Zverev drops just seven service points in final three sets to reach AO second round
Alexander Zverev defeated Gabriel Diallo 6-7 (1), 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday on the Rod Laver arena.
Alexander Zverev, 2026 | © Zuma / PsNewz
Third-seeded Alexander Zverev overcame a sluggish start to defeat Canada’s Gabriel Diallo 6-7(1), 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday night, securing his place in the second round of the Australian Open for the 10th time.
After dropping a one-sided opening-set tiebreak, the German world number three completely took over the contest, finding the elite level that saw him reach the final in Melbourne last year.
Zverev’s resurgence was built on an impenetrable service game; following the first set, he was nearly untouchable on his own delivery, winning 88% of his service points across the second, third, and fourth sets – losing just 7 points in total during that span. This stood in stark contrast to a shaky opening frame where he lost 16 points on serve (16 out of 39).
Zverev too passive in the first set
This dominant performance allowed him to dismantle Diallo’s resistance, breaking the Canadian six times while surrendering only one break point of his own throughout the nearly three-hour encounter.
“Gabriel is a very young, very talented, very powerful player”, Zverev stated in the press conference. “In the beginning, I was not playing good. I was giving him too many chances, I was too defensive. But the normal stuff that I do in the first round of a Grand Slam sometimes.”
“At the end, of course, I was happy with how I took on the challenge and especially how I played the last three sets.”
Grueling first round
Alexander Zverev credited a grueling first-round test for sharpening his title ambitions to win a first Grand Slam tournament. Entering Melbourne with limited match play following Germany’s group-stage exit at the United Cup, Zverev admitted he would have preferred more time on the competitive court, noting, “I would have liked to play more matches at the United Cup, for sure”, recalling : “We lost to Poland, who eventually won.”
Despite skipping the Kooyong Classic exhibition to prioritize training, the German felt his sessions at Melbourne Park had provided a solid foundation. “I had good practice sessions and a lot of time here in Melbourne. Of course, I would have loved to play a few more matches, but it is how it is,” Zverev explained.
Zverev now awaits the winner of Monday’s match between Australian favorite Alexei Popyrin and France’s Alexandre Muller.
