Zverev fends off Blockx barrage to avoid first-round loss

LONDON, June 30 : French Open champion Alexander Zverev has an allergy to grass and admits to struggling on Wimbledon's "beautiful" Centre Court but showed enough in a first-round win over hard-hitting Belgian Alexander Blockx on Tuesday to suggest he could embark on his best run yet in southwest London.

The 29-year-old German second seed, who finally joined the Grand Slam winners' club at the 41st attempt with his title run at Roland Garros, survived a barrage of Blockz thunderbolts on Centre Court to seal a 6-4 6-7(8) 7-6(5) 7-6(0) win.

Zverev lost in the first round at Wimbledon last year to big-serving Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech and a clash with the fast-rising Blockx looked fraught with danger.

But he was clinical when it mattered most against the 21-year-old and managed to avoid a repeat.

"That was tough," Zverev said on court. "When I saw the draw I thought here we go again, someone who serves 140 mph and can take the racket out of your hands."

Blockx went toe-to-toe with Zverev in a match full of high-octane baseline rallies but occasionally showed his inexperience on his Wimbledon debut, especially with a ragged service game at 4-4 in the opening set that proved costly.

Zverev needed his vastly improved defensive skills to stay in many of the rallies as Blockx let rip but he squandered a set point in the second-set tiebreak before a double fault handed his opponent the set.

Blockx had his chances in the next two sets but Zverev eventually drew his sting to progress and set up a second round against Valentin Royer of France.

"I just struggle on this beautiful court for some reason," Zverev said. "It's the biggest honour in tennis to play on this court. I still at times struggle, it's no secret. But I'm getting better.