Clever and easy!
This is how Alexander Zverev (24) presented himself on his return to the US Open. In the first round, the Hamburger defeated the American Sam Querrey (33) 6: 4, 7: 5, 6: 2.
“It’s great to be back and that the fans are back. I hope I have a few more matches here. I still have the 2020 final in mind, “said Zverev. “The year is going very well for me, but it hasn’t changed much. Compared to New York 2020, I’ve only got a year older. ”And more mature.
Photo: BETANCUR/AFP
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/immer-wieder-beelassung-das-arthur-ashe-stadion-in-new-york-f66c91c8839c402baa717e4ff2013bcd-77548010/Bild/3.bild. jpg “/> Always impressive: The Arthur Ashe Stadium in New YorkPhoto: BETANCUR/AFP
Noticeable: The outsider kept up well in the first two sets. But always towards the end of the sentence, when a break was necessary, the Olympic champion pulled on briefly and apparently easily picked up the decisive points.
Thus, the return after eleven months to the place of his first Grand Slam final, which ended so unhappily, was conciliatory. In 2020, the number 4 in the world was just two points short of the final against Dominic Thiem (27 / Austria) to win the tournament.
His next game in New York, namely against Querrey, now also took place in the largest tennis arena in the world, the Arthur Ashe Stadium. 24,000 spectators go in, on Tuesday lunchtime local time it was already very well filled.
Zverev needed a few games to get into the game. But at the best moment, the five-time Masters winner was fully there. With a score of 4: 4, he took his opponent’s serve to zero and then also won his service without any problems: 6: 4.
The second round was similar, only lasted two games longer. This time Zverev made the break at 5: 5, which brought him the preliminary decision. After that, nobody bet a cent on Querrey.
It wouldn’t have been worth it either. Zverev now ran like a knife through the warm butter and only gave two games. After 1:40 an hour, Monegasque by choice converted its fourth match point and met Albert Ramos-Vinolas (33 / Spain) on Thursday.
<img class="photo ondemand zoomable" src="https://bilder.bild.de/fotos-skaliert/froehlich-lacht-alexander-zverev-ins-publikum-in-new-york-steht-er-in-der-2-runde-436d508f8838423797ca689190d0eed0-77549166/1,w=1280,c=0.bild.jpg" width="1280" alt="Fröhlich lacht Alexander Zverev ins Publikum. In New York steht er in der 2. Runde" data-zoom-title="Fröhlich lacht Alexander Zverev ins Publikum. In New York steht er in der 2. Runde
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Alexander Zverev laughs happily into the audience. In New York he is in the 2nd roundPhoto: BETANCUR/AFP
“That was good for the first lap. For a long time I had problems in the first three rounds against players who are not so well known or who are placed further down in the world rankings, ”said Zverev.
Is he already in the form to beat world number one Novak Djokovic (34) in the eventual semifinals like at the Olympics in Tokyo? “Sometimes it’s good to have a difficult first lap right away. But I hope that I will develop further, because to beat Novak at some point, I have to get even better. “
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