Alexander Zverev brought to a close proceedings heading into Saturday morning and into the third round of the
Madrid Open after a 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-0 win over
Roberto Carballes Baena.
A tie that at times was an absolute epic, it was Zverev who has only just returned from injury who weathered the over three hour tie.
With Carballes Baena producing some superb tennis but cramping in the deciding set and handing the German the impetus towards victory. Ominous signs as Zverev heads towards finding his old level despite going a set down.
Next up is Hugo Grenier in the Last 16. The French Qualifier with Sebastian Korda losing to him earlier today. Carlos Alcaraz could await in the Quarter-Finals.
The opening set was one that nearly saw it all as Zverev held from 40-0 down to make it 3-3 before calling a medical time-out and then going on to save break point.
It went all the way with Zverev saving seven break points and two set points throughout.
A tiebreak was set, and a big call was seemingly called wrong by the umpire.
As Zverev hit a great return on set point at 6-5 in the tiebreak which the line judge then called out and Baena went on to seal it 8-6 in a one hour, 33 minute set.
The second set saw Zverev take the time up to two hours and 43 minutes albeit with Carballes-Baena initially going 4-3 up to then lose the break straight away but it did include a shot of the year contender.
Carballes-Baena survived set points to make it 5-5 and even had a break point to go one away himself where he would look to serve it out buy Zverev eventually made it 6-5 before breaking serve at 7-5 to take it all the way.
Zverev sealed a break to begin the deciding set at 2-0 up with the Spaniard starting to look fatigued and the former was serving to go half way towards victory at 3-0.
That fatigue showed as he received a massage between games and Zverev sealed a superb dropshot cross court to bring up break point again and after the Spaniard hit an unforced error showing tiredness again, it was 4-0 to Zverev and basically match point.
Dropping in his 12th ace, he sped towards a 5-0 lead and one away from victory and that he sealed with three match points in an epic win.
