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I think I started playing better from the
baseline. The longer the match went on, I started to find my
rhythm a bit, Zverev said. It was actually my backhand that
was feeling a bit off in the beginning, which is strange.
Doesnt happen very often. But after I found that shot, I was
comfortable and I was happy about the level.
Zverev, ranked third in the world, ended up the top seed with
top-ranked Jannik Sinner the 2023 winner and No. 2 Carlos
Alcaraz skipping the hard-court event that still has a week
left. No. 5 Jack Draper and No. 6 Novak Djokovic also are
absent.
Zverev advanced to face No. 14 Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina,
a 6-3, 6-4 winner over countryman Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Earlier, Alex Michelsen of the United States upset third-seeded
Lorenzo Musetti of Italy 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4. Michelsen will face
fellow American Learner Tien, a 7-6 (3), 6-3 winner over
American Reilly Opelka.
Fifth-seeded Holger Rune of Denmark advanced in a night match,
beating Alexandre Muller of France 6-2, 6-4. Rune will play
defending champion Alexei Popyrin of Australia. Popyrin
outlasted 10th-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in
a match that ended early Friday.
Eighth-seeded Casper Ruud of Norway topped Nuno Borges of
Portugal 7-5, 6-4 to set up a match with 11th-seeded Karen
Khachanov of Russia. Khachanov beat Emilio Nava of the United
States 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1.
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