Australian Open: Alexander Zverev breezes past Lucas Pouille to reach Round 2

Alexander Zverev began his Australian Open campaign with a confident performance, defeating French wild card Lucas Pouille 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to secure a spot in the second round. The German, who had to withdraw from Germany’s United Cup quarter-final against Kazakhstan due to a bicep strain, showed no signs of discomfort during the match. He struck 37 winners, saved both break points he faced, and wrapped up the contest in two hours and 20 minutes in his first meeting with Pouille.

This marks the ninth consecutive year Zverev has advanced to the second round in Melbourne. The 27-year-old is chasing his first Grand Slam title and aims to become the first German man to win a major since Boris Becker’s triumph at the Australian Open in 1996.

Up next, Zverev will face Spain’s Pedro Martinez. He shares the same half of the draw as Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, and third seed Carlos Alcaraz, but would not meet either until the semifinals, with Djokovic and Alcaraz potentially clashing in the quarters.

After his performance, Zverev would even have time to joke about his father Alexander Sr. and brother Mischa being his coaches and claimed he didn’t have a choice but to pick them as part of his coaching staff.

“I chose? I didn’t really have a choice, to be honest,” he jibed. “What am I going to say, Christmas dinner, ‘No, you’re not coming to Australia?’

“Well, their bags are packed already. I wouldn’t get food from my mum, so that would be a problem.”

Other results

Elsewhere, Jiri Lehecka maintained his perfect start to the 2025 season by defeating Australian wild card Li Tu 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(1). The Czech, who won his second ATP title in Brisbane last week and reached the Australian Open quarterfinals in 2023, will next take on Hugo Gaston.

The Frenchman advanced by beating another Aussie wild card, Omar Jasika, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. Meanwhile, Ugo Humbert booked his spot in the next round with a straight-sets victory over Matteo Gigante, 7-6(5), 7-5, 6-4.