14:56
Čilić – Zverev 6: 4, 2: 4
Zverev has to move a lot again. From the back left corner he hits the ball far and precisely along the line and surprises his opponent. The defending champion keeps his service game!
14:52
Čilić – Zverev 6: 4, 2: 3
Zverev plows the entire field, rushing from one corner to the other. It’s all over at the back right, after many successful return balls there’s nothing more to be done the next time Čilić moves.
14:50
Čilić – Zverev 6: 4, 2: 3
Is that bitter! After a 40-0 lead, Zverev actually gives up the game. In the decisive moments, luck is still not on the side of the hamburger.
14:48
Čilić – Zverev 6: 4, 1: 3
Čilić can stay in the game with a challenge. Then he finds his serve again and equalizes in no time at all!
14:47
Čilić – Zverev 6: 4, 1: 3
A good combination from Zverev’s point of view: Čilić is currently not getting enough pressure behind the serve and makes too many self-inflicted mistakes in the rally. With a score of 40: 0, Zverev has the best chance of the next break point!
14:46
Čilić – Zverev 6: 4, 1: 3
Again, Zverev is invited directly to the edge of the net and has the entire field in front of him. Čilić just looks afterwards.
14:43
Čilić – Zverev 6: 4, 1: 3
The momentum is now back with the native of Hamburg. Čilić can still get a lob right behind the line, but he goes way too far with the arc lamp over Zverev. The points needed to win the game quickly go to the Germans.
14:39
Čilić – Zverev 6: 4, 1: 2
Again, Zverev manages to entangle Čilić in a long rally and then wait for the Croatian to make another mistake. And he’s coming. Sascha gets the break!
14:38
Čilić – Zverev 6: 4, 1: 1
Long rally. Then Zverev gets the ball on the forehand and can practically choose the corner!
14:37
Čilić – Zverev 6: 4, 1: 1
When trying to return, Čilić gets the ball stuck in the racket like a drop shot. The Croatian is currently making too many mistakes, Zverev equalizes.
14:35
Čilić – Zverev 6: 4, 1: 0
Strong backhand response from Zverev with his back to the pitch! Exactly what the hamburger needs right now.
14:33
Čilić – Zverev 6: 4, 1: 0
Despite intensive running work, Zverev can only shovel out praise from Čilić. Of course, the Croatian tries to wear down the defending champion even more with such actions.
14:32
Čilić – Zverev 6: 4, 1: 0
But the Croatian still gets through his game relatively confidently. Now it’s up to Zverev to gain self-confidence with his own serve.
14:31
Čilić – Zverev 6: 4, 0: 0
It’s only due to Čilić’s mistakes that it’s suddenly 30 both here. A break at the start would of course be worth its weight in gold for Zverev.
14:29
Čilić – Zverev 6: 4, 0: 0
Zverev’s head looks lowered, his game is currently not very imaginative. You can clearly see how the loss of the set rankles in Hamburg.
14:27
Čilić – Zverev 6: 4
The set will be decided via video evidence. After the great start, there was no indication at all that Zverev would fall into reserve here.
14:26
Čilić – Zverev 5: 4
Suddenly Čilić unpacks the hammer and hits precisely off the right end of the field. In what may be the decisive game, the Croatian shows his best tennis and gets the set ball.
14:25
Čilić – Zverev 5: 4
Intelligent response from Zverev, who sends Čilić down the left first and then the right. 30 both.
14:22
Čilić – Zverev 5: 4
At such an important moment, Čilić unpacks an amazing backhand cross, saving himself from a tricky situation and giving Zverev no chance to defend himself.
14:20
Čilić – Zverev 5: 4
Pity! Again Zverev wanted to do it too precisely, the ball flicked just over the line. The Croatian lets the ball pass and wins the game. Now Zverev has to keep calm on the serve.
14:19
Čilić – Zverev 4: 4
The rallies are getting longer. Maybe that’s why the concentration decreases, both put quite simple balls into the net.
14:17
Čilić – Zverev 4: 4
Contested ninth game. You can feel that the first movement is slowly moving towards crunch time.
14:14
Čilić – Zverev 4: 4
Čilić is much more minimalist and quickly takes a 30-point lead with easy tennis. Zverev finds an answer with a spectacular side shift, but then he plays a bit too pompous again and thus gives Čilić the first break point. Everything back to the beginning!
14:13
Čilić – Zverev 3: 4
The confidence in Zverev is definitely there to attempt such an arc lamp over Čilić. However, the lifter gets a little too far.
14:09
Čilić – Zverev 3: 4
A shrill whistle echoes through the arena and seems to unsettle both Zverev when he serves and the spectators. Čilić moves the microphone a little to the side, which seems to improve the situation.
14:08
Čilić – Zverev 3: 4
Čilić can fend off the renewed break. But he really had to stretch himself and, among other things, brought an elegant praise over the stitches.
14:06
Čilić – Zverev 2: 4
millimeter decision! Zverev takes on the challenge, the ball really hits the line at the point of contact. The rally must be repeated!
14:05
Čilić – Zverev 2: 4
Especially when the returns come so hard and so placed at the back of the line! Break point for Zverev.
14:03
Čilić – Zverev 2: 4
Even from his own serve, Čilić is now making a lot of inaccuracies, often setting it a tad too far. Zverev has a good chance of the next break.
14:00
Čilić – Zverev 2: 4
Eleven of the last 15 points went to Zverev. From the first serve he gets 94 percent of the balls through, he has already managed four aces. So it’s no wonder that Zverev prevails in his renewed service game in no time!
13:59
Čilić – Zverev 2:3
Čilić gives up the fifth game with a double fault. Zverev gets the first break point!
13:56
Čilić – Zverev 2:2
Zverev finds a great answer with his backhand to a difficult ball near the line and cleverly turns the ball away from his own body. The return would not have been necessary, Čilić’s ball had already crossed the line.
13:55
Čilić – Zverev 2:2
The stands are not particularly full, and the audience is comparatively quiet. Maybe Zverev will do quite well after the defeat in Munich.
13:53
Čilić – Zverev 2:2
With a service winner, Zverev can actually fend off the break point. What a comeback!
13:52
Čilić 2-1 Zverev
With a lot of running work, the defending champion manages to load Čilić into the wrong corner. 40 both!
13:51
Čilić 2-1 Zverev
Don’t lose the thread now! Again Zverev doesn’t get enough taste behind the ball, this time with the backhand. Čilić takes the lead with 40:15.
1:49 p.m
Čilić 2-1 Zverev
The Hamburger wanted too much, his planned flick just over the mesh is set a little too low. 15 both.
1:48 p.m
Čilić 2-1 Zverev
With a hammer hit on the right line, Čilić makes his second service game clear. Nevertheless, Zverev’s start is promising.
13:46
Čilić 1-1 Zverev
Now Zverev is getting better and better at enmeshing Čilić in longer rallies with strong backhand returns. Once the Hamburger starts to praise too long, once the Croatian gets stuck in the net.
13:44
Čilić 1-1 Zverev
Hard and, compared to Čilić, also extremely precise balls ensure that Zverev grabs his first service game in no time at all! He puts the lid on with a service winner in the back center field.
13:43
Čilić 1-0 Zverev
Overall, the first game remains a clear affair in favor of the Croatian, the crossball gives Zverev the only points.
13:41
Čilić 0-0 Zverev
Zverev takes a while to find an answer to the hard serves. Then he manages for the first time to charge Čilić with a cross in a rally.
13:41
Čilić 0-0 Zverev
A few newly arrived spectators with sombreros delay the start of the match a bit. Then Čilić serves and quickly gets the first points.
1:35 p.m
Zverev is there too
Now Alexander Zverev is also entering the clay court. The native of Hamburg seems tense, but of course you can also interpret a lot into the body language given the current situation.
13:32
It will start soon!
At least Marin Čilić can already be spotted in the tunnel. The match takes place in the Estadio Manuel Santana, the more than 12,000 spectator center court.
13:15
Prominent field of participants
Should Zverev survive today’s sixteenth final, the upcoming tasks could be difficult. Novak Djokovic and up-and-coming Carlos Alcaraz have already bought their ticket to the round of 16. Clay court specialist and local hero Rafa Nadal is later.
13:05
Čilić also not at his best
The now 33-year-old Croatian, like Zverev who lives in Monte Carlo, won his opening match yesterday against local hero Albert Ramos with difficulty in three sets and in 2:15 hours. Especially in the first serve, Čilić had problems, only managed 58 percent.
12:59 p.m
defeat in doubles
Yesterday Zverev was already in action with his Brazilian double colleague Marcelo Melo. The two lost to Tommy Paul and Cameron Norrie in three sets. After all, Zverev can concentrate entirely on the individual tournament.
12:54
New coach
Since his father has been limited in time for around six months, Alexander Zverev is now back to an external solution when choosing a coach. The Spaniard Sergi Bruguera was recommended to him by ex-coach David Ferrer and should help to get out of the low form.
12:49 p.m
The search for the form
A week ago, Alexander Zverev experienced one of the biggest lows in his career. In Munich he was defeated by 18-year-old Dane Holger Rune (70th place in the world rankings) in the first match, clearly in two sets with 3:6 and 2:6. Zverev himself then spoke of his worst match in years.
12:43 p.m
Nice afternoon!
Have a nice afternoon and welcome to Alexander Zverev’s opening match at the Madrid Open. As the reigning champion, Sascha can start directly in the second round with a wild card. His opponent is Marin Čilić and he was third in the world rankings. At 1:15 p.m. it should start on the sand court!