ATP Finals London: Alexander Zverev beats Rafael Nadal for the first time
Defending champion Alexander Zverev has impressively started in the ATP Finals 2019. Born in Hamburg, he defeated world number one Rafael Nadal with 6: 2 and 6: 4. On Wednesday it is now against Stefanos Tsitsipas.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Nov 11, 2019, 10:40 pm
By Jens Huiber from London
One is guaranteed when Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev enter a tennis court: highest intensity from the first rally. The question before the first appearance of the two at the ATP Finals in London was simply what percentage of his intensity the Spaniard would bring to the Center Court. Although the abdominal muscle was only pulled since Paris-Bercy, Nadal had pitched at full speed but at the earliest when training on Monday.
And so Alexander Zverev made a premiere: With a never endangered 6: 2 and 6: 4 won the 22-year-old for the first time in his career a match against Nadal and meets on Wednesday Stefanos Tsitsipas, who also celebrated his first match win against Daniil Medvedev.
Zverev untouchable as a server
The invasion Nadal had decided for himself, although the applause for Zverev was extremely formidable. However, the world ranking first, the fans in London in the hall at the Underground station North Greenwich have not seen in full splendor for some time. The better start was nevertheless the German number one: In the fifth game Zverev took the first break of the match. To zero. A statement. Especially since Zverev himself immediately found his rhythm, as Aufschläger almost nothing allowed.
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After the second break of Zverev to 5: 2 Nadal used the break break in any case to a 90-second conversation with chair umpire Ali Nili. Also a sign of frustration with the 33-year-old left-hander. 6: 2 after 34 minutes for Zverev.
Nadal can use support
Nadal had gone with a 5-0 balance in the match, but the fast hard court in the hall is in principle probably the procedure that offers Zverev the best chances against the Mallorcan. Of those Alexander Zverev, who had made double errors in double figures in Cincinnati, was on Monday night in London to see anything. In addition, the native of Hamburg was not too far behind the baseline in the rallies of Nadal.
No wonder Zverev also opened the second set with a break. The audience felt no later than that Rafael Nadal could use any support. Alone: Alexander Zverev could not be disturbed, had to fend off during the entire game time of ultimately 84 minutes not a single breakball, played the match sovereignly to the end. And thus set an exclamation point behind his ambitions to defend the 2018 title won in the O2 Arena.
He was really looking forward to this match, Zverev said after his victory. Joining the O2 Arena is always something special. Even the training sessions on Thursday and Friday had been fantastic to pitch again in this hall.