No problems for Alexander Zverev and Kei Nishikori at Roland Garros

Alexander Zverev dropped only four games in his opening match at the French Open.

The second seed from Germany, who lost in the opening round at Roland Garros last year, had no problems seeing off Ricardas Berankis 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 in one hour and nine minutes.

It was a dominant display from Zverev, who will face Serbian Dusan Lajovic or Czech Jiri Vesely next, as he won 27 of 31 points on his first serve.

“On clay especially I have been playing well… I have won two tournaments (Munich, Madrid), made the finals in Rome; again, losing to Rafa in a close match,” he said.

“I feel good, and today was a good start to the tournament.”

GALLERY: A pictorial from day one at the French Open

The 19th seed Kei Nishikori is also safely through as he beat French wildcard Maxime Janvier 7-6 (7-0), 6-4, 6-3 in two hours and 19 minutes.

Lucas Pouille also had a good day at the office as he beat Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.

“The beginning of a tournament is always complicated, and it’s reassuring when you have a problem of confidence to realise that you were playing well during training and you could apply the game today,” Frenchman Pouille said.

Fernando Verdasco, meanwhile, had to work for his victory as the Spaniard needed five sets to beat Yoshihito Nishioka.

The 30th ranked Verdasco, who needed a medical timeout for an ankle injury, won 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 7-5

In the battle of young versus old, it was youth that triumphed as 19-year-old wild card Corentin Moutet beat 39-year-old Croat Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).

Other players to advance were Martin Klizan from Slovakia, Italian Matteo Berrettini and Guido Andreozzi, who beat American Taylor Fritz 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Alexander Zverev ATP Tour Fernando Verdasco French Open Ivo Karlovic Kei Nishikori

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