Zverev makes life difficult in Stuttgart start

Top seed Alexander Zverev bolted through a quick opening set but watched as his progress slowed to a crawl before finally edging out a 6-2, 7-6 (7) defeat of

Corentin Moutet to book the quarter-finals in Stuttgart.

The German needed nearly two hours to advance on the home grass of the Weissenhof club. He moved into a match with Brandon Nakashima after the sixth seed defeated Learner Tien 7-6 (5), 6-3.

“The first match on grass is never easy,” world No. 3 Zverev said. “I actually think it was a very average match.

“But I won in the end and that’s the most important thing. I made it complicated, but a win is a win and I’m happy to play tomorrow.”

Zverev is finally coming good at home after losing three of his previous four matches here.

He was successful on four of six break points against Moutet and claimed his 30th match win of the season. The seed is bidding for a home double after winning Munich in April on clay, the 24th trophy of his career.

Elsewhere, Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, seeded fourth,  tamed France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 6-4, putting FAA into his first win on grass since the 2-22 Halle quarter-finals.

Main photo; Alexander Zverev – by Roger Parker ISF Ltd