ATP Finals: Spirited Zverev on course with gritty win | Tennis News – Times of India

Alexander Zverev got on the scoreboard of the Nitto ATP Finals with a gritty win over the battling Argentine Diego Schwartzman, finally giving himself a shot at making the last four at the O2 in London. The towering German, who came through 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in 2 hours and 12 minutes, celebrated with a fist pump.
“I played much better than on Monday,” Zverev, who lost to Russian Daniil Medvedev in his opening match, said. “Diego is a difficult player, he deserves to be here. I’m happy to get a win. I said at the start of the week that I would improve with every match.”
A quick exchange of serves – third and fourth games – marked the start of the Group Tokyo encounters on Wednesday. The 28-year-old broke first while the 23-year-old Zverev returned the favour without much ado. The break back appeared to set the 2018 champion free, he came back with a strong hold and made good the opportunity in the following game. Schwartzman, a debutant in this league, blinked, burying an overhead into the net in the opening point of the game and then sending a routine backhand long at 15-40 to let the world No.7 take a 4-2 lead.
Zverev, with a 27-10 win-loss record for the season, fell behind 15-40 in the ninth game when serving for the set. He was helped by a double fault, but it was a Schwartzman forehand crosscourt winner that gave the Argentine the breakpoints. Zverev responded by upping his game, winning the next four points to close out the set after 39 minutes of play.
Zverev, who was serving speeds of 140mph at will, had to dig deep to hold in the second game of the second set. Schwartzman slipped, falling behind 0-40 in the third game and Zverev piled the pressure from the back of the court. Schwartzman, who came into London having won 15 of 20 matches since a first-round loss at the US Open, broke back in the sixth game to level scores at three-all.
Zverev enjoyed a breakthrough in the majors in 2020, making his first semifinal in Melbourne and then the final at the US Open. The Monte Carlo-based German, who donated $50,000 to bushfire relief in Australia, $10,000 for each of his five wins at the Australian Open, has been hit with allegations on the personal front. His ex-girlfriend Olya Sharypova accused the German star of domestic violence. In a social media post, Zverev called the claims unfounded.
ZVEREV FACTS
The 23-year-old reached his first Grand Slam final at US Open in September, youngest Slam finalist since Novak Djokovic at 2010 US Open.
At Nitto ATP Finals, defeated No. 3 Roger Federer in semis, and avenged group loss to No. 1 Novak Djokovic in title round to win the 2018 season-ending championships.
Beat No. 1 Rafael Nadal en route to 2019 semifinals — first player to defeat Djokovic, Nadal and Federer at Nitto ATP Finals.
Became third player to defeat Big Three at a single tournament (also David Nalbandian at Madrid, Andy Murray at Toronto).