US Open 2021: Novak Djokovic wrestles Alexander Zverev in the semifinals in five sets
Novak Djokovic is only one victory away from the Grand Slam. The world number one beatAlexander Zverev in an epic semi-final in five sets. ( Here you can read the match in the ticker ).
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Sep 11, 2021, 05:09 am
Dream semifinals in New York City. The world number one Novak Djokovic got to do with the reigning Olympic champion Alexander Zverev in the semifinals in a highly anticipated duel. The final opponent was wanted by Daniil Medvedev, who had prevailed against Felix Auger-Aliassime in three sets in the first semifinals of the day .
Both players hardly needed start-up time at Arthur Ashe Stadium to get their best tennis. In particular, Zverev got off to a sensational start and knew how to convert his playful superiority with the score of 4: 4 into a break. Then the German served the first sentence confidently.
Djokovic strikes back in the usual manner
Djokovic did not enter new territory with the 0: 1 set deficit at this year's US Open, as he had already given the opening act in his previous three encounters. And the Serb actually struck against Zverev right at the beginning of the second round: Like Djokovic before, the German gave his service game to make it 2-0 with a double mistake.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner could not be denied this lead. Thanks to another break to 6: 2, Djokovic bagged the second section and thus also secured the supposed advantage of being able to start in set three with his own serve.
The first three break chances belonged to Zverev, but Djokovic was able to fend off all of them. The 34-year-old had an unusually difficult return, but as so often in his career, he struck at exactly the right moment. Although Zverev was able to fend off two set balls in an impressive way at the score of 4: 5 - once with a forehand winner after 53 strokes - Djokovic could not take the third.
Zverev did not want to give up without a fight in the fourth set either. Thanks to a great forehand, the 24-year-old managed the first break to make it 2-1. He transported this relatively easily to 6: 4 and the associated set compensation.
Zverev fails, Djokovic cheers
In the fifth set it was Djokovic again who got off to a better start. Thanks to a sensational passing ball, the Serb took his opponent's serve to make it 2-0. Due to a second mistake on the network, Zverev had to accept another break to 4-0 from his point of view a little later.
The reigning Olympic champion struck back again to 2: 5, but one game later Djokovic was able to close the bag: After 3:34 hours of play, the industry leader converted his first match ball to 4: 6, 6: 2, 6: 4, 4-6 and 6-2 success.
Zverev must therefore continue to wait for his first Grand Slam win against a top ten player. Djokovic, on the other hand, has the historic chance to make the Grand Slam perfect against Medvedev on Sunday.
Here the single tableau in New York
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