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World No. 3 Alexander Zverev didn't clinch a convinving win over Brandon Nakashima but he was glad that he was able to escape drama and progress into the French Open last-16. Zverev, who had to save a match point in the second round versus Sebastian Baez, defeated Nakashima 7-6 (2) 6-3 7-6 (5) in the third round.
"I think I raised my level today," Zverev said in an on-court interview, per the ATP website. "I prefer this [compared to the second-round thriller]. This is much better for me. I don't lose too much hair, I can still grow old." Zverev faced two early break points in the second game but saved them to tie the set to one game apiece.
Zverev had his first break point in the ninth game but Nakashima saved to open a 5-4 lead. As no breaks were seen in the first set, the opened had to be resolved in a tie-break. In the tie-break, the two players were tied to two points apiece before Zverev won five points in a row to seal a tight opener.
Zverev struggled in the third set but managed to close out the match
After winning the first set, Zverev claimed the first break of the match in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead in the second set. Nakashima had a chance to get the break back in the fifth game but Zverev saved to open a 4-1 lead.
No more break points were seen in the second set as Zverev served out for a two-set lead in the ninth game. Up by two sets, Zverev had a break point in the opening game of the third set but Nakashima saved to avoid going down by an early break.
Zverev didn't get the break in the opening game but kept pressing and earned the first break of the third set in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. However, Nakashima refused to qut and broke back Zverev in the sixth game to tie the set to three games apiece.
No more breaks were and the set went into a tie-break, where Zverev was 4-5 down before winning three consecutive points to win the set and complete a straight-set win. Zverev plays Barnabe Zapata Miralles next.