Zverev Injury & Medvedev Help: 2022 Déjà Vu?

Alexander Zverev lived a changing, demanding and intense night in France, where he reached the semifinals of the Paris Masters 1000 by defeating Daniil Medvedev by 2-6, 6-3 y 7-6 (7-5). Vibrant, the match began with a shock due to a fall by the German that set off an alarm, and ended with a high-voltage definition. The victory in just over two and a half hours had all the ingredients to establish itself as one of the great matches of the season on the ATP circuit.

The start was completely adverse for Zverev. Medvedev seemed more precise, looser and better adapted to a court that in the previous days had been the cause of protests from his opponent. “I don’t want to make it seem like I’m the one complaining about this every week. But I think the surface is quite strange here. It is very slow and the ball has very little bite.“, had pointed out the number 3 in the ranking at the press conference after his first victory in the tournament, against the Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli. That discomfort was exposed in the first set between the former Olympic champion and the Russian.

But the most tense moment of that start was not technical, but physical. Zverev lost his balance in an exchange during the opening set, fell and was left prone for a few seconds. The image froze the stadium. Medvedev, number 11 of the world, crossed the field and He was the first to come to assist himin a gesture that reminded that both are involved in a sporting but not personal rivalry.

Zverev had a serious background, which flew over the scene in the minds of those who remember it. In a Roland Garros 2022 semifinal against Rafael Nadal, he sprained his right ankle and also fell. The Spaniard, almost a monopoly in the French Grand Slam competition, had won the first set 7-6, and they were 6-6 in the second. The German left the field in a wheelchair: he had broken seven ligaments, three of which would be operated on. The mishap required months of recovery. Also in Paris this time, but in another event, the outcome was different: Zverev got up without major consequences, still visibly affected. Of course: he lost that set, 6-2.

The reaction was gradual but firm. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion increased the percentage of first serves (60% in total, compared to 78% for Medvedev) and began to execute more aggressive variations, especially with his inverted drive. The Russian, who until then had dominated with authority and coldness, lost some precision. The second set was defined with a break in the sixth game. With 74% of the points won on his first serve, he won the set 6-3 and tied the score.

The third set was a perfect summary of the match: tense, balanced, with long exchanges and minimal margins. At 4-5, Zverev saved two match points before forcing a tie-break. Both tennis players won 11 games with their serve and finished with the same number of points obtained with their serve (59). Zverev was slightly superior in the returns (38 to 34) and, above all, somewhat more opportune in the crucial moments: He converted 4 of the 10 break point opportunities he had (40%), contra 3 of 9 (33%) of his opponent.

The tie-break was the crowning of that great battle. Without unforced errors, with risky plays and long points, the German won 7-5 and celebrated with clenched fists, as if he were getting rid of not only a great rival but also the ghost of that fall at Roland Garros that left him out of competition three years ago. In total, Zverev won 97 points, 4 more than Medvedev, reflecting the parity of the duel.

With this victory, the German was among the four best in the last Masters 1000 of the year. The Italian awaits him in a semi-final Jannik Sinner2nd on the planet, who had defeated the American a few hours earlier Ben Shelton5th, by 6-3 y 6-3 and is still in the race to regain the highest position in the world ranking, which he can take from the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz in this tournament. Sinner vs. Zverev will be revenge for the recent final in Vienna, where the Italian won in three sets. The other semi-final will feature the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime and the Kazakh Alexander Bublikwho eliminated the Monegasque Valentin Vacherot by 6-2 y 6-2 and the Australian Alex de Minaur by 6-7 (5-7), 6-4 y 7-5respectively.

Zverev, who arrived in Paris with the need to score points to secure his place in the ATP Finals (Masters), achieved a valuable victory, loaded with emotion and symbolism. On a surface that makes him uncomfortable, after a fall that could have been serious, he showed his strength and resilience. He achieved not only a triumph: it was an affirmation of himself.