, regain his form, surpass it, and even become a better player. Honestly, I find that pretty terrifying.”

Main photo:- Nick Kyrgios injures his wrist at Indian Wells by ATPTour

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.