Alexander Zverev rallied from the brink on Wednesday to stay alive at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
Competing on clay for the first time this year, Zverev battled from 2-5 in the deciding set to defeat Chilean qualifier Cristian Garin 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. In a mammoth final game, the World No. 3 saved three break points before he eventually sealed victory on his third match point. Zverev let out a roar after finally triumphing under the April sun on Court Rainier III after two hours and 50 minutes.
“My level was not there at all to be honest,” Zverev said. “But it was my first clay-court match in 11 months. I didn’t have much time to prepare as I played well in Miami. I am happy to get the win. It was a tough match and he is someone playing well, especially here. At the end of the day, sometimes it is just about getting the win.”
The two-time Monte-Carlo semi-finalist Zverev reached the last four at the first two Masters 1000 events of the year in Indian Wells and Miami, as well as the Australian Open. However, the German looked set for his first opening-round exit of the season in the middle of the third set against Garin.
Yet despite committing 47 unforced errors and trailing 0-4 and 2-5 in the third set, the 28-year-old locked down from the baseline just in time to advance. Zverev will next meet Zizou Bergs after the Belgian beat Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-1.