Before playing his second round match at the US Open against Novak Djokovic, Bernabe Zapata he had made a more than accurate diagnosis of his rival. “It’s a machine”. Two hours after meeting the Serbian for the first time, the Valencian and the spectators once again ratified his words. Nole has crushed all of Zapata’s attempts to stand up and respond to the tennis of the owner of 23 grands, and they have been numerous. Yel from Belgrade the one that is already in third roundwhere his compatriot will be measured Laslo Djere, 38 in the world.
Zapata came out with strength and desire and blows. In fact, he had very early on his racket two opportunities to steal his serve in the second game. But Against a champion like Nole, opportunities are useless if they are not taken advantage of. And Djokovic seems to have an answer for everything, give everything back, get to everything. They have.
After the most even duel in the first set, the Serbian stepped up the accelerator to the 6-4, 6-1 y 6-1 final, leaving the 26-year-old Valencian once again without having tasted a victory against a top 10 player in his career.
“I move well for an old man”
at the foot of the track Djokovicwhat seeks his fourth title in New York and the historic big number 24 that would match Margaret Court, assured that still feels like he can play better in this tournament. And he remembered what he keeps saying every day: At 36, he still has “hunger, the desire” to play his best tennis.
When they also asked him if today’s Nole would beat 10 years ago, he replied that he does not want to play with himself, although he also explained that he is the one he plays the most against in each match. He reflected on what has changed, assuring that he has more energyand ability to preserve it, which understands what to do and whenwhatknow focus more on the present. And maybe, he said, it was more explosive then, but this version still holds its own. “I still move well for an old geezerhe joked.
From his potential route to the final has disappeared what could have been one of his biggest challenges, Stefanos Tsitsipas, seeded seventh in New York, which unnecessarily complicated again and fell in four hours and five sets against the Swiss Dominic Stricker, 128 in the world.
Also they have said goodbye of this Open two Spanish players who had given two great blows in the first round. Rebeka Masarovawho got off Maria Sakkari on Monday, this Wednesday lost in straight sets to Slovak Anna Karolina Schmiedlova y Sarah Torribes was defeated in three sets by the Chinese Xinyu Wang (5-7, 6-3 and 6-4).
2023-08-30 20:19:27
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