The second-seeded German overcame a mid-match lapse to down Mariano Navone<\/a> 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 and improve to 9-0 in opening matches at the clay ATP Masters 1000 event in the Spanish capital. Zverev, who is chasing his third Madrid title, dropped serve twice in the second set but expertly regained his composure to ultimately secure a one-hour, 43-minute triumph. <\/p>\n In it to win it \ud83c\udfb2<\/p>\n Two-time former champion @AlexZverev<\/a> digs deep to reach the third round in Madrid. @MutuaMadridOpen<\/a> | #MMOPEN<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/FYHFilxxRS<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ATP Tour (@atptour) April 25, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cFirst set was almost perfect, and then I lost focus completely,\u201d Zverev said. \u201cThen the second set, it was terrible, but that\u2019s what happens sometimes in the first match of a tournament. Definitely, I could have focused a bit better, but the level was there. The first set and third set was great tennis, and I just have to focus on that.\u201d <\/p>\n Zverev finished his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with World No. 45 Navone having converted four of eight break points he earned, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and the 28-year-old is now 19-0 for the season in matches where he has won the first set. Although he is yet to lift a trophy in 2026, Zverev has been a consistent performer: He reached the semi-finals in five of the six tournaments he played before Madrid, and he is third in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin behind only Jannik Sinner<\/a> and Carlos Alcaraz<\/a>. <\/p>\n Having lifted the Madrid trophy in 2018 and 2021, Zverev will continue his bid to complete a hat-trick of titles on the Caja Magica clay in a third-round meeting against Terence Atmane<\/a>. The No. 47-ranked Atmane earlier upset his fellow Frenchman and 30th seed Ugo Humbert<\/a> 7-6(3), 7-6(5). <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s definitely a different type of tournament here,\u201d Zverev said when asked about the high-altitude conditions of Madrid. \u201cI love it. You either love it or hate it, kind of, because there is no in between. Everything is a bit faster, the ball bounces higher, the serve is maybe a bit more effective. So you either love it or hate it. Winning the tournament twice here, of course I hope to add some more titles to that. I enjoy playing here.\u201d <\/p>\n Felix Auger-Aliassime<\/a> and defending champion Casper Ruud<\/a> wasted little time joining Zverev in the third round. Third seed Auger-Aliassime, a finalist in Madrid in 2024, defeated qualifier Vilius Gaubas<\/a> 6-3, 6-4. The Canadian next faces 20-year-old Belgian Alexander Blockx<\/a>, who upset 28th seed Brandon Nakashima<\/a> 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. <\/p>\n Meanwhile Ruud showed few nerves upon returning to the venue where he claimed the biggest title of his career 12 months ago. The Norwegian 12th seed raced past a physically struggling Jaume Munar<\/a> 6-0, 6-1 and will next face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina<\/a>, after the 20th seed overcame his fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta<\/a> 6-3, 6-3. <\/p>\n Also on Saturday, Karen Khachanov<\/a> and Jakub Mensik<\/a> set a heavy-hitting third-round clash by each powering to a comfortable straight-sets win. The 13th-seeded Khachanov downed Adam Walton<\/a> 6-2, 6-3, while 23rd seed Mensik saw off qualifier Martin Damm<\/a> 6-3, 6-4. <\/p>\n The Madrid meeting between Khachanov and Mensik will be the pair\u2019s third Lexus ATP Head2Head encounter, after Khachanov prevailed in the 2024 Doha final and in a second-round meeting in Indian Wells in 2025. Whoever comes out on top in Madrid will take on Zverev or Atmane in the fourth round. <\/p>\n![\"\u201cATP](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/atp-fantasy-article-banner.jpg\")
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