Alexander Zverev is one game away from last place at Roland-Garros. Olympic champion Germany needed more than three hours to beat prodigy Carlos Alcaraz (19).
After two sets, most things seemed to be going Zverev’s way, but the excitement was anything but sparked. Alcaraz fought back and worked hard to force the thriller into the fifth set.
It didn’t work. Zverev was cut too strong in the tiebreak and won the quarter-finals 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7). The decision was made after three hours and 21 minutes on the red pebbles in Paris. The German racer cheered with joy when the victory was pocketed.
– I know I have to be the best today, and I’m glad I did. He came back again and again, Zverev said afterwards.
The 25-year-old is ranked third in the world and seeded third at Roland-Garros this year. Alcaraz are three places behind him on the ATP roster, but the Spaniard is still the favorite before Tuesday’s finish.
The teenager has taken the tennis world by storm in recent months.
– Carlos is very talented. “He’s going to win a lot in the future, and I just hope I get a chance to win before he wins,” said an exhausted Zverev.
The win was the first against a top ten player in the context of a Grand Slam.
Zverev is set to advance to the semifinals at Roland-Garros for the second time. He had never reached the final of a tournament.
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