Alexander Zverev sweeps Karen Khachanov, notches 50th win of 2024

Alexander Zverev is the first player with 50 victories in 2024! The 2021 Cincinnati champion made a winning start at the seventh Masters 1000 of the season, dispatching Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-2 in an hour and 21 minutes. Alexander beat his good friend for the fifth time in seven encounters, outplaying Karen on serve and return and notching a milestone triumph.

Zverev made the difference with his first serve. He struggled on the second, like Khachanov, and denied three out of four break points. Khachanov could not follow that pace, dropping 47% of the points in his games and losing serve four times from eight chances offered to his opponent.

Alexander fired 24 service winners and tamed his strokes more efficiently than Karen. The German added 16 winners and 18 unforced errors to his tally, and the Russian spoiled his chances after embracing a terrible 9-26 ratio, spraying most errors from his forehand.

They stayed neck and neck in the mid-range and most extended exchanges.

Zverev took charge in the quickest ones, building the crucial advantage that carried him over the top.

Alexander kicked off the action with a reliable service game, firing a forehand winner for a hold at love. Karen responded with a hold at 30 in the second game and made a push on the return in the next one. Zverev squandered a 30-0 lead in the third game, dropping three straight points and offering Khachanov a break chance after a loose forehand.

The Russian missed a massive chance to grab a break, spraying a forehand error and allowing the German to bring the game home. They served well in games four and five, with Alexander leading 3-2 and stepping in on the return in game six.

Karen missed a forehand and faced two break points. Khachanov netted a backhand right after the serve, getting broken and falling 4-2 behind. Zverev cemented the lead with a hold in game seven, firing a service winner and…