Alexander Zverev left in the round of 16 of the ATP master in Madrid. Against Francisco Cerúndolo, his balance is now 0: 3.
Alexander Zverev congratulated his new fear opponent fairly on the net and then crept down from the Caja Mágica: the German tennis star experienced a bitter déjà-vu in Madrid and collected a bitter damper nine days after his triumph from Munich.
As in the previous year, Zverev lost in the round of 16 of the ATP master against the Argentine Francisco Cerúndolo, his third title in the Spanish capital after 2018 and 2021 must wait.
After seven victories in series before, the world ranking second missed the quarter-finals of Madrid for the third time in a row by 5: 7, 3: 6, actually Zverev wanted to add the next top result after his 24th ATP title in Munich.
Now Zverev remains in front of the French Open (from May 25th), where he is the best chance of the long-awaited Grand Slam title, only the Masters in Rome as preparation. He is not yet in the form for a title attack in Roland Garros.
Zverev knocks his racket onto the floor
The field in Madrid was open and rare. Industry leader Jannik Sinner (Italy) is missing due to his doping lock, in Rome the dominator returns to the tour. Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) is injured. Grand Slam record champion Novak Djokovic (Serbia) and defending champion Andrej Rublew (Russia) had already left. But even in his hard -won two -round victory against Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Zverev had revealed how fragile his game and his psyche were after he had fought out of a week -long form crisis in Munich. Against Cerúndolo, his balance is now 0: 3.
In a game with a moderate entertainment value, both players initially brought their impact games quite easily until Zverev suddenly wobbled at 5: 6 – and Cerúndolo used his second break and set ball. The Argentinian had already eliminated Zverev this year in the quarter-finals of Buenos Aires, and in the second round the world ranking 21 remained. focused.
As in his second round game against Davidovich Fokina, Zverev struggled with the Hawk Eye, a little later he received the break to 0: 2. After the loss of the game to 1: 4 Zverev smeared his racket onto the floor – he could no longer herald the turn. After 89 minutes, the Argentinian converted his second match ball to victory.