The moment of shock is followed by triumph
Stand: 04.06.2023
Alexander Zverev on the ground. But this time it went further for the German
Quelle: Getty Images/Clive Mason
A year ago, Alexander Zverev was seriously injured at the French Open. Now he slips in almost the same place on the third lap. But he survives the match. The German only criticizes the late start.
Alexander Zverev roared his joy with his mouth wide open. In a night shift, the tennis Olympic champion fought his way into the round of 16 at the French Open. The 26-year-old defeated the American Frances Tiafoe after a weak start in 3:41 hours 3: 6, 7: 6 (6: 3), 6: 1, 7: 6 (7: 5). Zverev only converted the match ball 18 minutes after midnight, the game had started on the same pitch on the anniversary of his serious injury. He is in the top 16 for the sixth time in a row at the classic clay court in Paris and now meets Grigor Dimitrov.
The world number 29. from Bulgaria easily defeated Daniel Altmaier 6: 4, 6: 3, 6: 1 and thus prevented a German round of 16 duel. The 24-year-old Altmaier could not build on his outstanding performance in the five-set crime thriller victory in more than five hours against the Italian title contender Jannik Sinner.
For the second time in a row, Zverev was allowed to work in the largest stadium of the Stade Roland Garros in the evening – and had to survive a moment of shock on the accident site. Almost exactly where he injured his ankle in the semifinals against Rafael Nadal exactly a year ago, he slipped in the third set. However, Zverev quickly got back up and shook off the sand.
“It was the hardest year of my life, I love tennis more than anything in life. I don’t play the sport for the money, not for the fame or anything else,” Zverev said in an emotional on-pitch victory speech. “When they took that away from me, it was very difficult. I’m very happy to be back.”
“It’s not so healthy anymore,” says Zverev
At the beginning, Zverev made far too many simple mistakes and was also passed several times by the American during the network attack. With a double fault, Zverev gave up the first set after just 38 minutes. Right at the start of the second round, he took his opponent’s serve for the first time, cheered on the crowd and held his finger to his ear.
After the match point, Zverev and Tiafoe hug
Which: AFP/THOMAS SAMSON
But Tiafoe also relied on emotions. After the re-break, the 25-year-old shook his shoulders and was celebrated. But Zverev remained stable and secured the sentence with nerves of steel. In the first game of the third round, which lasted more than ten minutes, the former world number two gave up his serve again, but won the next six games in a row.
In the fourth set, the master fireworks from Paris Saint-Germain resounded from the Prinzenpark, only 800 meters away, to the Court Philippe-Chatrier – there the spectators in the stands celebrated with the wave. Zverev was already 3: 5 behind, but came back again – and again made the victory perfect in the tie-break.
“If we play five sets, it can go until two in the morning,” Zverev later criticized the late start: “Somewhere it’s not as healthy for the player who wins the match and then the next day as it is now have to play again. I think it’s better to let the women play in the night sessions because they play a maximum of three sets. If you play four or five sets, you’re still here after midnight, then you go to bed at four or five in the morning.” Of the seven night sessions at this tournament so far, only one has been scheduled for players.
