By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 31, 2020
Alexander Zverev converted three of four break points topping 2017 US Open finalist Kevin Anderson 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 to reach the second round.
Photo credit: @US Open
The world’s largest Grand Slam stage may not seem the ideal spot to play hide-and-seek.
Yet that was part of the tricky test Alexander Zverev faced in today’s US Open opener against 2017 US Open finalist Kevin Anderson on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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Could Zverev hide the scars from his late-match collapse against Andy Murray in last week’s Western & Southern Open and find his second serve against Anderson’s wrecking-ball delivery?
After dumping a pair of double faults in his opening service game, Zverev settled in and delivered definitive answers topping Anderson 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 to reach the second round for the fifth straight year.
The fifth-seeded Zverev withstood 20 aces from Anderson converting three of four break points to post his first win since he defeated 119th-ranked Jason Jung in Acapulco last February. He earned video congratulations from big brother Mischa Zverev who spoke with his younger brother afterward.
Zverev, who spit up 11 double faults in his three-set loss to Murray last week, struck with clarity for much of the match.
The Australian Open finalist fired 52 winners against 33 unforced errors. His 18 aces tripled his double-fault output. Most importantly, Zverev, who can sometimes drift into defensive positions well behind the baseline under stress, stayed aggressive when it mattered most in one of the tournament’s toughest first-round tests.
“I’m extremely happy to be through—something that I worked on the past six months is my serve and my volleys,” Zverev told ESPN’s Brad Gilbert afterward. “Cincinnati match I thought I did those things extremely well until the important moments. I wanted to do well today.”
The sometimes spasmodic second serve that Zverev can either crank over 120 mph or push in the mid 60-mph range has been a stumbling block for the former ATP Finals champion—as has been the slew of questions he faces about it after matches.
“There’s no place to hide in this sport,” Zverev said.
Andy Murray, Andrey Rublev, Diego Schwartzman, Karolina Pliskova and Kristina Mladenovic were among a small group of players scattered in luxury suites and seats around Arthur Ashe Stadium watching this match—and perhaps wondering: how well will Zverev control his sometime unruly second serve?
Though Zverev showed serving woes in the opening game it was the lanky Anderson who double-faulted away the first break in the fifth game of the match.
Erasing a break point with a whipping serve wide, Zverev backed up the break with a smash for 4-2.
Serving for the set, Zverev hit his third double fault then tried to lob the 6’8” South African, who pounded a smash for break point. Attacking net, Anderson drew a shanked reply to break back and level after 10 games.
Rebounding from that shaky 10th game, Zverev streaked through the tiebreaker throwing down his seventh ace for 5-1. Zverev sealed the 53-minute opening set on Anderson’s fourth double fault.
Playing with taping around his right following surgery on that joint on February 19th, Anderson wisely tried to shorten points to stay in step on serve.
Deadlocked at 5-all in the second set, Zverev missed a forehand then sprayed a bounce smash dropping serve for the second time late in a set—and empowering Anderson to serve it out.
A 130 mph missile down the middle followed by a stinging serve winner helped Anderson steal the second set with a shout. Anderson won nine of 13 net points and exploited the smash gift from Zverev to take the 46-minute set.
Still, Zverev shrugged off the second-set lapse, put his head down and got right back to work.
Staving off a couple of break points in the third game of the third set, Zverev earned a hard-fought hold with a shout for 2-1.
That was a pivotal point in the match.
Empowered by that stand, Zverev zapped a backhand approach and carved out a delicate drop volley winner breaking for 3-1. Zverev stamped his fifth love hold for the day wrapping the third set.
Zverev credits the training camp he conducted with new coach David Ferrer in Monaco earlier this summer as a settling experience. Ferrer is not in New York for this Open, nor is Zverev’s father and co-coach Alexander Zverev, but the 23-year-old German said he recalled his new coach’s influence at crunch time.
“I talk to both of them every day pretty much,” Zverev said. “[I talk to] David about tactics even more now. He’s a great guy. I can’t thank him enough for joining my team. The practice weeks we had in Monaco over a month are the most fun practice weeks I’ve had. I can’t see what the future brings.”
The two-time Grand Slam finalist applied his forward thinking to hanging tight in the fourth set. Three hours, three minutes into the match, Anderson slapped a flat forehand into the top of the tape as Zverev broke with a clenched fist for 6-5.
Zverev completed a composed performance in three hours, seven minutes setting up a second-round clash vs. 19-year-old American Brandon Nakashima.