Zverev underlines his capacity for suffering in Shanghai | ATP Tour

Shanghai

Zverev highlights his capacity for suffering in Shanghai

The German seeks his second ATP Masters 1000 title of the year

October 08, 2024

Under a completely closed night, Alexander Zverev continued rowing with the tenacity of the strongest. The German advanced to the round of 16 of the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Tuesday, completing one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament against Tallon Griekspoor 7-6(6), 2-6, 7-6(5) with a tireless spirit. If the great champions stand out for their coldness, the German began to put on the candidate’s suit.

The No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings had to face a competitive duel in slow motion, where a versatile opponent like few others twisted the rallies to the extreme. Zverev’s power was compensated by the skillful hands of Griekspoor, determined to beat one of the five best tennis players in the world for the first time. Although he didn’t succeed, the Dutchman ensured a great show.

“It was a very tough match, with a lot of alternatives. I think he had some luck in the third set and I had a lot of luck in the tiebreak, so we tied it up,” said Zverev, who is participating for the sixth time in Shanghai.

“The match was incredible, he is a player with whom I always suffer. We play extremely tough matches and, for me, he should have a much higher ranking. He should review why he doesn’t play like that every week. I think he could be Top 15 or World Top 10”.

The match was a test of persistence in the hands of Zverev, forced to catch a clash of two hours and 50 minutes of effort. The German, who was barely able to add a break in the entire match, survived by fighting hard in two wild tiebreaks, in sets that exceeded the deadline. The greatest test of perseverance came in the final set, where he saw his eight break points annulled before achieving victory with the eighth match point.

Looking at the sky with his arms raised, Zverev highlighted his ability to perform on the big stages. With a record of 59-18 this season, the German has reached at least the round of 16 in all the ATP Masters 1000 tournaments played in 2024. With the memory of his triumph at the Foro Italico in Rome, the German will try to regain his authority in this category on the slopes of Shanghai, where they already reached the final in the 2019 season.

After passing a trial by fire, Zverev goes well into the key rounds of the tournament. The German will play in the round of 16 against former world No. 7 David Goffin, who came back from behind Marcos Giron 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 to showcase his ability in the tournament. Zverev dominates the ATP Head2Head record 4-2 over the Belgian in an unprecedented rivalry on hard surfaces.

Zverev wants to extend one of the best seasons of his sporting career this week. The German, well established at No. 3 in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, has already booked his ticket for the Nitto ATP Finals, a tournament that he won in the 2018 and 2021 editions.

Did you know that…?
Alexander Zverev is the most successful German player in history in ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in individual mode. The one from Hamburg, who holds six ATP Tour gold category crowns in his record, heads a national list made up of figures such as Boris Becker (5), Michael Stich (2) and Tommy Haas (1).