ATP Finals: Alexander Zverev clears the semi-final duel with Novak Djokovic
At the ATP Finals in Turin, Alexander Zverev is in the semifinals after a clear two- sentence success over Hubert Hurkacz and meets Novak Djokovic there.
by SID / red.
last edit: Nov 18, 2021, 03:28 pm
Olympic champion Alexander Zverev is in the semifinals of the ATP Finals in Turin and challenges top favorite Novak Djokovic. The world number three from Hamburg took the victory they needed to get into the knockout round on Thursday with a 6: 2, 6: 4 over the obviously ailing Poland Hubert Hurkacz. As the runner-up in the Red Group, there will be a duel with Grand Slam record champion Djokovic for the fifth time this year on Saturday.
Zverev is best remembered by the strong comeback victory in the Olympic semifinals in Tokyo. The 24-year-old lost the other three this year's comparisons with the Serbian world number one, including the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and most recently the semifinals of the US Open in five sets. Overall, the balance of the two after victories is clearly 7: 3 for Djokovic.
After the defeat against defending champion Daniil Medvedev, Zverev had been under a lot of pressure against Hurkacz, if he had lost he would have been eliminated in the group stage, as in the previous year. With the victory of the German, the semi-final hopes of the Italian successor Jannik Sinner, who will meet the Russian Medvedev, who has already been established as group winner, on Thursday evening (9:00 p.m. / Sky) burst.
The only duel at the Masters in Madrid on clay over two years ago was won by Zverev against Hurkacz. On Thursday, the Pole, who had been rumored to have an ankle injury before the game, gave up his serve twice. Hurkacz actually looked constrained, but fought with great morale. Since the top German player didn't shine either and his opponent took full risk, at least the second set stayed even for a long time.