Quarterfinals: Big chance missed – Alexander Zverev fails at US Open

Alexander Zverev pulled the headband off his head and went to the net in deep disappointment. The 2021 Olympic tennis champion missed a great chance to win his first Grand Slam title and failed in the quarterfinals of the US Open.

He deservedly lost to Taylor Fritz in a high-class match with 6:7 (2:7), 6:3, 4:6, 6:7 (3:7). This meant that the 27-year-old from Hamburg was unable to take revenge for this year’s round of 16 defeat at Wimbledon against the Americans.

Zverev was too passive in the decisive moments and missed his third semi-final in New York. This means that the 2020 finalist will have to wait a little longer for his first triumph at one of the four major tournaments.

“This is of course a huge disappointment for him,” said tennis icon Boris Becker on Sportdeutschland.tv: “I didn’t have the feeling in the fourth set that he still really believed in himself.” Becker’s sobering conclusion was: “Fritz was the better player.”

Fritz in the semifinals for the first time

Fritz nervously transformed in front of the enthusiastic US fans in Arthur Ashe Stadium after 3 hours and 26 minutes of his first match point. The 26-year-old is in the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time and will now face the winner of the party between fellow US player Frances Tiafoe and Grigor Dimitrov from Bulgaria.

Zverev would have been the first male German tennis professional after Boris Becker in 1991 to reach three Grand Slam semifinals in one season. At the Australian Open, he failed in the round of the best four, and in the French Open final, he was unable to fulfill his dream of winning the title against Carlos Alcaraz from Spain.

Now the opportunity has not been this great for a long time. Zverev would have avoided the absolute top favorites until the final, while defending champion Novak Djokovic from Serbia and Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz failed early on.

Defeat like at Wimbledon

At the grass court classic at Wimbledon, Zverev lost to Fritz after leading by two sets, but was held back by a knee injury. “We’ve had some great matches against each other this year. “I have to show my best tennis today,” said Zverev in the catacombs of the arena shortly before entering the largest tennis stadium in the world. “The energy here is incredible. Everyone enjoys playing on such a big stage.”

When the match began shortly before 2 p.m., the court was still completely in the sun, the mood in the stands was still subdued, both players had to find their way into the party. After winning his first spectacular point, Zverev raised his index finger.

Fritz with aggressive tactics

Fritz followed a clear tactical plan. The Californian attacked early on Zverev’s serve, stood close to the baseline and tried to apply pressure immediately. But the Hamburg player remained confident on his serve for a long time – until he had three set points against him at 5:6. With seven strong first serves in the series, Zverev saved himself in the tie-break.

However, Fritz did not let the missed opportunities throw him off track and won the set with six points in a row. Zverev repeatedly hit the strings of his racket and seemed dissatisfied with the stringing.

In the stands, Fritz’s girlfriend Morgan Riddle jumped up in celebration. After the Wimbledon defeat, Zverev complained that some people in the American’s box had behaved a bit excessively and inappropriately.

Zverev celebrates in Bellingham style

The world number four fought his way back into the game emotionally. Zverev was celebrated by the enthusiastic crowd with his arms outstretched in the style of English football star Jude Bellingham for an outstanding passing shot. With his first break point of the whole match, he took Fritz’s serve to make it 5:3 and tied the set after 1:37 hours.

Zverev’s start in the third set was a failure. He was quickly 0:3 behind, but came back. When the 1.98 meter tall dog goes on the offensive and goes to the net, he usually wins the point. But when the score was 4:5, Zverev wobbled again. He was able to fend off four set balls – Fritz took advantage of number five.

The fourth round remained exciting for a long time – again the tie-break had to decide. Here, as in the first set, Fritz kept his nerve and was able to celebrate.