Erste Bank Open: Zverev Cruises To First-Round Win Over Schwaerzler

Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev (photo: e|motion/Bildagentur Zolles KG/Christian Hofer)

VIENNA/WASHINGTON, October 21, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

Alexander Zverev equaled his personal best of 60 tour-level wins in a season on Opening Day at the ATP 500 Erste Bank Open in Vienna Monday evening — thanks to the World No. 3’s clinical 6-2, 6-2 victory over 347th-ranked Austrian wild card Joel Schwaerzler — and there was a lot to like about it.

Zverev, who dropped only two service points during the 31-minute opening set, converted four of eight break-point opportunities — two in each set — against the 18-year-old born in Sandton, South Africa. Then, the 27-year-old German, who won the 2021 Vienna title, jumped to a quick 5-1 advantage against the lefty Schwaerzler in the second set and closed out the 68-minute victory on his fourth match-point opportunity. He outpointed the Austrian teenager 60-32 and finished with six aces and 14 overall winners. Zverev, who won all but one of his first-serve points by connecting on 23 of 24 first serves, did not face any break points.

The #NextGenATP Schwaerzler, who was playing in only his second tour-level match after losing in the first round to Thiago Seyboth Wild of Brazil at Kitzbühel last July, did as well as could be expected in his Vienna debut, considering he was playing the third-best player in the world.

Joel Schwaerzler

Joel Schwaerzler (photo: e|motion/Bildagentur Zolles KG/Christian Hofer)

To his credit, Schwaerzler saved three match points during his final service game to earn a quality hold at 2-5, and finished the match with eight winners (including one ace) and 24 unforced errors. He received some kind words of encouragement from Zverev at the net afterward.

“When you come to your home tournament and probably the biggest crowd you have played in front of, as an 18-year-old and you’re playing the World No. 3, it’s not the easiest thing in the world,” Zverev explained during his on-court interview with ATP Media. “I’ve been there. I did that as a 17-year-old in Hamburg, where I got to the semifinals and all of a sudden had a sold out stadium and was playing against a certain David Ferrer.

“I was hoping to have a good match, but the match was over half an hour later and I won one game. I know exactly how [Schwaerzler] feels. It’s not an easy situation to be in, but he’s a wonderful player and he’s going to have a wonderful career. Nobody should judge him by this match.” 

Zverev, who is yet to lose before the quarterfinals in Vienna in three main-draw appearances, improved to 25-0 versus left-handlers since last year’s French Open. As he chases after his second ATP Tour crown this season following his title-winning effort at Rome, his next opponent will be an American, either No. 43 Alex Michelsen or No. 48 Marcos Giron, who play Tuesday.

“Obviously it’s been a good year, but there have been a lot of ups and downs,” Zverev said. “I had an incredible first six months of the year until Wimbledon. Then, I got a little knee injury, and afterwards didn’t feel great at the Olympics. I had some lung issues, kind of like I lost my form a little bit. I wasn’t playing great in the U.S. hard-court swing, and I’m trying to find it back. I’m trying to find my rhythm again and hopefully I can finish this season strong.”

Cobolli eases to 21st opening-round win of season

Flavio Cobolli of Italy garnered his 21st opening-round victory of the season — 11-0 since June — with his 7-6 (1), 6-3 win over No. 62 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain in an hour and 34 minutes to open play on Center Court Monday.

While the 31st-ranked Italian No. 3 needed to save five match points in order to beat the Spaniard during a third-round tussle en route to his first ATP Tour final in Washington earlier this season, Cobolli wasted no time in picking up his 35th overall win of the year in his Vienna debut.

Cobolli was effective with his second serve, winning 76 percent of his second-serve points. He saved all three break points he faced, hit 20 winners, and outpointed Davidovich Fokina 78-67.

After saving three break points in the sixth game of the 54-minute opening set and dominating them first-set tie-break, Corbolli broke Davidovich Fokina for 4-2 on his sixth try in the second set, then coasted to victory and a second-round berth against either World No. 10 and second seed Alex de Minaur of Australia or No. 40 Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany, who play Tuesday.

“I played really good for all the match today,” Cobolli, 22, said in his on-court interview. “It was one of my best matches of the year. I managed really well my serve.”

Berrettini bounces back after Stockholm disappointment

Meanwhile, Italy’s Matteo Berrettini began his third appearance in Vienna on a winning note. A 2019 semifinalist and 2021 quarterfinalist, the 41st-ranked former World No. 6 advanced to the second round with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over No. 88 Marton Fucsovics of Hungary on the strength of a pair of service breaks — one in each set.

Berrettini, a three-time ATP Tour titlist this season, improved to 15-1 against players ranked outside the Top 50 since Wimbledon. His win Monday was a nice bounce back after losing to No. 317 Dominic Stricker of Switzerland in the second round at Stockholm last week. He won 86 percent of his first-serve points, hit 17 winners and outpointed Fucsovics 70-54.

Next, Berrettini will face either No. 5 seed Frances Tiafoe of the United States, ranked 15th, or No. 53 Cameron Norrie of Great Britain, who play Tuesday.

Mensik wins Vienna debut

No. 51 Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic, who is competing in his first ATP Tour indoor event this week, won his Vienna main-draw debut over 25th-ranked Alexei Popyrin of Australia, 7-6 (3), 6-2, in an hour and 42 minutes.

Firing on all cylinders, the 19-year-old Mensik gave a quality performance after winning a pair of qualifying matches over the weekend to earn a spot in the 32-player main draw of this ATP Tour 500 tournament. He garnered his seventh career win over a Top-30 player by hitting 22 winners and broking Popyrin’s serve twice in the second set. By outpointing his opponent 82-64, Mensik improved to 24-16 in tour-level play this season.

Mensik is positioned at No. 4 in the PIF ATP Race to Jeddah as he seeks his first Next Gen ATP Finals appearance. His next Vienna opponent will be either No. 44 Mariano Navone of Argentina or No. 58 Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia, who play Tuesday.

Around the Erste Bank Open

Doubles action got underway Monday on the #Glaubandich Court at the Erste Bank Open 2 Go, located on the grounds of the Vienna Ice Skating Club on Heumarktwith.

First-round winners include: Unseeded Luciano Darderi of Italy and Mariano Navone of Argentina, who upset No. 1 seeds Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador and Mate Pavic of Croatia, 6-3, 6-4; unseeded Neal Skupski of Great Britain and Michael Venus of New Zealand, who beat Rafael Matos and Marcelo Melo of Brazil, 6-2, 6-3; and No. 4 seeds Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow of United States, who held off unseeded Belgian pair Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen, 6-2, 4-6, 11-9.

Monday’s Erste Bank Open results

Tuesday’s Erste Bank Open order of play

Looking ahead to “Thiemstag” Tuesday, there are eight first-round singles featuring four seeds and two first-round doubles matches on the schedule. Highlighting the action will be the final first-round appearance by Austrian favorite Dominic Thiem, ranked 318th, who plays No. 42 Luciano Darderi of Italy on the Wiener Stadthalle Center Court not before 6 p.m.

By the numbers

Dominic Thiem (2019) and Alexander Zverev (2021) are the only former Erste Bank Open champions in the 32-player field of this year’s tournament.

“Quotable …” 

“You were always a super guy, also off the court. Always fair. Your friendship was important on the Tour. We always got on well, and it was great for me. All the best with the future, and huge congratulations on your unbelievable career, Dominic. I am sure we will see each other soon, but for now, have a great evening.”

— Roger Federer, from video tribute to Dominic Thiem during Sunday’s farewell to the Austrian star (translated from German).

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