US Open: Alexander Zverev with the next five-set success
Alexander Zverev also had to go the full distance in the second round of the 2019 US Open: The German number one defeated Frances Tiafoe 6: 3, 3: 6, 6: 2, 2: 6 and 6: 3.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Aug 29, 2019, 09:30 pm
By Jens Huiber from New York City
Alexander Zverev does not necessarily like to spend the early hours of a day as a competitor on a tennis court, but well: When the largest tennis stadium in the world calls, the German number one also likes to go to work. Around noon, against Frances Tiafoe, at Arthur Ashe Stadium. And Zverev quickly picked up where he left off in sets one, two and five against Radu Albot: with a precise, punchy game that Tiafoe initially had nothing to oppose.
6: 3, the opening sentence went righteously to the Germans without any problems.
A few minutes before the match began, Boris Becker had said that he expected Zverev to succeed, the opening phase against Albot was the best the Hamburg-born player had offered this year.
Zverev sets the pace
But how it is with Alexander Zverev in 2019: The 22-year-old rarely gets anything really easy. A few brief moments of lack of concentration were enough, Tiafoe managed to balance. Incidentally, in front of fairly well-attended stands, the daily shifts in the first week of the tournament are not a matter of course.
In the third act, Alexander Zverev again set the pace from the start and went straight ahead without a problem. Which caused Frances Tiafoe to take a long pause for thought in the toilet. Which, in turn, put Alexander Zverev to sleep so much that he passed the fourth round informally with 2: 6.
# BETATHOMEUSWIN #
Now against pair or bedene
So again a fifth sentence, and again whole generations of tennis historians in a few years will be wondering how it could have gotten this far: Zverev was the better player in every respect, and obviously the fitter player, but always managed to get one build up unexpected tension. So also in the second game of the decision set, in which Zverev initially left three breakballs, thankfully finally finally turned to 2: 0. That was enough with the drama. Whereby: The visit of the physio, which Tiafoe enjoyed again at the very last page change, was not without a certain tactical sophistication. But it was not enough to give the local hero the last kick. Or to dissuade Zverev from the path of virtue.
3:09 hours of game time, the first match ball was right. You're welcome. Thank you. Could have had the tournament number six cheaper too. The charm rating also went to Zverev, who complimented Tiafoe in front of his home crowd long after the American had left the court. You've known each other almost since childhood, and hopefully you'll still face each other in many matches, including larger ones.
In 2018 Zverev lost to Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round, on Saturday it will be either Benoit Paire or Aljaz Bedene. The Slovenian has a rather solid style of play, with the potential to bore Alexander Zverev. Paire, on the other hand, seems to be playing with a little more seriousness this season, but also against the French the German number one would go into the game as a clear favorite. No matter what time of day.