Alexander Zverev made history on Saturday at the Miami Open presented by Itau, where he took the sole lead for ATP Masters 1000 wins by a German man.
The top seed produced a clinical performance to ease past Jacob Fearnley 6-2, 6-4 and reach the third round in Miami. Zverev suffered a disappointing first-round loss to Tallon Griekspoor in Indian Wells, but made amends with a ruthless 74-minute display to improve to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Fearnley.
“I’m generally happy with my level today,” said Zverev, the 2018 Miami finalist. “In Indian Wells it was very different, so I hope I can continue playing this way and have a great week here.”
With his 145th Masters 1000 win, Zverev passed Tommy Haas (144) for the most recorded by a German player since the series’ introduction in 1990. The World No. 2 will next face Jordan Thompson, who powered past Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6(4), 7-6(1).
Third seed Taylor Fritz kick-started his Miami campaign with a well-earned 7-6(2), 6-3 victory over Lorenzo Sonego, improving to 5-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry. The American No. 1 kept his composure in a gruelling eighth game in the second set, in which he let slip five break points before converting and going on to hold serve for the one-hour, 47-minute win.
“It’s huge [because] when you start blowing those [break] opportunities, it almost gets in your head,” said Fritz, who improved to 11-5 in 2025. “He had no break points and you feel like he would get one and break you, matches always happen like that, but credit to him. He didn’t miss a first serve when he was down in a game…”
Fritz will face Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in the third round. Shapovalov edged qualifier Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-3, 6-7(1), 7-6(3).
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