MELBOURNE -- In the second game of the match, Alexander Zverev's nose began to bleed. The German sauntered over to the sidelines, sat in his changeover chair and lodged a white cotton towel up his nostril while he waited for the trainer.
After a few minutes, play resumed, but the bleeding had only begun. Zverev was overwhelmed by his much more accomplished opponent, No. 2 Andy Murray, losing 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 in the first round of the Australian Open.
Murray was admittedly wary of Zverev, 18, heading into the encounter. Two weeks ago, they met at the Hopman Cup, and while Murray won the match in straight sets, he described Zverev as a big guy who moves well and hits hard.