French Open: Opponents put on: Zverev in Paris in the quarter -finals

After his short assignment in the round of 16 of the French Open, Alexander Zverev moved to the training ground. On Court 10 in Stade Roland Garros, Germany’s best tennis player beat some balls instead of fighting as planned in the second largest stadium of the complex against the Dutch Tallon Griekspoor to move into the quarter -finals.

The duel with Griekspoor only lasted 51 minutes. Then Zverev reached the quarter -finals because his opponent had to give up at 6: 4, 3: 0 from the perspective of German because of a abdominal muscle injury. Last year in Paris, Zverev was on the end against the Dutch and only continued in the tie -break of the fifth set.

Zverev could now be a duel with a record grand slam champion Novak Djokovic. The Serb meets the British Cameron Norrie today in its round of 16. For Zverev it is the fifth Paris quarter-finals in series.

“It happened this morning when it was imported,” said Griekspoor disappointed. “I tried it because it was one of the most important matches of my career on one of the most beautiful courts against a player who actually suits me,” said Griekspoor.

But it quickly became clear that the Dutch was not competitive and opened more and more slowly. “It is difficult to win against him when I’m fit. If not, it makes no sense, he is too good for that.”

Becker has pity with Griekspoor

Tennis legend Boris Becker showed compassion with the Dutch. “This is a very difficult injury because you need the abdominal muscles at every blow. I hope that he will soon get well again,” said Becker as an expert at Eurosport. That Zverev continued in this way was that way. “He doesn’t care now. He was not tested today and now has a longer afternoon.”

In the second largest stadium of the complex on the Court Suzanne Lenglen, Zverev only initially had a few problems. The 28-year-old got off to a weak start and immediately gave up his first service game. Zverev was exposed early by the Dutch with a few stops, worked dissatisfied and struggled with his team on the stands.

Zverev swallows fly

But then the world ranking in third place found its focus and made up for the early 0: 3 again. Griekspoor repeatedly reached the abdominal muscle during the breaks. A large pavement became visible during jersey replacement.

Zverev could not be stopped by a little shock. At 2: 3, 15:15, the native of Hamburg swallowed a fly and got a small coughing fit. Zverev had to stop his service and run to his chair to drink a sip of water.

Then returned to the pitch and hit an ace. “It doesn’t taste so good, but it should maybe make it more often if an ace comes afterwards,” said Becker during the live broadcast.

Fast end in the second set

After around 40 minutes, Zverev got the first set. In the second section, Zverev quickly moved to 3-0, then Griekspoor on Zverev entered the quarter -finals at a hurry. The German number one wrote a few more autographs, and he refrained from respecting his injured opponent on the usual winner interview on the court.