US Open of tennis professionals: Six match balls: Zverev creates the next step

After the next dissolved mandatory task at the US Open, Alexander Zverev grazed his headband, smiled relieved and shared his dream of the first Grand Slam title with the audience. With 6: 4, 6: 4, 6: 4, the tennis Olympic champion won against the British Jacob Fearnley. For the seventh time in series, Zverev moved into the third round at the final Grand Slam tournament of the year.

What he thought of when people talk about the big two, Zverev was asked in the winner’s face in allusion to the top favorites Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. “It’s okay to be honest. You deserve every recognition,” said 28 -year -old Hamburg. He underlined: “I am here to spoil the party.”

Only the sixth match ball brings the decision

Until then, however, there is still a very further way before Zverev. Against the world ranking 60. Fearnley was still missing a lot about his top form – and at the end Zverev wiggled again. The US Open finalist from 2020 already led 5: 1 in the third set, but let the British come again and only rackled to victory with the sixth match ball. “He started playing incredible tennis,” Zverev praised his opponent. “He made it interesting in the end.”

Saturday is about the round of 16

Zverev followed Jan-Lennard Struff in the round of the best 32nd. The Sauerländer is challenged against the American crowd favorite Frances Tiafoe on Friday (not before 9:00 p.m. MESZ/Sky and Sporteurope.TV). It was only on Saturday that Zverev is in the fight for the round of 16 against the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliasseime or the Russian professional Roman Safiullin.

Two matches, no sentence loss: Zverev went into the third duel with Fearnley with a balance sheet without flawing. Unlike at the start of this year’s US Open against Alejandro Tabilo, Zverev did not compete against the British in the largest stadium, but in the second largest stadium in the tennis facility, the Louis Armstrong Stadium. Zverev immediately presented and took the survival to the outsider in the first game.

Zverev with lack of concentration

The 24 -year -old Fearnley was not a opponent that could seriously endanger him. But with lack of concentration, Zverev got himself into difficulties. So the world ranking in third missed it to pull more of it. At 5: 3, Zverev showed his class with a tailor -made passport ball from the run and secured the first two set balls. But he did not use any of the two chances. Only with his own service did he get the first round.

Zverev gives Break back in set two

The second section started like the first – with a break for Zverev. But the German number one had a new phase of weakness, with a double error he also gave his own serve a little later. A 2: 0 became a 2: 3. Fearnley had already been treated in the middle of the first set, but now seemed a little better in the game.

In the changeable course of the second set, Zverev took the world ranking 60. However, the momentum quickly. With a next break to 4: 3, he paved the way to the second set win.

Zverev was not satisfied with himself, partially struggled towards his box. The third section quickly seemed to develop into a clear matter. But with his back to the wall, Fearnley once again fought against the defeat. At 5: 1 Zverev missed the first match ball – and was only allowed to cheer after 2:28 hours.

Siegemund with the best US Open result in nine years

For the first time since 2016, the Swabian tennis player Laura Siegemund has also been in the third round. Despite a bandaged thigh and a muscle injury that has not yet been healed according to her, the 37-year-old asserted herself 6: 4, 6-2 against the Russian Anastassija Sacharova. As the last remaining German participant in the women’s singles, she has the chance of the round of 16 against the Russian Jekaterina Alexandrowa.