Step 6 of 7 to the Grand Slam: Novak Djokovic vs. Alexander Zverev
Novak Djokovic needs two more wins to be the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four majors in one calendar year. Perhaps the biggest stumbling block awaits with the semi-finals of the US Open with Alexander Zverev .
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Sep 10, 2021, 12:19 am
Alexander Zverev didn't want to make the video wall bigger than necessary. From his point of view understandable: After all, referee Louise Engzell made Zverev's opponent Lloyd Harris wait a good minute before serving at set ball in the tie-break of round one. Harris promptly lost concentration, gave the sentence, then had no chance. The likelihood that he would have been in a four-set match is high. And to save Zverev's honor, it should also be noted that he had announced his discomfort to the referee much earlier in the match with the detailed images on the screen. Engzell's secret will remain as to why the Swede then held a longer long-distance plea for Harris at exactly 6: 5.
There is no secret behind Alexander Zverev's second semi-final at the US Open. The Olympic champion from Tokyo has so far simply been one class superior to his opponents, both playfully and physically. And mentally. No player rides a longer wave of success than Zverev, 16 matches have now been won in a row by the native of Hamburg in Tokyo, Cincinnati. Now the master's examination is waiting with Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic physically too strong against Berrettini
The world number one has so far had to deal with a much easier draw than his current opponent, with the exception of the quarter-finals against Matteo Berrettini. But even there the Serbian grandmaster remained calm, studying the physical decline with interest. And Berrettini, it seemed, grew more tired with each rally. Nole on the other hand: no signs of tiredness.
Alexander Zverev is cut from a different cloth than Berrettini, who has to be credited with the fact that he was barely able to play tennis after his entry into the Wimbledon final due to an injury. And couldn't keep up with Djokovic. Zverev can play five sets at the highest speed, the only question is whether he can afford a few gaps in concentration, as in his last defeat in tennis 2021, in the round of 16 at Wimbledon against Félix Auger-Aliassime.
On some days Djokovic Zverev can't hurt, as the finals in Rome 2017, the ATP Finals 2018 and the semifinals at the Olympics showed. On the other hand, Djokovic also knows that Zverev has never won a match in the best-of-five mode against a top ten player. Let alone against the best player in the world by far.
Here the single tableau in New York
nycmap