Alexander Zverev Secures Hard-Fought Win in Rio's Intense Heat

The world number two overcame a mid-match slump to defeat Bu Yunchaokete in the ATP 500 tournament opener.

Alexander Zverev defeated China's Bu Yunchaokete 7-6 (7:4), 6-4 in his opening match at the ATP 500 tournament in Rio de Janeiro.
The match took place under challenging conditions, with temperatures reaching 29°C even in the evening following record heat earlier in the week.
Zverev started strong but struggled mid-match, losing three consecutive games before rallying to win the first set in a tiebreak.
In the second set, Zverev capitalized on his only break point to secure a decisive 5-4 lead and closed the match on his second match point.
The German star will face Kazakhstan's Alexander Shevchenko, ranked 103rd, in the next round after Shevchenko's straight-sets victory over Felipe Meligeni Alves.