Zverev also played in his third appearance Melbourne often dissatisfied with his game. After a strong start, he got into dicey situations several times in the second set. He had to fend off five breakballs – but also showed his mental strength: Every time things got tight, the tennis Olympic champion was able to refocus and survived the weak phases unscathed – for example in the second set, when he was able to fend off three breakballs in a row .
However, he remained a long way from his best tennis. “I haven’t felt perfect – but who is perfect? In the end I won and I’m happy about it“Zverev said after the win in an interview on the pitch.
Zverev now against Shapovalov
The biggest challenge so far awaits the 24-year-old in the round of 16, when he meets the young star who is 14th Denis Shapovalov. In the six duels with the 22-year-old Canadian so far, Zverev has won four times.
“I think hopefully I won’t play worse than today in the tournament“, said the best German tennis player at “Eurosport” with a view to the next task – and went back to the court for a short training session after his match.
For the first time at this year’s edition of the tournament, Zverev was not for them Rod-Laver-Arena, the largest stadium in Melbourne Park and not scheduled for the night session. But when he started early in the evening, also due to the longer games in front of him, the place was in the John-Cain-Arena in the shade.
Albot, number 124 in the world rankings, had Zverev in 2019 US Open more than five sentences required. This time too, the 32-year-old caused problems for the German number one, skilfully shooing him into the corners at the beginning and hitting hard. But Zverev remained constant, quickly took his opponent’s serve in the first two sets and decided the match with the break to 5: 4 in the third set.
Krawietz/Mies continue to be successful in Melbourne
The two-time French Open winners Krawietz/Mies are in the round of 16 for the first time in Melbourne. The successful German doubles beat the Americans 6: 4, 6: 7 (7: 9), 6: 4 Austin Krajicek / Sam Querrey through. The German duo had already given away a match point in the tie-break of the second set.
Krawietz and Mies, seeded at number 12, are appearing in Melbourne for the first time since winning the title Roland Garros 2020 together again at one Grand-Slam-Tournament on. In the round of 16 they meet the top doubles, who are in fifth place John Peers/Filip Polasek (Australia/Slovakia).
Krawietz/Mies, who triumphed in Roland Garros in 2019 and 2020, had previously competed together in Melbourne. In 2020 they failed in the first round. At the beginning of last year, Mies had to undergo cartilage surgery on his knee, which resulted in a long break. “KraMies” celebrated their comeback after more than a year last week at the ATP tournament in Sydney, where they reached the semifinals.
Barty sovereign, out for Osaka
Ashleigh Barty can continue to dream of her first victory at the home Grand Slam. After two unchallenged victories at the start, the number one in the world rankings again only needed an hour to beat 6: 2, 6: 3 Camila Georgi enforce.
25-year-old Barty continues to be the hottest contender for the title. Last year she had won her second Grand Slam title in Wimbledon, at the beginning of the season she had already proven her good form after a four-month break by winning the WTA tournament in Adelaide. No Australian has triumphed in a Grand Slam home game since Christine O’Neil in 1978.
However, the eagerly awaited duel in the round of 16 between top favorite Barty and Naomi Osaka will not come: The defending champion, who made her comeback in Melbourne after a four-month break, had to defeat Amanda Anisimova 6: 4, 3: 6, 6 :7 beaten. The American now meets Barty, a new edition of the French-Open-Semifinals of 2019.
The two-time title holder Wiktoria Asarenka is still going strong. The 32-year-old Belarusian, who triumphed in Melbourne in 2012 and 2013, made it into the round of 16 for the first time since 2016 with a surprisingly clear 6:0, 6:2 against Olympic bronze medalist Elina Switolina (Ukraine).
Azarenka has not yet lost a set in the tournament so far, losing only nine games in her three matches.
Alcaraz loses Krimi against Berrettini
Spain’s great tennis hope Carlos Alcaraz just missed a surprise. The 18-year-old young star forced Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini over five sets, only in the match tie-break was the Italian, number seven, able to win after more than four hours 6: 2, 7: 6, 4: 6, 2: 6, prevail 7:6. Alcaraz is the youngest player to make it into the main draw of the Australian Open.
Nadal in the round of 16
The Spanish veteran Rafael Nadal continued his successful comeback on the Grand Slam stage. The Melbourne winner of 2009, number six on the seed list, won 6: 3, 6: 2, 3: 6, 6: 1 against Russian Karen Khachanov despite a short slump in the third set. For Nadal it was the first set loss in the tournament, in the round of 16 the Grand Slam record winner meets the French Adrian Mannarino or the Russian Aslan Karazew.
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Stand: 21.01.2022, 13:45
