Alexander Zverev overcomes Pouille in Australian Open opener

Alexander Zverev began his Australian Open journey in commanding fashion, defeating France’s Lucas Pouille in straight sets to secure his place in the second round on Sunday night in Melbourne.

The German, seeded second at this year’s Grand Slam, delivered a clinical performance, breaking serve once per set to claim a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory in just over two hours on Rod Laver Arena.

Zverev’s serve was key to his success, firing 18 aces and winning 78% of points on his first serve. He complemented his dominant serving with a sharp 40 winners against 29 unforced errors, underlining his early credentials as a title contender.

“He’s someone that, when healthy, is a much better player than his current ranking suggests,” Zverev said of Pouille post-match. “He’s been in the semifinals here before, and I’m sure he’ll climb back up the rankings soon.”

Zverev himself appeared fully fit after withdrawing from the United Cup due to a bicep strain earlier this month. His strong showing has already seen his Australian Open title odds shorten, with leading tennis betting sites moving him from +1000 pre-tournament to +700 following his first-round victory.

Elsewhere on day one, No.6 seed Casper Ruud endured a challenging opener against Spain’s Jaume Munar, ultimately prevailing in five sets. Ruud battled for over three hours to secure a 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 win, showcasing his resilience in his 10th career fifth-set victory.

The day also featured an epic comeback from Kei Nishikori, who rallied from two sets down to defeat Thiago Monteiro in four hours. Nishikori saved two match points to earn a 4-6, 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 victory, marking a memorable return to Grand Slam action for the former world No.4.

Monday’s action at Melbourne Park will see several tournament favorites take the stage, including Jannik Sinner (+120), Carlos Alcaraz (+350), and Novak Djokovic (+500), all aiming to advance to the second round.

Australian star Nick Kyrgios will also begin his campaign against Britain’s Jacob Fearnley, entering the match as a -136.99 favorite with the top sportsbooks.

With strong performances already on display, the Australian Open promises to deliver thrilling action as the tournament progresses.

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