Zverev Shows Why He’s At Home In Madrid On His Favorite Court

Alexander Zverev, Madrid
Alexander Zverev (photo: Ion Alcoba Beitia/MMC)

MADRID/WASHINGTON, April 25, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

The first thing that comes to the mind of two-time Mutua Madrid Open champion Alexander Zverev when he arrives in the Spanish capital city is simple: Will he feel good on the tennis court?

“I know this,” the World No. 2 Zverev said during his pre-tournament news conference this week for the ATP Masters 1000 event in the Spanish capital city. “It’s one of my favorite tournaments. 

“It’s my favorite court, the center court,” the top seed from Germany added. “Only lost two times in my entire life here. So, it’s a special place for me.”

On Friday afternoon, Zverev, who previously won Madrid titles in 2018 and 2021, showed once again why it’s a special place to him as he began his pursuit of a third Madrid title with an easy victory.

Zverev faced No. 55 Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain on Manolo Santana Stadium in his opening-round match after receiving a first-round bye. Last week’s Munich champion won his sixth straight match, 6-2, 6-2, over Bautista Agut in just 70 minutes to advance to Sunday’s third round. Zverev finished with 31 overall winners – including 10 service aces – and converted four of nine break points. He outpointed the 37-year-old Spaniard 57-36.

“[It was] a good match, I knew I had to focus against Roberto,” said Zverev, whose win-loss record in Madrid improved to 24-5 lifetime. “I knew that it was going to be a tough challenge, and I’m very happy with the win.”

Bautista Agut, who was seeking his first win over Zverev in 10 years, reached the second round after defeating fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar in three sets on Wednesday. However, he had not won back-to-back matches since winning an indoor hard-court tournament at Antwerp last October. After losing to Zverev, Bautista Agut will have to wait a little longer. His career win-loss record at Caja Mágica dropped to 14-12.

“I hope I can continue this year the same way I did the last few years while I’m winning great matches here and going far in the tournament,” Zverev said before facing Bautista Agut, whose best finish in Madrid was as a semifinalist in 2014.

Afterward, Zverev added: “I hope that stays the way throughout the next 10 days and that I can continue playing good tennis. As long as I do that I’m happy.”

Next, Zverev will face No. 28 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain, the last of seven original Spaniards remaining in the draw. Davidovich Fokina is safely through after defeating No. 41 Nuno Borges of Portugal, 6-2, 6-3, in an hour and 13 minutes on Manolo Santana Stadium Friday evening. Davidovich Fokina committed just eight unforced errors while outpointing Borges 65-44.

Fritz solid in his return on clay 

In his return to the ATP Tour following his semifinal run in Miami, third-seeded Taylor Fritz of the United States put together a solid performance in defeated No. 87 Christopher O’Connell of Australia, 6-1, 6-4, in 75 minutes on Stadium 3.

The American had been convalescing from an abdominal injury since February. It forced him to retire following his semifinal run at the Miami Open. In his first clay-court match since the Paris Olympics last July, Fritz dropped just four points on his serve, struck 22 winners and converted four of eight break points. He outpointed O’Connell 60-44.

“It feels great to come back and play a really solid match,” said Fritz during his on-court interview with ATP Media. “I didn’t want to jinx it before the match, but I was telling my coach that I was really impressed with how my level has been in practice the last couple of days.

“The first ball I hit since the match I lost in Miami was the day before I flew here, so I had three weeks of nothing, then five days of tennis. I’m super happy I can come out and produce that level on the little bit of prep I had.”

Next, Fritz will No. 62 Benjamin Bonzi of France, who upset No. 27 seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, 6-4, 7-5, in an hour and 27 minutes on Court 7 by converting three of six break points.

From the brink of defeat, Shelton rallies past Navone

American 12th seed Ben Shelton rallied from a set and 3-5 down in the second set to defeat Mario Navone of Argentina, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3, in two hours and 19 minutes on Stadium 3. The 85th-ranked Argentine served for the match at 5-4 in the second set but wasn’t able to finish the job. Instead, Shelton won the set and broke to love at 3-all in the deciding set en route to the victory. Shelton slammed eight aces and 27 winners overall, and outpointed Navone 102-92.

Next, Shelton will face No. 22 seed Jakub Mensik of Czechia. The #NextGenATP Czech earned his first victory since winning the Miami Open last month by defeating 119th-ranked American qualifier Ethan Quinn, 7-6 (4), 6-1, in 80 minutes on Court 6 behind 14 aces and 25 winners.

Around the Caja Mágica

• Since the start of the 2020 season, World No. 15 Casper Ruud has led the ATP Tour in clay-court wins (120), finals (16) and titles (11). Friday on Arantxa Sanchez Stadium the 14th-seeded Ruud took on No. 76 Arthur Rinderknech of France and needed just 73 minutes to win 6-3, 6-4.

Ruud hit 15 winners, converted each of his three break-point chances and outpointed Rinderknech 56-46 to advance against No. 23 seed Sebastian Korda of the United States, who outlasted 373rd-ranked Italian wild card Federico Cina, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, behind 32 winners and three breaks of his opponent’s serve.

• Defending champion Andrey Rublev advanced by walkover against No. 42 Gaël Monfils of France prior to what would have been a rematch of their Monte-Carlo second-round encounter earlier this month. The World No. 8 and seventh seed Rublev has reached at least the round of 16 in each of his previous four appearances in Madrid.

Next, Rublev will face No. 75 Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, who upset No. 25 seed Alexei Popyrin of Australia, 6-4, 7-6 (4), in one hour and 50 minutes, in back of 10 aces.

Also advancing to the third round were: No. 9 seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia via walkover against No. 71 Laslo Djere of Serbia (left shoulder injury); No. 20 seed Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, who defeated 160th-ranked French qualifier Harold Mayot, 6-3, 6-4; No. 31 seed Brandon Nakashima of the United States, who struck 15 aces and defeated No. 153 Sebastian Ofner of Austria, 6-3, 7-6 (3); No. 36 Flavio Cobolli of Italy, who won by retirement over No. 8 seed Holger Rune of Denmark after winning the first set 6-2; No. 70 Francisco Comesana of Argentina, who upset No. 13 seed Arthur Fils of France, 7-6 (4), 6-4, behind 11 aces and four breaks of serve; and 126th-ranked qualifier Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina, who upset No. 18 seed Felix Auger-Alisssime of Canada, 7-6 (5), 6-4, after saving all five break points he faced.

Friday’s Mutua Madrid Open results

Saturday’s Mutua Madrid Open order of play

By the numbers

While Rafael Nadal is the all-time leader for most singles wins at Madrid with 59, Alexander Zverev is second among active players with 24, which ranks him fifth overall. Following Nadal is Roger Federer with 37, Novak Djokovic 30 and Andy Murray 29.

“Quotable …”

“Just do what you enjoy. If you enjoy playing tennis, then that’s great. As long as you enjoy something I think the hard work and the things that you have to do outside of the court and also before the matches and everything like that, that becomes easier. If you enjoy something, whether it’s playing tennis, playing football, or anything else in the world, I think if you are doing it with fun, it always helps.”

– World No. 2 and top seed Alexander Zverev of Germany, during his pre-tournament news conference, on what advice he would give to a young person who wishes to become a pro tennis player.

 

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