(Football news) Alexander Zverev won 6-7[3] 6-3 6-4 in just over two and a half hours in the Red group, despite Zverev’s defeat in a first-set tiebreaker and his struggles with a foot ailment in the remaining moments of play.
By achieving this, Zverev not only recorded his fourth victory in the pair’s seven meetings, but also condemned Alcaraz to three straight losses—a first for the young Spaniard.
The ATP Finals champions of 2018 and 2021, Alexander Zverev and Pablo Alcaraz, exchanged breaks in a thrilling opening set. The German player then blew four more chances to break his younger opponent, who also blew three more before winning the tiebreaker.
In the second set, Zverev showed off his ace play, breaking the flow of the match to take a 2-0 lead and levelling the score with three first serves. He then took the opening set in the tiebreaker with a break in game five.
Similar to his horrific ankle injury at the French Open last year, Zverev’s slip on the court and subsequent damage to his foot left people in disbelief, but he persevered and earned himself a chance to serve for the match.
To salvage the tie, Alcaraz managed to create one break point, but Zverev’s 16th ace of the match sealed the deal with two more lightning-fast serves, while Alcaraz fired one last worn-out forehand into the net.
The second set was all aces for Zverev, who broke for a 2-0 lead and leveled the match with three first serves on a love hold. He then took the first game of the final with a break.
Similar to his horrific ankle injury at the French Open last year, Zverev’s slip on the court and subsequent damage to his foot left everybody in disbelief, but he persevered and earned himself the opportunity to serve for the match.
In an attempt to preserve the tie, Alcaraz created one break point, but Zverev sealed the deal with his 16th ace of the match before two more lightning-fast serves won the match as Alcaraz’s last, worn-out forehand found its way into the net.
With Zverev’s win, the Red group is now at the top before Monday night’s match between Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, two Russians.
