Alexander Zverev stands at the ATP tournament in Munich after a effort against the Dutch Tallon Griekspoor in the semi-finals. The 27-year-old, who wants to win in Munich for the third time, competes there as a tower-high favorite.
After two hours and 40 minutes, Alexander Zverev was back in Munich with his back to the wall – or rather: he was lying in the sand with his back. The tennis player Zverev stood one leg on the way to the ball on the net and was a flight. So should that be a small scene from a long match that stands for more?
At the ATP tournament, which the best German tennis player actually likes to visit, it has not wanted to run for him since 2018, when he won for the last time so far. This year he wanted to fight for the tournament victory again – and the appearance of the 27 -year -old gave hope. He marched through the first rounds much more carefree than in past few years, showed himself confidently and safely moved into the quarter -finals. There was a difficult task in the Dutch Tallon Griekspoor, which Zverev only mastered after a more than three -hour effort and a 6: 7 (6), 7: 6 (3), 6: 4. So the small scene did not stand for bigger things this time.
Decker throw: Griekspoor brings Zverev to despair
But the number 37 made life difficult, played almost flawlessly, first robbed him of the fun and then the patience. Zverev scolded, Zverev shook his head, Zverev threw his racket. The Hamburger missed both break chances in the first set and so it went into the tie break. After an hour and eleven minutes, a ball of the Dutch danced over the net edge and decided to fall on the Zverev side, brought him out of rhythm and finally the first decision: 1-0 after sentences for Griekspoor.
At the last moment: Zverev finds its rhythm
The next neck hit followed. Zverev made the first service game. Griekspoor quickly increased to 2-0 in the second set and number three in the world put their heads hanging. There was little pointing that Zverev would create the turn. The 27 -year -old scolded, threw his thug again and could not be dangerous to the Dutch when it was served – until suddenly at the booth of 4: 5 of the knot burst: Zverev played aggressively and Griekspoor made mistakes. The German got the break, tore his fists into the air and even got a standing ovation from the audience – and won his next serve game without losing points.
In the tiebreak, however, the course threatened to repeat the first sentence. The rebreak immediately followed on a first mini break. But Zverev was now better in the game. This time a second mini break followed the next mini break – and so he was finally able to look forward to the first set win after over two hours of play. It went into the decisive third sentence.
Zverev remains cool – and defeats personal curse
And there, too, Griekspoor also played more powerfully and more varied. He already had three break balls in Zverev’s second service game – and then one more. But Zverev stayed tuned, could not be stopped by the slips mentioned at the beginning and brought his game to 2-2. Before he later kept his nerve in the often so important seventh game and buttoned off the Dutch. The break was the crucial step: after three hours and 15 minutes, the Hamburg -born ended the game on his own serve and moved into the semi -finals. There he is the tower-high favorite in the duel with Fabian Marozsan (world ranking 77th) or Zizou Bergs (50th).
With Griekspoor, Zverev also defeated his very personal quarter-final curse. Because in the past few months after the final defeat at the Australian Open, the 27-year-old searched for his form, and did not get out of the last eight in all six tournament participation. Until the leaf at its feel -good location in Munich turned and Zverev could defeat his fear opponent.
Cerúndulo underlines favorite role
In the first match of the day, the Argentinian Francisco Cerúndulo continued his success in Munich. The number 22 in the world rankings had shot 6-0 and 6: 2 out of the tournament in the first round of last year’s winner Jan-Lennard Struff. In the second round, Alexander Schewchenko had no chance (3: 6, 2: 6) – and now the Belgian David Goffin (6: 2, 6: 4).
Shelton is getting better and better into the tournament
There Cerúndolo meets another favorite: Ben Shelton. The 22-year-old American went to the Munich ATP tournament as number two in the world. Shelton had to fight significantly more in this tournament than the coming adversary Cerúndulo. Especially in the first round, the Croatian Borna Gojo made it surprisingly difficult for him. After losing a set, he had to tremble twice through Tiebreak.
Now in the quarter -finals, Shelton performed much more relaxed and more confident at the same time. The 22-year-old allowed only one break, Luciano Darderi kept to despair and can hope for his third victory on the ATP tour.
