Alexander Zverev is increasingly looking like a major threat to Novak Djokovic’s Grand Slam pursuit.
The German won his 15th consecutive match on Monday, defeating Jannik Sinner 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(6) to reach the US Open quarter-finals. If Zverev wins one more match and Djokovic wins two, the pair will clash in a blockbuster showdown in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows.
Zverev, who triumphed at the Nitto ATP Finals in 2018 and made his first major final in New York last year, is in the best form of his career. The 24-year-old has tallied his personal-best winning streak by claiming the Tokyo Olympics singles gold medal and lifting the trophy in Cincinnati.
It is not just that Zverev is winning, it is how he is doing it. The fourth seed has lost just three sets during his streak. And against a dangerous foe in 13th seed Sinner, who beat Zverev at Roland Garros last year, he saved five set points in the third set to emerge victorious inside Arthur Ashe Stadium after two hours and 25 minutes.
"Players with confidence who have played a lot of matches usually know what to do in these situations," Zverev said in his on-court interview. "I think I played pretty good tennis in the second set and the first set as well. I feel like I played one bad game in the whole match and it made it very difficult in the third set, so I'm happy to be through in straights."
Zverev is trying to become the second man to win the Olympic gold medal and the US Open title. He would join Andy Murray, who accomplished the feat in 2012.
The German will next play in-form South African Lloyd Harris, who battled past big-serving American Reilly Opelka 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-1, 6-3.
"He's playing incredible and he's also serving incredible," Zverev said. "In Cincinnati I was struggling a lot to return his serve in the first set. It's going be a tough one, definitely."
In the third round, Zverev raved about the level Jack Sock played in the first set of their clash before the American eventually retired due to an upper right leg injury. Sinner is another player capable of blasting through the court, but Zverev was able to stymie the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals champion's attacks. While he was able to defend well against his younger opponent, Sinner was not able to do the same when the fourth seed took the initiative in rallies.
Zverev hit 37 winners, including 17 aces, to Sinner's 30. But the biggest shot in the match was an unforced error off the Italian's racquet.
At 6/5 in the third-set tie-break, on his fourth set point, Sinner had a short forehand that he would put away nine times out of 10. But on this occasion he missed wide, allowing Zverev to stay alive in the set. And after the German saved the final set point he faced with an ace, he was able to complete his victory in straight sets when Sinner missed an inside-out forehand into the net.
Zverev was not perfect, as he let slip a break advantage in the third set. But the World No. 4 will be the heavy favourite regardless of whom he plays in the quarter-finals.
Did You Know?
Zverev, Peter Gojowczyk and Oscar Otte were the first German trio to make the fourth round at a major since Wimbledon in 1997, when Boris Becker, Nicolas Kiefer and Michael Stich did it.
The German won his 15th consecutive match on Monday, defeating Jannik Sinner 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(6) to reach the US Open quarter-finals. If Zverev wins one more match and Djokovic wins two, the pair will clash in a blockbuster showdown in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows.
Zverev, who triumphed at the Nitto ATP Finals in 2018 and made his first major final in New York last year, is in the best form of his career. The 24-year-old has tallied his personal-best winning streak by claiming the Tokyo Olympics singles gold medal and lifting the trophy in Cincinnati.
It is not just that Zverev is winning, it is how he is doing it. The fourth seed has lost just three sets during his streak. And against a dangerous foe in 13th seed Sinner, who beat Zverev at Roland Garros last year, he saved five set points in the third set to emerge victorious inside Arthur Ashe Stadium after two hours and 25 minutes.
"Players with confidence who have played a lot of matches usually know what to do in these situations," Zverev said in his on-court interview. "I think I played pretty good tennis in the second set and the first set as well. I feel like I played one bad game in the whole match and it made it very difficult in the third set, so I'm happy to be through in straights."
Zverev is trying to become the second man to win the Olympic gold medal and the US Open title. He would join Andy Murray, who accomplished the feat in 2012.
The German will next play in-form South African Lloyd Harris, who battled past big-serving American Reilly Opelka 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-1, 6-3.
"He's playing incredible and he's also serving incredible," Zverev said. "In Cincinnati I was struggling a lot to return his serve in the first set. It's going be a tough one, definitely."
In the third round, Zverev raved about the level Jack Sock played in the first set of their clash before the American eventually retired due to an upper right leg injury. Sinner is another player capable of blasting through the court, but Zverev was able to stymie the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals champion's attacks. While he was able to defend well against his younger opponent, Sinner was not able to do the same when the fourth seed took the initiative in rallies.
Zverev hit 37 winners, including 17 aces, to Sinner's 30. But the biggest shot in the match was an unforced error off the Italian's racquet.
At 6/5 in the third-set tie-break, on his fourth set point, Sinner had a short forehand that he would put away nine times out of 10. But on this occasion he missed wide, allowing Zverev to stay alive in the set. And after the German saved the final set point he faced with an ace, he was able to complete his victory in straight sets when Sinner missed an inside-out forehand into the net.
Zverev was not perfect, as he let slip a break advantage in the third set. But the World No. 4 will be the heavy favourite regardless of whom he plays in the quarter-finals.
Did You Know?
Zverev, Peter Gojowczyk and Oscar Otte were the first German trio to make the fourth round at a major since Wimbledon in 1997, when Boris Becker, Nicolas Kiefer and Michael Stich did it.