'Annoyed' Zverev loses first match as world No. 1 in Paris
PARIS: Alexander Zverev made a losing start to his reign as world number one on Wednesday as the two-time Grand Slam champion went down 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 to an inspired Lorenzo Musetti at the Paris Masters.
Paris: Alexander Zverev suffered a disappointing opening match as world number one on Wednesday, losing 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 to an impressive Lorenzo Musetti at the Paris Masters. The German, playing his first-round match in the French capital, was overwhelmed by the 24-year-old Italian's inspired performance. Former world number five Musetti claimed the fifth win over a world number one in his opening game.
Zverev attributed his loss to annoyance rather than pressure, stating he felt "a bit annoyed" about the expectations that come with being the top-ranked player. Both players fought hard in the first set, but Musetti's resilience paid off when he broke Zverev's serve in the fifth game, establishing a one-set lead. The Italian sealed the match with a powerful serve to Zverev's backhand in the second set, ultimately winning the match 5-2.
Musetti expressed his joy at the win, while Zverev acknowledged Musetti's superior play, calling it one of his worst matches in recent months.
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