Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
World No.1 Alexander Zverev eased past debutant Rafael Jodar in straight sets to score an opening group win at the start of the ATP Finals in Turin.
The German, a two-time champion at the season-ending tournament of the top eight players, bagged a break in each set to clinch a 6-4 6-4 victory over the 20-year-old Spaniard, who has played a sensational first season on tour and has risen from the mid-100s to the top 10 in less than 12 months.
The 20-year-old Jodar is the first man to qualify for the Finals in the same season that he made his tour-level debut in.
But on Sunday he could do little to tame Zverev’s booming serve and the most experienced ATP Finals player in the field, playing his 31st match, earned a break to go 4-3 up with a superb backhand down the line.
The Spaniard had two rare break chances at 5-4 behind but could not convert either. Instead Zverev bagged the set in the next game and grabbed a break early in the second set to open up a 3-1 lead.
He was never troubled again as he comfortably held serve for his first win in the John McEnroe group.
“It’s been a very good year for me. A lot of things that I’ve wanted to achieve I have achieved this year,” Zverev said.
“But playing here you can never take it for granted.
“I think it was a solid match. I don’t think it was perfect, but I think it’s a very good start to the tournament.”
US third seed Ben Shelton takes on French sixth seed Arthur Fils in the second group match later on Sunday.
Second seed Carlos Alcaraz starts off the Ivan Lendl group against Frances Tiafoe on Monday before Daniel Medvedev faces Flavio Cobolli.
