Australian Open: Alexander Zverev - only positive memories of Stan Wawrinka
Alexander Zverev will play at the Australian Open 2020 for the first time in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament. Zverev has never lost to his opponent Stan Wawrinka .
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jan 28, 2020, 01:51 pm
When Alexander Zverev enters the court against Stan Wawrinka on Wednesday, the German number one brings nothing but good memories to the Rod Laver Arena. There are four sovereign victories at the current Australian Open, Zverev is the only remaining player who has not yet had to submit a set. And even with his quarter-final opponent, Zverev has not had a bad experience, on the contrary: In autumn 2016, the Hamburg-born player won his first title in St. Petersburg in the final against Stan Wawrinka.
What was all the more remarkable that this defeat ended a series of eleven finalis, in which the Swiss had left the court as the winner. Such as at the Australian Open 2014 (against Rafael Nadal ), in Roland Garros 2015 and a little more than a year later at the US Open (against Novak Djokovic ). And that may be the little catch for Alexander Zverev: At Wawrinka, experienced observers now know that in the second week of a Grand Slam tournament he is almost always good for attacking the really big coup.
Zverev leads against Wawrinka
That was exactly what it looked like at the most recent US Open, where Wawrinka was able to say goodbye to a malad Djokovic in the round of 16. However, the now 34-year-old was not quite fit in the race himself and had to stretch his arms against Daniil Medvedev rather unadorned and very weak. Wawrinka achieved the revenge on the Russian very impressively on Monday, also because the Swiss took the reins in hand from the beginning and then again in the decisive phases. And the rally dictated instead of reacting.
For Alexander Zverev, after the modest ATP Cup, the greatest success in a Grand Slam tournament is at stake. The 22-year-old has already reached the round of eight several times, most recently at the French Open 2019, where Zverev defeated Novak Djokovic after a good start.
The semi-final would be new territory for Alexander Zverev, who would meet the winner of the game between Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem . The statistical prerequisites for this could not be better: Zverev also won the second and to date last encounter with Wawrinka, in spring 2017 in Indian Wells.
Here is the single tableau at the Australian Open 2020
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