Tennis Olympic champion Alexander Zverev fought his way into the third round at the ATP tournament in Madrid after a feat of strength. The 26-year-old won his second round match against the Spaniard Roberto Carballés Baena after almost three and a half hours 6: 7, (6: 8), 7: 5, 6: 0. In the third round of the clay court tournament, number 13 seeded Zverev meets French qualifier Hugo Grenier.

Zverev, who won the Masters 1000 tournament in 2018 and 2021, had to take a break from treatment in the first set due to obvious thigh problems. After the lost tie-break, the Hamburg player won sets two and three thanks to his good serve. At 1:22 a.m., Zverev converted his first match point. At the ATP tournament in Munich last week, he failed at his opening hurdle.

"It was a very important match for me, especially after the problems with three-set matches this year," said Zverev. "I think it was one or two points that decided the match. Of course I'm very happy with how it went."

Daniel Altmaier and Yannick Hanfmann had already surprisingly reached the third round. Altmaier and Hanfmann now meet in a duel for the round of 16. They are each in the top 32 of a Masters 1000 tournament for the first time in their careers.