Alexander Zverev wins first match on clay since ankle injury

Alexander Zverev navigated a tricky match against Alexander Bublik at the Monte-Carlo Masters beating him in three sets 3-6 6-2 6-4 to advance.

The German was playing his first match on clay since the injury and he did really well. It wasn't perfect but considering all the emotions that he must have felt it's a good thing overall. The first set saw Bublik play really well as he had 4 aces and zero double faults. Anytime you have him committing zero double faults, you are in trouble and Zverev was in serious trouble when Bublik added 16 winners to that performance to take the first 6-3.

Zverev wasn't too poor in play but he didn't serve well at all which gave Bublik all the time in the world to set up properly. The second set saw Zverev serve much better and things were quite different. He had one ace and 7 winners with zero errors and that was largely thanks to Bublik playing a horror set.

6-2 was the score for Zverev who was given 7 double faults this time around along with 14 unforced errors. The final one was quite competitive as both players played okay. Both dropped their serve at least once but ultimately it was Zverev who emerged victorious 6-4 in the end. A really solid win for Zverev.