Olympic champion Alexander Zverev started the ATP tournament in Vienna with a laborious win at times.
The 24-year-old from Hamburg prevailed 6: 2, 7: 5 against the Serb Filip Krajinovic in the first round of the 1.8 million euro competition in the Wiener Stadthalle.
In the second set, the German number one, who is competing in Europe for the first time since Wimbledon, was 2: 5 back after a few wobbles, but recovered and turned the match. After 1:21 hours, Zverev converted his first match point to the second victory in the second duel with Krajinovic.
Number two seeded Zverev, who is only in the main field of the tournament for the second time since 2017, will meet Alex de Minaur from Australia in the round of 16. Four years ago, Zverev was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
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