Melbourne (AP) – Olympic champion Alexander Zverev was eliminated after a mysterious appearance in the round of 16 of the Australian Open and had to abruptly bury all his title hopes.
In a strange tennis match with numerous inexplicable mistakes, the German number one lost 3: 6, 6: 7 (5: 7), 3: 6 to Canadian Denis Shapovalov in Melbourne. Out of anger, Zverev chopped up a racket, but it didn’t turn the tide. Also the world number 14. Shapovalov showed fluctuations, but Zverev could not use this for himself.
Zverev did not live up to his claims of achieving a Grand Slam triumph this year in Australia. Because the Serbian world number one and record champion Novak Djokovic was not allowed to compete due to his canceled visa, Zverev’s chances had increased – even if the Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal would have been waiting in the quarterfinals.
Too many mistakes at Zverev
But the third in the world rankings lacked the usual security with the basic strokes against Shapovalov. There was no sign of the self-confidence that had characterized him in the final months of last season after his gold medal in Tokyo.
In his first match, which started in hot Melbourne in the afternoon, Zvervev played incorrectly and seemed sluggish. He conceded the break to make it 1:3 and fell behind 1:4. During the change of sides, he put a cooling ice towel over his shoulders. The 3:6 meant losing the first set in the tournament. The Hamburger had won all three previous games in three sets.
Zverev started the second set with a superfluous forehand mistake and a double fault. Immediately he had two breakballs against him again. When he had fended them off, he let himself breathe with a loud “Come on”. Almost a little as if he had to make it clear that it was about entering a Grand Slam quarterfinals. But: The next double fault and the next loss of service followed.
Frustrated Zverev smashes racket
Zverev hacked his racket three times on the ground, made him unfit to play and received a warning. The outburst of anger seemed only a matter of time. But it didn’t get any better: Zverev made wrong decisions in the rally, he didn’t hit some balls correctly and acted too passively.
Symbolic: When he himself had a break chance to make it 2:2, he hit the return with the racket frame. The ball landed on the upper rows of spectators. Zverev then used the next break chance. But the fact that he stayed in the game was more due to Shapovalov’s lack of consistency. Zverev lost a 5: 3 lead in the second set. The number three in the world kept looking questioningly at his team.
The loss of the second set is also characteristic of the uncertain performance: left-hander Shapovalov made a double mistake on his first set ball. But instead of equalizing with his own serve to make it 6: 6, Zverev came up with a completely unsuccessful frame ball.
“He gave the opponent time and too much space,” said Eurosport expert Boris Becker about the tie-break: “He has to put more pressure on.” But the third set also began with a quick loss of serve. The ATP Finals winner has never defeated a top ten player in a Grand Slam tournament. This Sunday in Melbourne it was not enough for number 14 in the world either.