Oscar Otte lost the first match for Germany making this a match
Alexander Zverev had to win and he got the job done as he eased his way past
Stan Wawrinka 6-4 6-1.
Swiss fans hoped Wawrinka could produce good tennis the way he did last year during the indoor season but it didn't go that way. The court was a bit slower than indoor hard courts generally are and Zverev was able to break down Wawrinka rather comfortably in those conditions. The Swiss ace served okay but it wasn't as good as he can do it.
His forehand troubles him all day with that shot betraying him on break point that clinched the first set for Zverev. The German had a break early but failed to hold onto it as it took some time to get fully into the swing of things. After getting the first, Zverev played even better as Wawrinka largely fell apart.
Zverev had some issues closing it out in the second set but ultimately he got the job done 6-1 to secure the point for Germany. It's 1-1 after day one with the crucial doubles match to be played tomorrow.