World No. 2 Alexander Zverev wasted no time making his mark at the Argentina Open, defeating Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 6-4 in his first match since the Australian Open final.
Zverev, the tournament’s top seed, showed no signs of rust after his runner-up finish in Melbourne, overpowering Lajovic in an hour and 37 minutes to secure his place in the quarterfinals.
Zverev’s Dominance on Serve Makes the Difference
Despite both players struggling on their second serves, Zverev capitalized on his first delivery, winning 12 more points than his opponent and maintaining control over the match.
🔹 Break Points Saved: 3/4
🔹 Break Points Converted: 3/7
🔹 Winners/Unforced Errors: 27/20
Zverev’s ability to neutralize Lajovic’s game from the baseline proved key, as the Serbian fired 28 unforced errors, failing to sustain any consistent momentum.
First Set: Zverev Battles Through to Take the Lead
Both players held serve comfortably through the opening six games, reaching 3-3 in just 19 minutes. However, Lajovic’s loose service game in the seventh allowed Zverev to pounce, breaking for a 4-3 lead after a costly forehand error from the Serbian.
The Roland Garros finalist then held firm, serving big to consolidate his break and push the pressure onto Lajovic. The Serb fought valiantly, surviving multiple deuces to stay in the set at 4-5, but Zverev proved too strong when it mattered.
💥 Key Moment: At 5-4, 40-30, Zverev saved a break point with a perfectly executed volley winner before sealing the set with an ace—wrapping it up in 44 minutes.
Second Set: Early Setback, Quick Recovery
Lajovic struck first in the second set, breaking Zverev in the second game for a 2-0 lead. But his advantage was short-lived, as the German broke back immediately in the next game, exploiting an untimely backhand error from the Serbian.
From there, Zverev took control.
🔸 A critical break in the fifth game gave him a 3-2 lead after Lajovic misjudged a deep shot on break point.
🔸 At 5-4, serving for the match, Zverev unleashed a backhand down-the-line winner on match point, closing out the victory in style.
What’s Next for Zverev?
With a spot in the Buenos Aires quarterfinals secured, Zverev continues his fine start to 2025, looking to build momentum for the clay-court season.
Can the World No. 2 claim his first title of the season? He’ll face a tougher test in the next round, but if today’s performance is any indication, he’s in top form.