Altmaier saves two match points to edge Zhizhen, sets Zverev clash at Italian Open
Synopsis
Altmaier's comeback victory over Zhizhen, saving two match points, sets up a heavyweight second-round clash with two-time Rome champion Zverev. Meanwhile, Eala's 15th WTA main-draw win this season — the most by a left-handed player — extends her dominance at Masters 1000 openers, though a rematch with Xinyu awaits.
Key Takeaways
Daniel Altmaier saved two match points to defeat Zhang Zhizhen 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 in the first round of the Italian Open on 7 May .
Altmaier will face two-time Rome champion Alexander Zverev in the second round; Zverev leads their head-to-head 3-1 .
Matteo Arnaldi defeated Jaume Munar 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 for his first tour-level win in six attempts this year.
Alexandra Eala recorded her 15th WTA main-draw win this season and fifth consecutive opening-match victory at WTA 1000 events, beating Magdalena Frech 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 .
Other winners: Hanfmann over Hurkacz , Struff over Comesana , Baez over Brooksby , and Borges over de Jong .
Daniel Altmaier saved two match points to defeat Zhang Zhizhen 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 in the first round of the Italian Open at the Foro Italico in Rome on 7 May, securing his first ATP Masters 1000 match win of the season. The 27-year-old German will next face two-time Rome champion Alexander Zverev in the second round, with Zverev holding a 3-1 edge in their ATP Head2Head record.
Other Men's First-Round Winners
Yannick Hanfmann advanced past former Top-10 player Hubert Hurkacz with a 6-7(3), 7-6(2), 6-2 victory and will face 18th seed Luciano Darderi next. Jan-Lennard Struff defeated Francisco Comesana 6-2, 6-4 and is set to meet 11th seed Jiri Lehecka in the second round.
Arnaldi Continues Strong Form
Home favourite Matteo Arnaldi, riding momentum from winning the ATP Challenger 175 in Cagliari last week, overcame Jaume Munar 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 for his first tour-level match win in six attempts this year. The Italian will play sixth seed Alex de Minaur for a place in the third round.
Baez and Borges Advance
Sebastian Baez required seven match points before closing out a 6-3, 7-6(8) win against Jenson Brooksby and will next face ninth seed Alexander Bublik. Portuguese star Nuno Borges dominated qualifier Jesper de Jong 6-3, 6-0 and will meet fast-rising Rafael Jodar in the second round.
Eala's Strong Start in Women's Singles
Alexandra Eala, the only Philippine player in the Italian Open during the Open Era, rallied from a break down in the final set to defeat Poland's Magdalena Frech 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 in 2 hours, 21 minutes. The victory marked Eala's 15th main-draw win on the WTA Tour this season — the most by any left-handed player — and her fifth consecutive opening-match win at WTA 1000 events. She will next meet 31st seed Wang Xinyu, who defeated her in their only previous encounter, a three-set victory in the Auckland semifinals in January.
Point of View
The most by a left-handed player, is not just a statistic; it reflects a sustained level of consistency that has been absent from Philippine tennis. Her rematch with Xinyu will test whether last week's Cagliari-style momentum translates to seeded opposition.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Altmaier defeat Zhizhen at the Italian Open?
Altmaier saved two match points to defeat Zhang Zhizhen 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 in the first round on 7 May, securing his first ATP Masters 1000 match win of the season.
Who will Altmaier face in the Italian Open second round?
Altmaier will meet two-time Rome champion Alexander Zverev, who leads their ATP Head2Head series 3-1.
What is Alexandra Eala's record at WTA 1000 opening matches?
Eala has won five consecutive opening-match encounters at WTA 1000 events. Her victory over Magdalena Frech marked her 15th main-draw win on the WTA Tour this season, the most by any left-handed player.
Who will Eala face in the Italian Open second round?
Eala will meet 31st seed Wang Xinyu, who defeated her in their only previous encounter at the Auckland semifinals in January.
