Zverev survives late niggle in Canada

Top seed Alexander Zverev fought off a late surge from Australian Adam Walton to hang on for a 7-6 (6), 6-3 win into the Toronto Masters third round as the German returned to the courts after a one-month break.

The world No. 3 who lifted the Canadian title in 2017 was broken while serving for victory, but claimed his opening win here a game later when Walton double-faulted on a Zverev match point.

 “Sometimes it’s just about winning,” Zverev said. “It was not the prettiest match, though.”

The German got through a 52-shot rally and came back from 4-1 down in the opening-set tiebreaker to claim his win a month after losing in the Wimbledon first round and questioning his career and motivation.

Victory in one and three-quarter hours lifted Zverev to his 499th career win.

He now faces Italian Matteo Arnaldi, a winner over qualifier Tristan Schoolkate 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti and number five Holger Rune both advanced, with Musetti dispatching Australian qualifier James Duckworth 7-5, 6-1 while Rune overcame Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France 7-6 (7), 6-3. 

The pre-US Open draw is missing the world’s top two, Jannik Sinner and second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz along with Novak Djokovic.

Wimbledon and Roland Garros semi-finalist Musetti finished off Duckworth, in 82 minutes with an ace as he earned his first win since early June at Roland Garros.

The Italian now plays American Alex Michelsen, a 7-6 (7), 6-3 winner over Chilean qualifier Tomas Barrios Vera.

Rune missed a month of play after Wimbledon but made up for lost time with his Toronto win.

“It was a very tricky first match for me, he’s a big server and (there was) not a lot of rhythm in the match,” the Dane said.

“It was about finding a way to win at the end of the (first set) tiebreak. In the second set I was pretty good when it mattered. I think I was serving very well today.”

Main photo:-Alexander Zverev beating Adam Walton in Toronto – by National Bank Open