Zverev Cruises On, Fritz Advances At Roland Garros
Is this the fortnight Alexander Zverev wins his first major title?
The German maintained his impressive record at Roland Garros on Thursday when he cruised past Slovakian Alex Molcan 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 to reach the third round for the seventh time.
In a dominant display, Zverev opened his shoulders to hit through Molcan, striking 42 winners in the night session on Court Philippe-Chatrier to advance after one hour and 58 minutes in their first ATP Head2Head meeting.
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Zverev is a two-time semi-finalist in Paris, having suffered a right ankle injury against Rafael Nadal in the last four last year. Twelve months on and the 26-year-old is fully fit and firing again at Roland Garros, where he will meet Frances Tiafoe in the third round. The 12th-seeded American downed Madrid semi-finalist Aslan Karatsev 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 to advance to the third round for the third time.
Zverev, who defeated Lloyd Harris in straight sets in his first-round match, now holds a 25-7 record at Roland Garros. Earlier this season, the 22nd seed reached semi-finals on hard in Dubai and on clay in Geneva.
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Taylor Fritz defeated Arthur Rinderknech, the last remaining Frenchman in the singles draw, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to equal his best result at Roland Garros.
The American, who is making his seventh apperance in Paris, hit cleanly throughout the two-hour, 50-minute clash to seal his 31st tour-level win of the season.
The ninth seed Fritz next meets Francisco Cerundolo. The Argentine overcame German lucky loser Yannick Hanfmann 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.
In other second-round action, Borna Coric clawed past Argentine Pedro Cachin 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The Croatain Coric, who is 9-4 on clay this season, will next meet another Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Etcheverry defeated Australian Alex de Minaur 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3.