Alexander Zverev overcame physical struggles to secure a hard-fought victory in an all-German clash at the ATP 1000 Masters in Rome, defeating Daniel Altmaier 7-5, 6-3 in the second round. The Hamburg native, seeded second in the absence of Carlos Alcaraz, battled through illness to advance, setting up a meeting with either Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands or Belgium’s Alexander Blockx.
“I’m definitely happy to have gotten through this match,” the 29-year-old said afterward. “Physically, it was quite demanding for me. I’m not feeling particularly well. I’m sick—I’m just a human who gets sick sometimes. I’ve played a lot of tennis, and my immune system has probably dipped a bit. After the final in Madrid, my body relaxed, and then I got sick with a fever the past few nights.”
Despite the illness, Zverev started strong after a two-hour rain delay delayed the match. He took an early 5-2 lead in the first set before allowing Altmaier to break back, but immediately responded with a re-break to claim the opener. In the second set, Altmaier appeared more aggressive and active, putting pressure on Zverev’s serve. However, Zverev saved three break points in a crucial game to hold for 4-3 and remained solid thereafter, closing out the match in one hour and 45 minutes.
“It was a difficult match,” Zverev added. “Daniel played incredibly well—I think it was the best he’s ever played against me. I’m just glad I got through it. Now I need as much recovery as possible. I want to sleep as much as I can and feel better the day after tomorrow.” The win was Zverev’s fourth in five career meetings with Altmaier, who had beaten him once in Acapulco in 2024.
