6:4, 7:6 (7:5), 6:7 (3:7), 6:7 (4:7), 2:4 – Zverev is already at his limit, has to go to the bench before serving and takes a sip of water. Then he starts with a serve winner. He then sends Alcaraz well across the field until the Spaniard lands a forehand in the net. Alcaraz counters with a forehand inside-out, shortened again. And follows up with the next crazy blow: Zverev tries to stop on the line – but Alcaraz runs the ball, scrapes it off the line with his last strength and scores with a volley. The audience goes wild, there is a standing ovation. Break chance for Alcaraz – but Zverev defends. Tie. Zverev completes the next long rally with a forehand longline. Serve winner, 4:2.
6:4, 7:6 (7:5), 6:7 (3:7), 6:7 (4:7), 2:3 – There was more in it for Zverev again. In this phase he always knows an answer to what Alcaraz throws at him. A forehand to make it 15:15, then an incredible cross, the audience is amazed. But what’s the point if he lands a forehand in the net? Alcaraz now counters and lets Zverev run from one corner to the other. A forehand makes it 40:30 – and the German counters again. Tie, once again. Forehand longline from Alcaraz, advantage for the Spaniard – and then he is lucky that Zverev manages to get a stop, but fails at the edge of the net.
6:4, 7:6 (7:5), 6:7 (3:7), 6:7 (4:7), 1:3 – What a point. With a service winner, Zverev made it 40-0, but then received a powerful counterattack from Alcaraz with a forehand cross. Then Alcaraz gets into the rally better and forces a forehand out of bounds. It’s about a tie. Zverev has to go over the second serve and brings it strongly into the field – but Alcaraz counters again with a forehand and has the chance for his own break. Zverev still fends off the first one. And counters with a serve winner at over 220 kilometers per hour. But Zverev can’t close the point either. The game lasts over eight minutes. Now he tries at the net – but Alcaraz counters with a forehand that Zverev can only bring back into the net and has another chance to break. Zverev defends with an ace. Tie for the fourth time. Service winner from the German. Then Alcaraz lands a forehand in the net and it’s 3-1 from the German perspective.
