Alexander Zverev launched his hometown reclamation project with a home style victory.
The top-seeded Zverev defeated American Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-1, 7-6(5) in his Hamburg Open opener.
The 2023 Hamburg Open champion Zverev, who fell to Arthur Fils in a fiery 2024 final, set the tone on serve.
Zverev served 71 percent, zapped 7 aces and won 31 of 35 first-serve points.
Hamburg-born Zverev improved to 25-9 on the season. Next up for Zverev is Alexandre Muller.
The 40th-ranked Frenchman stopped Swedish qualifier Elias Ymer 6-3, 7-5.
No. 3-seeded Andrey Rublev, who has struggled through a losing stretch, defeated Damir Dzumhur 6-4, 6-3.
The 2020 Hamburg champion Rublev, who arrived a this tournament with a 2-7 record in his prior nine matches, improved to 12-11 on the season. Rublev will face a German wild card next: Either 35-year-old Jan-Lennard Struff or 17 year-old talent Justin Engel.