US Open: Alexander Zverev beats Adrian Mannarino after a three-hour delay
Almost three hours late, Alexander Zverev started his third round duel with Adrian Mannarino at the US Open 2020. In the end, the German won 6: 7 (4), 6: 4, 6: 2 and 6: 2 despite starting difficulties.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Sep 05, 2020, 02:17 am
The first big excitement of this third round duel between Alexander Zverev and Adrian Mannarino occurred long before the players even entered the field. Because the two did this with considerable delay, the reason for which the organizers remained guilty for a long time. After Angelique Kerber had already fixed her progress shortly after 8:00 p.m., Germany's number one should have followed in the men's category - but nothing came of it until after 11:00 p.m. European time.
According to several media reports and information from the Süddeutsche Zeitung , negotiations were held during the interruption as to when and how the contact persons of Benoit Paire, who tested positive for COVID-19, are allowed to leave the USA - according to Kirten Flipkens, the organizers would have to stay in the United States until decreed on September 11th. According to a brief statement from the USTA, a negotiation with the health authorities should have been the reason for the delay.
Bad start
Whether a clarifying agreement has been reached in this case and what this looks like is not yet known. The only thing that is clear is that Adrian Mannarino went to the start after all, at around 11:15 p.m. the Frenchman entered the Louis Armstrong Stadium to go into his third-round match at this year's US Open against Alexander Zverev as a blatant outsider.
Given the special circumstances, the game started at an expected moderate level. Up to the sixth game in the first set, both players played their service games quite confidently, but then Zverev wobbled, made the usual double error and had to give up his serve. Immediately before the match, the German's team would have announced that they had expected a cancellation - a circumstance that was initially apparent to the seventh in the world rankings.
Zverev with twice as many Unforced Errors
However, Zverev put up with this setback, managed the rebreak immediately and was able to fend off two breakballs from his opponent in the following service game. After both players played sovereign service games, a tiebreaker had to make the decision a little later. In this, Adrian Mannarino got off to a much better start, but benefited in particular from the numerous unforced errors Zverevs. The German made a total of 26 in round one - and lost it 7: 6 (2).
That changed little in the second set, the match continued to be at an extremely manageable level, with Adrian Mannarino always looking a little more dangerous. Also because Alexander Zverev continued to have enormous problems with his own serve. In the seventh game of the second set there were the first breakballs for the French, but Zverev freed himself from this pressure situation. So it remained on serve until the score of 5: 4 from Zverev's point of view, before the German increased the number of strokes and made the break and the set compensation with a forehand winner on the line.
Zverev now better in the game, Mannarino is treated
That should give Germany's number one a lot of momentum, the world number one started strong in the third round, made the early break and quickly moved away 3-0. At the same time, his French counterpart complained of complaints in the groin area and called the physio. Mannarino was then treated during the break - but was able to continue a little later, but with a visibly limited willingness to run.
The minutes to come showed that such a situation is often difficult to deal with, even from the perspective of the player who is in the lead. Mannarino suddenly moved better again, managed his serve, managed the rebreak and even had balls on the 3: 3 equalizer - but Zverev was able to fend off this, made another break and made a rare service game to zero to 5: 2 . With another break, the German closed round three a little later and took the lead with 2-1 sets.
Davidovich-Fokina is waiting in the round of 16
Now Adrian Mannarino's resistance seemed broken. Zverev made an early break again and had now found his sovereignty again on his own serve. That was the set - and the match was decided. Germany's number one left nothing to burn. After 2:52 hours, the seventh in the world rankings consequently converted his first match point to a 6: 7 (4), 6: 4, 6: 2 and 6: 2 success.
"It was a very difficult match. I was happy to have won the second set, then I was much happier with my game. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of room for improvement, it wasn't my best tennis. But I'm in Round four, that's great, of course, "said Zverev in an interview after the match. While waiting for the game, the German had been told that it was very unlikely that the game would take place. "Accordingly, I was naturally cold at the start," said the German.
In the second round, Alexander Zverev will now meet Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina, the surprise man from Spain. The match is on the program on Sunday. Stefanos Tsitsipas could then wait in the quarter-finals.