Alexander Zverev cleared his first hurdle at the Rome Masters 1000 with a dominant 6–2, 6–1 victory, extending his impressive streak at the Italian tournament. With the win, the German star advanced to the Round of 32 and eliminated Camilo Ugo Carabelli.
Now the World No. 2 added this latest victory to the six he recorded during last year’s tournament, where he won the title. That makes seven straight wins at the Rome Open, with his last loss in the event coming in 2023, when he was knocked out in the Round of 16 by Daniil Medvedev.
It’s clear that Zverev thrives in Rome, something he acknowledged before his debut. “I feel confident here,” Alexander said just days ago, after arriving in the Italian capital. “I really like the place, so I hope I can play as well as last year and win a lot of matches.”
One key factor contributing to the World No. 2’s success at the Rome Open is the surface. With Friday’s win, Zverev tied Stanislas Wawrinka for the second-most ATP Masters 1000 wins on clay among active players. Both now have 64, trailing only Novak Djokovic, who leads with 137.
Alexander Zverev holding the Rome Open trophy in 2024.
Zverev reflects on his victory vs Ugo Carabelli
This year, Zverev has suffered more than one early exit at major tournaments, making every match a potential pitfall—even against lower-ranked opponents like Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli, currently ranked No. 60.
“I think in general it was a pretty good match,” said Zverev, according to the official ATP Tour website. “He’s obviously not a guy who has the biggest game, but all in all I did my things well and I’m happy about that.”
What’s next for Zverev in Rome?
Zverev’s quick win over Ugo Carabelli gives him some valuable rest before his next match in the Round of 32. His upcoming opponent will be a surprise entry: Vilius Gaubas, a Lithuanian ranked No. 154 in the world who made it through the qualifiers. In the previous round, Gaubas pulled off a notable upset over Denis Shapovalov.
