Furious Zverev in the quarterfinals of the US Open

Alexander Zverev is in the quarterfinals of New York. He still needs three wins to fulfill his dream.

Alexander Zverev strolled from interview to interview in flip-flops, the German tennis star was in a great mood after his confident quarter-final appearance at the US Open. Working with his father and brother? “Simply terrible,” Zverev joked when asked in Flushing Meadows, before adding: “It’s working very well. I’m number four in the world, so it’s OK.”

And that’s not all. Since Sunday he has been among the top eight in New York again, for the fourth time in a row. The dream of his longed-for first Grand Slam title is becoming more and more realistic.

“I’m happy with the level of my tennis,” said Zverev after his furious 3:6, 6:1, 6:2, 6:2 victory against the overwhelmed American Brandon Nakashima in the round of 16. It was his 450th victory on the ATP Tour.

But he still needs a victory in a Grand Slam final, and Zverev has been chasing this goal for years. After the elimination of top favorites Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, the time seems to be right in his 35th attempt. He still needs three wins to triumph – but the Tokyo Olympic champion doesn’t want to think that far ahead. “I have Taylor Fritz next. That’s the only thing that interests me.”

And Zverev still has a score to settle with the American. Around two months ago, he was knocked out of the Wimbledon round of 16 by the world number 12. “We are in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament. I think there will be no more easy games from now on,” said Zverev, who is hoping for “good entertainment” against Fritz on Tuesday.

He had already offered the spectators in the Louis Armstrong Stadium that on Sunday. Against Nakashima he once again got off to a bad start, but improved massively in the fourth set despite some annoying (giant) flies and a slight twisting of his right foot. But “everything is fine” with his foot, said Zverev after the party.

Tennis: Boris Becker beats Alexander Zverev

Given the form of the last three sets, with which Zverev was “very satisfied”, he is difficult to beat in New York. Legend Boris Becker, as an expert for Sportdeutschland.TV, also saw “tennis at the highest level” from Zverev.

In New York in 2020, he was only two points away from triumph before suffering one of the bitterest defeats of his career against Dominic Thiem. “I am still very motivated. I will still make my dreams come true,” Zverev stressed on Sunday after his 56th victory this season. No one else on the tour has more to show for it. After the US Open, he will return to at least the top three in the world rankings, and he has already safely qualified for the ATP Finals of the best eight tennis professionals of the season in Turin in mid-November.

He now expects a “tough” fight against Fritz and hopes for a “different outcome” than at the grass court classic in Wimbledon at the beginning of July. On Tuesday he is again counting on – how could it be otherwise – the “terrible” support of his coach and father Alexander Senior and his brother Mischa.