Zverev on a mission as he opens ATP Finals with straight-sets win over Jodar
In the opening match of the John McEnroe Group in Turin, world No 1 Alexander Zverev beat debutant Rafael Jodar 6-4, 6-4 without facing a break point in the second set, under the eyes of Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker.
Alexander Zverev, ATP Finals 2026 | © AP Photo/Luca Bruno/SIPA
Alexander Zverev looked like a man on a mission on Sunday in Turin. The world No 1 opened his ATP Finals campaign with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Rafael Jodar in the first match of the tournament and of the John McEnroe Group, holding all ten of his service games, hitting ten aces and, more generally, looking untouchable behind an almost flawless serve.
Watched from the stands by Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker, the German was in control from start to finish. Serving superbly and a little more aggressive than usual, he showed none of the fatigue that had been visible in Shanghai (physical) and at the Rolex Paris Masters (mental), and he closed it out with a love game.
John McEnroe Group: provisional standings
| Rank | Player | Country | W-L | Sets | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Alexander Zverev[1]
|
|
1-0 | 2-0 | 12-8 |
| 2 |
Ben Shelton[3]
|
|
0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| 3 |
Arthur Fils[6]
|
|
0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| 4 |
Rafael Jodar[8]
|
|
0-1 | 0-2 | 8-12 |
| Rank | Player | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, November 15 | |||
| 1 |
Alexander Zverev[1]
d. Rafael Jodar (8)
|
|
6-4, 6-4 |
Zverev the boss when needed
Zverev stayed in his bubble for most of the afternoon, apart from a brief moment of irritation. Whenever he needed to show who was in charge, he did. He saved the only two break points he faced, both in the first set, and took the opener with a single break.
That first set was a serving clinic. All ten of Zverev’s aces came in it, and he landed 88% of his first serves while striking 15 winners, against seven for the Spaniard.
The second set followed the same pattern. Jodar fought with everything he had and saved three of the four break points he faced, but Zverev broke once more and never gave him a sniff on his own serve, winning 18 of 20 points behind his first serve.
Over the match, the German landed 84% of his first serves and won 37 of 43 points behind them. He hit 21 winners to 18 unforced errors.
A point to prove at No 1
Zverev did not arrive in Turin free of doubts. His last few weeks had been difficult and draining, with less convincing results, and with them came the fear of not being able to deliver when it matters. On Sunday, he played like a man on a mission, determined to show that his place at the top of the rankings is deserved.
His vast experience of the event also counted. Against a debutant, the two-time champion knew exactly when to raise his level, and Jodar never found a way to make him uncomfortable for long.
A brave debut for Jodar
Jodar, the eighth seed, was brave and solid, making just ten unforced errors, but struggled at times with the indoor conditions and in his movement, and never managed to put real pressure on Zverev’s serve: he won only seven of 43 points against the German’s first serve.
For Zverev, chasing a third title after his wins in 2018 and 2021, it was the ideal start after a tiring few weeks. The two other players in the group, Ben Shelton and Arthur Fils, meet in the evening session on Sunday, not before 8.30pm. The top two in each group reach the semi-finals on Saturday 21 November.
