ATP Dubai: Alexander Zverev against his buddy - and favorite opponent
Alexander Zverev meets Andrey Rublev in the semifinals of the ATP Tour 500 tournament in Dubai. Zverev has not lost a set against the Russian in five games.
by Jens Huiber
last edit:
Mar 02, 2023, 09:37 pm
He has known Andrey Rublev since he was twelve, Alexander Zverev explained after his success against Lorenzo Sonego in the quarter-finals of the ATP Tour 500 tournament in Dubai. At that point, Zverev didn't know if it would actually go against his Russian buddy. But after Rublev won against Botic van de Zandschulp, Zverev will not have grieved any further.
Because the ATP statistics show something amazing: In the five games played between Zverev and Rublev so far, the latter has not managed to win even a single set. Yes, achieving a tiebreak (as only happened in Shanghai 2019) has been Rublev's highest emotion so far. Which should actually no longer be represented in the competition. Because against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the 25-year-old was 6-1 behind after losing the first set in the tie-break of the second. And still turned the game.
Zverev with a strong serve
Alexander Zverev didn't make it that exciting after his hard-fought opening win against Jiri Lehecka. More than 80 percent of the serves from the German number one landed against Lorenzo Sonego, an excellent rate. And Zverev was also proud of that: After all, the service was the only shot that the opponent had no influence on.
For the native of Hamburg, today (from 2 p.m. live on Sky and in our ticker) is about the first final since spring 2022. Zverev made it into the final in Madrid, but Carlos Alcaraz had to admit defeat there. Alexander Zverev's last tournament victory dates from the ATP Finals 2021.