Alexander Zverev booked his spot in the third round at the French Open for the fourth straight year on Wednesday, seeing off Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin in straight sets.

The German sixth seed, a two-time quarter-finalist, trailed 1-3 in the second and third sets but secured a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) victory.

“First week you play against guys, some of them play first, second, third time of a Grand Slam," Zverev told reporters. “They’re very motivated. They’re excited to play on the big courts, like I thought today.

“I think he played a fantastic match. I’m happy to be through in three sets. The match definitely wasn’t easy."

Double faults continued to haunt the 24-year-old German in the second set as he smashed his racquet on the court in frustration and suffered a service break. But he recovered spectacularly to take the set by winning five games in a row.

Safiullin continued to trouble Zverev in the third set and forced the German, who rallied from two sets down to defeat qualifier Oscar Otte in Sunday’s opening round, to dig deep.

Zverev, who served 15 aces against 10 double faults, was once again forced to overcome a 4-1 deficit to take the third set into a tiebreaker.

But the U.S. Open finalist served strongly and outplayed Safiullin in the tiebreaker to set up a clash against Serbia’s Laslo Djere, who came back from a two-set deficit to beat countryman Miomir Kecmanovic 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-3.

“Today, especially last two sets, they could have gone both ways, especially the third. The second I thought I was in control more," said Zverev, who is considered one of the title contenders at Roland Garros this time after his win in Madrid.

“But, yeah, I’m happy to be through in three sets. I’m happy not to have played another five-setter. I think it’s going to be important for me during the course of this tournament."

Alexander Zverev booked his spot in the third round at the French Open for the fourth straight year on Wednesday, seeing off Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin in straight sets.

The German sixth seed, a two-time quarter-finalist, trailed 1-3 in the second and third sets but secured a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) victory.

“First week you play against guys, some of them play first, second, third time of a Grand Slam," Zverev told reporters. “They’re very motivated. They’re excited to play on the big courts, like I thought today.

“I think he played a fantastic match. I’m happy to be through in three sets. The match definitely wasn’t easy."

Double faults continued to haunt the 24-year-old German in the second set as he smashed his racquet on the court in frustration and suffered a service break. But he recovered spectacularly to take the set by winning five games in a row.

Safiullin continued to trouble Zverev in the third set and forced the German, who rallied from two sets down to defeat qualifier Oscar Otte in Sunday’s opening round, to dig deep.

Zverev, who served 15 aces against 10 double faults, was once again forced to overcome a 4-1 deficit to take the third set into a tiebreaker.

But the U.S. Open finalist served strongly and outplayed Safiullin in the tiebreaker to set up a clash against Serbia’s Laslo Djere, who came back from a two-set deficit to beat countryman Miomir Kecmanovic 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-3.

“Today, especially last two sets, they could have gone both ways, especially the third. The second I thought I was in control more," said Zverev, who is considered one of the title contenders at Roland Garros this time after his win in Madrid.

“But, yeah, I’m happy to be through in three sets. I’m happy not to have played another five-setter. I think it’s going to be important for me during the course of this tournament."

(With inputs from agencies)