ATP Finals: Alexander Zverev creates a mandatory victory against Diego Schwartzman
Alexander Zverev won his second match at the ATP Finals 2020 against Diego Schwartzman 6: 3, 4: 6 and 6: 3. This means that the 2018 winner can still reach the semi-finals in London.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Nov 18, 2020, 05:48 pm
That was a lot harder work than it was a few weeks ago in Cologne. At that time, Alexander Zverev Diego Schwartzman only left three games in the final of the second tournament in the Lanxess Arena. In the O2 Arena in London there didn't seem to be any doubt about the winner of this game, not even when Schwartzman managed the first break of the match in the first round. Zverev could not be disturbed, won the first set with 6: 3. After that, however, the German number one let his opponent get better and better into the match. In order to still win 6: 3 in the third set.
In the previous four games of the two, Schwartzman had left the court twice as the winner. However, under special circumstances: In 2014 in Kitzbühel, the first encounter was badly alpine conditions that Zverev did not like. And last year at the US Open, the German helped with 17 double mistakes.
Zverev keeps his fingers crossed for Medvedev
None of these problems came up in the Hall of London, of course not. Although the serve did not work perfectly at Alexander Zverev, three double errors are always part of a best-of-three match. Especially since Schwartzman immortalized himself in this category with three of them. Nevertheless, after winning the first round, Zverev made it exciting again despite an early break in set two and generously helped Schwartzman's rebreak to 3: 3 with several mistakes.
That the Argentine suddenly found two set balls after a couple of rallies, he probably did not expect himself. The favorite fended off the first with an ace, with the second a forehand just sailed out of bounds. In the decision, Zverev then presented a break in the fifth game - because he played more offensively and moved better than in many phases of the match. Even if Zverev missed two chances for a double break to 5: 2, he still left the field as the winner after 2:12 hours of play.
In the second game of the day, Zverev will probably keep his fingers crossed for Daniil Medvedev. Should the Russian prevail against Novak Djokovic, there will be a real final on Friday with the world number one. If Djokovic wins, Zverev still has a chance. Then, however, the set and game winnings would have to come into play. All the more annoying that Zverev had to go the full distance against Schwartzman.
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