Young German star Alexander Zverev needed a hard-fought three sets to get through his opening match at the Australian Open on Tuesday.
The world No.4 spent 2hr 22min on Rod Laver Arena before claiming a 6-1, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 win over 73rd-ranked Italian Thomas Fabbiano.

Zverev, at the vanguard of the "NextGen" brigade, will face either Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan or fellow German Peter Gojowczyk in the second round.

While the 20-year-old won five titles and was one of just four players to beat Roger Federer last year, he has yet to get beyond the fourth round at a Grand Slam.

He was knocked out in the third round in Melbourne in 2017 and could face a potential third-round clash against his older brother Mischa in the year's opening Grand Slam tournament.