With his partner Marcelo Melo, he lost the quarter-final match 6:7 (5:7), 6:4 and 9:11 against Ivan Dodig/Austin Krajicek and therefore had to bury his dream of a possible double success in the Chinese capital.
In the match tiebreak, Melo and Zverev left two match points at 7:9 before they had to accept defeat a short time later.
The game was influenced by the harsh criticism that Zverev expressed after his tough three-set win against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. “I don’t know if that always has to be the case. It’s difficult to play until early in the morning,” he said, referring to the late scheduling of the game.
At the time of his words the clock read 2:35. “All I know is that I’m very tired now and feel a bit under the weather,” complained the 26-year-old.
Not a good prerequisite for the quarter-finals against the strong Chilean Nicolas Jarry on Monday. A week after his tournament victory in Chengdu, a lot is coming together for Zverev in the hunt for his 22nd ATP title: In his first round match against Diego Schwartzman, his stomach rebelled, the Hamburg resident had to vomit and still fought on – that followed two days later the sleepless night.
It was not certain “whether that was the right decision,” said Zverev after the round of 16. “We should have played on a different court and not waited until midnight to start the match.”
The organizer had obviously previously had a different opinion and insisted on scheduling the event in the largest stadium, the “Diamond Court”. A questionable decision, even when looking at the stands. When Zverev let the audience “celebrate” his victory, only a few dozen spectators could be seen in the stands and presented a sad sight.
At least his double took place earlier. His game was over shortly before 8 p.m. local time. So the tenth in the world rankings can get some rest for his match on Monday.
The showdown with Jarry is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. local time. The ailing Zverev wants to win there despite all odds, because a prestigious duel with long-term rival Daniil Medvedev awaits in the semi-finals.
Mit-Sport Information Service (SID)
2023-10-01 17:18:50
#Tennis #Zverev #rumbles #defeat
