US Open: Alexander Zverev after five-set fight in round 2
Alexander Zverev achieved a second round at the US Open. After a strong start, he still had to cover the distance.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit:
Aug 27, 2019, 11:58 pm
After 3 hours and 10 minutes, the big piece of work for Alexander Zverev was over - and with a positive outcome. With 6: 1, 6: 3, 3: 6, 4: 6 and 6: 2 the Hamburg wrestled the Moldovan Radu Albot and moved into the second round of the final Grand Slam tournament of the year in Flushing Meadows.
In the first two sets, the Hamburg player played big, went - as Boris Becker repeatedly asked - closer to the line and determined the rallies. The last crisis-ridden serve was also correct, Zverev initially made only three double faults.
# BETATHOMEUSWIN #
In the third round, Zverev fell back into the old pattern too often, acted too passively and left the world ranking list 41. Albot rule - who did so. The 29-year-old made the connection with strong tennis and also came to a quick 2-0 in set four. Zverev, however, was not able to get the 3: 3 equalization, but got the break again to 4: 5. Albot fended off a breakball to make the set clear.
The match to read in the live ticker.
Zverev has to go back to a fifth set
Zverev, a long-suffering five-set expert at Grand Slams, remained calm, however, maintained a positive body language with a 2-0 lead, but Albot countered with strong returns.
But again it was Zverev who took the lead via break - he rejected another chance for a rebreak and made the 5-2 preliminary decision. In the end Zverev took his opponent's serve to zero again and celebrated his victory with a loud "Jaaaaaaa !!!!!".
"He played incredibly after two sets in front. It was difficult in the end," Zverev told Eurosport after the match. Zverev was also satisfied with his serve (9 aces, 8 double mistakes). "In contrast to 20 double faults, that's okay," he said.
Overall, the victory of the sixth in the world rankings was deserved: 49 winners with 57 unforced mistakes were on his list, with Albot there were 27 wins with 58 mistakes without any trouble. Zverev used 9 of his 19 breakballs and also brought 66 percent of the first serves into the field - with 70 percent point wins. Zverev also raised the profit rate for the second service to 48 percent at the end.
Zverev now meets the winner of the game between US youngster Frances Tiafoe and serve king Ivo Karlovic on Thursday.
Stebe also wins
Almost at the same time, Cedrik-Marcel Stebe, who was injured so often, had great reason to be happy. Stebe beat Filip Krajinovic 6: 3, 4: 6, 6: 4 and 7: 6 (6) and is now allowed to run against Marin Cilic in round 2.