German second seed Alexander Zverev started his newest bid for a primary Grand Slam title with a snug straight-set victory over French wildcard Lucas Pouille on the Australian Open.
The 27-year-old, who reached the semi-finals in Melbourne final yr, cruised into the second spherical with a 6-4 6-4 6-4 win.
Zverev, who confronted simply two break factors in opposition to the 103rd-ranked Pouille, will play Spaniard Pedro Martinez subsequent.
Former world quantity 10 Pouille, a semi-finalist in 2019, may have offered a possible impediment for Zverev but it surely felt just like the world quantity two nonetheless had loads extra gears to undergo.
In recent times it has been a case of so close to but to date for Zverev with regards to profitable a serious.
Final yr he fell within the final 4 in Melbourne – dropping to Russian Daniil Medvedev regardless of taking a two-set lead – and completed runner-up to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros, having reached the semi-finals on his earlier three appearances in Paris.
Nevertheless it was a medical begin from Zverev on Rod Laver Enviornment as he goals to win his first Grand Slam on the thirty sixth time of asking and on his tenth look on the Australian Open.
Ought to he achieve Melbourne, he would go joint-second alongside Stan Wawrinka of most makes an attempt earlier than profitable a serious title within the Open period.
Earlier on Sunday, Kei Nishikori, taking part in in Melbourne for the primary time in 4 years, edged a five-set thriller in opposition to Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 6-2 6-3.
Norwegian sixth seed Casper Ruud averted turning into the primary top-10 casualty at this yr’s event by coming by way of in 5 units in opposition to Spain’s Jaume Munar.
The 26-year-old, a three-time Slam runner-up, gained 6-3 1-6 7-5 2-6 6-1.