Alexander Zverev breaks 20-year-old Rafael Jódar in ATP Finals opener
Jódar, making his ATP Finals debut, held serve after Zverev's break, leaving the German to serve for the set.
Alexander Zverev broke Rafael Jódar’s serve Sunday to take the lead in the opening match of the ATP Finals in Turin and was due to serve for the first set.
Jódar, a 20-year-old Spaniard, took the first game. On the opening point, he hit a passing shot after Zverev came forward to the net.
Jódar later held serve after saving two break points. In another service game, a double-digit rally brought the score to 15-15 before Zverev secured his first break.
When Jódar next served, his first ace put him ahead 30-15; he held, leaving Zverev to serve for the set.
The opener brought together a two-time Grand Slam champion and a 20-year-old with the fastest rise from a tour-level debut to the ATP top 10. That climb took Jódar 287 days.
Zverev collected his first two Grand Slam titles this year at the French Open and the U.S. Open. Diario ABC and Sport Bild list the German as world No. 1 and say his ATP Finals titles came in London in 2018 and Turin in 2021. Sport Bild says Lorenzo Musetti beat him in the second round of the Paris Masters, and Diario ABC says that was Zverev’s opening match there.
Jódar earned his first career title at the ATP 250 event in Marrakech, Morocco. He subsequently reached finals at the Shanghai Masters and in Washington, and made his ATP Finals debut Sunday, according to Diario ABC.
Zverev won their only previous meeting. The Spanish outlet said the German defeated Jódar in this year’s French Open quarterfinals by scores of 7-6, 6-1, 6-3.
The Guardian and Sport Bild regard Zverev as the favorite against Jódar and place him alongside Carlos Alcaraz among the leading title contenders. Alcaraz has returned to competition and is in the opposite half of the draw.
Asked about his status as a favorite, Zverev said he was comfortable with it and motivated, according to Sport Bild. Anticipating the next question, he said he felt he had little left to prove.
Thursday’s draw put Zverev and Jódar in the John McEnroe group with Ben Shelton and Arthur Fils, according to Sport Bild. Zverev holds a winning record against each of his three group opponents, the outlet said.
