By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 15, 2026
Photo credit: Screen Shot
Gold chains dangling from his neck and world No. 1 on his back, Alexander Zverev delivered heavy metal thunder to Turin.
Imposing on serve, Zverev dismissed debutant Rafael Jodar 6-4, 6-4 in an impressive ATP Finals opener that reverberated across the Inalpi Arena in front of an esteemed crew of world No. 1 champions.
Two-time ATP Finals champion Zverev opened his quest to become the eighth man to win three ATP Finals championships in history with a declarative 87-minute triumph, raising his 2026 record to 66-18.
At the Rolex Paris Masters, Zverev faced questions about his legitimacy as year-end world No. 1 with rival Jannik Sinner out since beating the German in the Wimbledon final due to a right knee injury and Carlos Alcaraz sidelined for four months earlier this season with a right wrist issue.
Today, Zverev walked out on court wearing a black-and-white adidas jacket with a massive “1” emblazoned on the back and played like a worthy world No. 1.
The 6’6” Zverev lit up the service box and sometimes left Jodar lunging for stretched replies. Zverev served 84 percent, won 37 of 43 first-serve points, smacked 10 aces against no double faults and saved both break points he faced when closing the first set in a fearsome and near flawless serving display.
“I think he’s somebody that really wants to play aggress and really takes on the shots,” Zverev told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj afterward. “I tried to take that away. My serve helped me a lot.
“There’s still a lot of things I can improve, but I’ll take a 6-4, 6-4 win in the first match for sure.”
In his ninth appearance at the prestigious season-ending event, Zverev took the early lead in the John McEnroe Group of the round-robin event. An efficient performance earned Zverev 200 ranking points and $405,000.
No. 3-seeded Ben Shelton is set to face sixth-seeded debutant Arthur Fils in today’s second John McEnroe Group round-robin match.
One of four singles debutants in Turin, Jodar is dangerous off both wings, but Zverev showed superior finishing power today.
The Spaniard went toe-to-toe with Zverev in a crackling 18-shot exchange that ended with the world No. 1 banging a backhand strike down the line to break for 4-3.
Fueled by a ferocious serve, Zverev slid his eighth ace then spun a forehand winner crosscourt, capping a love hold for 5-3 after 31 minutes.
To that point, Zverev had made 17 of 18 first serves and dropped just two points total on serve.
The only first-set service speed bump for the German came when Zverev served for the set in the 10th game. Jodar drew a pair of forehand errors then hit his best return of the set—snapping a forehand down the line for two break points.
Facing his first stress storm, Zverev brought the thunder—throwing down his 9th ace and a 137 mph bolt—erasing both break points with two swings that wreaked seismic havoc on Jodar’s hopes.
Rocketing a 140 mph ace down the T for set point, Zverev went big and bold on a second serve to seal the 40-minute opener.
The two-time champion served 88 percent and won 19 of 23 first-serve points in an oppressive opener.
Fifty-six minutes into the match, Zverev blocked a volley to earn break point. In the pulsating baseline rally that followed, the Spaniard smacked a forehand behind Zverev and seemed to have the US Open champion out of position.
Even while wrong-footed, Zverev flicked back a forehand that skimmed the top of the tape and crawled over. That defensive jab gave Zverev a 2-1 second-set lead.
The two-time Grand Slam champion cruised through confirmation for a 3-1 advantage after an hour of play.
The lanky Jodar showed resolve, resisting three break points in the seventh game in a hard-fought hold for 3-4. Zverev responded by ripping through his first love hold of the set.
The 2021 tournament champion did not hit an ace in the second set, but Zverev rolled through the final 15 points on serve. Detonating one final serve winner, Zverev closed an emphatic 6-4, 6-4 sweep in 87 minutes.
0 comments