Fifth seed Zverev survives first-round scare in Paris
German fifth seed Alexander Zverev blew a two-set lead before edging out John Millman in a decider to reach the second round of the French Open on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old, bidding to become the first German man to win the Roland Garros title since Henner Henkel in 1937, claimed a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 2-6, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 victory in the longest match of the tournament so far at four hours and 11 minutes.
Zverev will face Swedish qualifier Mikael Ymer for a place in the last 32.
The world number five, who had struggled this season before winning the Geneva title last weekend, reached his only Grand Slam quarter-final in Paris 12 months ago. He also won three five-set matches in 2018 before his last-eight loss to eventual runner-up Dominic Thiem.
Zverev blew a double-break lead against Millman before taking the opening set in a tie-break, and looked to be cruising to victory after claiming the second.
But Australian Millman, who stunned Roger Federer at last year's US Open, stepped up his ...