Alexander Zverev showed inconsistent performances at the Australian Open. The round of 16 also went back and forth – with a good outcome.
Alexander Zverev reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in a four-hour thriller. The German tennis ace won after five sets with 7:5, 3:6, 6:3, 4:6 and 7:6 against the Briton Cameron Norrie, fighting back late in the last set. For a long time it looked as if Norrie would be ahead.
But Zverev delivered a strong performance in the tiebreak and converted his first match point to make it 10:3. This means he can continue to dream of the first Grand Slam title of his career. In the next round there is a threat of a duel with superstar Carlos Alcaraz. He will face Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the round of 16.
“It’s always easier for stupid athletes”
In his win against Norrie, Zverev had to struggle with difficult conditions for him, both the cold and the air bothered him. “It was incredibly windy,” said Zverev at Eurosport and added: “But I’m glad that I’m further along.”
Eurosport expert Boris Becker asked the quarter-finalist his recipe for success for the strong performances in the last set. When asked what was going on with Zverev, he said: “Absolutely nothing, pure emptiness. That helps.”
At the same time, the 26-year-old was also in the mood to joke: “I once heard a saying: ‘It’s always easier for stupid athletes.’ You have to turn your head off, think about the next shot, the next point. (…) I’m extremely happy to have won today, but it was also extremely complicated.”
However, Zverev did not experience any physical complaints from the match. He is ready for the quarterfinals.