Alexander Zverev overcame adversity on the ATP 250 grass court in Stuttgart, holding off Corentin Moutet to claim a 6-2, 7-6(7) victory in the opening round.
The top seed and home favourite struggled to reach his best in a match that lasted one hour and 51 minutes but was also superior in the key moments, winning in straight sets after saving a set point at 5/6 in the second-set tie-break .
"The first match on grass is never easy," Zverev said after the match, as quoted by ATP, Friday.
"I thought it was a very average game, but I won in the end and that's the most important thing. I made it complicated, but a win is a win and I'm happy to be back playing tomorrow."
Zverev converted four of the six break points he earned in his first head-to-head match with Moutet.
The German world number three is 30-11 in 2025, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, while he is 15-4 on home soil since last July.
That record includes his 24th tour-level title, which was accomplished on clay in Munich in April.
