Liberation in Paris: Exactly one year after his severe ankle injury, Alexander Zverev passed the matriculation examination at the French Open and reached the round of 16.
Against world number twelfth Frances Tiafoe from the USA, the Olympic tennis champion won on Saturday evening after a strong performance 3: 6, 7: 6 (7: 3), 6: 1, 7: 6 (7: 5) – and moved in for the sixth time Join the round of the top 16 in Roland Garros.
The hoped-for German duel with Daniel Altmaier does not happen there. The 24-year-old had to pay tribute to his victory in the marathon match against the Italian top player Jannik Sinner and lost exhausted and completely without a chance 4: 6, 3: 6, 1: 6 against the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrow – Zverev’s upcoming opponent in the round of 16.
After his long period of suffering following the injury and the bumpy preparation for the clay court Grand Slam, the 26-year-old seems to have found his form at the right time. Against Tiafoe, Zverev also played convincingly in large parts of the game.
Altmaier had previously missed the next surprise after his victory over Sinner. In 2020 he made it to the round of 16 in Paris – but this time he was noticeably lacking in strength against the experienced Dimitrov.