John Isner is through to the second round of the Abierto Mexicano after beating the Italian Salvatore Caruso 6-4, 6-3. Isner fired 17 aces and served at a 86% rate on his first serve.
The first set was pretty straight forward for the American as both players did a good job holding serve and it was pretty clinical until 5-4 when the Greensboro, North Carolina native had a look at three set points. He would convert on his first one as the world number 84 sent a return long.
The second set followed a similar pattern with both players not giving an inch on their service games until 3-2 when once again the world number 27 had a chance to break and came up with a stunning forehand winner to take the early 4-2 lead. Isner would serve it out to take the second set and the match to set up a potential second round match with Stefanos Tsitsipas.
@JohnIsner #AMT2021 #CelebratingTennis pic.twitter.com/CwR6IFBMBU
— Abierto Mexicano de Tenis (@AbiertoTelcel) March 16, 2021
Second seed Alexander Zverev is also through to the second round after easing to a 6-3, 6-1, win over Spanish rising star Carlos Alcaraz. The world No.7 won 86% of his first service points as he broke the 17-year-old five times in total.
“I didn’t know the player and that’s why it took me a while to start the match. In the end I found my rhythm and I am happy with how the game ended. I started to feel more comfortable in the second set, not only in the serve but also my passing shots with my drive,” Zverev said afterwards.
Seeking his first title of the season in Acapulco, the German will next take on Laslo Djere who defeated Steve Johnson 6-2, 6-3.
Day 1 results
Dominik Koepfer GER bt Gerardo Lopez Villasenor MEX 6-4, 6-2
Stefan Kozlov USA def Botic Van De Zandschulp NED 6-3, 1-0 ret
Brandon Nakashima USA def Frederico Gaio ITA 6-3, 6-3
Tallon Griekspoor NED def Denis Kudla USA 6-3, 7-6
Lorenzo Musetti ITA def Frederico Ferreira Silva POR 6-4,6-2
