Alexander Zverev has the “double at the cathedral” in mind, and on the way to the second title in Cologne there is even the chance for a hot revenge:
The world number seventh fought his way to the semi-finals on Friday despite pain with a 6: 4, 6: 7 (5: 7), 6: 4 against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, an old friend from South Tyrol is waiting there.
On the highly talented Jannik Sinner (19), Zverev failed in the last sixteen of the French Open.
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“I thought I might stop. But I have to have a broken leg before I give up,” said Zverev after the success of the eighth-placed Mannarino and thanked the few spectators in the hall: “I have the support uncanny noticed. ”
Zverev with abrasions on his finger
As with the bumpy opening win in the second part of the Cologne double pack against Australian John Millman, Zverev had to invest a lot on Friday, plus problems on the hip.
After 2:40 hours, he converted his first match point and is still two wins away from his 13th tournament win on the ATP Tour. Zverev had already triumphed at the first Cologne tournament the previous week.
Against Mannarino, the Hamburger managed an early break to 2-0, but the last German professional in the individual field gambled away the advantage immediately. Shortly thereafter, Zverev suffered slightly bloody abrasions on two fingers of the punching hand during a rescue attempt and had to be treated by a physio – the injury did not cause any problems.
When Mannarino served, the number one on the seeding list used his fourth set ball to make it 6: 4.
Zverev struck against Mannarino
As in the start against Millman, Zverev had problems in the second set and fended off three breakballs when the score was 2: 2. The 23-year-old stayed cool afterwards, took Mannarino’s service to take the 5-3 lead to zero, but did not close the match. Zverev was treated again for hip problems and the tie-break was lost.
In the decisive round, Zverev managed the break to 4: 3, this time he did not let the French back into the game and is back in the semifinals. “I’m happy to be back in the semi-finals.”
In contrast to the last encounter with Mannarino, there was absolutely no chaos in Cologne.
Memories of the chaos at the US Open
On the way to the final of the US Open, Zverev also met the French in the third round at the beginning of September – it was only after great confusion and almost three hours of back and forth that the match could even be played because the New York authorities had Mannarino previously due to the corona case Compatriot Benoit Paire wanted to take out of the tournament.
Also because Zverev proved to be a fair sportsman and was waiting for Mannarino, the match at the US Open could still be played and the German won after an initial effort. Zverev also had to invest a lot on Friday.
In Cologne, Zverev can concentrate fully on his title double, already on Thursday the world number seven in the double competition with his brother Mischa failed in the quarter-finals to the French Open winners Kevin Krawietz / Andreas Mies. In the singles, the US Open finalist is the last remaining German.
