What Mischa Zverev told Alexander Zverev mid-match during his opening round in Paris which helped him win

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Alexander Zverev was made to work hard for his place in the third round of the Paris Masters.

Returning to the French capital as the defending champion, Zverev may have expected an easy ride through to the last 16 when he drew world number 49 Camilo Ugo Carabelli.

If their match was supposed to be a one-sided affair, Ugo Carabelli certainly didn’t get the memo, as he snatched the first set in a tiebreaker 7-6 [7-5].

The Argentine’s level dipped in the second, as Zverev forced a decider in his 24th career match at the Paris Masters.

Pushing on in the third, Zverev grabbed a late break to win 6-7, 6-1, 7-5.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, former ATP star Ryan Harrison shared what Zverev’s coach and brother, Mischa Zverev, told him during the first set, which helped him turn things around.

Mischa Zverev told Alexander Zverev ‘to get forward’ against Camilo Ugo Carabelli

Harrison heard Zverev’s older brother giving him some useful advice against Ugo Carabelli in Paris.

“There was an adjustment that came from the coaching corner, with his brother Mischa [Zverev],” he said.

“Halfway through the first set, they said you have to get forward, because the court positioning from Carabelli was so far behind, he was opening the door for Sascha to come on into the net, and he did that effectively in sets two and three.”

The adjustment clearly worked, as Zverev came back to win in three sets, securing his place in the third round.

“It was not easy. At the end there it was getting a bit chippy; it was very touch and go, 5-5 in the third, but as he often does, he found a way through there in the end, and he’d be happy to get through that match,” said Harrison.

The American did, however, suggest Zverev still has work to do if he wants to compete with the likes of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

“He’s got to be able to control the environment between the points; he’s such a great player, but often times, what happens between the points has a direct effect on what happens when the point starts,” said Harrison.

“When you see these guys, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Rafael Nadal, it’s all about how they control the environment of the match, and that’s one of the areas that Sascha has really been focusing on, and he can still do a better job of.”

Zverev will certainly want to keep ‘control’ of things when he returns to play Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in round three.

Alexander Zverev and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s head-to-head record

Zverev has played Davidovich Fokina six times on the ATP Tour and has only tasted defeat once.

Zverev beat Davidovich Fokina in three sets earlier this year, taking his place in the Madrid Open fourth round at the expense of the 26-year-old.

He’ll no doubt be hoping for a repeat result in Paris, as he looks to keep his title defence alive.

Should he advance past Davidovich Fokina, Zverev would play either Daniil Medvedev, Lorenzo Sonego, or Lorenzo Musetti in the fourth round.

Zverev would surely want to avoid Medvedev, having lost their previous five matches on the ATP Tour.

He won’t want to get ahead of himself thinking about the last 16 just yet, however, as he now turns his attention to the third round, and a seventh career meeting with Davidovich Fokina.

Zverev will play Davidovich Fokina in the third round of the 2025 Paris Masters on Thursday, October 30.