Alexander Zverev (5) played John Millman in the opening match on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Day Three of Roland Garros 2019.
This was the first meeting between the pair.
Millman served first, and held to love, four errors from the German racquet of great assistance. Zverev was equally efficient, his serve holding him in great stead, an ace sealing the game for 1-1.
Millman had game point in the next game, but it turned into break point following two Australian unforced errors, the second ending a protracted rally. That was saved, but not a second break chance, confirmed when a Millman forehand sailed wide.
Two service breaks were exchanged in games games five and six, and Millman saved two break points in game seven which lasted 16 points.
However, for all the effort in saving that serve, Millman still remained a break down, and Zverev served for the set at 5-4. At 30-30, Millman found the net with a forehand to bring up set point for the fifth seed. It was saved when Zverev missed an easy forehand. A poor backhand and a double fault saw serve dropped and Millman levelled at 5-5.
A tie break occurred after Millman saved a break point in the twelfth game which also had him waste two game points.
Only one point went against serve in the tie break, and that was when Millman served at 3-4. It was sufficient for Zverev to eventually take the set 7-6(4)
Millman saved two break points in game two of set two and it was 1-1.
Then we saw four successive service breaks and the scoreboard register 3-3. Millman led 30-15 in game eight, but one of his backhands landed long and Zverev sent a brilliant backhand down the line to set up break point. He grabbed the break once Millman sent another backhand long.
Serving for the set at 5-3, Zverev hit a wonderful backhand volley on the first point. He made a mess of a backhand, but cruised home for a second set win with a huge serve, a lucky net cord, and a Millman backhand return which finished out of court.
Saving another pair of break points, this time in game five of set three, Millman gained a 3-2 lead. Zverev then hit a bad patch. An ace couldn’t make up for a double fault and two errors, and he was down two break points. Both were saved, the second with a service winner. A backhand mistake gave Millman a third chance, and a double fault gave him the break and a 4-2 advantage.
Millman consolidated the break, and Zverev had to hold to remain in contention for the set.
A ninth double fault didn’t help, and certainly the backhand of Millman forcing an error wasn’t a favourable outcome. Two set points arrived after Zverev sent a forehand out of court. One disappeared, but Millman won the set 6-2 with a magnificent cross court forehand winner at full stretch.
Zverev broke the Australian in the opening game of set four, only to see Millman break back to love, to level things at 4-4. In between, no break points, not even a deuce.
Serving at 4-5, Zverev saved a set point, and the two would need another tie break to solve the impasse.
Millman dominated the tie break for six points, winning twice when Zverev was at the line.
At 5-2, the Australian had the chance to serve it out, but Zverev grabbed one of the mini breaks back. Still Millman won the next to have three set points. He won the set 7-6(5) on the third, when Zverev’s backhand hit the net.
In the decider, the first deuce came in game six, where Millman also had to negotiate a break point. He did when Zverev committed a backhand error. Games were 3-3.
At 3-4 and 40-0, Millman would have expected to level proceedings, but this is where Zverev made the decisive move. A forehand winner down the line, a forehand error from Millman, and a terrific German lob brought it to deuce. Millman faced break point after a careless forehand and Zverev claimed the break with another forehand failure from Millman.
Serving for the match, Zverev issued a solid forehand forcing a mistake. An ace followed. Three match points after a Millman forehand missed everything. A long Australian forehand ended a marathon match.
Alexander Zverev won 7-6(4) 6-3 2-6 6-7(5) 6-3.
