By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, November 17, 2018
Alexander Zverev defeated Roger Federer, 7-5, 7-6 (5), to charge into his first Nitto ATP Finals title match in just his second year-end appearance.
Photo credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe
Sound and fury struck the ATP Finals.
Alexander Zverev banged menacing blasts defeating Roger Federer, 7-5, 7-6 (5), to charge into his first Nitto ATP Finals title match—then withstood the fury of some fans who reigned boos on the 21-year-old German during his post-match interview in London's O2 Arena.
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It was a bizzare and disappointing end to a dynamic performance from Zverev, who became the first German since Boris Becker in 1996 to reach the season-ending final and the youngest man to contest the final since a 21-year-old Juan Martin del Potro fell to Nikolay Davydenko in the 2009 title match.
Aiming for his 10th career title, the fifth-ranked Zverev will play the winner of tonight's match between world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and fourth-seeded Kevin Anderson in tomorrow's final.
In just his second season-ending appearance, Zverev avenged his loss to Federer in the 2017 round-robin stage denying the six-time champion his shot at playing for his 100th career title.
The man with the most ATP wins this season raised his record to 57-19 knocking out the all-time ATP Finals champion. Federer, who took the court armed with a 14-2 record indoors this season, fell to 4-6 vs. Top 10 opponents in 2018.
Dictating with his first serve and first strike, Zverev averaged 135 mph on his first serve, smacked seven aces and won 88 percent (38 of 43) of first-serve points overpowering the Swiss Maestro at times then facing the music from frustrated Fed fans.
Down 3-4 in the tie break, Zverev saw a ball kid standing near the Rolex clock at the back wall drop a ball and immediately stopped play asking chair umpire Carlos Bernardes to replay the point because of the loose ball rolling at the back of the court.
Bernardes ruled for a replay. Federer, who asked the ball kid: "did you drop it?", did not argue the call, which Bernardes announced to the crowd. Zverev zapped his seventh ace on replay and won four of the final five points incurring the wrath of some fans, who actually increased the intensity of their booing as Zverev apologized afterward.
"I want to apologize for the distraction in the tie break the ball boy dropped the ball so it's in the rules that we have to replay the point," Zverev told the crowd.
Credit former WTA player and current television analyst Annabel Croft, for politely—and correctly— admonishing fans who booed as she tried to interview the victor.
"I'm not sure why you're all booing," Croft said after giving boisterous fans several seconds to calm down. "Those are the rules. I think you have to be a little bit more respectful."
The entire imbroglio left Zverev in the awkward position of using his post-match interview as a mea culpa to soothe fans' hurt feelings.
"I apologize to Roger at the net already, he told me okay," Zverev said on court. "I want to apologize to the crowd as well. There's a lot of Roger fans. He should have the most fans in the world and obviously here in London how much history he has. The crowd has been amazing and fair the whole match. I'm very sorry that this happened. I didn't mean to upset anybody that's all I can say: sorry"
Truth is, Zverev has no reason to apologize.
If you play tennis at any level, then you know a loose ball rolling onto court is automatic grounds for stopping play and replaying the point and with good reason. If a player steps on a loose ball, they risk injury as Tommy Haas suffered years ago stepping on an errant ball during a Wimbledon warm-up that forced him to default.
It was an unfortunate ending to an exciting match.
The Australian Open champion schedules breaks through the season to strengthen his 37-year-old legs. Federer showed fast hands are eternal in an electric exchange at net in the sixth game.
Digging out a half volley, Federer stared down a Zverev barrage bumping a stab volley then wristing a reflex volley eliciting an appreciative roar from the crowd. Hall of Famer and former Federer coach Stefan Edberg, sitting in the Swiss' support box, nodded in respect as that stirring sequence sealed a hold for 3-all.
Working with both his father, Alexander, and former world No. 1 Ivan Lendl, Zverev has tried to refine his transition game, change direction with his forehand and impose his first serve with more authority. Zverev pumped an ace to close the seventh game.
Through the first 11 games the match was all about first serve and first strike: Zverev won 18 of 21 first-serve points, while Federer was 12 of 13 on first-serve to that point.
It all fell apart for Federer in a surprisingly sloppy 12th game that saw him a gift the love break.
Netting a forehand to open, Federer angled a forehand volley crosscourt, Zverev read it and bended a beautiful running forehand pass down the line for love-30. Scattering a pair of forehand errors, Federer dumped serve in 85 seconds as Zverev snatched the lone break to seize the opening set.
Bursting through a love hold to start the second set, Zverev surged through nine straight points.
Turning his shoulders into a forehand, Federer jammed a winner down the line for triple break point. A flat backhand down the line gave Federer his first break and first lead at 2-1.
Shrugging off adversity is a sign of maturity.
Zverev showed it yesterday slashing an ace to save set point against Isner and displayed resilience again today ripping a return and scalding a forehand down the line for break points in the following game.
Struggling to land his first delivery, Federer made just one of five first serves as Zverev broke right back then slammed down a love hold for 3-2.
The set stayed on serve as Federer held closing the 12th game doing a couple of deep squats in preparation for the tie break.
Zverev bolted a backhand down the line for a 5-4 tie break lead.
Then Federer made his fatal error, bumping a routine forehand drop volley into net in a mind-numbing miscue that left actor and noted Fed fan Hugh Grant burying his head in his hands court-side as the German gained double match point.
On his second match point, Zverev torched a forehand down the line then banged a backhand drive winner to close in 95 minutes.