Alexander Zverev cruised into the second round of the Mexican Open as debutant Sebastian Korda enjoyed a memorable debut in Acapulco.
German star and second seed Zverev accounted for teenager Carlos Alcaraz, the 2019 runner-up winning the opening-round clash 6-3 6-1 on Monday.
Alcaraz – in his first showdown against a top-10 player – broke for a 2-0 lead and while he continued to go toe-to-toe with Zverev through six games, the 17-year-old was unable to maintain his charge.
Zverev broke for a 4-3 lead and the 2020 US Open finalist did not look back, winning nine of the last 10 games to advance in 84 minutes.
Too tough for the kid
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 16, 2021
2019 Acapulco runner-up @AlexZverev pulls away from 17-year-old Carlos Alcaraz to win 6-3, 6-1. #AMT2021 pic.twitter.com/Qldy4Ql7T1
"He started off playing extremely well, he didn't miss a lot of balls. Then I felt more comfortable on court, this is the first round," Zverev said.
"It's not always easy to play a first round, especially against a player like this, who is very young, who is very motivated and who wants to compete. I'm actually quite happy with how the match went."
Next up for Zverev – who reached the Australian Open quarter-finals in February – is Serbia's Laslo Djere.
Djere took down Steve Johnson 6-2 6-3 for a spot in the last 16.
Sebi sails to victory
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 16, 2021
On his Acapulco debut @SebiKorda pulls away from Marin Cilic, 7-5, 6-2 for his first 500-level victory. #AMT2021 pic.twitter.com/KI2sVAmfrc
Meanwhile, Korda capped his Acapulco bow with a shock 7-5 6-2 win against former world number three Marin Cilic.
Korda claimed his first ATP 500-level victory having saved 10 of the 11 break points he faced in the opening set against the 2014 US Open champion.
Canadian sensation and seventh seed Felix Auger-Aliassime awaits after the 20-year-old converted his sixth match point to see off Tennys Sandgren 6-3 7-6 (10-8).
Elsewhere, John Isner and Dominik Koepfer also advanced.