Alexander Zverev marks Grand Slam return at Australian Open with edgy win over Juan Pablo Varillas

ByEurosport

Updated 17/01/2023 at 09:27 GMT

Competing in a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2022 French Open, Alexander Zverev came through a gruelling four-hour five-set epic to beat world no. 104 Juan Pablo Varillas 4-6, 6-1, 5-7, 7-6, 6-4 to advance to the second round of the Australian Open. Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk

'Look what it means to him' - Zverev outlasts Varillas in five set thriller

Alexander Zverev’s return to Grand Slam tennis was a dramatic affair as he clawed his way past lucky loser Juan Pablo Varillas 4-6, 6-1, 5-7, 7-6, 6-4 in the first round of the Australian Open.

The German was playing his first match at a major since suffering ankle ligament damage at the French Open last summer and was put through his paces by the world No. 104 in this five-set epic.

Having only just got back into competitive action in December, playing mostly exhibition matches, Zverev certainly looked short of match time in the first set as Varillas defied his ranking to take the match to his opponent from the start.

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Zverev was broken in game nine giving the Peruvian the opportunity to serve for the set and he held his nerve to take a surprise lead.

However, the second set was a very different story with Zverev seemingly showing the form that put him on the brink of Grand Slam glory before his injury.

Racing into a 4-0 lead before eventually coming through 6-1, it looked as though he would steam through from that point onwards.

Varillas refused to be overawed, though, and served well in a tight third set in which Zverev, showing his annoyance after being distracted by the sun coming in an open door, was broken three times to drop the set 7-5.

Things were no easier in the fourth and approaching the tie-break, the upset looked on but Zverev was able to convert the crucial points to set up a decider.

With the crowd very much on the side of the underdog, Varillas looked to have matched Zverev on serve in the fifth until a couple of crucial unforced errors set up two match points.

Zverev was able to convert the second of these to advance to round two after four hours and six minutes.

“Tired,” Zverev joked afterwards when asked how he felt. “But extremely happy because I’ve missed this over the last seven months.

“This match alone pays off all the hard work and suffering I had over the last year.

'I've missed this over the last seven months' - Zverev post-match interview

“I’m happy to be back on court, I’m happy to be able to play these kinds of matches and to win in front of this crowd again.

“I can’t wait for the rest of the tournament. No matter what happens, the tournament is already a success for me.”

He added: “Thanks for the support, it’s amazing to come back to Australia. I always said the Australian Open is my favourite tournament because of the people.

“There’s no other slam like this I hope the support can continue over the next few matches.”

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Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk

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