By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, November 15, 2024
No. 2 Alexander Zverev stopped No. 4 Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(5), 6-4 to score his eighth straight win and book his spot in the ATP Finals semifinals.
Photo credit: Image Photo Agency/Getty
Facing Carlos Alcaraz poses tough test for Alexander Zverev.
Today, a streaking Zverev dispensed an assertive answer—and secured a semifinal return in Turin.
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World No. 2 Zverev did not drop serve stopping Alcaraz 7-6(5), 6-4 to score his eighth straight victory and book his spot in the ATP Finals semifinals.
"Probably [my best match of the week]. I think it was high level from both of us," Zverev told the media in Turin. "Especially in the most important moments, I think both of us raised our games, really produced some entertaining tennis."
Two-time tournament champion Zverev wraps round-robin play with a perfect 3-0 record in the John Newcombe Group, joining world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and US Open finalist Taylor Fritz as the third man to reach the final four.
“Against him it’s always important to try to play more aggressive than him,” Zverev told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj afterward. “For sure, he’s probably the best player in the world when he’s aggressive.
“So you’ve got to take that away from him. Just generally I think it was a high level match today.”
Zverev served 79 percent, pumped nine aces, won 10 of 15 second-serve points and erased both break points he faced in the second set.
The third-ranked Alcaraz’s semifinal hopes are done with this defeat.
If Casper Ruud, who beat Alcaraz in his round-robin opener, wins a set against Andrey Rublev in tonight’s final round-robin match then Ruud will seal the final semifinal spot.
Empowered by his run to the Rolex Paris Masters title, Zverev scored his Tour-best 69th victory of the season. Zvererv is the first man to register 69 or more wins in a single season since former world No. 1 Andy Murray won 78 matches ending 2016 as world No. 1.
Zverev beat Alcaraz for the sixth time in 11 meetings as the Spanish superstar dropped to 8-2 vs. Top 5 players this season with his lone losses coming to Novak Djokovic in the Olympic gold-medal match and to Zverev today.
This match was a rematch of Alcaraz’s epic five-set win over Zverev in the French Open final in June.
Inspired by imagination, Alcaraz fought off Zverev 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 in a four hour, 19-minute marathon to capture his first Roland Garros championship with a fervent finish. The 21-year-old Alcaraz made history in Paris as the youngest man to capture Grand Slam championships on the three major surfaces: hard court (2022 US Open), grass (2023-2024 Wimbledon) and his native red clay surface.
When it comes to indoor tennis, two-time ATP Finals champion Zverev is more experienced and accomplished than the man he succeeded as world No. 2 and showed it today.
Playing with a purple breathe-right strip bridging his nose to combat a cold, Alcaraz showed some exceptional shotmaking, but also delved into stretches of sloppy play and was burned by some crucial Zverev forehands down the line.
Riding a seven-match winning streak into this round-robin match, Zverev recovered from love-30 down to hold in the opening game.
Confronting double break point in his first service game, Alcaraz scalded an ace down the T Then saved the second break point with a churning kick serve that helped him hold.
Two games later, Zverev ran down a dropper than thumped a leaping smash for triple break point. Alcaraz dodged a fourth break point of the game—and sixth overall—when Zverev sailed a two-hander long. The Spanish superstar leveled after four games.
Forty minutes into the match, Zverev showed guts deploying the surprise serve-and-volley off a second serve from 15-30 down. Zverev dabbed a perfect drop volley winner that helped him hold for 5-4.
Paris champion Zverev attacked behind a forehand and snapped a smash down the line for a break and set point in the 12th game.
In the ensuing 12-shot rally, Zverev overhit a forehand long.
Alcaraz, who saved all seven break points he faced, answered with an ace then held to force the tiebreaker when Zverev’s forehand failed him down the line.
Darting right, Zverev drilled a dipping forehand pass crosscourt to snatch the mini break and a 4-2 tiebreaker lead. Alcaraz put a forehand in net as Zverev earned the second straight mini break for 5-2.
Alcaraz swept a running forehand pass down the line to regain one mini break. Alcaraz lifted a lob over the 6’6’ German to get back on serve at 4-5.
Zverev gained two set points on an Alcaraz error. The Wimbledon winner saved the first with a forehand winner. On the second set point, Alcaraz stretched Zverev with a pass down the line but pushed a forehand half volley just wide.
The world No. 2 stood tall to take a tight 66-minute opening set.
"Me personally, I thought there were some ridiculous points in the end of the tiebreak," Zverev said. "Really, I mean, this is the thing about Carlos. He might not be playing, like, at his best, even though I thought he played phenomenal today.
"I'm just saying generally sometimes he's not playing at his best.
"All of a sudden in the most important moments, he turns into a different person. All of a sudden you can't hit a winner against him. All of a sudden he hits every single passing shot on the line. Like, you could put a coin there and he would hit it. That's what makes him one of the best players in the world."
Trying to reset, Alcaraz opened set two with a 40-love lead only to unravel in a rash of errors. Zverev hit another exceptional running forehand pass down the line for break point. Alcaraz drew a mid-court ball but botched a short backhand as Zverev scored the first break of the match for a 1-0 lead.
The two-time ATP Finals champion reeled off seven straight points powering through a love hold to back up the break.
Swinging freely with the lead, the Roland Garros runner-up ripped through a two ace game extending his lead to 3-1.
When Alcaraz earned double break point in the sixth game, it marked the first time Zverev faced a break point in his last 39 serve games—a streak dating back to the Rolex Paris Masters semifinal.
Alcaraz had a good look at a tame second serve but framed a forehand return long on the first break point. Stabbing back a return, the Spaniard missed a diagonal forehand on his second break point chance.
Exploiting three sloppy unforced errors from Alcaraz, Zverev subdued stress holding for 4-2.
Credit Alcaraz for continuing to fight and going up 15-30 in the final game. Alcaraz had a good look at a backhand down the line, but narrowly missed the mark.
That miss was costly as it would have given him double break point.
Jolting Alcaraz with a brilliant running forehand pass brought Zverev to match point. Zverev zapped a serve winner down the middle then erupted in a primal scream.
“I thought it was probably the best game he played on return,” Zverev said of the final game. “I didn’t think I did much wrong, to be honest. Tough moments there but he’s one of the best players in the world.
“So it’s always going to get tough against him. I thought the tiebreaker was definitely some highlights of the match. Look I’m looking forward to the semifinals now, hopefully I can continue playing this way.”