Melbourne: The number three world Alexander Zverev won the All-German battle to succeed in launching his offer for the first grand slam title in Australia Open on Monday.
Zverev faces the rigid resilience of Daniel Altmaiier ranked 87th before winning 7-6 (7/3), 6-1, 7-6 (7/1) in the night match at the Rod Laver Arena.
Zverev’s strength from Baseline gradually wore Altmaier Plucky, who received praise from the crowd for his spirit.
“This is the first round, hopefully a very long grand slam, you will not always play your best tennis, unless you Roger (Federer) or Rafa (Nadal), I’m not like them,” Zverev, 24, said in court.
“It’s suitable for me to enter the tournament, hopefully the next one will be better.” Zverev next faced Australia John Millman, who passed Spain veteran Feliciano Lopez in four sets.
With the winning deportation of nine times Novak Djokovic on the night of the tournament, the men’s lottery has been opened.
Zverev was one of the prominent competitors along with the world number two Danil Medvedev, Stefanos Greece fourth seed Tsitipas and Grand Slam champion 20 times.
Zverev, who has not won the department, has a struggle of 63 minutes before taking the opening in Tiebreak.
Altmaier, made an open debut of Australia, showing great character to fight three points set before Zverev claimed Tiebreak with Overhead smash.
Zverev consolidated his grip in the match that took the second set in 29 minutes, won it at the second set point with the drift winner of the forehand.
Altmaier refused to be maid by his high and broken opponent in the third set when Crouching Zverev volleyball found a net.
But underdogs played several loose shots and returned a break to 4-4.
Zverev held three match points in the 12th game but Altmaier fought them all and fourth with a strong service to force Tiabreaker.
Zverev was steamed through tiebreak to accommodate five match points again before removing it in two hours 38 minutes.
Zverev, who reached the semi-finals in Melbourne in 2020 before submitting to Dominic Thiem, won six single titles last year along with the Olympic gold medal in Tokyo.
Zverev also reached the semi-finals of the French Open and the US Open, lost in five sets with Tsitipas and Djokovic.
Apart from his talent, Germany still only reached a grand slam final – US Open in 2020, where he wasted two sets to Thiem.
The Gangly German was also finished in the year with a victory over Medvedev in the ATP final.