Zverev sees off Tien to reach French Open second round
Alexander Zverev made an impressive start to his latest bid for a first Grand Slam title with a straight-sets victory over American teenager Learner Tien at Roland Garros on Tuesday.
The German third seed, who lost to Carlos Alcaraz in last year's French Open final, saw off Tien 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
The 28-year-old, who has lost all three of his Grand Slam finals, has made at least the last four in each of the past four French Opens.
Tien, 19, appeared to be a tricky first-round draw for Zverev after an impressive run to the Australian Open last 16, but was no match for the world number three.
"I thought I was quite aggressive today," said Zverev, who lost his only previous meeting with Tien earlier this year in Mexico.
"I thought I did a good job taking care of my chances and then the result is kind of a turnaround from Acapulco."
Zverev's preparation for the tournament has been far from perfect.
As a last-minute entry in Hamburg, he lost in the round of 16 and blamed illness for a lacklustre display.
He then revealed his journey to Paris was delayed after his plane, which was also carrying other tennis players, got struck by lightning, which forced it to turn around and do an emergency landing.
"I think I didn't have the ideal preparation. I think throwing up three days before tournament starts is not ideal," Zverev added.
He will next face Dutchman Jesper de Jong who beat Italy's Francesco Passaro in five sets.
"I'm doing my things, I'm doing my job, I'm looking at myself at the moment," Zverev insisted.
"Then when it's semi-finals, finals, whatever, then we look at who I play. Right now, everybody needs to win the matches, everybody needs to beat the opponents that are in front of them.
"Today was Tien. After tomorrow it's going to be someone else for me."
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