"Funny day" at the US Open: Chaos around Zverev, Kerber now secret favorite
Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev have reached the round of 16 of the US Open. At Zverev, however, this happened under extremely chaotic circumstances.
by SID
last edit: Sep 05, 2020, 09:57 am
Alexander Zverev sat bare-chested in front of his box in the Arthur Ashe Stadium, he waited and waited - and everyone was wondering why. Actually, the Hamburger should go to the court of the neighboring stadium immediately after Angelique Kerber's third round win at the US Open, but the start of his game against the French Adrian Mannarino was delayed further and further. After about three hours of delay, the match started after all, and Zverev followed Kerber into the round of 16 despite the huge chaos in the run-up.
"We have been informed that there is very little chance that we will play," said Zverev after defeating Mannarino 6: 7 (4: 7), 6: 4, 6: 2, 6: 2. "It was political", reported the world number seven, the state of New York had ordered in advance that Mannarino was not allowed to compete.
Zverev lets Mannarino still play
After Benoit Paire's positive corona test shortly before the start of the tournament, several professionals had to adhere to an even stricter security protocol because they had close contact with the French. Mannarino is one of them. The players concerned were initially assured that they would be allowed to leave their hotel rooms for training and matches, Mannarino said. After a "dialogue with the health authorities", as the organizing US tennis association USTA called it, the Frenchman was allowed to play. Also because Zverev accepted the long wait.
"I could also have said: No, we play at the time we should have played, and that's it. If he's not on the pitch, that's his bad luck," said Zverev, but he definitely didn't want that : "I can't blame anyone, I had to support them and give them the time."
Germany's tennis icon Boris Becker spoke of a "strange day" at Eurosport, "the players have to cope with that first". While Zverev made it into the round of 16 against Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after a few uncertainties at the start, Jan-Lennard Struff was, as expected, the end of the line in round three : Against the world number one and tournament favorite Novak Djokovic (Serbia) he clearly lost 3: 6, 3 : 6, 1: 6. "There was absolutely nothing in it today, his performance was outstanding," said Struff.
Kerber: "Still a long way to go"
In addition to Zverev, the German hopes rest on Angelique Kerber, who defeated the American Ann Li with a cold-blooded appearance 6: 3, 6: 4. The former number one in the world is increasingly becoming a secret favorite for the title in this form.
"It's still a long way to go. I've already walked it, but it's still a big challenge," said Kerber, who won the title in New York in 2016. Although she is still without losing a set, the 32-year-old stacked deep: "I still have no great expectations. I look from lap to lap and see what can go."
Others spread euphoria. "So she moves into the group of favorites for me," said Barbara Rittner, Head of Women's Tennis at the German Tennis Association (DTB), at Eurosport after Kerber's success. And the draw for the best German tennis player makes her fans rejoice. Also in the round of the last 16, the three-time major winner will be the favorite, she will meet the American Jennifer Brady, who is 28th.