Overview
- Daniel Altmaier beat Zhang Zhizhen 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 on Wednesday in Rome to reach the second round of the ATP Masters 1000 event.
- He saved two match points at 5-3 in the second set and flipped the match with a strong tiebreak and a steady third set.
- The win sets up a Friday meeting with No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev, who leads their head-to-head 3-1 and has won Rome twice.
- Altmaier said he wants a “revenge” shot at Zverev and explained that a mid-match racket smash helped him release tension and reset.
- In the women’s draw, 38-year-old Tatjana Maria advanced 6-0, 6-3 over Magda Linette as players tune up for the French Open starting May 18.