In a thrilling start to the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam, fourth-seeded Andre Rublev of Russia overcame China's Zhang Zhizhen with a score of 6-3, 6-4 in the men's singles first round.
Zhang faced a tough challenge against Rublev, who has previously beaten him in all three encounters. Despite being broken in the fourth game of the first set and trailing 2-5 in a crucial service game, Zhang showcased his resilience by saving six set points to keep the set alive. However, Rublev secured the ninth game, taking a 1-0 lead in the match.
The momentum continued into the second set as Rublev broke Zhang's first service game, establishing a 2-0 advantage. Maintaining his composure, the Russian player held all subsequent serves, limiting Zhang's opportunities to stage a comeback. Even after Zhang saved four match points in the 10th game, he couldn't turn the tide, allowing Rublev to advance.
On the same day, the spotlight also shone on Spain's top seed, Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated the home wild card Botic van de Zandschulp 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-1. This victory served as redemption for Alcaraz after his second-round exit at the U.S. Open last year.
Alcaraz's performance was a rollercoaster, marked by 40 unforced errors in the first two sets. Meanwhile, van de Zandschulp capitalized on his strong baseline play and strategic net approaches, tying the match despite suffering eight double faults. In the decisive set, Alcaraz unleashed a series of impressive shots to secure the win.
Reflecting on his match, Alcaraz stated, \"I think there were a lot of ups and downs in the match. Being set point down in the first set, I think Botic played a really solid match. Not too many ups and downs for him, really consistent throughout the match. I'm just really happy to get through. I had to be really focused in the tough moments, to keep pushing and trust the good tennis will come again. I'm happy to get through a difficult match and have a chance to get better in the next round.\"
Reference(s):
Zhang Zhizhen loses to Andre Rublev in first round at ABN AMRO Open
cgtn.com
