Alexander Zverev began his ATP Finals campaign with a straight-sets victory over Rafael Jodar, defeating the 20-year-old Spaniard 6-4, 6-4 without dropping a service game.
Jamie Murray Reacts to the Match
Analysing the match on Sky Sports, former British player Jamie Murray discussed the unique dynamic between Jodar and his coach and father, Rafael Jodar Sr. Murray stated that he sat a few seats away from the player’s box and found their relationship on the court very unique, noting that Jodar looked to his father frequently after losing points while his father looked down.
Murray expressed sympathy for the debutant, stating that Jodar was out on the court by himself in a massive stadium during his first night at the event and needed more support. Murray added that Jodar got bullied during the quick service games, leaving him no chance to find rhythm or build pressure against the world number one.
Murray also noted Jodar’s rapid rise over the past 18 months since leaving college to turn professional, explaining that expecting him to have all the answers against Zverev was a big ask.
Praise for Zverev’s Serve
Zverev hit 10 aces and recorded an 84% first-serve percentage during the encounter. Murray described Zverev’s serve as godlike and impressive to watch up close from courtside.
Murray explained that Zverev stepped up at the most important points and played on his own terms, highlighting the player’s ability to serve at high speeds with remarkable accuracy. According to Murray, Zverev served 17 out of 18 serves when closing out the first set at 5-4, noting that such high efficiency is rare but not uncommon for Zverev.
Zverev holds the second-highest serve rating on the ATP Tour at 303.5, sitting just behind Jannik Sinner at 305.6. Following this victory, Zverev leads the John McEnroe group ahead of his remaining round-robin matches against Ben Shelton and Arthur Fils.
