Zverev struggles in win vs qualifier King
Alexander Zverev battled into the early hours of Tuesday to defeat a surprisingly troublesome Darian King 7-6(9) 7-5 6-4 at the U.S. Open.
The fourth-seeded German got all he could handle in the first set from the little-known 25-year-old, who made it through qualifiers to become the first player from Barbados to compete in a grand slam.
Dressed in knee-high socks and striped headband that recalled a 1970’s-era Bjorn Borg, Zverev looked out of sync early in the match, the booming serve that helped bring him five titles this year lacking its usual punch.
The German was uncharacteristically wasteful in a one hour, 21 minute first set, committing 31 unforced errors, before going on to draw first blood.
“Obviously Darian came out playing really good tennis and I couldn’t find my rhythm,” he said on court after he finished the nearly three hour match with an overhead smash.
“It was an entertaining first set.”
CILIC THROUGH
Croatia’s Marin Cilic started strong and hung on to win his first match since his emotional defeat in the Wimbledon final, besting American Tennys Sandgren 6-4 6-3 3-6 6-3 on Monday to reach the second round of the U.S. Open.
The 2014 U.S. Open champion moved well throughout the nearly three-hour match and appeared unhindered by the adductor injury and foot blisters that ailed him during his straight sets loss to Roger Federer at the All England Club.
“I feel just a little bit rusty,” fifth seed Cilic said in an on-court interview after the match. “I need a few matches to get in the rhythm. I was hitting some good shots and then making some unforced errors.”
Cilic ended with 57 unforced errors, many coming from his wobbly forehand, compared to 55 winners.
Sandgren, playing in just his second main draw of a grand slam, was composed throughout the match but appeared to tire as the match wore on.