(New York) Alexander Zverev reached his first major tournament final on Friday, winning 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 over Pablo Carreno Busta at Flushing Meadows.
Posted on September 11, 2020 at 7:46 p.m.
Updated at 20:05
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Fifth seed, Zverev erased a two-set delay for the first time in his career. He helped his cause by totaling 24 aces.
At the US Open, it was the first comeback of its kind since 2011, when Novak Djokovic played the trick on Roger Federer.
Zverev is trying to become the first German to triumph in a Grand Slam since Boris Becker in 1996 in Australia.
On Sunday, Zverev will face second seed Dominic Thiem, who defeated Daniil Medvedev (No.3) in three sets of 6-2, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5).
PHOTO ROBERT DEUTSCH, USA TODAY SPORTS
Dominic Thiem defeated Daniil Medvedev (no 3) in three sets.
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Carreno Busta, 20e seed, was beaten in the semifinals in New York for the second time in four years.
Zverev’s non-verbal language spoke volumes for the first two innings.
After a double fault, he hit his left thigh. Conceding the first set on a backhand in the net, he covered his face with both hands.
Early in the next inning, a bad forehand, in a streak where he lost nine straight points, made him turn to his guests’ lodge, his hands turned to the sky. A too long backhand cost him the second set.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Zverev said. I was like, “Here I am in the semi-final where I’m supposed to be the favorite, and I’m two sets behind. I’m playing that badly.” I knew I had to find some consistency. ”
His strikes lacked conviction against Carreno Busta who, without often impressing, is solid at all levels.
The Spaniard showed a good forehand and made few mistakes. He was however shattered on his first chance to take the first set, as well as his first chance to win the second.
Despite that, half of his first 72 points came from unforced errors by Zverev. Subsequently, the latter was more aggressive and better measured his blows.
“I had to change the tempo,” Zverev said. It has served me well. ”
In the last three sets, the German has committed only seven unforced errors, on average.
Like Zverev, Thiem will have the opportunity to get his hands on a first career Grand Slam title. The Austrian has missed his three previous attempts, losing twice in a row at Roland Garros against Rafael Nadal, in 2018 and 2019, and against Djokovic at the Australian Open this year.
Medvedev had taken part in the New York final in 2019, bowing down to Nadal.
Semifinals of a big tournament without Federer, Djokovic or Nadal, we haven’t seen that for 16 years.
Nadal has chosen not to try to defend his title, given the context of the pandemic.
Federer is sidelined after two knee operations. Favorite Djokovic was disqualified when he accidentally hit a linesman with a ball in the fourth round.
Zverev reached the semifinals of a major tournament for the first time in January in Melbourne; Thiem then beat him.
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