Alexander Zverev ‘motivated’ to add Monte Carlo Masters title to his CV as he opens with smooth win

ATP Tour
Alexander Zverev plays a shot

Alexander Zverev kicked off his latest campaign for a maiden Monte Carlo Masters trophy with a comfortable victory over Federico Delbonis in the second round.

The German, who’s best performance at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament was a run to the semi-final in 2018, had too much in the locker for Delbonis in the first set and, although the Argentine fought back in the second set, he eased to a 6-1, 7-5 win.

Three breaks of serve earned the second seed the opening set, but Delbonis came out stronger in the second set as he broke to love in the opening game only for Zverev to draw level in game four. However, the world No 34 broke again in game five before the German hit back in games eight and 12.

“It’s not bad for a change of surface after Miami, you have to take that into consideration a little bit. I’m happy with the win,” Zverev said.

The world No 3 added: “This is the only Masters on clay I haven’t won yet, but I’m very motivated to do so. I’m very motivated to play great tennis and I hope I can show that on court this week.”

He will face Pablo Carreno Busta for a place in the quarter-final after the 13th seeded Spaniard advanced when Alexander Bublik retired.

If he comes through that clash then he face either fifth seed Andrey Rublev or ninth seed Jannik Sinner in the last eight.

Rublev came back from a poor opening set to defeat Alex de Minaur 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 while Sinner got the better of Emil Ruusuvuori, winning 7-5, 6-3.

Alexander Zverev Andrey Rublev Federico Delbonis Jannik Sinner

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