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By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, May 25, 2022

 
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Alexander Zverev rallied from a break down and denied match point at 4-5 in the final set fighting off Sebastian Baez in a Roland Garros thriller.

Photo credit: Getty

Grand Slam fifth sets sent Alexander Zverev to punishing places in the past.

Facing match point at 4-5 in the final set today, Zverev was in no mood for more major scar tissue.

More: Shapovalov Calls Double Fault on ATP and Wimbledon

Teetering on the ledge of loss against a feisty opponent, Zverev dug down and won the final three games out-dueling Sebastian Baez 2-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 7-5 to scrape into the Roland Garros third round for the sixth time in seven appearances.

World No. 3 Zverev fought back from a two-set deficit, came back from a break down in the decider and saved match point with a stinging serve winner down the T.

When it was over, Zverev erupted in a loud primal scream of relief to complete a gripping three hour, 36-minute comeback.




"I think he played a very good match, especially in the beginning," Zverev said. "I had absolutely no rhythm today in the beginning on that court.

"It was extremely windy. The conditions were very different than the other day, so took me a while to get into the match, but I knew I had to keep fighting.

"I knew I had to just find a way, especially in the second set, I mean, I knew that I was not going to win it, but I knew that I have to find a rhythm in that set."

This was the second time this month the pair squared off on clay—Zverev topped the 21-year-old Argentinean 7-6(3), 6-3 in Rome—and the 5’7” Baez played fearless tennis for much of the match.

Standing nearly a foot shorter than the 6’6” German, Baez burst through 10 of the first 12 games picking Zverev apart in extended baseline exchanges.

Serving for a two-set lead at 5-4, Baez pushed Zverev around the baseline and smacked a bold bounce smash that helped him earn a third set point. Baez slapped a flying forehand winner to snatch a two-set lead.

Casting concerned looks at his father, Alexander Zverev, Sr., and coach Sergi Bruguera, Zverev responded winning eight of the next nine games to take the second set and go up a break in the third.

The Olympic gold-medal champion worked through a tricky deuce hold to force a fifth set.

Baez drew first blood breaking for a 4-2 lead in the decider, but Zverev broke right back.

The 2020 US Open finalist missed his first four first serves as he served to prolong the match at 4-5. Staring down a match point, Zverev showed guts slashing a 128 mph serve winner down the T to save it.

Zverev navigated a hard-fought hold then broke Baez for a 6-5 lead.

The 25-year-old German served it out to complete a second five-set comeback in Paris after saving a match point.




Four years ago, Zverev denied match point at 4-5 in the decider igniting a fierce 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5, comeback victory over a determined Damir Dzumhur to reach the Roland Garros fourth round for the first time.

Zverev, who famously lost a two-set lead losing to Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open final, raised his Roland Garros five-set record to 8-1 completing his third career comeback from two sets down.

Surviving Baez today, Zverev will play 75th-ranked American Brandon Nakashima for a spot in the fourth round.

 

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