Tennis – Confident in the quarterfinals: Zverev on course at the US Open – Sport

New York (dpa) – Amid cheers from fans, Alexander Zverev spoke about his big dream of winning his first Grand Slam title after confidently reaching the quarterfinals at the US Open. For the fourth time in a row, the 2021 Olympic tennis champion has reached the round of the best eight at the US Open. He defeated American Brandon Nakashima 3:6, 6:1, 6:2, 6:2.

With temperatures of 28 degrees and high humidity, Zverev only had problems in the first set of the round of 16 against the underdog. After 2 hours and 36 minutes, he converted his first match point and celebrated his 450th victory on the ATP Tour.

“I was very defensive at the beginning of the match. “I’m very happy that I’m through,” said Zverev – and hopes for three more victories in New York. “I’m doing everything I can.” I’m giving it my all, hopefully that’s the point in my career.”

At 3-1 in the fourth set, Zverev had a moment of shock when he sprained his right foot and limped for a short time. However, he won the match without any permanent, visible impairment.

In the quarterfinals again against US professional Fritz

Zverev will win his first Grand Slam title in New York, with Serbian Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz from Spain already eliminated as major rivals. After the US Open, he will return to at least the top three in the world rankings.

“He didn’t let himself get upset after losing the first set.” “What he celebrated in the third and fourth sets is something I haven’t seen from him for a long time,” said legend Boris Becker as an expert on Sportdeutschland.TV about Zverev’s performance against Nakashima. “That was tennis at the highest level.”

The 27-year-old from Hamburg will now face US professional Taylor Fritz, who he lost to in the Wimbledon round of 16 this season. The American defeated the eighth-seeded Norwegian Casper Ruud 3:6, 6:4, 6:3, 6:2 and reached the quarterfinals in New York for the second time.

Zverev has won five of nine duels with Fritz – but the American won the last one so far. At Wimbledon, Fritz came from two sets behind to win. “It’s always back and forth between us,” the 26-year-old said of his sporting rivalry with Zverev. “We play close matches. It can go either way. A lot depends on the serve.”

Strong serve from Zverev

In the round of 16, Zverev’s service was going well; the 1.98 meter tall giant started with confident service games. It was only when the score was 3:4 that he suddenly wobbled – and after several backhands into the net and a double fault, he promptly conceded the first break. Zverev cursed at his fans in the stands.

The audience was jolted out of the summery lethargy of the opening phase, cheering on the US professional again and again with loud shouts of “Let’s go, Brandon”. After 45 minutes, Nakashima celebrated winning the first set and fired up the fans even more.

At the beginning of the second set, Zverev played through his own legs once, much to the delight of the spectators, but otherwise the game remained at a manageable level with numerous errors. The German number one took advantage of a sly backhand from his opponent to score the ninth break point to make it 2-0.

Nakashima overwhelmed after the first set

Nakashima clearly lost momentum, and Zverev became more and more confident, as he had in the third round against the Argentinian Tomás Martin Etcheverry after losing the first set. He pulled away confidently, repeatedly countering his opponent’s attacks with precise passing shots.

After winning the second set, he went to get a new pair of shoes from his father and coach Alexander Zverev Senior, very sweaty. Having just changed, he always thought it was better. Nakashima could no longer find a way to counter Zverev’s powerful baseline play.

At the beginning of the fourth set, the 23-year-old American briefly rose up again, but with the break to 1:2, all resistance was broken. Zverev played his game with great self-confidence and was able to celebrate.

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