WHAT HAPPENED: On paper, this second-round encounter at the 2024 US Open seemed to be a wild mismatch. About the only similarities between Alexander Zverev and Alexandre Muller were their first names and their ages, both 27. The 6-foot-6 German Zverev is a two-time major finalist, Olympic gold medalist and No. 4 in the world. Muller, a wild card ranked 77 from Pouissy, France, has had his biggest success on the Challenger circuit—though he did record a win over No. 6 Andrey Rublev at the Rome ATP Masters 1000 earlier this year.
For most of the unbearably hot afternoon on Wednesday in Louis Armstrong Stadium, though, the scrappy Muller put up an impressive challenge and went toe-to-toe with his vastly more accomplished opponent. The Frenchman showed off excellent variety and a willingness to mix it up with the powerful Zverev, venturing forward and displaying deft touch, enough to frustrate the somewhat lackadaisical German. Zverev surrendered an early lead and actually allowed Muller to dictate play with groundstrokes to the corners and sneaky offensive forays into the net.
Though—again on paper—in the end this was a straight-sets victory for the German, it was very closely contested. Muller made life difficult for Zverev all afternoon, but the fourth seed did just enough, especially in the final set, to move on, 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-1.
At the tail end of the first set, Zverev finally broke serve for a second time and took the opener on the strength of a couple of 130mph serves, struck almost as though he were losing patience with his pesky opponent.
The second set unfolded in similar fashion, as Muller demonstrated no interest in going away, engaging in long rallies and forcing routine errors off the German’s racquet. The Frenchman stayed even with Zverev until the tiebreak, where Muller raced out to a 5-2 lead. Zverev, though, reeled off five consecutive points, including a beautiful backhand return that painted the line to allow him to eke out the second set.
Zverev finally pulled away in the final set, cracking an ace—but only after a final bit of glory from Muller, a smacked line-drive backhand return that produced wry smiles from both players.
In all, this was a workmanlike performance—one marred by 29 unforced errors—that Zverev will be happy to have behind him as he moves deeper into the draw.
WHAT IT MEANS: Zverev leads the ATP Tour in match wins (54) this season (ahead of Jannik Sinner, Casper Ruud and Carlos Alcaraz), including 24 wins on hard courts. The German, though, has won but a single title in 2024, the ATP Masters 1000 Rome. He did reach the final at the French Open (where he lost in five sets to Alcaraz), and made runs to the semis at the Australian Open (l. to Medvedev in five sets), Los Cabos, ATP Masters 1000 Miami and ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati.
While in anybody’s book that constitutes a phenomenally successful year, the 2020 US Open finalist is still searching for his first major championship at age 27. In both of his two previous slam finals, including this year’s French Open, Zverev couldn’t close the door while up two sets.
Muller has yet to reach the third round at a major, though he has notched wins at all four Grand Slam events.The Frenchman is now 1-7 vs. Top 10 opponents in his career (0-6 at Slams).
MATCH POINT: Zverev is the leader among players born after 1990 in major wins with 99; should he win his third-round match, he would become the youngest active player to reach the milestone of 100 Slam wins.
