Match Report
Zverev survives scare from Navone, maintains perfect score in Madrid openers
Third seed Auger-Aliassime, defending champ Ruud also advance
April 25, 2026
Thomas Coex/AFP via Getty Images
Alexander Zverev in action against Mariano Navone on Saturday at the Mutua Madrid Open.
By Andy West
Alexander Zverev secured an opening victory despite a bumpy return to the Mutua Madrid Open on Saturday afternoon.
The second-seeded German overcame a mid-match lapse to down Mariano Navone 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 and improve to 9-0 in opening matches at the clay ATP Masters 1000 event in the Spanish capital. Zverev, who is chasing his third Madrid title, dropped serve twice in the second set but expertly regained his composure to ultimately secure a one-hour, 43-minute triumph.
In it to win it 🎲
Two-time former champion @AlexZverev digs deep to reach the third round in Madrid. @MutuaMadridOpen | #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/FYHFilxxRS
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 25, 2026
“First set was almost perfect, and then I lost focus completely,” Zverev said. “Then the second set, it was terrible, but that’s what happens sometimes in the first match of a tournament. Definitely, I could have focused a bit better, but the level was there. The first set and third set was great tennis, and I just have to focus on that.”
Zverev finished his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with World No. 45 Navone having converted four of eight break points he earned, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and the 28-year-old is now 19-0 for the season in matches where he has won the first set. Although he is yet to lift a trophy in 2026, Zverev has been a consistent performer: He reached the semi-finals in five of the six tournaments he played before Madrid, and he is third in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin behind only Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Having lifted the Madrid trophy in 2018 and 2021, Zverev will continue his bid to complete a hat-trick of titles on the Caja Magica clay in a third-round meeting against Terence Atmane. The No. 47-ranked Atmane earlier upset his fellow Frenchman and 30th seed Ugo Humbert 7-6(3), 7-6(5).
“It’s definitely a different type of tournament here,” Zverev said when asked about the high-altitude conditions of Madrid. “I love it. You either love it or hate it, kind of, because there is no in between. Everything is a bit faster, the ball bounces higher, the serve is maybe a bit more effective. So you either love it or hate it. Winning the tournament twice here, of course I hope to add some more titles to that. I enjoy playing here.”
Felix Auger-Aliassime and defending champion Casper Ruud wasted little time joining Zverev in the third round. Third seed Auger-Aliassime, a finalist in Madrid in 2024, defeated qualifier Vilius Gaubas 6-3, 6-4. The Canadian next faces 20-year-old Belgian Alexander Blockx, who upset 28th seed Brandon Nakashima 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Meanwhile Ruud showed few nerves upon returning to the venue where he claimed the biggest title of his career 12 months ago. The Norwegian 12th seed raced past a physically struggling Jaume Munar 6-0, 6-1 and will next face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, after the 20th seed overcame his fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-3.
Also on Saturday, Karen Khachanov and Jakub Mensik set a heavy-hitting third-round clash by each powering to a comfortable straight-sets win. The 13th-seeded Khachanov downed Adam Walton 6-2, 6-3, while 23rd seed Mensik saw off qualifier Martin Damm 6-3, 6-4.
The Madrid meeting between Khachanov and Mensik will be the pair’s third Lexus ATP Head2Head encounter, after Khachanov prevailed in the 2024 Doha final and in a second-round meeting in Indian Wells in 2025. Whoever comes out on top in Madrid will take on Zverev or Atmane in the fourth round.
