Zverev wins record-setting match

World number three Alexander Zverev defeated Jenson Brooksby in three sets at the Mexican Open in a first-round contest which set a new record for the latest finish to a tennis match.

Defending champion Zverev won 3-6 7-6 (12-10) 6-2 with the match ending at 4:55 am local time in Acapulco.

A marathon second set was clinched by the German in one hour and 51 minutes.

The previous latest finish was 4:34 am when Lleyton Hewitt beat Marcos Baghdatis at the 2008 Australian Open.

Play in Acapulco does not begin until 6 pm local time because of the heat and humidity, and all three of Monday's Centre Court matches lasted more than three hours.

The three hours 20-minute match between Zverev, 24, and 21-year-old American Brooksby - which did not get underway until 1:35 am - fell one minute short of the longest match in Mexican Open history.

That record had been set earlier on Monday, when Stefan Kozlov defeated 2014 champion Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (10-8) 5-7 6-3.

John Isner and Fernando Verdasco also came close to rivalling that time, as Isner prevailed 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-3) after three hours and 14 minutes.

Zverev will face compatriot Peter Gojowczyk next, on Wednesday.