Alexander Zverev is in the quarterfinals of the US Open. In a five-set thriller, the top German player defeated Jannik Sinner from South Tyrol, who was also suffering from physical problems.
In a game that went back and forth, the last remaining German in the field prevailed 6: 4, 3: 6, 6: 2, 4: 6 and 6: 3 after 4:40 hours and is now demanding the defending champion Carlos Alcaraz out.
2020 finalist Zverev made his mark with a hard-fought win over the Wimbledon semi-finalists and celebrated his second win at a Major against a top-ten opponent (13 losses). He reached his tenth quarterfinals at a Grand Slam tournament, catching up with Michael Stich. As the best German, Boris Becker reached the round of the last eight 23 times at the four most important tournaments in Melbourne, Paris, Wimbledon and New York.
A dramatic match developed against Sinner from the third set at the latest. Sinner had thigh problems, but he came back and Zverev felt the effects of the intense games more and more as a result. The German top player made the decisive turn in the fifth set, but had to muster a lot of strength before the big challenge against world number one Alcaraz.
Zverev: Severe derailment of spectators
There was excitement in the middle of the fourth sentence when Zverev reported a severe verbal lapse by a spectator. “He said the most famous Hitler sentence”said the 26-year-old, pointing towards the stands. “It’s unacceptable, it’s unbelievable.”
Referee James Keothavong had the man identified in the lower tier of Arthur Ashe Stadium during the ensuing break, with other spectators pointing in his direction. When the score was 6: 4, 3: 6, 6: 2, 3: 2, the spectators left the stands accompanied by security forces.