Alexander Zverev has never been in the final of the Australian Open. Now he moved into the final against the record winner – because the opponent suddenly went off.
Tennis star Alexander Zverev played in the semi-final showdown against record champion Novak Djokovic for his first final at the Australian Open. The 27-year-old Hamburger made it into the final because the 37-year-old Serbe had to give up.
After the last ball change in the Tiebreak, which Zverev won, Djokovic goes to the referee chair. He speaks briefly to the impartial, then he shares Zverev. The spectators are still on the seats because they are so enthusiastic about what the two players showed here in the first round. Only then does the audience realize what is happening. Djokovic gives up.
There is be amazing on the Center Court in the Rod Laver-Arena. Djokovic grabs his bag and disappears towards the player tunnel, flare up from the ranks. The biggest tennis player of all time is whistled here. Then Jim Courier comes to the pitch and starts the mandatory post-match interview with Zverev. The German is aimed at the audience.
“Please,” says Zverev to the tennis fans in Melbourne, “I am not boosing a player who has just given up. He is convinced that Djokovic could no longer continue playing.” I have already seen him win tournaments with all possible injuries. Novak is no one who just gives up. He did so much for tennis, please give him the respect he deserves. “
After a very strong tiebreak, Zverev wins the tiebreak and gets the first set. Then the Serb suddenly gives up. The spectators are shocked. It is boowed. They actually boo Djokovic. The Center Court is head. Djokovic waves into the audience and makes a good face a bad game. Then he disappears into the player tunnel. What a sad finish.
He withstands the pressure! Now it goes into the tiebreak. Wow, that’s exciting. And we are only here in the first sentence. However, 1:12 hours are already played. We are still waiting a little with the superlatives, but not long. Because this duel is already a spectacle. At least.
Again the Serb shows annoying, again it wobbles, and again Zverev cannot use his counterpart’s weak phase. Djokovic brings this very important game. Now Zverev is under pressure. He has to win to get into the tiebreak.
“Sascha” is 1.98 meters, Djokovic 1.88 meters. The Hamburger uses the larger lever for its monster surcharge. In this game, Djokovic can only with difficulty return the massive information from the German. And more unnecessary mistakes sneak up with him too. By the way, his left leg is bandaged. What injury is there?
After the quarter -finals against Carlos Alcaraz, the champion didn’t want to talk about it. “I prefer not to reveal that, I’m still in the tournament,” he said. Alcaraz suspected afterwards that Djokovic could only have bluffed; He may not be hurt at all.
Slowly it becomes a habit in this match. “Sascha” leaves the big points. He awards break chance through the game that is too tentative, he lets Djokovic come back and then offers him the opportunity to land a winner himself. That was now the third game in which Djokovic can only turn off a preliminary deficit. The Serbian fans go through properly when their compatriot fetches the game here with an ace. Your worry lines are still greater. At some point this Vabanque of the Serbs may not work well. But Zverev would have to be braver with his own breakball.
Not that this game would have too few impressive rallies. But what is most impressive is Zverev’s service. In contrast, hardly a herb has grown. Not even for Djokovic. The German increases to seven aces after not even eight games. Impressive. For the Serbian series winner, this is a challenge for which he has not yet found a real solution.
It is really hard to believe what the two tennis stars show here. Zverev turns up very big in this game, he sends Djokovic into the wrong corner again and again and counters with incredibly well -timed crossballs. In the crucial moments, however, he lacks the last bit of luck. Djokovic brings his own service game despite problems. There is still nothing to be seen of physical problems here, with the 24-time Grand Slam winner.