Alexander Zverev reaches impressive milestone after win in Rome Open debut against Ugo Carabelli

Alexander Zverev continued his strong form on clay with a commanding 6–2, 6–1 victory over Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli in his opening match at the Rome Masters 1000. The win marks Zverev’s seventh consecutive victory at the tournament, following his title run in 2024.

The World No. 2 looked confident from the start, showing the same form that earned him last year’s championship. His only recent loss at the Rome Open came in 2023, when he was defeated by Daniil Medvedev in the Round of 16.

“I feel confident here,” Zverev said before the tournament began. “I really like the place, so I hope I can play as well as last year and win a lot of matches.”

Zverev’s win also places him alongside Stan Wawrinka for the second-most ATP Masters 1000 clay-court victories among active players, each with 64. Novak Djokovic remains far ahead with 137.

Despite early exits at several major events this year, Zverev emphasized the importance of staying focused. “He’s obviously not a guy who has the biggest game,” Zverev said of Carabelli, “but all in all, I did my things well and I’m happy about that.”

Zverev now advances to the Round of 32, where he will face Vilius Gaubas, a 19-year-old Lithuanian qualifier ranked No. 154. Gaubas made headlines with a surprise upset over Denis Shapovalov in the previous round.

As Zverev eyes another deep run in Rome, fans and analysts alike are watching to see if he can continue building momentum ahead of the French Open later this month.