Zverev dices with upset danger to advance in a comeback

Alexander Zverev escaped an opening-match upset on Wednesday at the Monte Carlos Masters as the world No. 3 saved face with a dramatic third-set fightback win.

The German with two semi-finals here in his resume trailed 4-0 and 5-2 in the deciding set against Chile’s Cristian Garin, but made hard work of a win which took nearly three hours.

Zverev’s first clay match of the season turned into a fight for survival as he trailed his South American opponent 4-0, starting his recovery at 1-4 and pulling level for 5-all as nerves began to plague his opponent.

The German third seed broke again for a 6-5 lead and finally wrapped up victory with a 12-minute game as Garin lunged wide to send a Zverev drop shot out.

“My level was not really there, to be honest,” the winner said. “It was my first match on clay (since a Roland Garros quarter-final in early June).”I didn;t have much time to prepare but I’m happy to get the win, that’s the most important thing – it was a tough match.

“Down 4-0 in the third set I started to swing more aggressively even though I had not been feeling the ball. It was good to get a break straight away (for 1-4).

“He showed some nerves at the 5-3 game and I made good use of that.”
Garin and Zverev first played 13 years ago in the French Open boys’ singles final, with their record now tied 2-all

Monte Carlo-based Zverev is playing in the principality for the 10th consecutive time.